Kaplan college in San Diego RN program

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Hi, I will be starting the RN program with Kaplan as soon as we relocate. My husband's in the Military so the wait lists at other colleges turned me away from them.

Do any of you go to Kaplan? If so, how did it work out for the student loans and stuff , I am confused. It seems as if tuition is around 45000 for the couple years of the program. I am eligible for the pell grant and the military grant of 3000 per year. But would the loans be able to cover everything else since it's a vocational school more than a traditional college? Thanks!

Yeah, I am so worried that the course load will be too crazy. They told me I'll be taking A&P with in a month's time? That's just INSANE! I'm gonna loose my head I think. haha.

What color scrubs do the RN students wear? Every time I am there I see like a rainbow and I don't know how to decode it. haha.

But, yeah. I had my meeting with the DON and have been warned of the all over the place last minute schedules, which is fine. I can handle that. I am fortunate enough to have my husband to pay for all my living expenses and whatnot. So, that will be in my benefit I am sure.

i'm jealous...my husband had to take care of the kids...when i started my baby had just barely turned a year old...thank goodness it's almost over...make sure to stay organized, that was the worst thing for me because i literally had no time to get organized..keep back up copies of everything (my laptop crashed on me during the final weeks of my 3rd semester and nothing could be recovered)...network with students who you know are focused (friends aren't always the best study buddies or the most reliable)...work ahead if you find yourself with extra time (this will give you extra time to actually study and free up time during the 1 wk breaks between semesters to spend quality time with family and friends.

the last semester is the busiest...not the hardest, but there is just so much to do...i recommend that you start your portfolio asap...this is something that is turned in during leadership...basically cover letter, resume, letters of recommendation(on letterhead; minimum 3), professional references, volunteer service (minimum 8 hours required during last semester; no 2 students can use the same not-for-profit org.), CEU's (these you can start on as a student on Medscape and later change your title from nursing student to RN upon passing NCLEX)...and other things that shouldn't be as time consuming...everything needs to be in sheet protectors within a portfolio with dividers...actually turns out really nice..

another thing...make sure you have your skills checkoff list with you so that you can have your clinical instructors check of items that you complete (something i didn't do, but i have work experience so I wasn't too concerned)

if there is anything else you would like to know, feel free to ask...

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Specializes in Emergency.

the last semester is the busiest...not the hardest, but there is just so much to do...i recommend that you start your portfolio asap...this is something that is turned in during leadership...basically cover letter, resume, letters of recommendation(on letterhead; minimum 3), professional references, volunteer service (minimum 8 hours required during last semester; no 2 students can use the same not-for-profit org.), CEU's (these you can start on as a student on Medscape and later change your title from nursing student to RN upon passing NCLEX)...and other things that shouldn't be as time consuming...everything needs to be in sheet protectors within a portfolio with dividers...actually turns out really nice..

woo hoo! this should be easy. I had to put together something like this for my Bachelor's program. I can just pull it up and revise to make it all current. I'll just have to find a NPO, but that will be easy. 8 hours is nothing.

About the computer crashing... been there, done that, made that mistake. I have a backup drive on my main computer so, everything I do here on it is saved several times a day. We have 4 computers here too.. WHY? I don't know, but we do. LOL.

So, do you actually get free time? Like will I have time to myself or will I just be going nuts studying 24/7 and sleeping when I can?

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woo hoo! this should be easy. I had to put together something like this for my Bachelor's program. I can just pull it up and revise to make it all current. I'll just have to find a NPO, but that will be easy. 8 hours is nothing.

About the computer crashing... been there, done that, made that mistake. I have a backup drive on my main computer so, everything I do here on it is saved several times a day. We have 4 computers here too.. WHY? I don't know, but we do. LOL.

