k1977

I've been offline for the past week or so, and am just now catching up. I'm hoping to receive all the information I need next week at orientation, including the required and optional book list. Also looking forward to meeting everyone! Still feel good about my decision to accept CCC and decline OHSU. kiwiapple, it is a tough decision. Know in the end that you put a lot of thought into it and rest assured that the decision you end up making will be the right one for you. Once I had mailed off the acceptance and decline letters, it was a good feeling, because the decision was made, and it was about looking forward after that. It's also a nice feeling to know that for every letter of decline you send out, it gives someone else an opportunity. Good luck to everyone with the programs you have selected . . . and for those of you still waiting . . . hang in there! It will happen!

There are many alternates that won't be accepting, though, so that's why they end up moving through the list quickly.

I have to say that I was relieved not to worry about this issue anymore once I decided to go with CCC. I hadn't realized that the parking/commute was stressing me out until I already made the decision to go to CCC because it was cheaper. It's going to be hard enough for me to get to clinicals by 7AM, without having to worry about parking. Didn't you get a call from an OHSU student last night? They called me because I'm still on the list, even though I've declined, and a current student might be able to give you some advice on this.

I've cried some tears this morning, but I've officially declined OHSU now. I will mail an acceptance letter to Clackamas Community College today, and decline acceptance to PCC and MHCC. It's time now to focus on the path to nursing via CCC and look forward, not back. I will always be proud of myself for being one of the few accepted to OHSU. I'll never forget how it felt the day I received that acceptance letter. It was the best feeling. It's a sad day for me to decline that opportunity, but I know deep down that I made the wisest decision for me and my family's financial future, since my need for scholarship was so great, and I had no way of knowing if those would come through until long after I would have had to decline other programs, which are significantly cheaper. Kiwiapple, I was trying to be optimistic about things like parking or the idea of busing up the hill daily. In so many ways, CCC will be less stressful for me. Getting accepted to OHSU was such a great feeling that I hope I can somehow feel as happy with CCC. I think I'll feel a lot more excited once I attend orientation on the 10th and am registered for classes. I keep telling myself that I'm still co-admitted to OHSU! I will be transferring there in the spring of my 2nd year at CCC to complete my third year. So, it's like what I did when I got my B.A.--first two years at MHCC to save money, then finished last two years @ PSU. This is the same thing--first two years at CCC to finish with an OHSU BS degree. Pretty awesome when you think about it that I get to have that financial opportunity with the same results . . . For those of you still deciding, talk to as many people as you can who can weigh in w/ objective & rational advice. Do what you need to do to feel good about the decision you ultimately make . . . and be happy you have choices between programs! I would be very stressed out right now if OHSU was my only option. Good luck everyone! --k1977

BTW, does anyone know if in the PCC and CCC nursing program that you have summers off?

M.Grasshopper--I have given it a lot of thought & talked to many people who have weighed in & I think this morning I am going to make the phone call to OHSU SON and tell them I cannot accept after all. It won't be an easy phone call for me to make, but I would need 15K in scholarships per year for the cost to be on par w/ CCC. Like you, I have heard nothing but awesome reports about CCC. Plus, I'm still co-admitted to OHSU, so it's like I'm doing the first two years for a lot cheaper, but graduating from OHSU in the end. I have heard from nurses who have graduated from OHSU that the program is more theory based and graduates from the cc programs end up coming out stronger with clinical skills. I also do not know how true it is that because you attend OHSU's program you will have a better chance at getting a job at OHSU in the end. There were many, many in last year's graduating class who did not find employment there, and several went to Salem to find employment. I would love to be able to hold out for scholarships, but by the time they are awarded, it will be long past deadlines for letting the other programs know if I will accept/decline. To me, a nightmare situation would be to be declined for scholarships or qualify for very little at OHSU and to have already declined the other programs. Right now, I have a choice, and I'm lucky to have one. Waiting in hope scholarships will come through to me is like playing the lottery w/ my financial and professional future. I want to mention that scholarships are available at CCC, too, and how awesome to bring down the estimated $5500.00 per year in total program cost down even further. I have also heard from onsite nurses at OHSU that they love CCC students! I think the school in general has a very good reputation at clinicals. I weighed all my options, and I think I'm making the right decision, though it was very difficult for me to reach. I had to set all emotions aside and think about it logically. Let me know what you decide!

Valerie, the OHSU BSN program is now three years, not two, so whether or not I go to an OCNE cc or OHSU, it would be three years. I won't graduate with an ADN, I would definitely go to OHSU the third year for the BSN. In the end, I will have the same degree and make the same wage as the person who signed up for OHSU.

I called financial aid and they told me what they can offer. I will be two years short on tuition as there is a cap on the amount in federal loans you can take out for a bachelor's. I already have a prior bachelor's, which is why I would hit that cap after one year. You do not qualify for grants when you have a prior bachelor degree. Scholarship awards won't be sent out until the very earliest mid-late June, and that's long after I need to let other cc college programs know whether or not I am accepting/declining. I don't think you can take out more than 10500 in federal loans per year, and the rest they say to pull out private loans. If I were to finance OHSU through loans alone, it would be like making a mortgage payment at the end of nursing school. And don't forget, loans are now at 6.8%. When I got my first degree, I financed my loans at 2%. That's a big difference. In the end, I don't see the that the pros outweigh the cons in taking on that kind of debt. I'm probably going to rescind my acceptance tomorrow or Friday, and try to move on. It's really a shame I won't be able to go, but I am trying to put my emotions aside and make the most logical decision for my future.

I know someone who also has not heard. Perhaps alternates have not been notified yet.

Thanks, guys. I find the feedback interesting and helpful. jimithing--I called the nursing dept.

Hey guys, I was accepted to PCC, CCC, MHCC, and OHSU. Since I have a choice, MHCC and PCC are out. I've heard such great things about CCC. Having said that, I accepted OHSU already and sent in a non-refundable deposit. After finding out what OHSU can offer me as far as funding for a program, I don't think I can justify taking out 40K+ in student and private loan debt. I would be swimming in student loan payments at the end. I have a prior degree and already have student loan debt. OHSU is 17K a year. I found out this morning that CCC is approximately 11K for TWO years. I would assume the third year at OHSU would still be around 17K. When you consider in the end you have the same degree, 28K vs. 51+K. I'm wringing my hands over this. I feel so honored to be accepted to OHSU, but I have to do what's right for me financially, and maybe if I decline, it will give someone on the wait list an opportunity to go that has the means to do so. I went from walking on air for a week to feeling really sad the past few days. If anyone else made this decision in the past or relates to me, I would appreciate any advice or sharing of a similar decision you once made. Thank-you, k1977

OHSU is about 17K per year. 51K is a lot of $$, especially for those of us w/ former degrees and existing student loan debt.

Does anyone know what the program cost is at CCC and PCC?

I'm happy for you jimtithing! Go celebrate--all your hard work has paid off!

I am #7 and declined, so you're actually #37. :)