United States University vs. University of South Alabama

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Hello Everyone!

I have narrowed down my choices to attending United States University or University of South Alabama. I am leaning more towards University of South Alabama at this point. I live in Oregon and have to work full time during the entire program. (I work 12 hour night shifts 1900-0730). I want to attend this fall. With having to work full time I am having a hard time figuring out which college will work best for my busy schedule. I have read everything I can so far on these colleges on here and would love input from people that work full time as well and any advice you might have.  Thank you so much! 

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Specializes in future Nurse Practitioner.

Which program are you applying for?

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I applied to USA for fall 2021. The application for USU fall term does not open up yet. After researching I think USA is a better fit for me though which is why I chose it. 

 

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Specializes in future Nurse Practitioner.
7 hours ago, sarahm6 said:

I applied to USA for fall 2021. The application for USU fall term does not open up yet. After researching I think USA is a better fit for me though which is why I chose it. 

 

USA does sound appealing! Are you DNP FNP?

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Specializes in ICU CV, Neuro.

Did you get into USA?

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Specializes in Primary care.

Can someone tell me their recent thoughts on USU? I'm accepted but have not officially committed yet. I'm scared you might say because I want to make sure of the right school? I can't find enough info on their board pass rates.

 

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

USU is a for profit program, with all the issues that entails. They are generally frowned upon by employers and considered similar to diploma mills.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Psychiatry.
On 8/5/2021 at 8:32 PM, DarleneMC said:

Can someone tell me their recent thoughts on USU? I'm accepted but have not officially committed yet. I'm scared you might say because I want to make sure of the right school? I can't find enough info on their board pass rates.

 

I graduated from USU in August, and can say it is NOT an easy program as some may assume (oh - and by the way, it *is* also a brick and mortar school in San Diego, its online presence is just extremely well advertised).  The first year is a LOT of writing and research, then it kicks into high gear the second year and you just kiss your loved ones goodbye for a bit while you buckle down for crazy town.  By the way, since the OP brought up both US Univ. and Univ. of SA, one of my professors was actually also working as faculty at both USU and USA.  

If anything, USU actually makes things harder because they have to prove themselves to be legit in comparison with some of the other schools out there.  My preceptors commented that they were impressed with how rigorous my program was in comparison with the better known programs in their experience.  One in particular was shocked at how involved my professor was, asking about my development on a regular basis unlike what she is used to with the other, better-known schools.  By the end of my clinicals just before graduation, my preceptors were sending me into patient rooms, asking me what my thoughts were, what my diagnosis and recommendations were, then essentially going with what I said because they agreed with my judgment.  

Every school has to start somewhere.  My husband graduated with his Pharm. D. from one of the nation's most respected pharmacy schools and is considered an expert in his field.  He has done a great deal of research on education in the medical/pharmaceutical/nursing fields, especially with the way the pandemic has affected education.  He has reassured me that my work is not in vain because education has become dynamic, much like scientific research, due to the vast changes that have taken place over the past year and a half.  In discussions with well respected physicians and nurses in my area, the consensus has been the same: if the program is accredited, that is the only thing that truly matters to them about the degree itself.  The work ethic and character of the individual is what stands out most.  

All that said, the bottom line about any online school is this: it is what the student makes it for him or herself, truthfully.  If the student is willing to work hard, there will be success.  If not, he or she will feel like the program is a failure, which is not the case.  The material is there to be studied.  Online learning is not for everyone.  I do far better as an online student than as one in a classroom.  I know this because I have done both - my first three degrees are from well established, well respected schools that attended in person (I have two bachelor's degrees and two master's degrees).  Some do better the other way around.  Every person is different.

My new employer doesn't care that USU was my school.  All he cares about is that it is accredited and that I am a hard worker who cares about learning and doing well.  He doesn't "frown upon" it at all because he knows who I am and what I am about.  I graduated with honors and passed the ANCC FNP boards on the first attempt.  I am now applying to PMHNP programs so that I can take classes part-time while working my new job (I'm joining a psychiatric practice after finding myself drawn to all the psych patients and requesting a psych rotation for a specialty during a semester - my psych preceptor is now my employer).

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