Puerto Rico school feedback?

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Anyone out there have info on the school in Arecibo, PR? It is a 24 month program that begins in August.

I'd love to hear anything, thanks.

zzzzzgirl

I'm graduating in May from undergrad and am considering flying out afterward to look at neighborhoods and secure housing as well. I haven't gotten a decision yet, but don't doubt that I will soon. Does anyone have any neighborhood recommendations? From what I've been looking at online, Miramar, Isla Verde and Condado seem to be what I'm looking for.

You sent me a PM but I cannot reply since I am not allowed to send PMS b/c I need about 5 more posts.

I can answer your questions but you will need to send them again....to this "quote."

I received my acceptance letter after I arrived at the program...yes, after. I received mine when I came to the IAU in person and picked it up at admissions (immediately to the right when you walk in main building.)

I think many students did their licensing through Wisconsin b/c it was cheap and the paperwork was easy...I think you can do any state you want though. In our case, WI. will ALWAYS be our main license but we can endorse it anywhere and keep up CE for all the states we/you are licensed in.

I REALLY recommend reading about NCLEX (this is to everyone) b/c there are many "paperwork" things you need to know about it. Do not ask ?s you can look up on your own. You need to know all the steps and they are clearly listed at NCLEX Examinations .

You can leave the program with your ADN (as you can anywhere) and get licensed as a nurse after taking NCLEX. Realize...you most likely will not get a job as only an ADN. Im applying for jobs now and 99.99999% require BSN.

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Below is the link to the Google map in my maps. However in my maps there is a star where the actual school is. When I click on this link there is no star but it gives you an idea anyway.

Google Maps

On a map it would be near the intersection of HWY 1 and Interstate 18. You cannot see it at this intersection though (expressway.)

Take 18S from San Juan to Hwy 177. Go West to the second light (empty lot on right and gas station across from that.) Go right. IAU on left. Park in garage. $2.00.

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I am new to this website and just found your thread through google. I have recently applied to IUPR (like last week) and now i'm totally freaked out that I won't be able to start in Aug 2010 as I would like to. Is it really that difficult to get information about acceptance? I am applying to the metro campus and I can't even seem to figure out where it is on the map, i've gotten so much conflicting information even on that simple task. Can someone tell me where the metro campus is located? This is where the English Trimester program is i'm assuming. If i'm wrong someone please clue me in! Thanks, and thank you to all the previous posters who have shared their experiences and information. I hope i'm not too late to get started in the August class.

Thanks!

At this point you best bet would be to visit the school. Yes, all the poster are correct...you will have little luck on the phone and almost none via email.

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Thanks PR Nurse!

When I visited the school the nursing coordinator told me that since I spoke Spanish that I could be certified to work as a nurse in PR after my first year since I would technically have an ADN. Is this true? Do any of the students do it? I know the money isn't great, but it would be great to be accumulating experience while finishing school. Thanks again!!!

There is one student who does work at a hospital here. They speak espanol tambien but it took 4 months to find a job and it was only b/c they knew someone. You think the school paperwork is a pain....the PR nurse licensing paperwork and process is a NIGHTMARE.

People....beware....you need lots of things notarized here...by lawyers and fees are at least $25 per paper, usually more. Find a lawyer friend here fast!

Bring ALLLLL your original paperwork (birth certificate, ect.) when you come but NEVER EVER give an original to someone, it will get lost, I promise.

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Specializes in Psych, Substance Abuse.

Oh man, about the notary thing, I just couldn't believe that there were no notaries here that weren't lawyers, but yep...just lawyers. I am used to the states, where I could just go to Kinko's and pay $10 and get something notarized. Not here. Like the poster above said, the cheapest is $25. When I got something notarized, the lawyer basically interrogated me to make sure everything was correct LOL

As for the traffic that someone mentioned, I'm not going to say that you WON'T experience a bunch of traffic, because you will, however, you won't get the worst of it. The worst traffic is going toward San Juan in the morning, and away from San Juan in the afternoon. That is the worst.traffic.EVER. So many people from different towns work in San Juan, probably 9-5 jobs a lot of them, so that's why it's so bad at those times. Going into the metro area at 4 or 5 p.m. isn't going to be ridiculous traffic wise, but I'm not promising that it will be completely traffic free, either. I get there the fastest when I take the expressway. I'm just saying, in my opinion it's worth it to consider other towns that aren't directly next to the university, or the beach for that matter. You will pay WAY less, and going to and from the school isn't that bad. Plus, you won't be too far from the beach no matter where you live here! Sure, you may not be right on top of it, but no one is too far from the beach here in PR. It takes us probably about 30 minutes, maybe a bit more depending on which beach we go to. Luquillo is my favorite, it's beautiful! I still say check out Caguas, it's awesome!

