huntsville: school choice help, please!

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hi everyone! :)

i'm a pre-nursing student. i've been at calhoun so far, but i'll begin my first semester at UAH later this month.

i was feeling confident about my choice to pursue a BSN at UAH, especially since i won't be able to begin either nursing program until Fall 07, so it will take me the same amount of time to graduate either way.

but tonight i was talking with a classmate, and she said she graduated from the UAH program a few years ago and thought it was terrible. she felt that her clinical instruction was poor, and said that the Calhoun grads were 100 times better with regard to clinical skills. she also said that Calhoun ADN grads are paid better and promoted over UAH BSN grads at local hospitals.

now i'm freaked out! am i making the wrong choice by going to UAH, or am i letting the experience of one person scare me too much? if any students or grads from either program are willing to share their experiences with me or offer me some advice, i will be so grateful. please feel free to PM me if you don't feel comfortable posting here.

thank you all so much for your time. :flowersfo

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Specializes in 4 years peds, 7 years L and D.

Wish I could help...I don't know anything about these schools...sorry! Good luck though!

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I graduated from UAH...When I went to nursing school I felt that my nursing instruction in the field was limited; however, there are some things that you just have to learn from being in the field. And everyone has to take responsibility for their own learning. UAH teaches you to be a critical thinker...which is different from the teaching that you receive at Calhoun. I would definitely tell you to go to UAH because later if you want to advance your career you will have to get BSN. Even though it doesn't matter pay wise in the area, it would matter if you went somewhere else. Also, you might want to look at the State of Alabama Board of Nursing. They publish the Nclex pass rates for both schools.

I love the dean at UAH!!! Dean Raines.

PS: Talking to a former student of UAH is a matter of opinion because I have talked to nurses from Calhoun that have similar complaints.....I think they are both pretty good schools.....hope this helps

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