Private School or Community College?! Please Help

You do realize that most new grads in CA are having a tough time finding a job? I'd be very hesitant to rack up a ton of debt just to jump into a bad job market.

Unless you are able to secure scholarships for the private college, I would not even go there. California is a bust for nursing (and probably most fields). Check out the new grad section and see the many postings of people frustrated with the lack of jobs. Now is not a time to get into massive debt. Is there no community college that doesn't use a waiting list? A state college would work too, however they are often competitive.

I know waiting lists are bad, but you need consider the probably huge difference in tuition fees, not to mention teaching and practicum. We only have two schools that offer nursing programs in my city (a university and a college) and the college grads get a lot more job offers vs the university grads. At my college, it is a lot more hands on rather than just paperwork and essays at the university. I've seen second year nursing students at my hospital who can't manage to shower a patient by themselves.

I guess it's too late for me to edit my other post. There is a difference between private universities and for-profit schools. I would be wary of for profit schools and at the minimum find out what % of those who enter the program graduate. I'm sure there are some reputable for profit schools, but there are also some who care about nothing more than your tuition money.

I would save the money and go to the community college. You could take any non-nursing classes you need while waiting, and maybe by the time you graduate they will be hiring new grads again.

Don't let the bad job market deter you from becoming a nurse. If that's what you want to do with your life, then go for it. The market will turn around. Any field you go into, nursing or not, will have ups and downs as far as job availability.

As far as which school to go to, it depends. Private schools in my area are much more expensive than community or state college, but don't have waitlists. There are often myriad opportunities to get scholarships and grant money to help pay for it, though it'll still be more than the other programs. State colleges are a great option, but tend to be a little more competitive. If you have the grades, then why not apply? Community college will be the least expensive, but yes, there are long waits at most of them because they are the least expensive and easiest to get into (read: not competitive with the application process). The community college nearest me has a 5 year wait to get into their program. If graduating quickly is your goal, then go with the private college. The sooner you graduate, the sooner you get a job and start earning your RN income.

The sooner you graduate, the sooner you get a job and start earning your RN income.

But that's the thing--if there are no jobs to be had, there will be no income so graduating sooner from a more expensive school won't pay off the same way it does when the job market is better.

I'm not saying "Don't be a nurse." Hell, I'm about to quit my stable, decent paying job and start nursing school even though I anticipate having trouble finding a job when I graduate. I'm saying "If you want to be a nurse, be aware that the job market will probably continue to suck for the next few years, especially in oversaturated areas, and take that into consideration when determining where you go to school." Obviously every option has its benefits and drawbacks, but people need to throughly research all of their options and determine what is best for them.

But that's the thing--if there are no jobs to be had, there will be no income so graduating sooner from a more expensive school won't pay off the same way it does when the job market is better.

I'm not saying "Don't be a nurse." Hell, I'm about to quit my stable, decent paying job and start nursing school even though I anticipate having trouble finding a job when I graduate. I'm saying "If you want to be a nurse, be aware that the job market will probably continue to suck for the next few years, especially in oversaturated areas, and take that into consideration when determining where you go to school." Obviously every option has its benefits and drawbacks, but people need to throughly research all of their options and determine what is best for them.

True, but maybe the OP isn't planning on staying in California. There are plenty of jobs where I live. Even if they are going to stay in Cali, then by the time they graduate, there may be jobs available. I was just trying to say not to let the crappy economy deter them from following their dream of becoming a nurse.

True, but maybe the OP isn't planning on staying in California. There are plenty of jobs where I live. Even if they are going to stay in Cali, then by the time they graduate, there may be jobs available. I was just trying to say not to let the crappy economy deter them from following their dream of becoming a nurse.

Plenty? You're gonna need to tell me where you've been looking, cause I thought things were pretty bleak here. Or maybe that's just every other industry here.

Plenty? You're gonna need to tell me where you've been looking, cause I thought things were pretty bleak here. Or maybe that's just every other industry here.

I haven't really been looking, I'm just starting NS next week. Last time I looked at a few hospitals in the area, there were several RN positions available.

I haven't really been looking, I'm just starting NS next week. Last time I looked at a few hospitals in the area, there were several RN positions available.

Each with like 200 applicants a piece