Nursing School Thoughts

[my4helpers]

I am currently working on my prereqs for NS. At this time I am going for my Assoc. degree, however, in my area, we do not have many ADN programs at all. In fact, we have 3, but the one I am not even considering because your put on a waiting list. Currently, their waiting list is 3 years out and you cannot even apply until your all done with prereqs. The school I am attending now accepts 80 students a year. I will be able to submit my application in Jan. 2011 and if I am accepted I would start NS in Sept. 2011 and graduate in May 2013. Over the past couple months I thought about applying at a local hospital, but their tuition is DOUBLE! On a positive note, I can apply this Sept. 2010 and if I am accepted I would start NS Jan. 2011 and would graduate Dec. 2012. So basically I would graduate (if i am accepted) 5 months earlier, but like I said the tuition is double. At the same time I really do not want to put all my eggs in one basket since we do not have many ADN programs in the area. What would you do?

[happy2learn]

I personally wouldn't do it. I don't think double the tuition is worth saving 5 months. If you were saving a year, then yeah, maybe.

I have a similar situation around me. There are 2 local hospitals and I could get out around 6 months earlier, but their tuition is $18K per year, and mine is only $5k per year. I'd rather put on as little debt as possible that way I can enjoy my new salary when I graduate, instead of most of it going to a loan.

[my4helpers]

I know it's costing more if I were to go through the hopistal, but what I am thinking is what if I don't get accepted next fall 2011 at the collge? The hospital accepts 50 students every fall and spring. I am able to apply at the hospital twice a year and I can only appy at the college once a year. What if I apply at the college and I do not get in for a couple years?

[alyssa*]

wow thats cool theres a local hospital that does that sort of thing. here there is none (so cal)

um i would definitely avoid the expensive one, 5 months earlier is nice but seriously you don't want a $200-$300 payment per month to pay off that loan!

i am like you, have to apply when ALL pre-reqs are done (which is going to be done this fall) i am applying this jan and hopefully getting in next fall.

seems like forever from now.

lol

good luck

[guiltysins]

What exactly are we talking in terms of double? Double as in one school is 5K a year and the other is 10K because I personally don't think that is bad, at least not compared to what I'm paying! I had to go to a private school because the competition is fierce for ADN and public school programs. I would apply anyway, you don't have to attend but if there is a better chance of you being accepted overall, I say it's worth it.

[my4helpers]

The only reason that I am even considering the hospital program is because the lack of ADN programs in my area. Like I said in my previous post, I only have one school that I can apply to and I really hate putting all of my eggs in one basket so to speak. The community college that I am attending now is roughly $225 per credit hour. Now I have never been to school before and I just now finished up my second semester, so I don't know if that's expensive or inexpensive. Being that this is the only CC that offers ADN in my area, I don't have much of a choice. The CC that I am attending also chooses only 80 students per year out of several hundred! With the hospital program, their cost per credit hour is $430. Yes, it is a big jump, but they choose 50 students twice a year...August/Jan. So I could apply and try to get in, in Jan 2011 and if I am not excepted, I would apply to BOTH the CC and the hospital again for Sept. 2011. If I do not apply at the hospital at all then I am giving up two chances to get which would be Jan or Sept. 2011. The hospital is offering an information night tomorrow and I plan on attending. If I were going for my BSN, it would not be this hard because I would have 4 schools to choose from in the area, but considering I am going for my ADN I am stuck! So I am just wondering what everyone else would do? If I was coming straight from high school and in my early 20's then I may just wait and try to get into the CC, but being that I am in my 30's with 4 children I do not want to keep waiting.

[Birry]

I'd go for it at the hospital. If it's 5 months faster, you're really only paying about, what, 1.75x as much? Going through the hospital might also carry the added benefit of actually graduating and getting a JOB. You'll already have 5 months experience by the time you would have graduated from CC.

BTW, are you not a resident in your state? CC where I am costs about $17 per unit. It's about 15x that much for non-residents, though.

[my4helpers]

Sorry, for the confusion! I am not graduating 5 months faster, it's just that I would be starting a semester earlier. It is still a two year program. So instead of graduating in May 2013, I would graduate Dec. 2012. If I were accepted in Jan. 2011 that is still a two year program. I am a resident of this state and that is what our CC cost.