despitetheserains

Thanks for your reply! (For future reference if anyone is reading this thread, neither SRMC nor Bon Secours offers a tuition abatement program, although both offer scholarships. Bon Secours in particular has a line in their financial aid information that says that they believe the responsibility of paying tuition rests on the student and his or her family.)

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for your words of advice! I am still considering my options and will probably talk to some people in admissions at the diploma programs I am looking at before I decide. But it's great to have some feedback from people who have "been there"... gives me hope!

Hi, I am hoping to be admitted to a hospital-based diploma program within the next year. Here is my difficulty: I had great grades in high school (graduated in 2003) and started at a private liberal arts college the fall after graduation. I did pretty well until my junior year (2005-2006) when a series of personal and family issues led to not one, but two semesters of failed classes. Really bad. I know. Since I left my old school, I have spent the year working, saving my pennies, and sorting out my personal issues. I know that I want to return to school and I believe I can succeed as a nurse. But I'm worried that my terrible transcript is going to hurt my chances of acceptance at the nursing schools I am interested in. I am wondering if it is a viable option to not submit my college transcripts at all in my application. I'd rather not have the failed grades as part of my application if I can avoid it. If I only submit my HS transcript, would that be considered "falsification" by the schools I'm applying to? Does anyone have advice for me, on what they'd do in my situation? I want so badly to start fresh and put these failures behind me. And I want to start nursing school as soon as I can. Thanks for any feedback you can offer.

Hi, I'm trying to find more information on hospital-based nursing schools in Virginia. From this site, I gather that there are only a handful of these schools left in the state. The ones I am particularly interested in are listed below, since I would prefer to avoid northern VA and I'd like to live in a larger city. Riverside Hospital (Newport News) Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Bon Secours Memorial (Richmond) Southside Regional Medical Center (Petersburg, near Richmond) Can anyone offer feedback on their experience with the nursing diploma programs at these schools? Do any of these schools offer tuition abatement programs, where your tuition is covered in exchange for a promise to work for the hospital for a certain number of years? For those of you who have done a diploma program, do you feel that it equipped you adequately for the challenges of professional nursing? Also, does anyone have recommendations for other hospital-based schools in VA or elsewhere? A friend of mine is in nursing school in Pittsburgh and he has had a great experience so far. I am willing to look out of state. Just so it's clear, I am planning to speak to representatives at these programs, but I am impatient and hoped for some on-the-ground feedback if possible. Thanks for any help you might be able to give me!