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Hey everyone! I am new to this site, however I have been looking through posts for a couple months now. I am currently finishing my second year at community college. I applied to TJU, Drexel, and Villanova for Fall of 2015. I would start at TJU as a junior and at Nova and Drexel I would be transferring in as a sophmore( I have all of the academic classes completed, but these two schools start clinicals sophmore year). I have been accepted to TJU and Drexel for fall 2015 and I should be hearing from Villanova this week. I am so torn between which school I should go to. Has anyone else applied to any of these programs? Also if anyone is currently in any of these programs or has completed one of these programs it would be helpful to hear how you like it. I love the co-op part of Drexels program, however it is VERY pricey and I have heard some negative things about the program. I have also heard that getting the required 950 on the hesi has been difficult for many students, which scares me. I have always loved TJU's program but they do not offer a co-op or guarantee an internship. It would be great to chat with some people that are in a similar situation or have applied to one of these programs. I need to give Jefferson a deposit within 2 weeks and I am having such a hard time deciding.
I just graduated from Villanova this May! I feel sort of indifferent by it. I believe the professors are caring but if you're a person of color, you will have some moments where you just sort of roll your eyes at what either professors say or some of the students say. However, you'll be in the alternate sequence group that will eventually join with the BSN express group after your first year. Most of your classmates will be over the age of 24+ as opposed with the traditional group. A lot of the academic professors are older which can be a little frustrating because there can be a disconnect. I don't like the fact that Villanova uses ATI instead of Kaplan like Jefferson does. However, Villanova requires only a 73 to pass their courses which is very generous compared to surrounding schools. Villanova's first time nclex pass rate for last year's cohort was at 80% which is pretty low.
The class of 2016 was the first guinea pigs of a new curriculum and it sucks. Villanova grades you for clinicals and depending on the instructor can make or break your grade. Originally the Dean wanted the CEIs to prevent grade inflation but there's a huge variance if your clinical instructor grades you strictly or in a more relaxed manner.
They use a Clinical Evaluation Instrument where
1 = Failing Level: Does not meet course objectives
2 = Basic Level: Meets course objectives
3 =Advance Level: Often exceeds course objectives
4= Superior Level: Consistently exceeds course objectives
Let's say you meet all course objectives since this is your first clinical ever so you're not gonna know everything right? That's considered a C. Granted, I haven't gotten a C but it's definitely not unheard of. So I could be breaking my back for my clinical instructor and get an A- while another classmate who has a laissez faire instructor gets an A.
Let's say you still went to villanova. For your last semester, you would think your leadership/senior practicum would be the most important right?? WRONG, You only get 60 hours of leadership clinical, 60 hours of health promotion, and 60 hours of HOME HEALTH. Don't get me wrong, I think home health is very important but I don't understand why it isn't part of health promotion? Also we started our leadership (clincal) rotation when health promotion (lecture) started. So when that ended and we started our health promotion clinical and had a final project it was sort of a hectic moment. I personally felt it was poorly organized. I still got an extern position at Jefferson though in my final year. There were about 6-7 Villanova students out of 10 in the november's orientation group.
My advice:
Inquire about senior practicums/leadership clinicals, what specialties at what hospital, and how many hours. When you apply for new grad programs, it's very beneficial to apply in the speciality of your senior practicum.
Sorry this came off as a vent :x I hope this helps!
:edit:
ah I didn't realize your post was from 2015! My bad!!
Wenann
24 Posts
Sure I'll look for it, thanks for being so helpful :)