LVN w/ 8.5yrs...dying for RN school

[Junebug903, LPN]

My husband is pretty adamant that I go to state school or a community college. He is getting 100% military disability and that will also cover my tuition, but not my books.

However, I really want to go to Kaplan College here in San Diego. I want to get in and get out. Yes, its expensive, but getting in is so much simpler and more feasible.

Community colleges here in Southern California have a 1-3 year waiting list. I have 7 prerequisites to complete before I can even apply to a program and also have to take the TEAS test. Kaplan is just easier to get into for me. Kaplan starts out as $54K, then to $42K for the step-up program, then $1200 less for each prereq done...I have 3, so $3600. I also get a 30% military discount.....so it will cost me $29K. My husband is against it...I understand the community college way is the cheapest, but that will take me 1.5-2 years just to get my remanding prereqs completed.....THEN I can apply to a program. It is so discouraging! HELP HELP HELP please!

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

Do what your husband suggests. Don't be short sighted.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

It would be better in the long run to go to the community college. I know many managers who won't hire from for profit schools because the students are so ill equipped when they come out. I know it seems like forever but the time will fly by.

Talk to the school. Maybe you can go on and apply. If the wait list is long, you can sit on the list while you finish pre-reqs. It's ridiculous to pay that mug money for school when you can go to the community college for free.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

Did you also see that Kaplan's NCLEX pass rate was 63%. Thats low! That's something else to look into. What's the pass rate at the community college?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I have to agree with PP's regarding the wisdom of choosing CC over a ridiculously overpriced commercial school. In addition - as one-half of a married couple, the debt you take on will belong to both of you. Your hubs has made it clear that he does not want to do this.

[ShirleyRex]

With Kaplan, you will be an RN in debt $28K about four to five years from today. With community college, you will be an RN 4-5 years from now, with 0 tuition debt.

Two extra years before starting your program is a $28K difference (not accounting for interest). In the long run, two years of not being a nurse won't matter, but nearly $30,000 of debt will.

Please take that NCLEX passage rate into account – to be blunt, I don't think a passage rate that low should be in consideration for your time, money, and effort. I'm in LA, started my nursing pre-reqs in Fall 2012, and am starting school next month, so I definitely understand the long preparation process here in California.

[Swellz]

I graduated from college $64,000 in debt. My favorite pastime is wondering what I would have done with all the money I now give my loan companies if I had not made such poor and shortsighted financial decisions. Maybe $30,000 doesn't seem like a lot now, but it is. Do not do that to yourself. It is not enjoyable.

[StocktonNurse, BSN, LVN, RN, EMT-B]

Just do it...opportunity is knocking and $29k is nothing! After that you can go to the state college to complete your BSN. I would do it in a heart beat...especially with that discount!!. You'll be older and will regret not jumping into the RN program. Think about it like this...currently you are losing money as an lvn. Why? Because you could already be an RN making good money. His service connection will help both you guys out and you don't have to worry about going to school. In addition, you won't have to pay your tuition till you are done with school and 6 months out. By that time you will be an RN working making good money, and you can just pay that loan off easily. Then hurry up and move on to get your MSN...maybe afterward you can find a program that will take you from the ADN to MSN/NP. Just considerate...plus with your husbands VA benefits you might be able to get into somewhere like CSU Long Beach and go for free and get your masters.

Don't blow your chance to hurry up and get your RN.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

Think about it like this...currently you are losing money as an lvn. Why? Because you could already be an RN making good money.

Don't blow your chance to hurry up and get your RN.

But you will also be in debt and going against your husband's wishes. Like someone else said, the debt will be his as well.

Kaplan is not one of the approved nursing programs in my state so you wouldn't be able to sit for boards or get a license. What if you end up moving out of state to a state that won't let accept your schooling. Then you are in debt with no job. And again, look at the NCLEX pass rate.

[Red Kryptonite]

Super expensive plus crappy pass rate seems like a very bad deal. Listen to your husband. Living within your means may seem harder, but when misfortune strikes (as it does for all of us at some point) you'll be grateful you did.

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Good day:

For me, you go to a good nursing school that gives you the greatest opportunity to pass the NCLEX the very first time. Given KAPLAN's extremely low pass rate (good schools are 80% on up), even if it was free, I would be thinking for a very long time because it would involve wasting a lot of my time. There are reasons for such an abysmal NCLEX first time pass rate. That should be enough of a red flag before even the debt.

Thank you.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

One word, NO!!!!

First, you and your husband are a team. This big decision needs to be made together.

Second, don't even give a school like Kaplan the time of day. They just want your money and lots of it without regard to whether or not you can pass NCLEX. It's a waste of time and money.