School Dilemma in NYC

[pattipepperoni]

Just a little background information. I'm 28 and live in NYC. I applied to an ADN program at bmcc, as well as the ABSN programs at Mt. Sinai and Wagner College. Mt. Sinai is much closer and I'm willing to bite the bullet to justify the high cost of the ABSN by paying half out of pocket and funding the rest with loans. Mt. Sinai claims they have started waitlisting. My final LOR has not been uploaded by my professor, so they cannot evaluate my application yet. I am confident that my stats will allow me to get in the program at BMCC. I just wanted to highlight some of the pros and cons of each of the schools if I am accepted/denied.

BMCC

Pros: cheap, clinicals are in the boroughs and easy to get to, promising NCLEX rate, starts in August

cons: 2 year program, would have to do a bridge program after. I don't plan on working throughout the program. I'm an accountant now, and anticipate that I will quit before beginning any of these programs. Another thing that concerns me is that I'd be out of work for 2 years.

Mt. Sinai

pros: 15 months, 30 minutes from my house, clinicals are easy to get to

cons: might get waitlisted and have to reapply for the Spring instead of starting in August

Wagner

pros: 15 months, I've read good reviews online about the program and its instructors, cheaper than Mt. Sinai's tuition, starts in August

cons: 2 hr commute from where I live, so I'd be forced to dorm. This would increase the costs for the program. It would probably a couple of thousand more than Mt. Sinai's total tuition

If you were in my shoes, what would you do? If I don't get accepted to Mt. Sinai, should I just commit to Wagner or take the longer route and go to the community college? There's also an option to reapply to Mt. Sinai and start the program in January 2026. Thank you!

[FullGlass, BSN, MSN, NP]

It seems Mt Sinai and BMCC are your best bets, but you have not been accepted by either program yet.  I suggest you wait until you are accepted by at least 1 program.

[jym596]

I think it depends on what your ideal timeline looks like. I know personally, I wanted to graduate and start working ASAP, so I relocated across the country for a program that allowed me to do that. I wouldn't do BMCC due to the length of the program AND you still needing to do a bridge program after (going from adulting to being a student with no income is HARD). I would ago with Mt. Sinai or Wagner, with the final choice obviously being based on which you get accepted to. Keep in mind that going to a school near where you live will likely mean your clinicals will be at hospitals near you, increasing your chances of having a job when you graduate.