Need your input! Trade school or Scottsdale CC

elkpark · Mar 4, 2008

I don't know anything specifically about Apollo College, but please be aware that there are many private/proprietary schools out there which offer nursing programs which meet the state BON requirements for licensure, but, because they are not accredited by the organizations that accredit "regular" colleges and universities, none of the courses are transferable into other schools if you wish to return to school and continue your education at a later date.

Please note that I'm not saying you wouldn't necessarily get a good nursing education at a school like that; just that the credits would not be transferable.

If you have any idea that you would wish to "move up" in nursing later on, please investigate the accreditation of any private school you're considering and make sure that there won't be any problem with transferring credits to another school in the future (Call me paranoid :), but I would be inclined to not take the school's word for it, but would call other colleges and universities in the area and ask them if they accept credits from the trade school ...).

Even if you think now that you're sure you never want to go back to school in the future, things change and it would definitely be better to leave that option open for yourself ... :) Best wishes for your journey!

Nurse9481 · Mar 4, 2008

Thanks for your input. I would def. want to pursue my education as a nurse and Apollo college only transfers to UofP. I don't think you can be a CNS thru UofP, right?

I might just be willing to bite the bullet and wait.

Thanks again :)

Cursed Irishman · Mar 4, 2008

from a logistics side: why waste all that money on a private school? take the year to do micro, take bio160 for a review of a&p and use scottsdale for all their worth and completely avoid the hassle of extreme amounts of debt and worrying if your credits will transfer...so you have to wait a year, big deal, we've got 40+ year olds in my class

sassiebaz · Mar 4, 2008

I'd go to SCC if I were you......

bonitamiaRN · Mar 4, 2008

from a logistics side: why waste all that money on a private school? take the year to do micro, take bio160 for a review of a&p and use scottsdale for all their worth and completely avoid the hassle of extreme amounts of debt and worrying if your credits will transfer...so you have to wait a year, big deal, we've got 40+ year olds in my class

I'd go to SCC if I were you......

I would agree with these two. I will be 40 this year and am on the waiting list for MCCD Nursing program. I am not feeling at all intimidated by that, it's an awesome challenge.

West Valley · Mar 4, 2008

I'd go to SCC if I were you......

Ditto!

MassagetoRN · Mar 5, 2008

I don't know anything specifically about Apollo College, but please be aware that there are many private/proprietary schools out there which offer nursing programs which meet the state BON requirements for licensure, but, because they are not accredited by the organizations that accredit "regular" colleges and universities, none of the courses are transferable into other schools if you wish to return to school and continue your education at a later date.

Please note that I'm not saying you wouldn't necessarily get a good nursing education at a school like that; just that the credits would not be transferable.

This is totally untrue. First of all, its been said many times over and over, that each of these schools is accredited differently. Apollo has one of the highest out there, ACICS, which they just attained. The credits do and will transfer to a variety of institution. Also, most schools in AZ and across the country have an RN to BSN bridge. As long as you are an RN you can get a bachelor's in approx. a year. They don't care where you got the RN.

Having said all that, Apollo vs. MCCCD is definitely a decision only you can make. It is alot of money, but time is money. If you aren't on the MCCCD wait list, its a 3 semester wait, maybe longer with their new revisions. Personally, if its been that long since A&P and you got in for March, then I would go for Apollo. Thats my 2 cents.

boru · Mar 5, 2008

Kiki,

1st I guess I would ask how do you know you'll get into Scotsdale CC in about a year? Is it because of your employer's affiliation/agreement with them? If so, I would agree with what most everyone else told you on this thread... I'd take micro and wait till next year. If you know for sure that you're in next year, I'd go that route.

Would it hurt you to take A&P over? No, it wouldn't hurt... but many people pass nursing school just fine w/o having A&P in the last five years.

It also wouldn't hurt to save almost 40k going the CC route...

can you make up 40k as an RN in a year vs the year you're waiting?... of course you can - but you'll end up giving it to Apollo anyway.

also think about net (take home) RN salary vs student loan interest...

it is an individual choice - but you sound like you're in a good position to save some money and go to a good school.

