Hi! I have LOTS of info that people seem to be searching for.....After reading ALL of the posts in regard to ITT Portland RN program AND doing a TON of research via calls and internet, I too decided to try to get into one of the top 30 spots. I am posting here because in doing my reasearch to make the best possible educated decision for myself, I needed LOTS of information. Now I want to share my experience.
This was THE EASIEST process ever! The hard part was waiting to get the letter. I literally called the school for seminar info in August 2010, took the HESI on 09/01/10 and got the acceptance letter 10/29/10. I start the course the week of 12/06/10.
ACCREDITATION and RN-BSN:After taking the HESI, I did A LOT of research. I spoke with a rep @ Linfield as well as the previous ITT program chair Justina and the current program chair Ilene. BOTH chair's were MORE than helpful and extremely informative. I CONFIRMED that there are articulation agreements in place w/ Walla Walla University as well as Linfield for BSN studies. Many BSN programs want you to have graduated from an NLN accredited school. ITT is in candidacy status as per the NLN website. You will find this on the NLN website under ITT in INDIANA. ITT's corporate headquarters are based there. Hence, candidacy there. I did verify that students who attend during candidacy status are grandfathered in as grads of the NLN accredidation once ITT is OFFICIALLY accredited.
HESI A2 Testing:This test was EASY!! Only math/english grammar/reading comprehesion/vocabulary are on this test. Not the science/physics/chemistry portions. The main math study points are: ratio/proportions; metric mesurements; ALL facets of fractions (add, subtract, mult., divide), and EXTREMELY BASIC algebra. Calculator is not necessary for this test (unless you don't know your multiplication facts.) Calculator and scrap paper materials ARE PROVIDED. You cannot bring anything to the test.
COST OF ATTENDENCE:EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE for an associates degree!!! $518/credit hour. If you have your basic general ed pre-reqs completed through PCC or MHCC or other; you will save upwards of $17k. So do the pre-reqs prior IF YOU CAN...ITT does 3 cycles of financial aid while you are in attendance. So IF YOU QUALIFY>>> 3 Pell FULLGrants ($16650 FREE $$); $32500 of FEDERALLY BACKED LOAN MONEY. All together that totals $49150.00... AS OF TODAY 11/17/10, the cost of attendence is $54687 (included kit fee, ONE TIME admin fee, etc). So... you see! The difference is $5537! You are thinking where I am going to get that money?! ITT has a GREAT $3000 Scholarship available to INDEPENDANT students. If you have a 0 EFC on your financial aid/FAFSA, DO THIS! It is a matter of completing an application and turning it in. And there are MANY scholarships available. You can reasearch ITT's scholarship info on their website (as I did). The other thing ITT does that makes it easy for you to get signed up and started is a credit program with the school. They can help you with pushing off your balance until yuou graduate. You OF COURSE want to apply as much money as you can to the bill, but they made it possible for me to start with NO UPFRONT/OUT-OF-POCKET costs. I have a carry over... I will get the scholarship as well as apply my employers tution-reimbursement plan toward that balance to knock it out before the next financial aid cyle. ITT gave me credit so I don't have to borrow more than I need for the cost of attendence.
With the cost of this attendence, you have to think about what is best for your family and yourself... Do you want to pay more now and get school done? OR do you want to wait and try to get into one of the Portland area schools?Also, with nursing tuition, there are TONS of programs that will pay your tuition back once you are done with schoo. For example, HRSA Grant... If you work in a critical need area (NOT THE PDX METRO AREA) and you are a full time staff member, this federal loan forgiveness is available.
SCHEDULE:At this point, school is 2 days a week. Very convenient if you have a flexible employer. I currently work for Legacy Health Systems and my boss was able to work around my schedule temporarily and through the first term. I am happy with that.
FUTURE EMPLOYMENT: Most companies want an RN from an NLN accredited school (which INCLUDES ITT). The state of Oregon is extremely rigid in its accreditation and licensing requirements Nursing programs. I am sure the education will the very good as per Oregon standards. I know Legacy has a NEW GRAD internship program for new RN grads... The requirements are 3.5 GPA as well as obtaining your BSN within 5 yrs of date of hire. Now in working for Legacy for the last several years, this company is EXCELLENT!! There are a couple of hundred applicants (new grads) who applied to the last RN internship. They are having a new grad intership application currently. It is NOT ALWAYS OPEN.... You can go to legacyhealth.org for more info.
So... I hope all of this helps and if there are any questions, feel free to comment of message me!
