South College vs UTK vs ADN

[ComingSoon]

So I thought I had this all figured out but I met with an admissions rep at South College today and now I'm not so sure. I know that this has been discussed in the past but I was hoping for some updated opinions.

My goal is to eventually end up with and MSN and I'm not sure which path I need to take to get there. Last night I had finally decided I was going to do a two year program and then an RN to BSN work a few years and go back for my MSN. A couple of factors in this decision were it would be the least expensive way to go and I would be able to work sooner.

After my tour at South College I'm interested in just going straight for the BSN. The program seemed great but that is their job - making the program sound great.

So I came up with a list of the pros and cons of each of the schools I'm considering and I would love some imput from you all. I would definitely love to hear from students or graduates of the three programs I am interested in.

University of TN - Knoxville {Pros}

• Great repuation (as far as I can tell)
  
• Clinicals will be at UT Medical Center (I'm highly interested in working at UT Medical Center)
  
• Reasonable price (around $24,000 for the entire program w/o taking into account tuition increases and books, etc.)
  
• More spaces available in the program (unless they cut the program)
  
• 96% NCLEX pass rate last year and consisent across the board
  

University of TN - Knoxville {Cons}

• High number of applicants
  
• Only starts in the fall
  
• The parking is terrible
  
• Freshman are now admitted to the program (taking away spots that would have been up for grabs before)
  
• Huge classes (one class I was looking at taking had 450 seats available!)
  

South College {Pros}

• Small classes
  
• Fall and Spring starts
  
• Good parking
  
• I can start taking classes in three weeks (quarter system - I'm ready to go!)
  
• 94% NCLEX pass rate
  

South College {Cons}

• The cost - $60,000 w/o tuition increases or books, etc.
  
• Newer program (heard it once had a less than awesome rep?)
  
• Low NCLEX pass rates in previous two years 69% and 75%
  

Roane State {Pros}

• Start working sooner
  
• Tuition reimbursement to pursue my BSN
  
• The cost - $6000 for the entire program - Less than a year at UT, Less than a quarter at South!
  
• Well established program
  
• 98% NCLEX pass rate
  

Roane State {Cons}

• Not a BSN
  

If you made it this far thanks for sticking with me! :loveya: I would love to hear any and all advice you all have. Thank you in advance!

[camille11]

Hi UTnursing,

You've probably already decided on what path to take at this point but I am a senior at UTK this year so i thought I'd share my small bit of wisdom. You said that one of your pros for UT is clinicals at UT Med. Which you will have some there, but remember that you do clinicals in other hospitals as well. I didn't have any clinicals at UT my junior year. I was placed at st. mary's and baptist west for my first two semesters. And they are still talking about cutting the program in half. There is also talk of raising the tuition of nursing students to fund the program. So your tuition may well be higher that the rest of the university in the near future. Just some things to consider. Good luck in whatever path you decide on!

[NurseAnnie123]

Tennessee Wesleyan College has a great BSN program affiliated with Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville. The classes are taught at the TN Wesleyan school of nursing campus in West Knoxville, and most of their clinical are done at Covenant Health facilities. I would recommend that you look into that program before giving serious consideration to South College.. (I do not have specific examples, but it has always been my understanding that South grads have not always been the most sought-after... That may have changed.)

I would always recommend that someone go ahead and get their BSN right off the bat if they have the means to do so, especially if you plan to pursue further education beyond that. It just makes more sense to me.

Good luck to you!

[ComingSoon]

camille11 - Thank you so much for your response. I'm not sure why I thought the clinicals would be at UT - I think I read it somewhere - but its not a big deal to me. As far as the tuition increase, they would have to triple it to even come close to South College's tuition.

Do you like the program? I have pretty much decided that I will be choosing UT after talking to some girls in the program and after taking a few classes at South College (I do not recommend this school!).

NurseAnnie123 - I had heard some things about South College both ways but after taking a few classes there I have decided they are only in it for the money. I remember looking at TN Wesleyan but I will take another look again. Thanks for your reply!