Puerto Rico school feedback?

WorldTravelingYogi · Feb 1, 2012

I think the November date is something you have to ask for specifically. And that some people at the school will tell you that you can't start then, but that you actually can.

Yeah that is pretty much the case. This year there were two students in the accelerated program that started in November. They are basically with the non accelerated group for 2 trimesters and then if they want to catch up with the August group they take the June summer session and the July summer session and by Aug of the following year they have caught up with the accelerated students that started 3 months before. They end up graduating in May. So for example, a student starts Nov 2011 they will graduate May 2013 which is 18 months. Now that is a true accelerated program.

WorldTravelingYogi · Feb 1, 2012

Hi Hihopes22,
Can you tell me why you have decided to pick UMET over la Inter? Do you know when their next session is starting? I hear they have bi- semester sessions hence more start dates, is it true. Also can you find out how long it will take if one has all the pre- reqs. Also, are all classes, including clinicals offered during the summer sessions as well? thanks!

Sorry to answer for her but she is staying with me. She wanted to start in Jan so UMET was her only choice. She may have picked either school but our school doesn't start in Jan. In fact we are about to go into finals because we are on a trimester system.

And from what I hear about her professor it sounds just like La Inter. In fact this professor came from La Inter. I do think from what I hear that the facilities at UMET are much more state of the art. Like Jen says check out both and make your own decisions.

feetinthedirt · Feb 1, 2012

I'm curious if anyone can tell me how they are supporting themselves while doing this program? It sounds like after your tuition is covered, there is some--but not a lot--of money left over for living expenses. If I stayed where I'm at (Seattle) then I'd have the potential for picking up occasional shifts at old jobs, etc.--but in Puerto Rico I would be going there without such connections. I'm just trying to figure out, realistically, how much money I will need to bring down there to live off of while I do the program. I know everyone's situation is unique, but getting some ideas around how others are doing it would be so helpful! Thanks!

snowshyne · Feb 1, 2012

I'm curious if anyone can tell me how they are supporting themselves while doing this program? It sounds like after your tuition is covered, there is some--but not a lot--of money left over for living expenses. If I stayed where I'm at (Seattle) then I'd have the potential for picking up occasional shifts at old jobs, etc.--but in Puerto Rico I would be going there without such connections. I'm just trying to figure out, realistically, how much money I will need to bring down there to live off of while I do the program. I know everyone's situation is unique, but getting some ideas around how others are doing it would be so helpful! Thanks!

Funny, I just emailed someone from this thread the EXACT same question. I don't see how people can afford to do it without a roommate.

Txmom3 · Feb 1, 2012

Thanks for the info. I was actually in PR in August, registered for classes at la inter and even got my Certficado de salud! I have to drop my classes and come back home because my kids 7, 4, 2 were not doing too well during my absence. I do want to earn my RN and rgiht now I am wondering if I could do it in chunks, meaning one trimester each year.That way, i can be away from home 3 months at a time. It will take longer but I am willing to pay the price. I am trying to decide if UMET would not be a better choice in that case. Any info would be appreciated.

hihopes22 · Feb 3, 2012

Thanks for the info. I was actually in PR in August, registered for classes at la inter and even got my Certficado de salud! I have to drop my classes and come back home because my kids 7, 4, 2 were not doing too well during my absence. I do want to earn my RN and rgiht now I am wondering if I could do it in chunks, meaning one trimester each year.That way, i can be away from home 3 months at a time. It will take longer but I am willing to pay the price. I am trying to decide if UMET would not be a better choice in that case. Any info would be appreciated.

Hi txmom,

I haven't been on in a while but as Yogi said, I really had no choice. But at Umet each semester is broken up into two. We have bimesters. Each part is 8 weeks. So one semester is essentially 16 weeks not including the small break in between. Hope this helps. I am not sure how that would work to come once a year. Maybe try taking one semester and see ifyou can transfer to a school in the states.

VeronicaR · Feb 3, 2012

Hi hihopes,

I am new to this thread and have spent the last hour or so reading through all the comments and have learned so much!! I read your post from the beginning of your research to now and I am happy you decided to stay! I hope one day that will be me! I noticed some current students have finished and left the thread so I hope you will continue on and help us future students along our jouney! I am just starting my research on PR and I sure after I am done reading the rest of the comments I will have plenty of ?'s!!

