Questions for University of San Francisco (NOT ucsf) BSN students

nocturncal · Feb 8, 2018

Reviving this thread from the dead for anyone that are interested in USF (NOT UCSF) for their undergraduate BSN.

I enjoyed the program, I learned a lot, their simulation lab was pretty decent in my opinion. I learned a lot and especially the med/surg portion of the program had a very good professor that challenged me.

Clinical placement to facilities was great, everyone I knew got their first choice in senior preceptorship in the field they wanted to do (ICU/Med-Surg/L&D,etc.)

Just know that it is really expensive. If you don't have scholarships and/or good financial aid you'll be paying off those loans for a long time. I think USF has a pretty good reputation in terms of the quality of new graduate nurses they churn out from what I've heard from other managers at different hospitals.

Ultimately, if you are limited on funds, I'd try to get get into a cheaper college that will help you get a BSN, and way before you graduate, get hired at a hospital doing nurses aid work or unit coordinator work. You want to get your foot in the door and show you're an excellent worker way before you graduate so you can be in a position to be hired internally as a new grad. Working in some capacity that deals directly with nursing staff and makes you visible to managers will increase your chance of getting a new grad spot quick.

Cheapest route= get your ADN, then get in a program for ADN to BSN. You pretty much need a BSN to be hired in the bay area, and you'll probably have a better chance getting a new grad spot.

If you can financially afford it, USF in my opinion is a great nursing school choice.

In both cases, you're connections will get you FARTHER FASTER than having a really good GPA. I knew a lot of people that solely focused on getting the best grades, ace'ing all their tests, and didn't focus on making connections. They ended up being unemployed/underemployed for a long time before they could secure a new grad spot far away from their home, while people with decent grades but great connections were hired shortly after graduating.

Definitely aim to to well in your classes, but don't assume just because you have a 4.0 GPA managers will automatically hire you. There are many nursing students with perfect grades, but what will truly separate you from those grade A students are your connections. If you don't have the connections now, seek them out by getting hired at a hospital, ideally in a position with patient care.

Good luck to all you new grads!

Ohm108, MSN, NP, CNM · Feb 10, 2018

Just came across this but as a FYI to those reading this thread, UCSF is purely a graduate school. They do not award bachelor's degrees since this is a thread about obtaining a BSN. You will need to have graduated from a university and already hold a bachelors in any subject before you can apply.