Help me choose between CSU LA and Vanderbilt for my RN and then MSN PLEASEEEEE

[radnurse1917]

Hello everyone! Please help me decide between Vanderbilt and CSU Los Angeles!

I am pulling my hair out trying to make a decision about where to pursue my degree to come out as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

I applied all over the country to a bunch of public and private schools. I knew the entry level masters programs were very competitive so I worked extremely hard and ended up getting into about 85% of the programs I applied to. I have finally narrowed down my choices to two, very different schools: CSU LA (Cal State Los Angeles) and Vanderbilt University in Nashviille.

I'm going to list some pros and cons(maybe questions I have that one of you can address) for each and I hope someone who knows the programs can speak on one or the other or both! (Or someone who has a lot of work experience or is in academia who can speak in general on what they think is important in a program).

CSULA:

Pros:

Location: I think I want to end up in Los Angeles, clearly this would be great to start building my network.

Price--the first year is about 32,000 but the second two years are 8,000 each.

Has a diverse student body and faculty

Only 30 students in cohort

I believe in public education and I would be excited to rep CSULA

I have friends and family in los angeles whom i love

Cons:

The curriculum doesn't sound as exciting as Vanderbilt (although i couldn't find course descriptions so I'm not totally sure what the courses would be like)

I honestly just don't know how well respected the program is nor how good the professors are (i'm trying to figure this out and would love people who have attended the program or know any of the professors to enlighten me!)

3 years (Vanderbilt is a two year program)

Vanderbilt:

Pros:

Very highly ranked school

I LOVED the professor and the student I met with

Only two years to complete everything

Beautiful campus

Curriculum seems very thorough and eclectic

Cons:

SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE (obviously) so much more debt

In Nashville (which seems like it could be a really fun place to live, but I'd prefer Los Angeles, don't plan to end up in Tennessee)

With regard to finances, my parents are willing to help me out some and are pushing me to go to Vanderbilt. But, I will still be taking on significant debt.

I guess my main questions are: Do you think the programs are comparable with regard to the quality of education? Can anyone who has attended either program speak on their experience? Will going to a name school like Vanderbilt help me in my career (for instance if I want to go into academia later as a professor or a researcher). Or do you think what's most important is studying where I want to live?

Thank you so much! I am honored to have been admitted to either program. I know how competitive this process is. I humbly request anyone's advice who cares to give it.

Thank you so much!

Best,

Emily