Hey everyone, my very first post but a long time observer at this forum.
I graduated earlier this year in June with an ASN degree and now looking to work on my BSN, seeing how the job hunt
is going nowhere for me. I tried to apply at San Jose State University here in Ca., but they've put a lock on the Fall 2010 semester. Now I am looking at the University of Phoenix online option. I was wondering if anyone here taken the RN to BSN route at University of Phoenix, either online or on-campus? I know they're approved by the CA BRN, but I want to know how good are the instructors and their curriculum? Basically any information would be helpful at this point. Thanks alot!
I am a newly licensed RN, and am going to go on for my BS. I WAS considering U of P, and then one of my nursing instructors said that it doesnt have a good rep. I live in NJ, and am most likely going to go with Drexel University, which is a "real" University but offers online prgrams. Drexel's BS program looked far different than U of P. I am most likely going with Drexel. However, I do know some MSN's who got their degrees from U of P. It is really up to the student.
I'm sorry, I didn't realize that this thread became a discussion about anecdotal experiences or what my "credentials" are. I didn't know ad hominems attacks were taken seriously here. It only goes to strengthen my argument when all the detractors can muster is "well...are you a nurse?"
I really don't care what any of you do with your money. Go ahead do it. But you're delusional if you think ...now read this carefully, that ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, a person who goes to a brick & mortar university will be more respected than someone who goes to a for profit online university like phoenix. Of course experience and other factors matter. Of course there are people who have gone on in their careers afterwards. The operant phrase here is "all things being equal". If you can't understand that, maybe you belong at U of Phoenix.
You can bask in your denial all you want. Like I said...its your money. Enjoy the koolaid.
Please precept in my ER so I can watch you fall off your soap box.
Just Curious... How exactly did you arrive at the conclusion that you attend one of the "top10 nursing schools." I'm only asking because I was wondering how you rate them. Is there a different NCLEX that you guys take or something that is harder or do you get the NCLEX scores that no one else gets?
My Grandmother got her degrees from Johns Hopkins, not exactly sure where that would fall on your list or top nursing schools, and I don't recall her ever speaking of it helping or that it opened/closed any doors.
I am in an online school for a BSN simply because I am planning on moving states in the middle of my degree and out of state tuition is outrageous no matter where you are. My advanced degree will more than likely come from a "brick and mortar" school simply because it is not a degree that is achievable online.
I also scored in the top percentages out of the roughly 30,000 students that took the exit exam last year, including those in top ten schools, and I am getting my ADN from a lowly, lol, 2 year college.
By my understanding a femur is still a femur no matter if it be at joe blow college or Oxford. If you have chosen to pay an outrageous amount just so that you can hear your professor say it with an accent then I'm guessing... you should be proud? I, however, am not impressed. However, I will offer you some applause anyway as it seems your ego needs to be stroked.
Specializes in Community & Mental Health, Sp Ed nursing.
My local hospital just promoted an ICU nurse to management because she recently got an MBA/MSN from UofP. Another applicant got her MSN about 12 years ago, she worked on the floor the job was on and she didn't get the job. Anecdotal, I know.
I want to make the point that some hospitals actually see online schools as having an advantage because those students have proven that they are very self motivated. Especially today when some brick and mortar schools are trying to make themselves look good with grade inflation.
FYI I'm going to a brick and mortar school for my MSN. The school doesn't have the best rep, but I don't care. I'm enjoying the classes and my experience is what I make it, similar to online classes.
Well Agrippa...WOW....have you not been paying attention to the "brick and mortar" schools. Many of them now offer online options. And U of P is accredited by the same accrediting agency that other "brick and mortar" schools are. And as far as the cost goes...I'm sure that places like Stanford and Oxford (institutions that charge at least $30000.00 a year) are strictly charging that money because they have to right? They're not in it for the money at all. tsk-tsk! As for your friend that just throws out the resumes...that's against the law. The end.
And to all others since Agrippa is in a class alone. I know many nurses that have gone to and plan to go to U of P. I am planning to go there myself. I currently have 2 BS in non nursing fields and an ADN. I will go back for their RN-MSN/FNP track. And my ADN was a combo of the two types of schools. I went to a satellite location. literally, the instructor was on screen via satellite. We had to go to a conference room at a business location to go to class and our onsite instructors took turns being filmed via satellite. I passed the NCLEX with 75 questions on my first try. Most of my classmates did too. Well, so much for alternative school being a bad idea. lol.
