TCU or U Penn?

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If anyone has any feedback on TCU CRNA school or U Penn CRNA school, I would appreciate it. I've been accepted to both programs and I can't decide where to go...any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

You're just looking at tuition costs, correct? Consider the cost of attendance for the length of the program...you will have to borrow money to pay your everyday living expenses. I have friends in CRNA school that are looking at total debt in the $100,000 range, if not higher. I chose the high road...full scholarship. No debt, just a service obligation. I shudder at the probable cost of attending U Penn...:bugeyes:

What I meant by my previous statement is that they will probably end up costing around the same, when you include tuition, books and fees plus living expenses. I think you are right on in that going to either school, a self-supporting student may expect to have $100,000 in loans for the program, unless s/he lives extreeeeemly frugally.

As a side armynse, I'm very happy that you will make (lots of) money during your schooling, and are willing to give our government service. I think it's awesome! It would not be the right choice for me, but you have my admiration. :bowingpur

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency.
What I meant by my previous statement is that they will probably end up costing around the same, when you include tuition, books and fees plus living expenses. I think you are right on in that going to either school, a self-supporting student may expect to have $100,000 in loans for the program, unless s/he lives extreeeeemly frugally.

If, in fact, the cost of attendance for TCU and U Penn are the same...I would definitely go Ivy League!!!

Army :twocents:

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Specializes in MICU.

i believe the cost of penns program is alot more than tcu (56,000) i couldnt find the price, but when i was looking at schools to apply to I thought it was in the 70's to 80 thousand range. I might be confusing it with jeffs program however, which is one of the more expensive ones.

but cost of living in the two areas would be a large factor in the decision also.

Anthony

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I have to strongly disagree with the above statement. Since when does a school's sports affiliation trump the Ivy league? Maybe in Texas....

Overlooking the snide regional comment, a quick check with any school's admission office will show a significant increase in the number of admission requests after any school competes in a bowl game. That increase allows a school to be more selective in its admission process, and the overall quality of its incoming freshman class improves. Sports affiliation gives name recognition to a school that transcends its size and opens doors in a number of different areas.

I would be much more concerned with the academic reputation of the school. If you are working with a surgeon who went to Harvard, you will automatically have more credibility coming out of a school like U Penn than TCU.

Once again, consider your regional bias. In terms of academic reputation, over the past 30 years, TCU has been in the top 2 or 3 schools in the southwest in placing pre-med majors into medical schools. Therefore, using your logic, it is far more likely in this area that the surgeon, or the anesthesiologist for that matter, has an undergraduate degree from TCU than Penn. Furthermore, TCU has been graduating nurses with a BSN since 1946. It is also more likely that nurses in the OR, PACU, and ICU went to TCU.

However, when two individuals are applying for a position, all other things being equal, where you went to school may come into play.

On that we agree. In this case, with clinical affiliations in California, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and multiple Texas locations, the one making the decision on who gets hired more likely has a connection to TCU.

Just

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On that we agree. In this case, with clinical affiliations in California, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and multiple Texas locations, the one making the decision on who gets hired more likely has a connection to TCU.

Just

Pardon me, (Laughing out loud), I choose not to comment.

Thank you.

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Pardon me, (Laughing out loud), I choose not to comment. Thank you.

Ah, but you spent your fifth post on this board making the above comment. Please enlighten us. Do you dispute the number of clinical sites? The locations? TCU's name recognition in those areas? Perhaps we can redirect to the OP's question and advise that a discerning candidate should look at a program's pass rate on the certifying exam, the program's most recent COA visit and the number of years awarded, and perhaps the number of CRNA faculty still participating in clinical practice. Those are also a matter of record on the AANA website, and no other program has a higher percentage in any of those categories than TCU.

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Ah, but you spent your fifth post on this board making the above comment. Please enlighten us. Do you dispute the number of clinical sites? The locations? TCU's name recognition in those areas? Perhaps we can redirect to the OP's question and advise that a discerning candidate should look at a program's pass rate on the certifying exam, the program's most recent COA visit and the number of years awarded, and perhaps the number of CRNA faculty still participating in clinical practice. Those are also a matter of record on the AANA website, and no other program has a higher percentage in any of those categories than TCU.

Just a CRNA,

My point is that TCU (if you have ever traveled outside of Fort Worth) in and of itself means very little. I have dealt with nursing students from TCU as well as from other local universities and community colleges, and I can say without a doubt TCU undergrad students do not rate highly overall. I have been told by graduates of TCU that they were not overly impressed with their classmates.

That does not mean that their anesthesia grads do not rate highly . . . however, it is a new program and I hardly see how every hosptital in the country is tripping over eachother just to get their hands on a TCU CRNA.

I know people who go to TCU for five minutes like to put themselves in a different class . . . just maybe, graduating from TCU is not as important as the person behind the mask.

I believe success in the world is highly individualized. If you desire to obtain a particular position, then work and get it based on your merits.

The school you attend is important from the standpoint of what you learn while you were there, do you feel good there, and how well does it prepare you for the future.

I would have had no problem attending TCU. I just did n't.

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I don't have much to offer, but here is my 2 cents contribution.

First, I will like to disagree with others about the school's prestige. I think it will matter if you intend to obtain Doctorate education, and/or go into research. IN the research world your mentor matters alot in terms of grants. A graduate of harvard has higher chances of gettings his/her proposal accepted for sponsorship than others.

The second item I will consider is cost and location. DO you have to relocate? Include the inconvinience of relocation?

Hope that helps.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Go where it makes sense for you and your family and your finances this will allow you to make the best out of your future...

And really, what is an IVY league school these days? Who cares? I went to a top ten undergrad school (from business to law to nursing) that could probably beat out any Ivy league school and would probably get his proposal accepted before even a HArvard student, But I am working along side someone that went to a school I had never even heard of! I am sure the same is true of your future CRNA classmates.

Ivy league=more debt and only prestige to those who actually know anything about U Penn...

I judge a school by how many points my alma mater football team beats it! Ha Ha! (Harvard would not rate high :) )

I think my skills/personality will get me hired faster that what the school name is on my diploma.

Come on nurses! be dependent on yourselves not the name brand!

okay, my two cents. Nurses just need to be more confident of themselves and their intelligence.

:)

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Us News Rankings:

Penn #23 tier

TCU #77 tier ---newer program

https://allnurses.com/forums/f227/anesthesia-program-rankings-2008-a-219778.html

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Us News Rankings:

Penn #23 tier

TCU #77 tier ---newer program

https://allnurses.com/forums/f227/anesthesia-program-rankings-2008-a-219778.html

US News rankings are notorious for being a popularity contest; the objective data is mixed in with subjective opinion. Once again, consider attrition rate, the number of years awarded by the most recent COA visit; the pass rate on certifying exams, and the percentage of CRNA faculty still involved in clinical practice if you want to consider the quality of a program. Those are objective criteria better suited to racking and stacking. If you want to include those programs which already offer a DNP track, that would also be an objective measure of quality.

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If anyone has any feedback on TCU CRNA school or U Penn CRNA school, I would appreciate it. I've been accepted to both programs and I can't decide where to go...any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

So.....which did you choose?

~ Jen

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