Marymount Accelerated BSN - Spring 2010

mhinds12 · Oct 29, 2009

Hey Alex!

I've just been accepted for Spring 2010 as well. SO EXCITED! I applied for second review on Friday. I definitely want to find some more of our classmates and trade info.

sbrentzel · Nov 2, 2009

I just got accepted as well!! Going to send in my deposit this week. I will be commuting from Maryland (about 30 mins east of D.C.) but I am always looking for study buddies! Having someone to study with got me through all of my science pre-reqs! Congrats everyone.

mhinds12 · Nov 3, 2009

study buddies are always good. I don't know. I wrote out all of the numbers for what this program will truly cost with books-lab fees-and every other hidden fee they have (I love how costs weren't sent with our package). It's expensive. Coming from individuals I've talked to...I'm really not sure this school is worth what they charge. I can't say for sure, I haven't gone yet. This is coming from others. This is not a ranking nursing school by any means. I want to go, and there is nothing more appealing then being done next year-- but what do you guys think? Is the cost really worth it? Obviously it's a personal choice, clearly. Just want to hear justification from others willing to spend 50-60 grand total for their education at a school with no true reputation considering half of the people I talk about it to say, "where is that, I've never heard of that school." (PS- I live in Maryland!!!)

Here's what I've heard thus far....I'm just venting...

-Disorganized

-The program is too fast paced for its own good, meaning they lack the organization to move at such a pace

-they lost 1/2 of my application already and can't even give me a yes/no response on a general chemistry course filling the chemistry requirement, which it should coming from University of Maryland (REALLY!!!, THAT'S YOUR JOB!)

-professors not that helpful

ahhhhh please give me some GOOD feedback on marymount since my faith is wearing thin.

soon2bnurstudent, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Nov 3, 2009

I've been accepted for Spring 2010 also and I will be sending in my deposit tomorrow. IMHO, all schools have "hidden" costs and all BSN programs are expensive, regardless of the reputation of the school. For me, reputation is not a priority. The bottom-line is about getting my BSN and considering how difficult it is to get into a 2nd Degree BSN program, especially right now, I consider myself fortunate and will gladly go to MU. One of my favorite quotes is "A man's reputation is what other people think of him; his character is what he really is." I think this is true of any person and any institution. Take Johns Hopkins....a school with a great reputation. First of all, in terms of cost, be prepared to shell out even more bucks for a JHU BSN. It's 60K before the hidden costs and their program moves even more quickly; it's just 13.5 months. I considered Hopkins but all the student feedback I received and/or read was to go somewhere less expensive. The general theme was that for all the reputation, the education was not worth anymore than a BSN from anywhere else and nobody (meaning employers) cared that the graduates got their BSN from Hopkins. The bottom line is going through an accredited program and passing the NCLEX. When I go on to pursue graduate coursework perhaps I will concern myself more with reputation, but personally, I am thankful to have been accepted at MU and I look forward to going there. The small class size, individual attention and the personal touch I experienced during the application process has made me secure in my choice. That's my 2 cents.

soon2bnurstudent, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Nov 3, 2009

BTW, Marymount is the only school I applied to and I do not intend to apply anywhere else, based on my acceptance. I just wanted to clarify because I don't want to give anyone the impression that I am picking MU above other schools I have been accepted to. I am just excited to have gotten into the program and am comfortable with going there. I also hope that no offense was taken by anyone who is pursuing admission or considering accepting an offer from any other schools because that was not my intent. I think anyone who has been offered a spot in any BSN program deserves a round of applause :yeah:and I wish everyone well!

mhinds12 · Nov 3, 2009

Although I mentioned it, my point wasn't supposed to be reputation. I wasn't trying to say you should pay a lot just because a school has a reputation, I'm saying how could it even come close to justifiable when a program has no reputation. I thought about Hopkins until I heard the COA was 90,000...I laughed so hard and walked out. Give me a break. Georgetown is the same. All I'm saying is....what about in state schools where tuition is $7,941 per YEAR!

Take University of Maryland Baltimore, one of the best nursing schools in the nation...that's their cost if you're in state. That program takes 24 months instead of 16. So for an 8 month difference, a little over a half of a year, is a $29,000 tuition gap truly worth it. BOTTOM LINE.