There is a difference between accredited and respected. Yes, UofP is fully accredited; but not everywhere respected (you can see that from this thread alone). There are many hiring managers who by their own personal opinions, don't respect online degrees. Could it be bias? Discrimination? Ignorance? It really doesn't matter because there are no laws in place that prevents an applicant who received an online degree from having their application tossed in the trash. Be sure to network and find out where you can work with a degree from them.
That is not considered equal opportunity. That is an opinion. I know that people will overlook such degrees but they have to get over that. Most schools now offer online alternatives. But please notice that online is only available for degrees that don't require clinicals from U of P.
I am now on my 4th class at UOP, I did three online and one on ground course. The Online course is actually harder then onground just because when you go to on ground your attendance is counted as participation while online you have to write at least 4 times a week to be considered participating. It's not just writing random things, you have to cite and reference ANYTHING you write in the forum or else NO credit is given. Personally, I think it is hard. I have a friend who went to a "good" university and when she helped me write my paper she still missed a lot of things. She is an English teacher and I still ended up getting a B on that that paper. Anyway, I think that UOP is a pretty good school. You will pretty much learn the same thing if you went to "real" school; or maybe more.:) I don't really think UOP needs to be defended becasue they really do know what are doing. I know that All throug out my schooling there was always a person talking BAD about the school and yet they were still going to the school.
Well Agrippa...WOW....have you not been paying attention to the "brick and mortar" schools. Many of them now offer online options. And U of P is accredited by the same accrediting agency that other "brick and mortar" schools are. And as far as the cost goes...I'm sure that places like Stanford and Oxford (institutions that charge at least $30000.00 a year) are strictly charging that money because they have to right? They're not in it for the money at all. tsk-tsk! As for your friend that just throws out the resumes...that's against the law. The end.
And to all others since Agrippa is in a class alone. I know many nurses that have gone to and plan to go to U of P. I am planning to go there myself. I currently have 2 BS in non nursing fields and an ADN. I will go back for their RN-MSN/FNP track. And my ADN was a combo of the two types of schools. I went to a satellite location. literally, the instructor was on screen via satellite. We had to go to a conference room at a business location to go to class and our onsite instructors took turns being filmed via satellite. I passed the NCLEX with 75 questions on my first try. Most of my classmates did too. Well, so much for alternative school being a bad idea. lol.
Drea, I would be interested in hearing about your RN-MSN experience at UoP. I am considering it as an option once I get my RN. I still have a year and a half to go with my ADN program, and a bachelor's in another field as well. I had heard about the program. Most likely I will not be doing it online, but that's due to my financial assistance with the GI Bill. They don't pay for online classes. But, I'd be interested in knowing what you think of the program once you start. Thanks!
I agree with you completely. Thats why I said experience is key and where you went to school won't matter 5-10 yrs down the road.
But the thing is, schools like U of Phoenix is simply put, giving students false hope when they say that their degree is JUST AS GOOD as any other. It is simply not true. It makes me infuriated thinking about how they target people who are most likely not in a high income bracket, single parents and feel desperate.
I just want to make sure people do proper research. A simple search online makes it clear that U of Phoenix is a watered down education at best and a SCAM at worst.
I agree with you. The U of Phoenix tried to recruit me and has been calling me the last few days in regards to getting my MSN there. I did a simple online search of the school and came over many negative reviews. The school is profit based and I read that if the counselors are able to recruit you they make money. Their interest is not in your future and studies, but more so their wallet.
RunnerNurse09, BSN, RN
185 Posts
I am a newly licensed RN, and am going to go on for my BS. I WAS considering U of P, and then one of my nursing instructors said that it doesnt have a good rep. I live in NJ, and am most likely going to go with Drexel University, which is a "real" University but offers online prgrams. Drexel's BS program looked far different than U of P. I am most likely going with Drexel. However, I do know some MSN's who got their degrees from U of P. It is really up to the student.