So, do you actually get free time? Like will I have time to myself or will I just be going nuts studying 24/7 and sleeping when I can?

we have multiple computers here, but i was pretty limited since i was hardly at home...i would say that you'll definitely have free time since you're lucky enough not to have to work...i mean, some people struggle more than others..i think that is the main reason they decide to accept some students over others...your degree shows that you will follow through to completion...testing scores demonstrate how well you test...letters of recommendations show off the strengths you have that you might not readily see in yourself and also how your personality may fit into the nursing field.

although we attend a for-profit school...the only way for the school to continue to make a profit is by spitting out quality nurses that will be successful in passing the NCLEX and continue to be successful in whatever route they decide to follow thereafter...since most of us do the research before deciding on putting in such a large investment of money and time...

i'll admit that i never opened up my med/surg book during the 2nd (really 3rd) semeter or for this last semester...i would have liked to have the time, but it was almost impossible with my schedule...i don't recommend trying it...make sure to set aside time for your husband...that will save you some drama...remind him that there will be times that you are going to be so stressed out that you may unload on him...it will happen whether you like it or not...so, just prepare him...

some people i know either bought an extra med/surg book or cut theirs out...it's just so big...that way you can bring only the chapters you need when you want to the gym or out of town...i know someone who went on a cruise during the break and said it was worth it since no one else seemed to feel the urge to utilize the library on the ship and they were still able to get quality time with their significant other...

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Specializes in Emergency.

i'll admit that i never opened up my med/surg book during the 2nd (really 3rd) semeter or for this last semester...i would have liked to have the time, but it was almost impossible with my schedule...i don't recommend trying it...make sure to set aside time for your husband...that will save you some drama...remind him that there will be times that you are going to be so stressed out that you may unload on him...it will happen whether you like it or not...so, just prepare him...

hehe, that's another lucky thing for me. He's a Marine and will be gone most of the time when I'm in school. For sure I'll miss him, BUT having the alone time to study will be good.

Thanks for all your advice. It was good stuff. Best I've gotten on here so far. Everyone seems to be so vague.

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hehe, that's another lucky thing for me. He's a Marine and will be gone most of the time when I'm in school. For sure I'll miss him, BUT having the alone time to study will be good.

Thanks for all your advice. It was good stuff. Best I've gotten on here so far. Everyone seems to be so vague.

LOL...at least there won't be any distractions except for the ones you come up with to get you away from studying...for awhile i was baking cookies...over the cookie phase...today it's allnurses for me...i just can't get myself to study or do any of the required assignments that are due...i figure i'm going to pass regardless...maybe not with the grades i want...but passing is still going to allow me to take the boards....

I know what you mean about people being vague...i found this site when i was researching about the school...about the TEAS...and so I'm happy to be of help to you since I know how it was to be so completely unsure of what to expect..

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Specializes in Emergency.

oh and one last question for my vanity. What color scrubs will the make me wear at school? I know white for clinical, but what about for class?

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my group is in teal....the group behind us is all mixed, but primarily burgandy....i heard that they were changing the color again, but i can't be certain...for clinicals, it was all over the place...first clinical rotation was teal tops with white bottoms...after that, it was all teal or whatever color for the class since they wanted to be able to distinguish the ADN from LVN students (LVN students wear all white to clinical)...

with all white shoes...of course

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Mareeh77 did you say you get one week off between semesters? How long are semesters anyways? I start Kaplan with Emilynn09 this Jan, and I too have gotten really vague answers especially from my admissions rep.

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Mareeh77 did you say you get one week off between semesters? How long are semesters anyways? I start Kaplan with Emilynn09 this Jan, and I too have gotten really vague answers especially from my admissions rep.

the semesters are about 4 months long...with the one week off before the start of a new semester

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the instructors will usually send out your reading assignments before the next semester starts (this is only in regards to the actual nursing courses)...don't count on getting your schedules right away...some give them out earlier than others

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Mareeh77,

Hi..I was just curious if you plan to get your BSN through Kaplan? Also have you been looking into any jobs?

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Mareeh77,

Hi..I was just curious if you plan to get your BSN through Kaplan? Also have you been looking into any jobs?

i haven't decided yet...i need to still finish up some lower division classes, so i'm planning on doing those online w/ community colleges...i'm trying, as much as possible, to keep cost down...i'm currently working at a local hospital, but i'm still planning on applying at other hospitals..most of the larger hospitals require license in hand by start date in order to be considered for an open position...i'm hoping to be crosstrained to work in ER/ICU...i stil plan on staying on at the hospital that i am at, if only because i enjoy the people i work with...that can be hard to find...

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