I really liked Marymount when I went to visit the campus and I know for a fact that they have a great NCLEX pass rate (100%) and many students LOVE it. I guess I'm just taken back by the tuition difference for a program that gets you a BSN only 8 months faster than traditional ones with more reimbursement plans. That's awesome that you're going there. I'm not saying I'm definitely not, I just think it's worth talking about because student loans are something many of us have to think about.

mhinds12 · Nov 3, 2009

and also--I'm not trying to offend anyone that's decided for marymount or any other school for that matter. I think my acceptance was the happiest day of my life. I cried for god sakes!! I too only applied here.

soon2bnurstudent, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Nov 3, 2009

I understand now and I definitely agree with you on the private institution vs. in-state tuition difference. I definitely thought about UMB, both because it is a great program and also because of the cost. The 8 month differential was not a big deal in and of itself but since I had not applied yet, I figured that if I did get in I would be entering in Fall 2010. Then, my projected graduation time would not have been until September 2012 as opposed to May 2011 if I go to MU. It was somewhat 6 of one, half a dozen of another...MU is more expensive but I would be employable about a year earlier. Once I added in the possibility that I potentially wouldn't get accepted to UMB, it made going to MU a clear choice for me. I guess despite the cost, I am not willing to risk putting off pursuit of my BSN now in order to wait and find out if I get into a less expensive program. I think most of us have student loan concerns...I just keep the faith that God will make a way for me somehow. In any case, I pray that ultimately it all works out for everyone!

mhinds12 · Nov 3, 2009

Definitely. If you want it that bad, you'll find a way to pay it off. It's totally doable. I've decided to decline acceptance. I'm devastated. I think I just cried for three hours debating it...make that five. Now I have to put everything on hold until Maryland in the fall..god, it seems like forever. NO- IT IS FOREVER!

I had an apartment and everything with a lease ready to be signed on Friday!!! My parents are both bankers/investors and kind of put everything out on the table price-wise and when I saw the whole figure (since I'd have to pay rent/living/food/transportation/books etc) I was sick to my stomach. I think it was knowing I'd have to pay $800/month for the next ten years of my life after graduation that got me....I just, can't. If that means graduating one year later overall to save myself such a burden, I will do so...even though I think it's the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I'm sure I'll make harder ones in life... oh well.

So happy for anyone going...actually I'm jealous!! You'll all be starting your career in 8 weeks... that's amazing and so awesome. I wish you the best of luck. You'll be great nurses very soon :yeah:

mother_matters · Nov 4, 2009

Glad to find this thread. I've been accepted into the MU Accelerated BSN for Spring 2010 (hip hip hurray!) but am still waiting to hear about the CNL program at UMB. Comparing the two programs has been pretty gut-wrenching for me. On the one hand, UMB is cheap, nationally ranked, and would give me a Masters degree (for which there is much greater borrowing potential). On the other hand, Marymount has been MUCH more responsive and supportive through the admissions process (and future employers may be more apt to recognize the BSN compared to the MS-CNL). The UMB CNL would mean commuting to Baltimore every day through the rain, sleet, snow, and hail (I live in Bethesda) with Baltimore clinical assignments. MU would be a much more humane commute with clinical assignments in the geographic area where I hope to actually work upon graduation. There's also my family (husband and six year old son) to consider. How much potential family time is lost sitting in traffic between Baltimore and Bethesda (though I'm sure it's no picnic getting over the Chain Bridge or the American Legion bridge during rush hour either)? UMB is not expected to release their decisions for at least another week---maybe longer. It was easy for me to rule out Hopkins and Georgetown for the same cost reasons cited by others--I didn't even bother applying (though I will definitely give them a closer look when it's time to explore MSN programs). However, UMB CNL vs MU Accelerated BSN is a much tougher analysis. Does anyone have a sense of private loan availability when you're pursuing a second Bachelor's degree? The Stafford loans don't even begin to put a dent in the MU expenses. Any other veterans out there who will be using the post 9/11 GI Bill? Thanks for "listening" to my vent----all of this will be finalized one way or another within the next few weeks. All of this angst will be a distant memory after we pass the NCLEX!

mhinds12 · Nov 5, 2009

Hi! Let me just point out...if you live in Bethesda and truly believe that commuting to Northern VA will be faster than Baltimore, think again. Commutes are a huge factor considering they take up study time and quality family time. Do you have a day that you could maybe try out the commute during the morning for Baltimore and another day for VA? I am 99% positive the VA commute would be worse because of rush hour travel directions. Most people are going South to commute and you would be going North. Don't take my word for it, seriously try it out a few days and you'll be surprised. I'm a UMCP graduate, so I'm partial to Maryland...as you can see from my other posts. I highly disagree with MU's costs. I just don't think it's worth it IMHO.

How come you didn't apply to the Spring UMD BSN?