Puerto Rico school feedback?

hihopes22 · Jan 3, 2012

I am planning on buying my ticket this week for January 15-18 I believe. That's Sunday thru Tuesday. But The flight I found for Sunday was pretty much a red-eye I would arrive Monday 12:30 am :-/. I will let you know for sure when I do come. I was randomly searching the forum and read some good reviews on a few other resources...not so much Kaplan though. I can't recall the names but they were mentioned a few times in a thread specific to NCLEX. Hope you find what's best for you!

WorldTravelingYogi · Jan 3, 2012

I am planning on buying my ticket this week for January 15-18 I believe. That's Sunday thru Tuesday. But The flight I found for Sunday was pretty much a red-eye I would arrive Monday 12:30 am :-/. I will let you know for sure when I do come. I was randomly searching the forum and read some good reviews on a few other resources...not so much Kaplan though. I can't recall the names but they were mentioned a few times in a thread specific to NCLEX. Hope you find what's best for you!

You have mail hihopes.

hihopes22 · Jan 4, 2012

Hey Guys. Just curious if opening a bank account in PR is absolutely necessary. Could I make it the next 2 yrs with Bank of America?

WorldTravelingYogi · Jan 5, 2012

Hey Guys. Just curious if opening a bank account in PR is absolutely necessary. Could I make it the next 2 yrs with Bank of America?

No it is really not necessary. I opened one and every once in a while I cash a check at my bank which is Banco Popular but it is totally doable to just have accounts in the states.

Either way you can but all your accounts as student accounts so you pay no fees. I have a checking account with Bank of America, Citibank, and Banco Popular and with all three I pay no fees.

hihopes22 · Jan 5, 2012

Okay thanks. Oh, wait I may need one for financial aid checks. Yes?

Cahoon BSN RN, BSN, RN · Jan 6, 2012

Financial Aid at la inter is direct deposit.

Well I should say it CAN be direct deposit.

hihopes22 · Jan 8, 2012

Thanks Cahoon!

Anyone know of any super cheap hotels? Or know about couch surfing?

WorldTravelingYogi · Jan 8, 2012

Thanks Cahoon!
Anyone know of any super cheap hotels? Or know about couch surfing?

hihopes the Couch Surfing community in Puerto Rico is quite strong. Both for hosting and social events.

There are also quite a few inexpensive guest houses/ hostels. The newest is Posada San Francisco in Old San Juan. You can find them below at:

Posada San Francisco in San Juan, Puerto Rico | Guesthouse

A friend stayed there while she was applying to La Inter last April. The place is absolutely spotless and the husband is a furniture designer and he made the beds which are amazing.

There are others on Old San Juan like Fortaleza where I stayed when I went to orientation for La Inter but it is a dump compared to Posada.

Also the school recently started renting out nights in some dorm somewhere on campus. I think it is about 35 USD per night but really don't know too much about it. Ask "E" for more info on this if you are interested.

hihopes22 · Jan 8, 2012

Thanks Yogi! Someone suggested couch surfing. I have never done it though. This Hostel seems pretty interesting! Thanks again! I emailed you. I may have typed in in my phone incorrectly though. I will double check. Thanks again!

bigk6888 · Jan 9, 2012

hi y'all,

i have a few questions, so I applied to both LA inter and UMET. I've taken all my science and most of general ed classes, but still missing a few, i've been in contact with E and he told me a month ago that they were sending out acceptance letters but of course I haven't received anything in the mail.... I wasn't so worried about getting accepted, just which classes transferred, because my school starts next week and if some of my classes didn't transfer i wanted to be able to take the right ones. I also have spring term i can take them. But i goes amy question is do you guys think that at LA inter or UMET will they even send me an evulation of my transcripts telling me which classes they accepted, and listing which classes I have to take ( regarding general education) i wanted to take all general education classes not related to nursing to the over with before starting nursing program in August.

If I went down to either school, to talk to them in person, would i be able to get an answer the same day in person regarding which classes I need to take at my school if i brought the class description?...... Ive been putting off going down to puerto rico to talk to them, because i rather them send me a letter like they are suppose to but I have a feeling thats not going to happen. My dad broke his legs so thats why I've been putting it off, hoping he gets better soon don't want to leave him, and i was just hoping fora miracle that the schools would actually send me a letter regarding the transfer credits/classes. i am planning on going there for sure by March/April to check out the schools to decide where i want to go and all that jazz.

- From reading all these posts, my understanding that LA inter program is slightly quicker than UMET... is that correct?

Jen_Jen88 · Jan 9, 2012

They will both send you which classes transferred but as to which ones you have to take its in the course catalog which both schools have available on their site with course descriptions. I know at UMET I had to take history of PR and a comp class since I never took it in the states. It's always better to work in person because my first choice was la inter (until I found out about UMET and saw both schools) and they were not accepting all of my credits which I was so not excited about lol and I was suppose to go to the accelerated program but who knows maybe they send that to everyone no matter what. For UMET they only take one anatomy because thats all they take here but I suggest you take both if you're going back to the states. Remember La Inter has integrated sciences in which you'll be taking adult care 1 with anatomy. I believe they split it like some days its anatomy and others adult care not sure maybe one of the students can explain more how it works.

To answer your question yes its a bit faster but not by much maybe 2 month difference.

WorldTravelingYogi · Jan 9, 2012

- From reading all these posts, my understanding that LA inter program is slightly quicker than UMET... is that correct?

I don't know how long UMET is but if you are in the accelerated program at La Inter it is 22 months. You start in August and end in May two years later. I think I remember hearing UMET is a bit longer.

I think the major advantage is you can take the NCLEX after your first year at La Inter. I plan to take mine in April so when I graduate with my BSN in May I am ready to work. Some people who speak Spanish are working part time as nurses while in school.

Jen I don't think the part about integrating A&P with Med Surge is a big deal. I don't know why they don't separate it but you have 4 hours of A&P on a Tues and then 4 hours of Med Surge on a Thursday. So for example maybe a couple weeks you are learning the anatomy and physiology of the heart on Tuesdays and then on Thursdays you will learn about heart diseases. It is a 6 unit class. I would prefer they divided it and each class was 3 units but I prefer it that way for grading only as I did better in A&P then in Med Surge. Otherwise it really does not matter. Some classes one teacher teaches both and other classes will have an A&P teacher and a separate Med Surge teacher.

But I don't think it really matters as you are still learning all the information you need to know. Jen didn't you say that some of those classes at UMET are in Spanish with English books? There is not a single class you would take at La Inter that would be in Spanish. Even all the gen ed classes are in English.