Hi everyone! Im in a semester cohort. The pros for semester is that obviously you get summer semester off, however, there are other benefits. You get to do clinical at so many different hospitals including Hoag, Torrance, St.Joseph, Saddleback, which are all great hospitals. I honestly can't imagine not being able to visit these hospitals because my goal now is to work at Hoag. If i wasn't in semester I would have never had this opportunity. You are also able to expose yourself to more than one computer system, staff members, and protocols so you are a more well-rounded student once you graduate. Semester students also have a higher NCLEX pass rate slightly in comparison to the trimester student (according to the professors at my orientation). Because every hospital has a different system, the first week is generally orientation so you are not ambushed with tons of work right away which is nice to slowly warm up to after a break.
For trimester, you get done way faster in 2 years instead of 2.5. You are also basically guaranteed a job at Long Beach Memorial because you're there all the time. The hospital itself is more comfortable with their clinical students, so you have a little more free-will during clinical. The trimester professors will push you more, for example, they will make you do 3 care plans when in semester you only have to do 2. But if your goal is to get started and like Long beach memorial, then this is the way for you to go. I know someone who wanted Semester but got placed in Trimester and after the first year she didn't want to switch out because of the friends they made, so you never know! Both programs are great.
