Torn between programs

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I am 26 years old and need help with choosing a Nursing Program to apply to. Is it smart to pick the more expensive school(Keiser, University of Pheonix?) when there is no waiting list,smaller classes, but pay more money? I would also go to school for 16 months straight,no break, which would be ideal for me. Or should I choose to go to a public college, where it only costs $7K, but could be waiting on a waiting list for only god knows how long(my GPA is a 2.8 with ALL my classes,not just science). I am a little nervous and just want to do it right. Anyone have advice out there?

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Have you checked out the state universities? Many have online programs that do not require you attend class but are cheaper than non-state supported schools.

You did not state the price of the non-local school. If you assume a starting salary of X, and knowing how long each program lasts and the cost of each, you can calculate how long it would take you to break even. Or you can consider getting the cheaper ADN degree and returning later to get the BSN in a university. Depends a lot on how much you can afford.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.

Personally, I don't think you'd get in a community college with that GPA. It's so competitive and they always take the highest grades. So you may have to settle for the University.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

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As of right now (because of the long waiting lists) my local college isn't accepting GPAs lower than 3.5 for the nursing program.

So you may want to start by checking with your local college and find out if there is a required GPA before making your decision. If you can afford the university then that may be a better decision for you as of now. Of course you could always try to raise your GPA or look into doing lpn/lvn first. Good luck with whatever you decide :redpinkhe

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

With your GPA you are unlikely to have many, if any, choices hon. Go where they will accept you or bring your grades up before you apply. Good luck!

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

remember if the waiting list is long at the community college you have to stay enrolled & I know people who are in that situation and are taking & having to pay for classes they don't need just to stay enrolled in the community college while they wait toi get into the nursing program! A friend of mine has been doing this for 3 years now...this adds to the bill!!! It may be more to your benefit to go the more expensive route...but it is all a matter of what's best for you personally...

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Thank you all so much for being honest!I do not mind taking the more expensive route, its just that I hear that people who have graduated from University of Pheonix and Keiser Career College sometimes have a difficult time finding jobs. The schools say they are accredited but there are rumors that they are not. I am not sure how to go about finding out this information...Any suggestion? These schools are both in Florida and run about $24 K.

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Do your research of all options available to you and do a pro and con list for each one; narrowing it down until you reach the proverbial coin toss, so to speak. At some point you will want to apply to several acceptable choices, then you can eliminate those that do not offer you a seat. Choose from those that accept you.

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Personally, I don't think you'd get in a community college with that GPA. It's so competitive and they always take the highest grades. So you may have to settle for the University.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

That may be not entirely true,it depends on a particular college..I finished ADN in a public college and I got admitted to the nursing program with not so hot GPA ( I think like 2.5) The college looked at other things not only my GPA--btw I did fairly decent in nursing school (I was a B student with couple of As and one or two C)

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.
That may be not entirely true,it depends on a particular college..I finished ADN in a public college and I got admitted to the nursing program with not so hot GPA ( I think like 2.5) The college looked at other things not only my GPA--btw I did fairly decent in nursing school (I was a B student with couple of As and one or two C)

You're right, it depends on the college. I guess I was thinking of the one's we have around where I live. My school doesn't take anything below 3.5. It's so competitive and with only 100 or so accepted, most students have As & some Bs.

The OP will just have to check around. I'd be very careful about doing the University of Phoenix. Some one in my family went that route, didn't like it at all and dropped and still has a huge tuition bill to pay. If you've never done online classes before, you better try some out at your local community college first to see how you handle a class like this. You can call a local school in your area and ask them who to call to find out if this school is accredited.

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