Is West Coast University a good choice for me?

[jmdiaz86]

Hello Everyone,

Thank you in advance for reading my question.

I recently learned about the new program offered at West Coast University for a BSN in Nursing / RN Program. The program goes for about 3yrs 3mo.

I had originally planned before i herd about West Coast Univesity (which is what im doing now) to apply for the RN ASN program at Mount St. Mary College after completing a few pre-req at a community college. The program at St. Mary's runs for about 3 years but it only gets you an Associates after getting the RN License I wanted to work part time so i I would be able to go to a university and get the BSN.

The West Coast program sounds very good but I wanst sure how much does it affect when you get a BS in those non traditional schools. If I go to West Coast I would have to quite my job since they dont have a set schedule? I'm very afraid of that since I've always had a job since 16 and I'm concern of how I would survive during those 3 years

I really like the fact that within 3 years I have a BS and my RN License :)

Once again thank you very much for your help :)

[newbetonursing]

Dang I wanna know if you can go get higher education too!?! No one knows the answer to this question it seems, and I feel like WCU will only tell me a little white lie. Ahhh I hope this is a good decsion because I want to start this November, but I am worred that I will be in so much debt, and no job to help me out with the debt. Ahhh someone must an answer as to what the BSN can trasnfer too...or if it even transfers at all.

[Irishgal82]

I've been hoping to get feedback from grads or current students about WCU, but havent had any either. The staff annoys me in that most questions I have are answered with "i dont know". They are also insanely pushy! I did call Cal State Long Beach and they told me that although WCU is accredited by the CCNE and CA RN Board, they are not WASC accredited and therefore, you can not transfer your credits to any Cal States, or most CA schools. So although you may get your BSN and apply for your license, if you should choose down the road to get your masters, you will be unable to do so. I also wonder if employers respect this school or if it will be difficult to get a job with a degree from such an unknown program.

[newbetonursing]

you can go to cal state fullerton. i emailed the dean and asked her about it. this is what she told me.....

while the university is nationally accredited by the accrediting council for independent colleges and schools (acics) we are currently in eligibility status with the regional accreditor, the western association of schools and colleges (wasc) which is the same accreditor that the state schools currently hold. the us department of education regulations however prohibit regionally accredited schools from discriminating against nationally accredited schools that are title 4 approved and wcu is title 4 approved.

so thats it....im still going to check back with them to see if they are now eligible to be cleared by the wasc.

if the schools can not discriminate aaginst wcu then maybe we are ok.

[Irishgal82]

Its so confusing. I asked WCU the other day if they are getting WASC accredited and they said they are currently in the process but it can take a few years. Im not sure if they were to get accredited by them after you graduated if you would be grandfathered in under that. I rang a few hospitals to ask if they hire WCU grads but most seemed to have never heard of the school which was upsetting

[newbetonursing]

oh thats kind of upsetting and a little scary. Wow, I at least thought they would have heard of West coast. What schools did you call? And yea they dont have the WASC accred. However, they still can not be discriminnated against, if we wanted to further our career.

[Irishgal82]

I talked with Hoag, Long Beach Memorial and Mission. I asked if it mattered what school you graduate from and Hoag said as long as it is Board accreditted. Its a tough decision, wait for a school thats well known with a great rep, or go to WCU and get it over with.

[newbetonursing]

Well isnt an RN license, still and RN license. They still want us to take the NCLEX....and when you pass that then you have the ability to work anywhere in the United States. Thats all I am concerned for. Most students that even graduate STILL CANT PASS the NCLEX. So I figure if I can pass the NCLEX and get my BSN done and over with at West Coast, then I might as well just go to West Coast.

[Irishgal82]

Thats exactly what I'm thinking. I talked to few people who are nursing teachers and they told me as long as you have your license you should be fine. Employers want a license, experience, and a great interview and personality. Besides, I know a lot of people who got into the Cal State nursing programs who were not the sharpest knives in the drawer.

[Malefocker, BSN, RN]

I personally think it is crazy to spend 100K to get your BSN. You can take your pre-reqs at the local community college for under 1000$ total including books. If you decide to get your ADN at the local community college it can cost as little as 5k. I know cal state long beach el-msn program is 3 years long and cost 36K for a MSN and 20K for the BSN which is 2 years long. I am going to repeat what the above posters have been saying. Being a new nurse right now is tough. There is no guarantee that there will be a job available when you graduate if this is the case being 100k in debt seems crazy. So what if you have to wait 2 extra years maybe by then they will be giving new nursing 10K sign on bonuses (which by the way is how it use to be 3 years ago) Either way good luck with whatever decision you make,