RN Programs-CT Community vs Private (Help!)

Hello Everyone,

I'm brand new to this site. I'm in my late 30's and I have decided to go back to school for nursing. I am a full time student at my local community college. I have tried to make my choices based on locale as I have 2 young children (in school) and a husband who works a 12 hour rotating shift.

I thought I had finally made up my mind and decided to take my core classes at this community college (which doesn't have a nursing program) and transfer to St. Joseph's in West Hartford but now that I have had a chance to read several posts, I am unsure. It sounds like there are a lot of great programs out there in the community colleges, albeit they are a distance for me. I am also concerned about the lengthy waiting lists. St. Joseph's is really expensive as it is a private school and I will receive little if any financial aid but my husband and I have decided to live with the fact that we will have major student loans to pay off (not the best situation but we will do what we have to). I really want this and I am very committed. Eventually, I would like to apply for the CRNA program at New Britain.

I really would appreciate any advice or input anyone can give me.

Thanks so much!

Michelle

Congratulations! You are making a wonderful career choice! Can you tell I love being a nurse?????

We have had students from St. Joes on occasion: not recently though. I work with nurses who are St. Joes grads as well. You are right about the lengthy waiting lists at several of the schools.

I would stick with St, Joes and deal with the loans later. New grads can always find positions in hospitals that will pay back their student loans. I work with several newish grads who are choosing that option.

The CRNA program at NBGH is VERY competitive not to mention rigorous. My friend's daughter just finished it. You will need several years of ICU experience if you want to be considered for that program.

PM me and we can talk or go out to lunch and chat. I am close by to you. I am not allowed to put my regular e-mail here but I will give it to you privately if you wish.

Betsy

I started out in St Joes and didn't care for the outrageous cost. Do your pre reqs elsewhere and transfer the credits. Just make sure you check 1st to see if the course you take at another college are going to be accepted there. What might qualify for a pre req in one nursing school won't in another because Connecticut çant get there act together and standardized nursing programs.

I started out in St Joes but never finished not just because of the cost but because I didn't find the atmosphere very supportive, from staff or other students. Also when I went there, nursing classes were given throughout 4 years. Most colleges will do two years of pre reqs then the last two are just nursing courses. Also your GPA at St joes has to be higher than most other school.

I am still trying to pay off about $30K:banghead: from St Joes

Good Luck

I went to Goodwin College in East Hartford. Expensive but got in first try. I love being a nurse. Congrats on your decision and good luck!

ETA: just realized this is an old thread that was revived.

Hi everyone,

Im a student in a community college trying to become an RN. Basicaly so far I have persued most general pre reqs required such as anatomy,physiology, micro... Im trying to get into a RN program immediatley and don't know what to do at this point.

I don't want to persue RN through colleges because of the wait reason. I hear lotterys may take long. Although I hear private schools take you on the spot. I know that there is a cost variation between the two but im willing to pay for that. I also hear that there is a lvn-RN bridge programs in some private schools but then that would mean I have to take all the courses again which I struggled to do so and definatly avoiding.

My problem is simply my grades are all "C" s. I don't meet the cirteria for most colleges which is why im stuck with only private schools.

Is there any private schools out there excluding online that require you to have pre reqs completed only in order to get in or do you have to have an LVN liscence and then the pre reqs....im just trying to find the easy way out without getting that darn LVN lisence.

What should I do?

I started out taking a couple of classes each semester and i remember spending a whole night writing a paper holding my baby(#4) who had GERD and screamed all night. My hubby came how at 8am after working the night before. I was in tears and complained that it was going to take me 5 years to get my ADN!! He said this to me.."In 5 years you can be a nurse or wish you were, either way, 5 years will happen" .. I dediced that because of the competeitveness, i applied to all the schools that had an RN (ADN) program as well as Bridgeport Hopital school of Nursing..location meant little to me when it came to doing what I wanted to do and what I NEEDED to do to make life better for my family in the long run. I now drive and hour to Norwalk from Wolcott for school..the reality is, once you are done with you pre reqs, you are not traveling to school 5 days a week,its usually only 2 days a week. If you want it bad enough, you will do what it takes. I have 4 kids, a per diem job and hubby works crazy hours and lots of overtime as a firefighter. Another classmate has 3 kids and a hubby who has MS and travels from Wallingford to Norwalk. My point is to not limit yourself to just a few places, its way to competitive and now with the CCs all on the same page, they are now admitting students 2x a year-for fall and for spring and transferring to a CC closer to you after the 1st semester will now be possible because of the changes they have made.

as one of my instructors always says to us "PUT ALL EXCUSES ASIDE AND REMEMBER THIS: YOU ARE CAPABLE."