SFSU vs. Cal State East Bay (Hayward) BSN

[missgee]

Hello everybody,

I've been accepted into SFSU's spring 08 program and CSUEB's fall 07 program. I need some help in choosing where I should attend. I did all my ge and pre-reqs at sfsu, but i live near csueb.

I was wondering if anybody knows the pro's and con's of each school, from the professors, classes, to how students did in the program.Any information will help.

I'm hoping someone can help me in my decision.

Thank you in advance.

[TazziRN, RN]

They're both good. I would choose SF but if you're tired of commuting you're going to regret that decision. Choose Hayward.

[NTPinky]

I graduated from SFSU and hated every second of that place. Most of the professors are out of touch with actual nursing, and a big problem is lack of communication between professors themselves. You can ask two of them the exact same question and get two very different answers. They are shamelessly unorganized, and don't want to hear any suggestions from students about improving anything.

I really could go on and on and on about all their problems, but I can best sum them up in two words: extreme disorganization. If you decide on SFSU, just know that you will be completely on your own for everything, and remember to double check what anyone tells you, because professors who act like they know everything often end up misinforming students. They have 800 nursing students, and about 13 full-time professors. Recipe for disaster. I never met ONE single student during my time there who had anything good to say about it.

[Testa Rosa, RN]

I will be starting CSUEB - Concord Campus program this Fall and have friends ahead of me already there. They all speak highly of the program and most of the professors.

However, they do complain some administration issues. Having attended SDSU for my business degree, I've learned this is all to be expected from any state college, and this may be part in the "communication" problem you are hearing from prior students.

I've already run into some administration issues at CSUEB, such as forcing all incoming Level I nursing students to take CSU's CPR/First Aid class. Many of us have already satisfied this requirement. I completed a EMT level class last month, but will be shelling out $100 to do this again.

Also, CSUEB did not give us the date of the mandatory--as in you will be dropped from the program--orientation (August 10th) untill late June. Of course, this was the week I had planned our one and only vacation in our favorite vacation spot that was booked solid back in March.

Good Luck on your decision. My husband went to SFSU for his undergrad degree and liked his program, but it wasn't nursing.

I like the "recognizable name" value of San Fran, but if it's a longer commute, then CSUEB would be my choice. I know several people in both the Concord and Hayward program who speak highly of CSUEB professors. I've talked to a couple already, and it seems as they are very in sync with each other.

[Testa Rosa, RN]

My husband just noticed my posting on the computer and he wanted me to clarify that he did not have a good experience at SFSU, in fact he absolutely hated SFSU.

He felt it was a commuter school and his undergrad program (science) was poorly run by teachers that seemed to have little vested interest in their students.

This has no bearing on the nursing program, but felt bad for missrepresenting hubby.

[bluewhaleusa]

I am a level III student in CSUEB right now. I did not have any mandatory orientation back in 2005. The professors are very nice and frendly, as they will try every effort to help you. All the school staff are nice too. The nursing program is pretty relaxing for the first year, and the second year will be a big surprise for everybody- it suddenly got so hard!!! but after the second year, the third year is like a breeze, you are on your own practicing in hospitals. Highly recommend CSUEB!

[Testa Rosa, RN]

Wanted to follow up on prior postings now that I have a quarter under my belt...

CSUEB has a very good program, but HATE the quarter system!

If you are deciding between programs--look at the commute first, but also look at the fact that CSUEB is a quarter system. Very intense time line for those with jobs, kids, etc.

Some people like it in that a class ends before you have a chance to get sick of it. But as far as I'm concerned, it's harder, especially if you are coming from a semester system. Felt like I didn't have enough time for studying, papers, projects.