VeronicaR

hihopes22 · Feb 3, 2012

Hi hihopes,
I am new to this thread and have spent the last hour or so reading through all the comments and have learned so much!! I read your post from the beginning of your research to now and I am happy you decided to stay! I hope one day that will be me! I noticed some current students have finished and left the thread so I hope you will continue on and help us future students along our jouney! I am just starting my research on PR and I sure after I am done reading the rest of the comments I will have plenty of ?'s!!
VeronicaR

Hi Veronica!

Thank you! I am glad I decided to stay as well.I am very happy with my decision and feel like I am exactly where I was meant to be. :-) If you have any questions feel free to ask. But, I would probably do what tmp25 did and take notes. Because, a lot of times you won't get the full response if you ask a question that was asked a million times. I found out that is why some people don't respond. I will try my best to answer any questions that I can. Good luck with your journey!

feetinthedirt · Feb 9, 2012

snowshyne,

Have you gotten any info on how folks are making it work in the financial arena? I am just trying to get a sense of how to prepare for moving down there! Being a full time student and not working and running out of money is not fun! I did it while working on pre-reqs and I don't want to do it again.

Kelly

tmp25, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2012

snowshyne,
Have you gotten any info on how folks are making it work in the financial arena? I am just trying to get a sense of how to prepare for moving down there! Being a full time student and not working and running out of money is not fun! I did it while working on pre-reqs and I don't want to do it again.
Kelly

Hello,

So I don't know how everyone gets by, but I do know from what I read previously in the threads is that financial aid and pell grant (if you qualify) is enough to get you through the whole program. There are on-campus jobs available as well as a Starbucks thats located in front of Inter American University that students get jobs at. (In order to work at Starbucks though, you have to be bilingual---> from what I read) I also read that after some students finish up with the pediatrics portion they are able to work in the local hospital (if you feel comfortable with the language and patients. They pay about $7-$9 an hour) Other than that, most of the students that I've talked to do not work. Some have re-located to PR with out money saved up and still made it through. So, everyone's situation is different. I know if I end up moving to PR, my parents/financial aid/if I find an on-campus job will be my means of surviving down there. I know this info may not give you piece of mind, but from what I read its pretty do-able because of how inexpensive everything is (excluding groceries...lol)

feetinthedirt · Feb 9, 2012

Right now it sounds like I will have one or two adventurous friends moving down there with me, so I will hopefully have cheap rent. I have a Bachelor's degree already, so I'm not elligible for grants but the loans will at least take care of tuition. It's nice to hear that groceries, etc. is pretty inexpensive--I've heard conflicting reports on that and I think my monthly cost of living is really what I'm trying to figure out. If I do the November start date, then I will be in class the following summer (I think) instead of working, but going down there in November will mean going with more money saved.

I just bought my ticket this week to go visit in March! So I am pumped about that.

tmp25, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2012

Right now it sounds like I will have one or two adventurous friends moving down there with me, so I will hopefully have cheap rent. I have a Bachelor's degree already, so I'm not elligible for grants but the loans will at least take care of tuition. It's nice to hear that groceries, etc. is pretty inexpensive--I've heard conflicting reports on that and I think my monthly cost of living is really what I'm trying to figure out. If I do the November start date, then I will be in class the following summer (I think) instead of working, but going down there in November will mean going with more money saved.
I just bought my ticket this week to go visit in March! So I am pumped about that.

Thats exciting!! I'm going in May bc I'm still in school. I'm trying to get a friend to come down with me as well...but I don't know how successful thats going to be so I'm kind of prepared to go down by myself. But yea, it all depends on where you live because then you have to think about transportation and such if you live near the beach like Worldtravellingyogi. I talked with one student who graduated last May and she said she lived in a 2 bedroom for $500 near Inter campus, so with your other 2 friends, it shouldn't be bad at all. Will you be looking at both schools?? It looks like you've decided on Inter since you want to start in November. Either way, keep us updated...we may be future classmates!