Program questions! Current/Past students at: SDSU, SFSU, SJSU, SSU, CSULB, CSUS

I think all the schools above hit the marks mentioned. I think the most important criteria is which schools actually provides the connections to get you a paycheck. Chances are you will have to relocate are pretty darn high. Socal has the highest concentration of new graduate programs and being a local has an ever so slight advantage. If accepted to all the programs above, I would personally attend long Beach or sd assuming you have equal connections among all locations.

I agree that most programs should meet the criteria you seek. Your stats are excellent- I'm guessing you'll have your pick of programs!

I am about to graduate from SSU, so here's my feedback specific to their program:

clinical sites, : Sutter, Memorial, and Kaiser, all in Santa Rosa, for most clinicals. Peds, psych, preceptorship, and community health are elsewhere (all over).

student-professor relationships, : Most are awesome. We have some really supportive instructors, and with a small class (started with 24, graduating with 23), the instructors know us well, we know them well, we have good relationships with them all, they really advocate for us and try to work with us, etc. There are a couple of exceptions, but the general theme is great. They push us hard, but are supportive about it. It's not about trying to thin the herd, it's about making sure we understand the content and what we're doing in the clinical setting.

preceptorship options, : They really try to place us somewhere we'll be happy. There are only so many options, and they have to place us among SRJC and Dominican students, but I'm precepting somewhere great (after an initial assignment in my last choice).

overall quality of the program (was it organized? evidence-based? focused on student success?), : Organization is still being worked out- we're only the second class that's down to 2 years. Evidence based? Absolutely. Focused on student success? YES.

exam formats (NCLEX-type questions?), : NCLEX-style questions. We also have papers, lots of research through the program (see evidence-based).

and if there are any contract or internship opportunities with hospitals after graduation. : Not necessarily a contract, but there's a residency program available this summer. There's no guarantee this will be the case every summer. The way the job market is right now, I can't imagine there are any guarantees anywhere.

And if you have graduated recently, were you successful in finding a job in the area? : I am graduating next month, and I have a job offer where I'm precepting (the first in my class with an offer!).

If you have any other questions about SSU, I'm happy to answer. :)