National University - Desperate Enough to Pay Their Price Tag?

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Hello fellow pre-nurses!

I live in San Diego, and am only a few short months away from sending out my first round of application letters. My current prereq grades are : Physio, A, Anatomy, B and Micro, C (I am petitioning to retake this). I will be taking the TEAS this summer. I have a BA, and am CPR trained. I currently work as a caregiver for a quadriplegic, and was previously a caregiver for a stroke patient. I am also in the DSPS (disability support) program. I feel like besides my Micro grade (grrr!) I have a somewhat OK chance of being accepted somewhere down here, but there are so many unknowns. The local CC's are slammed with competitive applicants, and I don't have a good feeling about being accepted there. I feel like my only chance right now is National U. They are pricey, but I feel like they cater to people in my boat, who are willing to bite the bullet and pay their insane price tag in order to finish earlier. What would you do if you were accepted into NU and denied admission at all CC's? Would you wait for the cheaper program, or just go for the expensive but available one?

Also, what do you think my chances of getting in ANYWHERE are? :( Feeling discouraged and afraid this morning. I know I am not alone.

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The world is uncertain. I am not sure the cost of a for-profit edu is worth it.

Back when there was both a shortage of nurses and a surplus of students NU and the like were great , although expensive, choices. But now... Well that job isn't waiting for you anymore, and although you are making yourself more competitive by getting a BSN, I can't help but believe that given the massive amount of BSN grads out there that you may encounter a great deal of discrimination based on the perception of for profit schools.

There is no easy answer anymore, no safeguards even in highly respected state schools, but at least with state schools the debt isn't crippling in the event that a high paying job cannot be secured.

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Hi bean tree!

I couldn't empathize with you more with regards to pre-reqs and trying to get into a CC.

I have been at this for over a year now, and already have a BS degree in addition to 4 pre reqs that I have taken.

I have found that EVERY school requires different pre reqs and the more I have tried to get in, the more I am being told that there is still more I need! :p

There is a 20K price difference between the CC and the private schools, so obviously the CC would be my first choice, the problem however is that I may complete EVERYTHING they require and STILL not get accepted!

I have decided that IF I get into Everest (which only requires you to score high on the HESI as well as GPA -NO pre reqs.) AND I can take out enough loans then I am GOING FOR IT! The longer I wait, the more money I invest in pre reqs and the more time I spend waiting I could be out in the work force working as an RN!

Don't give up, there are other ways to make this happen if you want it bad enough!!

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Thank you both for your responses. There are so many different ways to view the costs associated with waiting vs. not. I know that by the time I am attempting to join the workforce, there will likely not be a shiny new nursing job waiting for me. Thankfully, I will have other options for income (I work for myself), but it would be heartbreaking to not be able to put my new RN degree to use. Also, the loans scare me to death.

This is what I want, though - and I'm not ready to give up the fight. I will also never be foolish or desperate enough to consider a factory such as Kaplan or U. of Phoenix. NU is my last choice, but might be my only option. Ironically, this morning I found some discussion board postings from current NU students from the SD campus griping about their experiences there and the cost. NU doesn't feel like the right choice, but this isn't a "fair" playing field anymore and I've got to take whatever opportunity comes my way and make the best of it.

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I am in San Diego as well - and although the CCs may be quite competitive with the point systems, you will never know until you apply!! You may not have a 4.0 but you DO have other healthcare experience that will contribute to your total of points. If you are semi-fluent in another language, or even show financial/life hardships - bam! That's a few more points...

In my opinion, apply to every CC you can - and wait to hear back from those before reaching out to NU. I went to NU's information session last year because I was considering just skipping competition and going there - but the with the price and not-so-great reputation (from the mouths of DONs and hiring NMs), I was more than willing to hold out for a CC admission.

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I'd like to hold out too, but I'm not getting any younger, and I want to tackle this beast while I've still got the energy and focus to do so. ...And before we start having children. :-)

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Update: I just had a meeting this morning at their Rancho Bernardo campus. What a joke. I felt like I was entering a used car dealership. The admission advisors were sleazy, and the "campus" had medical equipment scattered like a children's playroom. I don't know what to do, or think. The advisor said that 50/200 applicants are accepted four times a year. I'm still going to apply elsewhere, but I feel discouraged and lost.

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You HAVE to feel good about where you will be attending school, so for now keep that one as a plan B, or C and KEEP LOOKING!

There are too many good schools out there to settle and for you to take this giant step to go to school to become a nurse you want to make sure you give yourself the best opportunity out there.

Don't give up, it's ok to stop and rethink your plan, but then you have to keep putting one foot in front of the other until you reach your goal!!

:) Jen

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