"Prestige" Nursing Schools

[meanmaryjean]

I am noticing an increasing number of posts lately by soon-to-be graduates (or prospective students) casually mentioning that they are attending a 'prestige' school. I'm not sure where this is coming from. (Besides bragging of course)

Just know that nursing school rankings (if that's how you are determining the prestige of your school) matter not a whit to the overwhelming majority of employers. What employers care about is:

Did you pass NCLEX?

Can you do the job?

PERIOD

Dropping $80 - 120K on a 'prestige' school when you can get the exact same degree from your state university for half the price is just plain foolish.

[Jurse, LPN]

redpandaluv said:

But based on what you know, would Duke give me a leg up for CRNA?

You should call them. 

redpandaluv said:

My family is trying to convince me to stay home because I'd have to fork out money for rent and living expenses which is estimated at another 20k (rent for 16 months and groceries/food).

You can find a part-time job nearby.

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

redpandaluv said:

My family is trying to convince me to stay home because I'd have to fork out money for rent and living expenses which is estimated at another 20k (rent for 16 months and groceries/food). It's been quite stressful bc I'm trying to think the long term and see the big pic. But it doesn't help because so many ppl say that it really doesn't matter which undergrad nor the name, as long as you do well. But based on what you know, would Duke give me a leg up for CRNA?

Yes, Duke is going to give you a leg up on CRNA admissions.  It is also going to give you a leg up on getting your first job.  Duke has very loyal alumni, which will be an advantage when looking for work.

Look for other scholarships you can apply for.  The federal govt has HRSA scholarships that are full-ride, plus a living stipend, in return for working in an underserved area for a certain number of years after graduation.  They also have loan repayment and forgiveness programs, so go look at those.  Going to a good school gives you a much better chance of winning a scholarship.  Many states offer similar programs for state residents.  In addition, do internet research on other scholarships for nursing school.  Johnson and Johnson has some.  Some cities and counties also offer scholarships to their residents.

I would not advise working more than 10-15 hours per week during nursing school, as nursing school is very hard for most people.  If you are one of the lucky few that find it easy, then you can work more hours.

Best wishes.