Help W SWTC,stritch and other lpn programs.

Published

Hello,

I have a few questions.Is Southern Wisconsin technical college easy to get into?I heard that the program is only 8 months for the LPN is this true?Also,does the program only start in August each year...Does anyone know the cost to attend Stritch and do they have a waiting list?At this point I am frusturated with trying to get into a nursing school.I am ready to move ANYWHERE that I can actually get into a good program..even if I have to pay an arm and a leg.Thanks...and if you know of ANY programs ANYWHERE let me know.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Anyone out there?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi,

While I cannot speak to the start time and waiting list question regarding SWTC, I attended Stritch. Their tuition is approximately $9,000 a year. I LOVED the school & most of the teachers. Their RN program takes approx 2 1/2 years. They only offer one or two of the classes during summer so it is impossible to finish the degree before then. Also, as in many of the private colleges, the course offerings can be limited. Ex: a particular course is only offered during one time during a semester...can make it difficult for working students. It is the only ADN program in this area in which you can enroll in the nursing program (no wait list) without first taking the science and English pre-reqs (A&P I&II, Microbiology, etc). Those courses will be a part of the program & the sequence. While they do not have a wait list, they do have program application deadlines. Check their website. They also have excellent resources for financial aid. If you want to get started right away on your ADN, I would recommend the school highly. If you look at the technical colleges in the area, it can take 2 years to finish the clinical/program/liberal arts pre-reqs and then it will take you 2 years to complete the clinical portion of the programs. Stritch will get you finished beginning to end in 2 1/2 years.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi,

While I cannot speak to the start time and waiting list question regarding SWTC, I attended Stritch. Their tuition is approximately $11,000 a semester. I LOVED the school & most of the teachers. Their RN program takes approx 2 1/2 years. They only offer one or two of the classes during summer so it is impossible to finish the degree before then. Also, as in many of the private colleges, the course offerings can be limited. Ex: a particular course is only offered during one time during a semester...can make it difficult for working students. It is the only ADN program in this area in which you can enroll in the nursing program (no wait list) without first taking the science and English pre-reqs (A&P I&II, Microbiology, etc). Those courses will be a part of the program & the sequence. While they do not have a wait list, they do have program application deadlines. Check their website. They also have excellent resources for financial aid. If you want to get started right away on your ADN, I would recommend the school highly. If you look at the technical colleges in the area, it can take 2 years to finish the clinical/program/liberal arts pre-reqs and then it will take you 2 years to complete the clinical portion of the programs. Stritch will get you finished beginning to end in 2 1/2 years.

Wow!! Sorry I had a typo above. The tuition is not $9,000 a year (it was approx $9,000 per SEMESTER) when I was there. It is now approx $11,000 per semester. Their website has all the info on tuition & costs. Plus, figure in costs of books and lab fees!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks guys....Do you know anyone who finished Bryant and Stratton in 5 semesters..or do they make it so that classes are not avalible and you have to pay more tuition?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Subacute/Rehab, Surgical.

I do know many of my fellow students who have graduated in the 5 semesters from Bryant and Statton. They were all different ages and places in their lifes (families, job situations). I can be done in the 5 semesters going full time year around (that is how you get done in 1 1/2 year). There is a fall semester which is Sept - Dec, Winter semester which is Jan - April, and Spring semester is May - August. The longest break you get is about a month between August and Sept, otherwise the turn around time is about 1.5 - 2 week. With the full time route it is extremely hard since you are taking your nursing classes with clinicals and pre-req. The farther you get into the semesters they recommend you don't work since the amount of studying and time you need. But with that said there have been people that have worked full time up to last semester and went full time. It can be done but takes a lot of self control and time management to fit everything in. I like that I switched to part time since it worked with my work schedule and allowed me time to have somewhat of a life outside of school.

The classes are available each semester according to what semester you are in. There are some requirements for some of the nursing classes, like you have to have passed Nursing 101 and Pharm to go on to Med/Surg 1 and etc. There may only be one section of the theory class offered but that depends on how big the cohort is. And then for the clinicals it depends on how may are in the class to determine how many different clinical sites for that class there will be, since 7 students are limited to a clinical site/the instructor.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Subacute/Rehab, Surgical.

No matter what semester it is tuition stays the same. Unless there is a tuition change and that would affect every student there (like a drop in price) at the college. There is a $400 clinical fee with each clinical you take.

The only way that there would not be a spot available for you is if you have failed a class, say Nursing 101, you would have to wait until just about the beginning of the next semester to find out if they have a spot for you. Because they guantee the spots in the clinicals to the students that are coming from the previous semester into that current semester. So from Nursing 100 to Nursing 101, they would have choice over which clinical spot/site they want when they register for classes. Once those have been filled and guanteed they have passed Nursing 100 then they will find you a spot in that Nursing 101 clinical. Since there are always a few people that don't pass, which leaves empty spots for students that have failed that Nursing 101 and need to retake it. It really won't be your choice of when and where you go for clinical becuase it all depends on if there is still an open spot at that site and doesn't go over the 7 students per site/instructor.

I hope that all makes sense in the 2 posts. Late at night typing/thinking really isn't all that great right now.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion