Calicutie

It worked for me...Took the NCLEX RN June 19th, shut off at 75 questions and I was convinced I failed because I got a lot of SATA (hate those!), meds I wasn't familiar with, no dosage calc or ekg's. Checked as soon as I got home and got the "good pop up"...continued to check all day saturday (wanted to make sure it didn't change on me) and then on sunday and monday too. Checked the BON website Tuesday A.M. and found out I PASSED! Officially an RN and it feels GOOD :oD Congrats to everyone whose passed and good luck to those patiently awaiting your results!

In regards to the wonderlic test, the best strategy is to answer each question because they get progressively harder as you go on. There is NO study guide for the wonderlic (trust me I looked). It supposed to be a test of your natural critical thinking abilities because as a nursing student/nurse, you won't survive w/out critical thinking. I missed the first time I took it by two questions and the second time I passed with 4 to spare. Nursing school is a whole different ballgame as far as tests goes, they're almost all multiple choice but there's usually two correct/good answers and you have to used critical thinking to narrow it down to the best answer. It can be frustrating to master but it's essential for the NCLEX and then your career as a nurse. In life there are many good answers but you have to be able to find the best especially when it comes to saving lives. As far as the TEAS goes, there is a study guide you can purchase from ATI (you can buy it separately or in a package w/ two practice tests-this is good to test yourself at baseline to see what you need to focus on and then again a few days before the test to review). It is a little pricey (last year when I took it, it was $60 for the book and tests) but for me it was well worth it, I got an 82% and got into the program. I'm almost done with the program (only two semesters to go!!! woo-hoo) but I should warn you going in to this program that they are EXTREMELY disorganized!!! Frequent last minute changes are made to schedules and they tell you that you have to be FLEXIBLE. They seem to be figuring things out so maybe by the time most of you are in the program it won't be as bad, but right now it's crazy to say the least. As far as the schedule goes, it depends on the semester...and how many classes (nursing, GE) you are taking at a time. I had all of my GE's done so I don't know what your schedule will look like if you are taking nursing courses and GE's. I will say that so far as a general rule (and this is "subject to change" as they like to say) most classes start no earlier than 8am and I've never gotten out of class later than 5pm, so I think that's a safe estimate but I don't know. Clinicals are the exception...most start at around 6am and some are even on the weekend (that's right I said the weekend-you will have no life in nursing school)!!! But that can also vary depending on the facility and instructor. The tough part is you don't usually find out about your clinical schedule until the very last minute...sometimes the week of or week before you start your rotation so it can be very challenging if you are dealing with work schedules or childcare. Hope that helps you guys...good luck with everything!

There are several bridge programs (ADN to BSN) but not if you go to Kaplan. Your only option is University of Phoenix unless you have another degree under your belt. Reason being is that no other schools accept credits from Kaplan. I know this because I go there. Now most hospitals will pay for you to continue your education so you can probably get them to foot the bill (UofP is pretty expensive too). So that's another option. I would not reccomend Kaplan though unless you have no other option. They are pricey and very unorganized. Let me know if you have any other questions.

I'm a current student, about 1/2 way through the program and my word of advice is dont do it. It's a lot of money for a program that is still working out the bugs. They are extremely unorganized too. There are always changes to the schedule, classrooms etc. I transferred all of my GE's and prereq's so I started in the 2nd semester. The first two semesters where not bad, tough but do-able. The instructors were great too. This semester has been a mess so far. The problem is in fourth semester they attempt to cram two of your core nursing courses (med surg 2&3) into one semester. These are 5 unit courses usually taught in 16 weeks but you only get 8 weeks per class. That makes this a accelerated course and it is taught by a newer instructor. In all fairness, it is an insane amount of material for any instructor to cover but then she is sarcastic and mean on top of it. Several complaints have been made but nothing has changed. The other day, more than 50% of the class failed (failing is anything below a 75%) some of them were retaking and they are now out of the program. This is not the first time this has happened and unless something changes, it will probably not be the last. I was one of the failing students (I worked my butt off for that too) and now have the option to retake (pay another $4k) or walk away w/ a huge amount of debt. The choice is obvious, I'm going to retake. Besides, what's another $4k when you're already $30,000 in debt w/ student loans. My only option as I see it is to get through this program because if I don't I walk away w/ nothing. Maybe things will change by the time you get to this point but right now, they are messed up. Good luck in your decision and education. Let me know if you have any questions.

Don't go to Kaplan unless you have no other option. I'm a student there and I regret my decision everyday. It's a lot of money and the are extremely disorganized.

Hi, I'm a current Kaplan student in my fourth semester and I regret my decision to go there everyday. When I made the decision to go there I found this website as one of the few to offer information and feedback. Since most of it was positive, I made the decision to go there. That's why I feel it's important to come back here and post so potential students can know both sides of the story. I transfered all of my GE's and prereqs so I started in the second semester last fall. The first two semesters were tough but do-able and I ended up w/ a 3.5. The only real complaint I have about the first two semesters is the general disorganization. They frequently make last minute changes (to the schedule, classrooms etc) and it can get frustrating. This semester however has been insane. I took my final the other day and failed along w/ over 50% of my class. The class I'm refering to is a 5 unit class that's usually (at any other nursing school) taught in 16 weeks but they are cramming it into 8. This is an insane amount of material for any instructor to cover but then they have an inexperienced one teaching it. Not only that but she's sarcastic and down-right mean at times. They have awknowleged that it's an issue and several complaints have been made but nothing has changed. I now have the option to pay (another $4k) to retake or walk away w/ nothing but a huge amount of debt. I'm retaking of course but w/ the same instructor and same course so wish me luck! I was in a position when I came to Kaplan where I was frustrated after applying to several schools for a year and a half. I had taken all my pre req's (which took two years because I have to work too). I decided to go there because I decided my time was worth it and every year I wasn't working as an RN I was losing around $30,000 anyways. So that's how I justified it but now I regret not waiting it out for a community college because at least they have their programs figured out and I could have saved at least $30,000. Another option you may want to look into is National...I've heard their program is a little longer, little more $$$ and you may have to wait a little bit to get in but you get your BSN. I wish I had at least checked them out before making my decision. Best of luck in your decision and education, whichever school you decide to go to. If you do lean towards Kaplan, I hope that by the time you get to where I'm at they have everything straightened out so no other students have to go through the hell we are going through (and then have to pay to do it all again). Let me know if you have any questions.

Maybe this is too little, too late for some of you...but I'm a current Kaplan student and I'm about 1/2 way through the program. My word of advice if you are considering Kaplan: DON'T DO IT! They are a newer program and seem to be working out their curriculum at the student's expense. I watched as more than half of us failed the class yesterday. Yes, I know nursing school is supposed to be hard but they way the schedule currently stands, they are crunching a 5 unit, 16 week course into 8. Meanwhile, most of the students are having to retake (= more $$$) and then some don't even make it through. I watched students get dropped from the program yesterday because of this. They walked away with nothing but a huge amount of debt. I don't feel so much that I failed though, I feel like the program is failing. I'm not a slacker, I worked very hard for my failing grade and now in order to get my degree I have to pay more money ($4k to be exact) to retake the same class, w/ the same schedule and same instructor. The reason I say it that way is not only are they cramming 2 of the core nursing courses (med surg 2 and 3) into 8 weeks a piece which is an accelerated course, it is being taught by an inexperienced instructor. It doesn't end there though, she has no respect for students, she is sarcastic and down right mean. There have been several complaints about her and the course but nothing has changed. They know it's an issue but nothing has changed. Meanwhile, students are having to pay to retake or worse yet flunk out of the program. I regret this decision everyday. Please explore all your options and feel free to message me if you have any questions.

Just to be clear, I understand if you fail a class that you have to retake it in order to proceed. In any other circumstance, I would just pay for the class without a complaint. The problem here is that if more than half the class isn't passing, there's an issue with the layout of the schedule and/or the instructor. The director confirmed that they know it's a problem yesterday and told me it something they are working on but it takes time. So in the meantime, students are having to pay for the school to work out the bugs in the program. Some students were kicked out of the program yesterday because of this. That is what I'm upset about. Also I did not start as a quarter student, I started as a semester student and I am in the semester program and it still has issues. I started last Sept. into the 2nd semester because I had so many classes transferred over, I see from your previous post that you are in second semester and probably have a certain instructor ...that class was a walk in the park and it has an awesome instructor. I think he's my favorite instructor so far. Actually everyone in your first two semesters there are pretty good...no complaints there so I can see where you're coming from. Fourth semester (technically 3rd for us) is what I'm talking about...I hope when you get into it they've fixed everything. The instructor is inexperienced and they have her teaching an accelerated course. This is a 5 unit course (usually taught in 16 weeks, being taught in 8). It's an insane amount of material to cover in all fairness but then it taught by an instructor that has little experience and no respect for students. On top of all that she can be sarcastic and mean at times. These issues have been discussed w/ the director and she's told us that things will be different and the instructor will be addressed (she told last semster students the same thing). So nothing changes and I have to pay to retake the same class, in the same format w/ the same instructor. It's just not right. Regarding National though, I have heard they have a BSN program. Yes it's a little bit more and I think it may be 2-3 months more but you would have your BSN. Besides if you retake a class at Kaplan (which seems to happen all too often) you've then spent more time and money anyways but you still get an ADN (if you make it through). I don't know though, all I'm saying is check them out. Bottom line, I just really regret not going elsewhere and when I was researching this school (which is hard to do btw because there isn't much online, you pretty much have to call or set up an appointment with a *counselor* to get anywhere) I came across this website as one of the only places that I could get feedback on this program. It was all pretty positive and led me to make the decision to go to Kaplan. This is why I think it's important to let potential students know both sides of the story so that they can make an informed decision. Yes an RN license is an RN license, we all sit on the same boards but that's only if can make it through the program. I think it's terrible that some students walked away yesterday with nothing but a ton of debt. These students were not slackers. I am not a slacker (I got a B in med surg 1 and Pharm. last semester), I worked really hard but still I failed but I don't feel so much like I failed the class, I feel like the program has failed us as students. Just my

Hi, I became a member of the website just because I felt the need to warn people about this school. I'm currently in my fourth semester...the first two (I had a a lot classes/pre-reqs transfered so I started in the second semester) were not bad...as other students have told you. I passed w/ a 3.5 avg. This semester however has been absolute HELL! We just had our final today and over 50% failed (anything below a 75% is failing and those that were retaking, fail the program). Okay, done w/ my mini rant. In all honesty though, I really regret going to this school and I wish I had done more research. Look at all your options...National is supposed to be good and they have a BSN too for about the same $ from what I understand. I didnt take the time to check them out and now I'm paying for it in more ways than one. I had all my GE's done and pre-reqs but every program in my area was so impacted so I decided it would be worth the money to go to Kaplan so I could get started. I figured I'm losing at least $30,000 every year I'm not a nurse so I could rationalize it. Now I just wish I had stuck it out or at least checked out National. But I'm stuck now (because as you know, credits earned at Kaplan don't transfer) and I either tough it out another semester or I drop, get no degree and a ton of debt (w/ no job to pay for it). Catch is, I have to pay to retake it...it's so wrong, it's not even funny.