SnoopysAunt

Texxy- $20

Tex- Yeah, they changed the order of the courses around a little. You will have an easier fall semester than I did. In looking at your courses, the spring might be intense. Nursing school is hard no matter where you go. Like any program Stevenson has it's pros and cons. If you can't quit your job and go to school full time, this is definitely the way to go. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

Texxy- sorry, I don't mean to confuse you... My curriculum was different because they made some changes this year apparently. If they have you taking Computer Technology (informatics) in the summer, and then Communication and Pathophys in the fall, you will be fine. I know the full-timers have the option to take Patho in the summer, so they avoid having to take patho and pharm together. It doesn't look like that's in the plan for you guys, so ignore what I said!

Texxy- Unfortunately I don't think I can give you much advice on your specific situation. You have to decide what is right for you. However, I will tell you that the part-time program is challenging, and I am sure that there are going to be times that will take you away from your family because of clinical and homework. If becoming nurse is something you REALLY want and you are dedicated, then you should be fine. It's not that the material is challenging (it's really not) it's just the amount that they throw at you with all of the other things you are doing. In my opinion the prerequisites were much harder. So far, pharm has been the only really tough class. YEAH, the loans kind of suck, but I think it's closer to $30k, not 40. Double check that. Do you have your curriculum. It's about 60 credits I think x 521 = 31kish

Texxy- I have the informatics book. I'd love to sell it to you. Make me an offer. I am a part-timer. The program is very challenging. They made a lot of changes to the curriculum last year and had a lot of issues to iron out, so I hope that everything will be much better this year. My advice: If you can, take Pathophysiology ALONE over the summer too. What do they have you taking in the fall? Communication is an easy class. Pharm is TOUGH TOUGH TOUGH. I'm just warning you!

I am in the program now and I agree with pretty much everything Nicole said. It's not an impossible program, but it's not easy either... If you come be prepared to work hard. It's intense.

I'm a second degree student and I got in to nursing school with an F in Film Analysis and a C/D in my first year of college in Biology I/II almost twelve years ago. Film anaylsis was a horrible, waste of money class and I just plain stopped going. Not proud of it, but it happened. At the time I had poor study skills, and I wasn't prepared for college level work. Anyway, I still graduated from college cum laude AND I had an A in every major prereq that counted- A&P, Chem, O-Chem, Micro, etc and a 3.7 overall in the prerequs (the first bio grade and nutrition from my first degree brought that gpa down). I think the admissions committee was willing to overlook my grades because I had an upward trend of good grades AND I proved I could handle the nursing course work! Good luck to you! As long as you have an upward trend in grades, I think you'll be fine!

Oops, I misread your post! I thought you said that you were already offered a spot @ JHU! My program is ehhh. I'm not so happy with it. In my second-degree cohort, we are losing almost half next semester. People are planning to sit out and apply to HOPKINS and Maryland next year. I would consider it, but neither school takes transfer credits. And who wants to repeat Patho ? I have heard that the Patho teacher at Hopkins (Taylor) is AMAZING! One of the instructors at my school is another more recent Hopkins grad and she has given us the hopkins powerpoint slides to use in studying for exams. I took my prereqs with Hopkins nursing grads as well (I took five years to do them) so everyone else has graduated by now, and they had nothing but good things to say about the school! It's my dream to live in NYC! I have an art history background and I just love all of the culture that Manhattan has to offer. I just need to finish the RN first! Are you the same StacyG on FB?

CONGRATS Stacy! It's funny, throughout the whole prereq experience I wanted to go to Columbia, but the cost scared me away. So, I ended up at another local university in Baltimore. I figured that I always had the option of going to Columbia for grad school. Now, this professor that I have that is a HOPKINS grad says wonderful things about her education there. It makes me wonder if I should have applied to Hopkins... But I know that Hopkins would be a wonderful option for grad school as well. Are you waiting for Columbia to make your decision?

Stacy, The past couple of winters have been pretty mild, but we get snow and blizzards too! They are actually calling for 25 inches of snow this winter. Coming from NY, you will have no problem adjusting to the weather here! It's not even really an adjustment!

I am not a nurse yet, but there are plenty of hospitals in the area, and we have the best healthcare in the nation, so I think grads have a comparatively easier time finding a position. The local economy here also mirrors national trends, but there are a lot of jobs in government and healthcare. Also, if you live in the suburbs of washington dc/balto like howard and mont co, you are close to dc with it's own set of opportunities. Many new yorkers move to baltimore and find they like living here. GOod luck!

Stacy- If you want to live in the City, try Canton, Harbor East, or Federal Hill (However they are all not kid friendly) Outside of the city, check out Pikesville (just outside of the city) Mt. Washington (Right on city lines) Owings Mills/Reisterstown, Towson, and Timonium/Hunt Valley.

The area immediately around campus is one of the worst parts of town. However, I think you could easily live in Fells Point or Canton without a car. Hopkins also has a transportation network to help you get around. I don't go there, but I'm a lifetime Baltimorean. It would probably be best to talk to students to find out where they live. One of my instructors is a more recent grad and she has nothing but positive things to say about Hopkins. Good lucK!

Thanks Grey Lady! In the first semester of my BSN program, we've had close to 50% decide not to come back next semester. Not because they are failing out, but because they are unhappy with the program we are in. Most people are applying to MD because they know it's a better school. I'm still weighing my options, but I just wanted to make sure it wasn't the same type of thing there!

GreyLady- I have a question, what's the attrition rate for the BSN program at MD? Are there a lot of students who start and subsequently drop out?