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I will be looking for a roommate too. The more the better because PR is expensive. As long as you are not planning to lock me or any other roomies/ classmates in the freezer its all good. LOL

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Specializes in Psych, Substance Abuse.
I will be looking for a roommate too. The more the better because PR is expensive. As long as you are not planning to lock me or any other roomies/ classmates in the freezer its all good. LOL

Actually, rent in PR is very, very cheap compared to other places. In Orlando, I could barely rent a 3 bedroom shack for less than $1,000. Here, you can find a nice 3 bedroom house in a good neighborhood for $500. I was looking in this free paper we get every week here, and I saw a bunch of 3 bedrooms with lights and water included for $500-$600. I think one was even in the $300s! That is just insanely low, and they're not in the projects or anything LOL This was in Caguas, San Lorenzo and Gurabo, but the commute is very doable.

Now, you will pay dearly for groceries, lights, etc. Well, if you like Puerto Rican food you can get groceries pretty cheap. Things like rice, beans, etc. are cheap. Thank God I LOVE Puerto Rican food :yeah:

However, no car insurance payment and the cheap rent kinda balances it all out. If you guys can become roommates you'll be living very good!

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Wow I didn't know it was that cheap. In L.A. a three bedroom for $500 dollars would surely be in the projects, unless you have a really good friend with an extra house sitting around.

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On a map it would be near the intersection of HWY 1 and Interstate 18. You cannot see it at this intersection though (expressway.)

Take 18S from San Juan to Hwy 177. Go West to the second light (empty lot on right and gas station across from that.) Go right. IAU on left. Park in garage. $2.00.

So is my map wrong? I can't see where HWY 1 and Interstate 18 meet. Can you tell me the nearest metro or subway station to the school? Maybe that is the best way to find it.

By the way the metro or tren line seams very sort and it looks like there are only 2 lines. Is it used?

Also you mention parking in the garage is 2.00. Is this the case if we are students there? Would we have to pay 2.00 each time we park or are there monthly student parking passes?

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Specializes in Psych, Substance Abuse.
So is my map wrong? I can't see where HWY 1 and Interstate 18 meet. Can you tell me the nearest metro or subway station to the school? Maybe that is the best way to find it.

By the way the metro or tren line seams very sort and it looks like there are only 2 lines. Is it used?

Also you mention parking in the garage is 2.00. Is this the case if we are students there? Would we have to pay 2.00 each time we park or are there monthly student parking passes?

I don't know about the nearest train station to the school, maybe someone else will though. The best directions I can give is if you see a Toyota dealership and an Econo grocery store on Hwy 1, you're close.

As far as the train, I guess people use it, but I don't know how. We're not like NYC here, where we have trains and then buses that you can take to your final destination. Well, we do have a very, very simple bus system in the metro area, but I wouldn't depend on that at all. If you live here and study here, you need a car, period. It's hard/frustrating enough riding public transportation in a city where there are tons of buses running consistently several times an hour, let alone a dealing with a disorganized system like ours. You don't want to risk being late to class and clinicals because you're messing around with transportation. Plus, I don't think anything will be running when we get out at night.

As far as the parking, I believe it's just $2 a day. I don't think there is a monthly pass, but then again I've never asked. And yes, that's for students as well as visitors. They told my husband that if he registers the car with them, he'll only have to pay $1, but I'm not sure how true that is.

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I don't know about the nearest train station to the school, maybe someone else will though. The best directions I can give is if you see a Toyota dealership and an Econo grocery store on Hwy 1, you're close.

Unfortunately I can't see a Toyota dealership and an Econo grocery on my computer. ;-) I really thought I had it on the map. I spent a lot of time trying to pin point the exact location. I even had the help of an administrator at IAUPR.

As far as the train, I guess people use it, but I don't know how. We're not like NYC here, where we have trains and then buses that you can take to your final destination. Well, we do have a very, very simple bus system in the metro area, but I wouldn't depend on that at all. If you live here and study here, you need a car, period. It's hard/frustrating enough riding public transportation in a city where there are tons of buses running consistently several times an hour, let alone a dealing with a disorganized system like ours. You don't want to risk being late to class and clinicals because you're messing around with transportation. Plus, I don't think anything will be running when we get out at night.

I lived in Paris for over a year and the Metro was absolutely amazing. Now I know the train system in PR can't even scratch the surface of the Paris Metro but I figured it may be a good way to get back and forth from school if I live near a station. Now buses I can't stand, but trains I love. And train systems are always supper easy to figure out except for NYC.

I know I have to have a car. Especially for clinicals and I plan to have a car but I figured it may be nice to take the train to school.

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Designer Mommy, you are a wealth of information! Thanks for sharing with us. What towns do you recommend we start looking into? Would be cool to find a nice house with a fenced backyard!

The letter of acceptance? wow, I can understand getting it late but going there when you start to pick it up, that's just.. well.. odd LOL. This whole thing at times seems slightly humorous but I guess it's just the way it is there. good luck to everyone else with this process

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