Must decide: UPenn, Hopkins or state school?

New CCU RN · Apr 10, 2003

Is your major going to be nursing?

healingheart · Apr 10, 2003

Depending on the school, it's approximately a 2 yr. program for my BSN (since I already have my BA). I then have the option of applying for the MSN portion but may decide to get some work experience before I continue. Ultimately though I want to complete graduate training.

Katnip, RN · Apr 10, 2003

I got to UMB. I know a few people who are at Hopkins and say it is absolutey love it. They're extrememly supportive of their nursing students there.

Hopkins accepted me there and I decided I couldn't afford a $40K debt on gradutation. Still, I regret not going there.

subec · Apr 10, 2003

Honestly, I would go to Hopkins. I know the debt is extraordinary, but come on.....it's HOPKINS!!!!!

I'm looking at applying there for graduate school. I have no idea how I'm going to afford the tuition, but if I get accepted I'll do just about anything to get there. Good luck with your decision.

Katnip, RN · Apr 10, 2003

well, keep in mind Hopkins' reputation is based on its research. I've heard some pretty bad reports from patients who were there for more ordinary things. Unless they were really high-acuity, they were treated rather poorly. Much like my friends at the Cleveland Clinic. I know nurses who also work there and only plan to do one year for the "reputation."

jeannet83 · Apr 12, 2003

Healing Heart, Go for the cheapest accredited nursing school you can. It is definitely not worth 40k to go to Johns Hopkins ( unless you have tons of money and money is not a problem!). I worked at Hopkins for three years back in the 80's and although it is a nice institution, it is still a very medical (doctor) oriented facility. Also their nursing program is not very old. I believe it started up in 1994. In my opinion, a BSN is a BSN and nurses are very much in demand these days such that it doesn't really matter where you graduated from. You could always check the US News and World Report to see how the three schools compare and if any are in the top twenty. But if you have plans to go on for a Masters degree, save your money and go cost-effective.

I ended up with quite a few loans when I graduated with my BSN 20 years ago from a private university and in retrospect there were times I wish I had just gone to a state university and graduated with no loans!

Well, whatever your decision, good luck with your endeavors!! Let us know what you decide! Jeanne :)

healingheart · Apr 17, 2003

I've almost decided on UPenn. Had a conversation this a.m. with student services and got a good feeling from them - they have strong emphasis on leadership which speaks to my desire to create my own niche within nursing. Either education would be great, but because of location (Philly seems like a neat city) and opportunity to learn about midwifery (one of my many interests), I think UPenn is the one to choose. Of course, it's hard to say no to a name like "Johns Hopkins" but in the end I think UPenn will provide me with more skills, resources, goals, etc. Any current students or alumni out there to provide feedback??

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 17, 2003

UPenn is one of the finest schools in the country, so I am pretty sure you will get a good education there. I recommend doing what feels best for you "in your gut." If you can handle the finances of UPenn, I would probably go there.

The state school would probably also be a good choice. If you are planning to go to graduate school anyway, I believe the quality of your graduate school is more important than the quality of your undergraduate program. A "mid-level" undergraduate education can be built upon by a good graduate program. However, a mediocre graduate program leaves you with a mediocre "finish" to your education.

As for Hopkins, the institution has a great reputation for its medical school and medical research. It is not as well-known for its nursing school. (University of MD, also in Baltimore, is consistently ranked among the top nursing schools in the nation.) That's not to say that Hopkins doesn't have a good nursing school -- just that it is not very prominent. I would hesitate to spend so much money to go to a school based on the medical research reputation. As I assume you know, medicine and nursing are two very different disciplines.

You'll be needing your money for graduate school -- where you will want to chose the best you can afford.

Just my $.02,

llg (RN, Phd)

full moon · Oct 13, 2008

Hi,

I know this is an old posting, but would like to follow up with you about the nursing school you decided on. Please private message me.

Thank you