To help those of us considering any or all of these 4 schools I thought I'd start a thread where we can put down why we like or dislike one over another. I have yet to visit Penn or Drexel so those sections are a little sporifice. Please feel free to add or correct any information I list here. I've pulled it from websites, admissions officers, and discussion boards.
Penn
Ranked #1 (4.6/5, US News & World Report)
Affliliated with the Penn Hospital System (13 Nat'l ranked specialites, 3 high performing, US News)
Considered research-oriented
18-month program
NCLEX pass % = 95%
Use of SIM dolls
Use of electronic health records
Mentoring w/in faculty
Clinicals 8-16 hrs/wk
Rough Price: $99,000 (though probably less via "no-loan" aid packages)
Villanova
Ranked # 64 (3.5/5, US News)
Affiliations with numerous hospitals in the region; no main affiliation
Community service/volunteer service oriented
14-month program
Near 100% job placement rate
NCLEX pass % = 90%
High student retention rate
Use of SIM dolls
Option of taking grad school courses w/in program
Cliniclas 12-16 hrs/wk
Class tied with clinical (i.e., Psyc lectures during psyc clinicals)
24-hr study lounge in library
Religion not a huge influence despite being Catholic university
Possible time for externships during breaks
Rough Price: $38,000
Jefferson
Ranked # 127 (3.2/5, US News)
Affiliated w/ Jefferson Hospital system (11 Nat'l ranked specialties, 2 high-performing)
Also has affiliation with many other hospitals in region
Interprofessional program (doctors, nurses, PT, other health professionals learn to work together)
12-month program
NCLEX pass % = 95%
High student retention
Integrating iPad 2 into clinicals (though may not be used much according to former students)
SIM dolls (access to them 24 hrs w/ advanced notice)
Free supplies for practice
Several grad school courses w/in program
Possible to go straight to MSN after BSN
Stress paperless (eBooks)
5G network; high tech
Library open 24 hrs
Probably no time for externships
100% job placement w/in 5 months
Rough Price: $45,000 ($41K base +library, IT fees, other)
Drexel
Ranked #127 (3.2/5, US News)
Affiliated with Hahnemann system (not nationally ranked, high-performing in 9 specialties)
11-month program
NCLEX pass % = 98% (reportedly artificially inflated w/ req of passing practice test to graduate)
Emphasis on wide use of technology w/in program
Moderate retention; appears to accepts large number of students and weeds out a number of students
Rough Price: $42,000
kp038
21 Posts
Iridium, do you mind sharing some of your impressions of the FACT program? I'll be starting it May 2013 and have read all there is to read about it on these discussion boards... but I'd be interested to hear your feedback as well being as you're a recent grad.