Texas State University School of Nursing Alumni

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 22, 2013

Moving to the Texas State Nursing Programs forum.

Marina.h · Aug 18, 2013

I would love to hear about everyone's experience at Texas State! It's my top pick so far and I would love any stories or advice about the school, how it might differ from other schools and any advantages to picking Texas State over other Texas schools.

Thanks!

AllAboutMyBusiness · Aug 24, 2013

I would recommend applying to several schools. I think that would greatly increase your chance of getting admitted to a program. Have a back up plan just in case Texas State doesn't take you. An important factor to consider is your budget, how much are you willing to spend and where can you get the money to cover your costs. Remember, nursing in general is not a lucrative career, and so incurring large debt as an undergraduate will not be to your advantage for many different obvious reasons. I read in the newspaper somewhere that nursing graduates have a high tuition default rate. So my advice is to pick a school that offers a great education at affordable tuition. For me, I was young, single, and really could go anywhere. I chose to apply to schools in Texas so that I could take advantage of in-state tuition. I remember applying to 9 different schools. That's right: 9! I considered nursing school to be an investment of my time and money. And so I carefully considered each school and weighed the pros and cons. I visited and was interviewed at most of them. What I really liked about Texas State was the location, facility, and staff. First, I had lived in the Austin area most of my life so attending school at Round Rock would mean I wouldn't have to move anywhere. The facility was brand new, impressive, and there was available parking. The building space was very open and there were lots of study rooms. There is a room in the simulation lab that records video and audio of students during simulation of proctored clinical scenarios. Students would then be able to watch themselves on video and receive feedback from faculty and other students. I was really sold on that idea from the beginning. That's a great use of technology to assist students in their learning. Second, the staff members were very friendly. I remember dropping off my application materials and two of my future professors smiled and greeted me with a warm feeling. And during the day of the admissions deadline, I called the Retention Coordinator to confirm that all 3 of my reference letters have been received. She called me back on the same day. No other nursing school did that for me. In the end, the tuition was really the deal breaker. I compared the tuition with other local schools and found Texas State offered a BSN at a lower cost. I knew someone from ACC that went to Concordia. Their tuition was 3 times higher and they only achieved an 80% pass rate on the NCLEX. For the inaugural class at Texas State, we achieved 98%. UT Austin has always had impressive stats, but there are pre-reqs you need to take as a UT student before you can start their program. When I toured their program, their faculty wasn't as friendly. I definitely did not feel welcomed when I was asking them questions. Texas State had a lot to offer: I could see that this was a place where I could learn and receive support for my career goals. I was glad I made that decision. And whenever a patient of mine asks me where I went to school, I proudly say Texas State School of Nursing.

hopeful4thefuture · Jun 17, 2014

What was your science gpa, overall GPA? And what was your teas? I'm in pre nursing right now at texas state!