Transfer as a pre-nursing student??

CareQueen, BSN, RN · Jan 16, 2013

Hey everyone! I am currently a freshman at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia on a nursing track. I am looking to transfer for multiple reasons but I'm unsure if it is a bad idea. Emory has a great nursing program and my mother believes it would make me a nationally appealing candidate as RN, rather than a local one if I attended my home-state schools, university of Florida and university of Miami.
Basically, how do these schools rank up against each other, or does it even really matter?

Your mom is RIGHT!.. Emory is in the top 25 nursing schools in the country. They were on my list for applying to second-degree BSN programs as well. I hate to say it, esp because it isn't always true, but in this case I really think "the name" would work in your favor. From what I'm hearing, at least in the present, it's tough out here for new nurses everywhere. I think staying at Emory will give you somewhat of an advantage. However, when all is said and done, "name" is just a small factor in beginning your nursing career as the experience you have will often weigh more heavily on your ability to gain that first job. What's most important is that you choose the environment that makes YOU happiest. (unless of course Mom refuses to pay for schooling if you transfer). In any case, Univ of Miami is still a great nursing program (ranks in the Top 80)!!!

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Jan 17, 2013

Every new grad takes the same NCLEX, so the 'reputation' of your school will not really make much of a difference unless the hiring manager has a preference for a particular program. I am always curious about the "rankings" that are attributed to nursing schools. Which list are you referring to? Upon what criteria is it based? As an (ahem) extremely experienced nurse educator, I have objective data for all of the new grads that my organization has hired in the last few years. We can analyze results by school. Based on a consistent, criterion-based assessment process, we discovered that the 'best' new grads (for the last 7 years) were actually from a program that is definitely not very well known.

Have you already been accepted to Emory? If so, hang in there with your 'sure thing'... you may not be accepted at those other schools.

zoe92 · Jan 17, 2013

If you are definitely in the Emory nursing program, stay there and just do it. Otherwise transfer elsewhere. You don't want to go to a school that is not accredited or has very low NCLEX pass rates though so be sure you transfer to a decent school.

CareQueen, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2013

Every new grad takes the same NCLEX, so the 'reputation' of your school will not really make much of a difference unless the hiring manager has a preference for a particular program. I am always curious about the "rankings" that are attributed to nursing schools. Which list are you referring to? Upon what criteria is it based? As an (ahem) extremely experienced nurse educator, I have objective data for all of the new grads that my organization has hired in the last few years. We can analyze results by school. Based on a consistent, criterion-based assessment process, we discovered that the 'best' new grads (for the last 7 years) were actually from a program that is definitely not very well known.
Have you already been accepted to Emory? If so, hang in there with your 'sure thing'... you may not be accepted at those other schools.

I don't doubt that that's true, esp b/c I'm new to the entire nursing field and as you mentioned, you would know better than I would. However, I tend to think that people (recruiters included) are naturally inclined to be drawn to "big" names. It may not single-handedly get you the job, but sometimes where you've worked/went to school can get a recruiter to lend an extra few secs of review to your resume & give you that interview. I'm just speaking from personal experience and from having friends who have careers in HR...Also, the list I was referring to is the US News & World Report. Yes, I do realize that these rankings are usually biased in some way, shape or form and are usually tied to the amounts of endowments, prestigious faculty etc., but the bottom line is that, people DO pay attention to them and it may help the OP to have a widely recognized program on her resume. Just my opinion though.