Should I go for UCLA or stick to my local Cal State U?

U.S.A. California

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Hello,

I am currently a male CC student here in Sacramento, CA. I have a 3.9 GPA, 4.0 Science GPA. I work part time and volunteer at two different hospitals for 5-7 hours per week each.

We have a great Cal State Nursing school in town, however the school is highly impacted. Now while you might say, "....well aren't they all?" This area has numerous ADN programs, however only one BSN program. When you ask most students in my CC what major they are pursuing, they will say nursing. While I realize that through attrition of the classes, course load, and pure drive to get there, most people will not obtain this goal. There still seems to be an abnormal amount of people striving to gain what I will have one day myself.

As far as UCLA goes, I have been a UCLA sports fan since I was very young, plus the visits to LA I make every few months with friends makes me fall in love with the town and the school over and over again. Plus UCLA... is well UCLA.

My questions are to those that have graduated from a BSN program that is not near home:

1) Do you feel the cost was worth it? As in do you feel you would be a better position financially and education, personal life and family wise if you had chosen, if given the option, to stay near home?

2) Do you feel as tho school prestige plays a part in both obtaining interviews and/or obtaining those jobs post graduation?

Thanks for the input.

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I placed this in the wrong section...if a mod could move it to somewhere more appropriate?

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I can relate to your situation. While applying to nursing schools, I looked into UCLA, and UC Irvine. I attended a local community college and had pretty descent grades. I've always wanted to attend a more "prestigious" 4 year university and I thought getting a BSN from a UC would be like hitting "2 birds with one stone". Then I found out about their chemistry requirement, which would take me at least another year to fulfill. I ended up getting into a CSU and here I am, about half way done with the nursing program.

I heard UCLA and UCI only accept a handful of transfer students per year so I'd imagine competition is ultra fierce. I'm sure you already know it wouldn't be cheap to attend UCLA (tuition, cost of living, rent, text...etc) & tuition is likely to increase continuously. But if attending UCLA and being in SoCal is really what you want then you should go for it! So far, I feel like nursing is the type of major where school prestige doesn't play a big role (at least in the undergrad. level). Things might change a little bit since jobs are harder to come by these days. But I feel like it's more about making good rapport with the staff nurses during your clinical rotations & being competent in your practice are what's going to help you obtain jobs down the road.

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Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Moved to CA Nursing Programs Discussion forum.

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1) Do you feel the cost was worth it? As in do you feel you would be a better position financially and education, personal life and family wise if you had chosen, if given the option, to stay near home?

2) Do you feel as tho school prestige plays a part in both obtaining interviews and/or obtaining those jobs post graduation?

I haven't graduate from there but I'm starting their program this fall. I was in a local ADN program but decided to leave to go to UCLA's. To me, UCLA is worth the spends. The local CC program was a complete mess. It was not only they didn't care about their students but the disorganized program shot me away. Many times, I wasn't sure what I learned from their professors were correct. I'm not sure if its because they were lack of education or being away from the bed side for too long.

But I can tell you the professors in UCLA is way more qualified. All of them has Ph.D and due to the name of school, they are very proud and confident. I'm a commuter who takes 1.5 hr bus ride to the campus everyday.. and it's worth it.

I do believe the name of school matters to some point. I heard 24/25 UCLA new graduate nurses who applied to Ronald Reagan (top 5 US hospital) was hired from the crowed. And personally I would take UCLA graduate instead of Cal State, CC graduate RN. The quality in education isn't the same so is your college life. UCLA is a better school to be in! good luck!!

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Btw, I forgot to say. I couldn't worry about the tuition. Maybe just the living spends. They have a policy called blue and gold. If your income or parents? is under 80K, your tuition is covered by UC school. Chemistry portion of the requirement isn't that bad. It's a pre-med classes as well so you can go that tract if you change your mind in the future. Get you prepared very well!

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If you can get accepted at UCLA and can afford it, go there! You will regret it if you don't.

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Got to UCLA! It was the best decision I ever made. I hate to say this, but having a degree from UCLA definitely opens doors for you.

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I'm currently a cc freshman wanting to transfer into the BSN at UCLA, UCI, or a few cal states. Were you accepted into UCLA??

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Specializes in Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.

In the nursing field, big name schools like UCLA help with first jobs, but after that hiring mangers are looking for breadth of experience. Any Cal State or California university is fine.

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