Private School or Community College?! Please Help

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.

But how many are for new grads?

I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer here, but I live in a large TX city. For the past year or so, everyone has said Texas is the place to be for new grad jobs, and people have been moving here from all over the country. Now my city's hospitals are cutting back or even eliminating new grad residencies. New grads are starting to have trouble finding any work at all. That hasn't stopped the hospitals from posting TONS of ads for experienced RNs. They just don't want to deal with new grads.

Unless you can get scholarships, grants, or you can find a private college that will you give you a scholarship based on your GPA then dont bother going to a private college. Whats wrong with a state university? Are there any cc's that have merit admissions? That would help you get in faster.

But how many are for new grads?

I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer here, but I live in a large TX city. For the past year or so, everyone has said Texas is the place to be for new grad jobs, and people have been moving here from all over the country. Now my city's hospitals are cutting back or even eliminating new grad residencies. New grads are starting to have trouble finding any work at all. That hasn't stopped the hospitals from posting TONS of ads for experienced RNs. They just don't want to deal with new grads.

Right now i'm feeling very lucky to live in Canada... Around 70% of our new grads here receive job offers during their last year of nursing.

That really sucks about not accepting new grads... We have to start off somewhere.

But how many are for new grads?

I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer here, but I live in a large TX city. For the past year or so, everyone has said Texas is the place to be for new grad jobs, and people have been moving here from all over the country. Now my city's hospitals are cutting back or even eliminating new grad residencies. New grads are starting to have trouble finding any work at all. That hasn't stopped the hospitals from posting TONS of ads for experienced RNs. They just don't want to deal with new grads.

Exactly. It bothers me when people give advice when they haven't done the research. I've seen so many posts from new grads and experienced nurses alike having trouble finding jobs on this forum alone. Sure there are better places than others but people need to get it into their heads that nursing is not a recession-proof career like everyone thinks it is. Blowing 30k a year on private tuition is reckless in this economy. But hey, whatever floats peoples boat. Thank goodness student loans do not disappear when someone files for bankruptcy.

Exactly. It bothers me when people give advice when they haven't done the research. I've seen so many posts from new grads and experienced nurses alike having trouble finding jobs on this forum alone. Sure there are better places than others but people need to get it into their heads that nursing is not a recession-proof career like everyone thinks it is. Blowing 30k a year on private tuition is reckless in this economy. But hey, whatever floats peoples boat. Thank goodness student loans do not disappear when someone files for bankruptcy.

Wow, I'm really sorry I responded to this post. I never said nursing was recession-proof and I never said that the OP will receive a job upon graduating. I'll reiterate, since people don't seem to be getting the point I was originally trying to make: don't let the poor economy deter you from following your dream of becoming a nurse. I can't really think of a career field that is recession proof. I'm coming from a field that, after losing my job at the end of 2008, has had ZERO jobs in my entire state since my layoff! There have only been at the most 9 jobs listed in my field nationwide, and that includes ones that I am not qualified for. Whether there are jobs to be had upon graduating is neither here nor there. We could be going to school for nursing, engineering, marketing, etc and not have a job when we graduate. The recession will eventually end and there will be jobs available, for the new grad or experienced RN. The economy will always have it's high points and low points, it's the nature of the beast.

I apologize if I have in any way offended anyone. I was just trying to help out the OP and somehow found myself needing to write a defense against the onslaught of fellow readers. I'm not stupid and I understand the economy is in the crapper. Job security shouldn't be the reason you get into a career. It's not worth it in the end if you're unhappy.

Save your money and stick with community college, hopefully by the time you graduate the job situation will have improved.

Gumby, I don't think anyone's intention was to attack you. I pointed out that new grads are having a tough time finding jobs because it really doesn't make sense for the OP to spend tons of money to graduate faster if there won't be any jobs available.

I also mention the new grad shortage because our local schools still go on and on about a nursing shortage (yeah, maybe in 5 or 10 years) despite even our healthy economy shutting out new grads.

Gumby, I don't think anyone's intention was to attack you.

Guess I'm just uber sensitive right now - under a ton of stress and freaking out about starting my program next week...thanks Trailerparkmedic.

Gumby, I wasn't trying to attack you. What is great about this forum is we can all have a place to let out ourr opinions. I agree with your message about not letting things deter from our dreams. However, I and some others wanted to point out the difficulties of the new grad and how you should think twice about the high cost of private tuition. That's all. Please don't take offense and good luck in your program :)

Gumby, I wasn't trying to attack you. What is great about this forum is we can all have a place to let out ourr opinions. I agree with your message about not letting things deter from our dreams. However, I and some others wanted to point out the difficulties of the new grad and how you should think twice about the high cost of private tuition. That's all. Please don't take offense and good luck in your program :)

Thanks and the same to you. I'm having a bad week and feel like I've been defending myself all week - no matter what I'm doing, so I just assumed I had to take the defense again. Sorry for misunderstanding. Deep breaths!

If your grades are good, try Pasadena City College, it's based on merit not lottery. Go with the private school if scholarships are available, most have fair financial aid packages. Good luck in whatever you decide!

i will tell you that i am broker than broke and i applied for scholarships and loans and it helped my for the private school that im now attending:) dont let the money issue scare you away. :)

in terms of quality education, i know quite a few nurses that went to CC and they are excellent nurses. just as good if not better than their BSN counterparts.

just do research on each school to see what their nclex pass rate and graduation rate are, that will give you a better idea of the quality of the school :)

good luck :)