what would you do? Private or public!

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  1. Public School or Private!?

    • 4
      Wait Another Nine Months-Pending Acceptance $ (Public Program)
    • 5
      Pay More Finish Sooner $$ (Private Program)

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Hello Everyone! So I have a dilemma, and I'd appreciate some advice. I applied to my local public school Nursing program to which I wasn't accepted into due to the number of applicants, and my application not being the strongest compared to others. I also have an opportunity to be accepted into a private school nursing program where my chances I feel are greater of being accepted. But here's the catch! The private school is over 15K more but I'll finish up to nine months sooner if I decided to wait again for the public school nursing program. So do I wait another nine months until the public program starts again (Pending acceptance), or do I bite the bullet and pay more and finish sooner. I'm about to be thirty and I also have no children so I'd like to finish up with school so I can start a family and have a life other than school, but 15-20K would be a large amount of money to pay back. So there are pros and cons I need to weight out....So, what would you do in my shoes?

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Specializes in kids.

What can you afford? Which program is stronger? Are they both accredited?

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I would talk to a counselor at the public school and ask their advice on what you can do in the next nine months to "strengthen" your application. I would not go to a private school.

If they don't help, can you get a CNA or MA license, (or certification or whatever they get?) or apply to a LVN program?

Can you retake some classes and bring your grades up?

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Hello Everyone! So I have a dilemma, and I'd appreciate some advice. I applied to my local public school Nursing program to which I wasn't accepted into due to the number of applicants, and my application not being the strongest compared to others. I also have an opportunity to be accepted into a private school nursing program where my chances I feel are greater of being accepted. But here's the catch! The private school is over 15K more but I'll finish up to nine months sooner if I decided to wait again for the public school nursing program. So do I wait another nine months until the public program starts again (Pending acceptance), or do I bite the bullet and pay more and finish sooner. I'm about to be thirty and I also have no children so I'd like to finish up with school so I can start a family and have a life other than school, but 15-20K would be a large amount of money to pay back. So there are pros and cons I need to weight out....So, what would you do in my shoes?

Another potential con ....if you're not a strong enough candidate to get into the first school, are you a strong enough candidate to graduate from the second school and pass NCLEX? Some of those schools admit anything that breathes. What are their completion and pass rates?

I agree that it's a good idea to ask for ways to strengthen your application. Private school might be an acceptable option for some people under some circumstances, but a few paragraphs doesn't give me enough information to make a big life decision for you (or anyone else).

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Essentially I can afford both. I've managed to pay for everything out of pocket so far so that when I get into a program I can depend more on student loans, which I've been approved for. Both Programs have strong passing NCLEX rates, and both are fully board certified and accredited.

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I've spoken with my advisor only thing I can do is finish up my Microbiology class to have more points towards my application, re-take my TEAS exam to get a higher score (more points), and I've already retaken two classes I've gotten "C's" in to bump my GPA up which is a 3.35 now. Not really interested in getting my CNA/MA certifications job market is saturated in my area for those jobs, and my school just phased out the LPN/LVN program and other institutions charge WAYYYY too much.

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I've already taken the private school's entrance exam (HESI) and scored in the 90's in most areas 85% overall (TEAS I scored a 75% overall 64% is the minimum), now I have to pass the interview portion of the admittance process. My advisor at this school says I'm a strong candidate for this program and I have all but one of my core classes finished for this program which is included in the overall program, their pass rates over the last five years has been good as well. I appreciate everyone's feedback!

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I would personally attend the private school. You mentioned that you don't have any loans, yet, and if you don't mind obtaining some then I don't see any reason to delay your education further. If for some reason you're not accepted to the private school, you could always do the things you mentioned to strengthen your application for the public school.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

PLEEEEASE! Be super, duper sure that School B is truly accredited by a recognized authority, not the Winnie-the-Pooh Council of Honey Combs Schools. Many accreditations sound really impressive on paper but they really don't count when you try to apply your credits for further degrees.

And if I recall correctly, some federal positions may require properly accredited RN programs.

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