Nurse9481 · Mar 5, 2008

Thanks all for your input. I spoke with someone at Scottsdale CC and they said the wait time for scottsdale healthcare employees is a 1-2 semester wait. I meet with someone in a couple of weeks.

Again I really appreciate your input and thoughts!

elkpark · Mar 5, 2008

I don't know anything specifically about Apollo College, but please be aware that there are many private/proprietary schools out there which offer nursing programs which meet the state BON requirements for licensure, but, because they are not accredited by the organizations that accredit "regular" colleges and universities, none of the courses are transferable into other schools if you wish to return to school and continue your education at a later date.
Please note that I'm not saying you wouldn't necessarily get a good nursing education at a school like that; just that the credits would not be transferable.
This is totally untrue. First of all, its been said many times over and over, that each of these schools is accredited differently. Apollo has one of the highest out there, ACICS, which they just attained. The credits do and will transfer to a variety of institution. Also, most schools in AZ and across the country have an RN to BSN bridge. As long as you are an RN you can get a bachelor's in approx. a year. They don't care where you got the RN.
Having said all that, Apollo vs. MCCCD is definitely a decision only you can make. It is alot of money, but time is money. If you aren't on the MCCCD wait list, its a 3 semester wait, maybe longer with their new revisions. Personally, if its been that long since A&P and you got in for March, then I would go for Apollo. Thats my 2 cents.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but my post is not "totally untrue." I made a point of saying I didn't know about Apollo's accreditation situation, specifically, but was just cautioning in general, about proprietary/trade schools, that it would be wise to check on the accreditation/transferability issue. There are several older threads on this board about people who are finding out, now that they're trying to return to school, that they are unable to transfer any credits from the private trade/vocational school they attended originally, and they are very unhappy about that situation and in a v. tough spot re: continuing their education. So, it's simply (always) a good idea to be clear about what you're getting into before you commit time and money to a particular school. It was certainly not my intention to diss Apollo College ...

Also, I don't know what your experience is with BSN completion programs (your profile screen says you are a pre-nursing student), but it is not simply a matter of "RN + 1 year = BSN". Many (not all) programs specifically require (for admission) that you must be a graduate of a nationally accredited diploma or ADN program. Most programs seem to be set up so that the required nursing courses can be completed in one year of full-time study, but that's not all there is to a BSN. At any legitimate school, you have to meet the general requirements for a baccalaureate degree (in any subject) from that college/university, which includes meeting general education requirements and the minimum number of credit hours required -- the more credits you can transfer in from another school, the fewer credit hours you need in order to complete your degree at that school. The schools do look at your prior transcripts to evaluate which courses meet their requirements and can be transferred in to meet your graduation requirements, and, if courses from your previous school are not transferable, you're going to have to take that many more hours at the (new) school to be able to complete your degree -- so it will take much more time, money, and effort to finish. They're not going to make you retake the basic nursing education courses (since you're already licensed), but you'll have to take something to meet the general education and total-number-of-credit-hours requirements -- I, personally, have known lots of people who spent a whole lot more than one year to complete a BSN because of the general requirements that had to be met.

West Valley · Mar 5, 2008

Hi Everyone, I've read through alot of posts that sorta discuss my dilemma, but I just wanted to ask it for myself...
I work at Scottsdale Healthcare and can get into the Scottsdale CC nursing program in about a year I believe... However I was also able to get into Apollo College's Nursing Program, which I start this March (If i decide to do it) I have most of my prereqs done (just no Microbiology). Apollo college is making me take Anatomy and Phys. b/c its been over 5 years...
What would you do? I'm alittle anxious b/c of the waiting time and I feel I"ll be so old when I'm done with school! At the same time I would love to work at Scottsdale Healthcare as a nurse. Apollo college doesn't have a good NCLEX pass rate and their organization is kinda messy... (my opinion)
Any opinions? We just relocated to AZ so I'm pretty new here.
Thanks!

Stick with Scottsdale Healthcare. Just my :twocents: . Good Luck!