LLU or CSULB

[daitrong]

So i just did my interview today at LLU and was told i was a high candidate to be chosen for the BSN program. I am also applying for CSULB's spring 2010 nursing program. Here's my problem. If i get accepted into LLU, the program starts in September 09. I won't know if i'll get accepted into the program at CSULB until at least Oct-Nov 2009. I am leaning towards CSULB because i live 15 away from the school and the program cost approx. 17,000 dollars (LLU cost 54,000, not including living cost). What i like about LLU is that their school is more personal, the people i've talked to are very nice and seem to really care about me. This is the complete opposite impression of how i felt talking to the people in CSULB's nursing dept.

Overall GPA: 3.55-3.6

Sciene GPA: 4.0

Teas: 87%

My Overall GPA is low because of my first year in college. I was young and naive about life and made a lot of mistakes that year; however, the past 3 years i have got A's in all my classes.

I have a couple of questions.

1. Is LLU's nursing program difficult to get a 4.0 gpa? I know that their grading scales is based on a (-) and (+) system. This makes it a lot harder to get a 4.0 at the end of the term. This is the biggest turn off for me for LLU.

2. Same question as above, but for CSULB's nursing program. Is this program hard to get 4.0 gpa? I know that a A- and A+ are the same. I like this because it gives me more lee-way in getting 4.0.

3. How are my chances at getting into CSULB's BSN program?

4. How would my GPA be calculated at CSULB? Would only the classes that are relevant to the BSN program count toward my GPA, or my overall GPA would be the GPA i begin with at CSULB? I ask this question because my overall GPA would jump substantially if only the classes needed for the BSN program count towards my grade.

Any input would be of great help. I have done a lot of research on both schools, but really need input on those who actually have attended either schools. Please help!

[Seyma]

Your chances of getting into the nursing program are really good. You have about the same GPAs and TEAS test score as I did and I got admitted into the Fall2009 program. Here is a link on the statistics of people who get into the program. This might help.

http://www.csulb.edu/colleges/chhs/departments/nursing/docs/ApplicationPoolStatsSpring2009.pdf

And one more thing that might ease your worries. They don't count your overall GPA. They just count your GPA for the 4 core classes which is your critical thinking, oral communication, quantitative reasoning (math), and english 100.

[daitrong]

Thanks Seyma, i just recently realized that. With that in mind, my overall points for CSULB jumped up considerably.

[Seyma]

That's great. As far as the website goes for the nursing program at Cal State Long Beach, its the greatest. They give you a list of prereqs you need, estimated cost for the program, sample course schedule for each semester, as well as the statistics for those that are admitted to the program. I'm not sure if you've looked into that already but if you would like me to send you the links just let me know.

[CharlaRN]

I didn't go to either of those schools (I went to LBCC) - however, I worked for 5 years at Loma Linda, and can tell you that the majority of the people in that hospital are just plain nice people - nurses, doctors, RT's, etc. It is a whole different environment mainly because so many there are SDA (not required to work there); at first it was an eye-opener to see doctors and nurses have no problem praying with families or telling a joke that doesn't have to be "dirty" to be funny. I worked PICU, and, even with the stress, the nurses had eachother's back. In my 25 years of nursing, I have to say that I've never met a nicer group of nurses than at LLU. Since you're new, it might not be an issue with you - but, I thoroughly enjoyed (and needed) to be around people who were "just plain nice".

Plus - I was pretty impressed with the knowledge base of the LLU Grads.:wink2: