University of British Columbia

xbcparamedic · Jun 22, 2007

UBC is a well respected school in all academics. Why not look at your first 2 years at a college to cut costs then transfer into UBC if that is where yoy want your degree from?

According to a friend of mine in the US ANY of the BC nursing schools have a great reputation. Douglas, BCIT, Kwantlan, Cap. College, ect.

Good luck

blackberrypatch · Jun 23, 2007

I hear it's extremely difficult to transfer from a community college to a university. Plus, my parents insist on a full university education b/c according to them my 4.0 GPA would be 'wasted'. There is a stigma attached to community college transfers (or those who stay in colleges for the full four years) because you only need something like a C average (60-something percent) in high school to get in, or it's done on a first come first served basis for enrolment.

xbcparamedic · Jun 23, 2007

Hmmm having worked in the EMS field here in Vancouver I must say that the nurses I have spoken with that went to UBC and SFU as opposed to BCIT, Kwantlan or some other "community college" have the following to say: "The only difference is my student loan is double". So if that is what you define as using a 4.0gpa have at her. Just to let you know that BCIT is the ONLY college to offer the emerg. course and it is recognised internationally as one of the premier emerg. courses. Enjoy UBC if you can get in and like HUGE classs sizes.

Your information about the "community college's" is incorrect with respect to the enrollment requirements. Douglas is done on a best marks basis not "first come first serve" like you have been led to believe. Might be a good idea to do your homework.

Good Luck 4.0

noworries · Jun 23, 2007

Hmmm having worked in the EMS field here in Vancouver I must say that the nurses I have spoken with that went to UBC and SFU as opposed to BCIT, Kwantlan or some other "community college" have the following to say: "The only difference is my student loan is double". So if that is what you define as using a 4.0gpa have at her. Just to let you know that BCIT is the ONLY college to offer the emerg. course and it is recognised internationally as one of the premier emerg. courses. Enjoy UBC if you can get in and like HUGE classs sizes.
Your information about the "community college's" is incorrect with respect to the enrollment requirements. Douglas is done on a best marks basis not "first come first serve" like you have been led to believe. Might be a good idea to do your homework.
Good Luck 4.0

Just thought I'd add that SFU does not have a nursing program.

Go rough it out completely at UBC if you wish, but it is going to be difficult trust me.. I've been through the grind.

I did 2 years of science straight from high school to UBC and was not even considered to the interview the first time I applied. Only this year did they even give me one.. and still pending on the results

Fiona59 · Jun 25, 2007

I hear it's extremely difficult to transfer from a community college to a university. Plus, my parents insist on a full university education b/c according to them my 4.0 GPA would be 'wasted'. There is a stigma attached to community college transfers (or those who stay in colleges for the full four years) because you only need something like a C average (60-something percent) in high school to get in, or it's done on a first come first served basis for enrolment.

There are so many things wrong with what you've just said that my heard wants to explode.

I've never heard of community college students being "stigmatized". In fact, a former boss and friend of mine started his education as the old VCC Langara and wound up with a scholarship to Oxford and is now a Professor at UBC...

Part of being a good nurse is the ability to critically think for yourself and make your own decisions.

blackberrypatch · Jun 26, 2007

Hmmm having worked in the EMS field here in Vancouver I must say that the nurses I have spoken with that went to UBC and SFU as opposed to BCIT, Kwantlan or some other "community college" have the following to say: "The only difference is my student loan is double". So if that is what you define as using a 4.0gpa have at her. Just to let you know that BCIT is the ONLY college to offer the emerg. course and it is recognised internationally as one of the premier emerg. courses. Enjoy UBC if you can get in and like HUGE classs sizes.

I never said anything about working in the EMS field, or staying in Vancouver; I'm merely exploring my options. Your volatile attitude, throwing my GPA back at me is really puzzling. BCIT is very well respected.. I didn't say it wasn't. Your last sentence is incredibly rude and opinionated, while I was merely stating what I'd been told about community colleges. I don't mind being wrong.

Just thought I'd add that SFU does not have a nursing program.

I believe it was the poster above you who even mentioned SFU. I didn't.

There are so many things wrong with what you've just said that my heard wants to explode.
I've never heard of community college students being "stigmatized". In fact, a former boss and friend of mine started his education as the old VCC Langara and wound up with a scholarship to Oxford and is now a Professor at UBC...
Part of being a good nurse is the ability to critically think for yourself and make your own decisions.

I haven't really expressed my opinion, please don't take what I say the wrong way. Your example of the Langara statement is one person, who could have been from anywhere. Extraordinary people do extraordinary things. The fact remains that most people have Langara as their backup's backup for a reason. It is also tough to make the transfer to UBC.

And what does graduating from UBC have to do with my critical thinking and decision making abilities? Your either/or statement really bothers me. If I were more inclined to get personal, my head may wish to explode.

In 4 replies, no one has answered my question about the clinicals. In fact, besides the first reply I got, nothing has been said about my original post.

I look forward to your replies.

Fiona59 · Jun 26, 2007

I believe xbcparamedic is letting you know that they worked in the EMS field in the Vancouver area.

We tend to comment on all posts in this thread not just the original posting.

I've read most of your posts in other threads and there is a good chance that most of the other posters have as well (we tend to do that when we notice a new poster just to make sure we are not anwering the same question on more than one thread). So our reaction to your question is a combination of all of what we could glean about you.

Critical thinking means making decision on what YOU decide to be important and only allow others (ie parents, peer groups) to have some limited input.

blackberrypatch · Jun 27, 2007

Maybe what I wrote about cc's in general does some like opinion. It comes directly from my teachers and my school counselor, who I would imagine do know something. I never said that graduates of community colleges go on to do worse, merely that from what I have gleaned from educated adults around me that it is the worst-case scenario, where you haven't been accepted anywhere else. I do think that the education will be just as qualified, and the nurses (and graduates of other degrees) are just as good at their jobs. I hope my posts as a whole are read, not just words that jump out to the reader.

quickau · Jun 27, 2007

This is a thread I'm very curious about myself. I've applied, and went through the recent interview process. Waiting for the results...!

I have a friend who is an ED nurse in Kamloops, and she recently told me that nurses coming out of UBC are not as highly looked upon as others, because they lack enough clinical hours experience. She couldn't really give me any real concrete details though.

Exactly how true is this? And to what degree? I mean, is it a minor annoyance, or are other nurses thinking "UBC nurse? Oooh, I don't want to work with (or hire) that person!"

Anyone know how many clinical hours you get?

Ruxandra did tell me that clinicals begin in the third week of classes.

I've also noticed in the list of courses we would be taking, that there is no mention of a pharmacology or pathophysiology class. It seems that most of the other programs I have looked at have these courses (and that they're fairly important). I'm assuming this knowledge is somehow integrated throughout the program, but it worries me nonetheless. Any thoughts on this?

SH4NNON · Jul 2, 2007

It is my understanding that UBC offers less clinical experience than community colleges.

I hate the stigma that high school counselors put on community colleges - they act as if university is the only option, and it is not. I'm a Kwantlen student, and have had a very positive experience so far. I would recommend it!

At Kwantlen, you start clinical in second semester. I understand that BCIT starts you in first semester (a little early in my opinion). Someone told me that at UBC you don't start clinical until your third year (which would make sense if you do 2 years of general + prereqs. first). Seems like you'd get a whole lot less hands on experience at UBC if that is the case.

Anyone know any different?

noworries · Jul 2, 2007

It is my understanding that UBC offers less clinical experience than community colleges.
I hate the stigma that high school counselors put on community colleges - they act as if university is the only option, and it is not. I'm a Kwantlen student, and have had a very positive experience so far. I would recommend it!
At Kwantlen, you start clinical in second semester. I understand that BCIT starts you in first semester (a little early in my opinion). Someone told me that at UBC you don't start clinical until your third year (which would make sense if you do 2 years of general + prereqs. first). Seems like you'd get a whole lot less hands on experience at UBC if that is the case.
Anyone know any different?

If you look at the major universities UBC, UofC, UofT, they all offer something called 'accelerated programs'.

What those are are 1.5-2 year add-ons to previous degree's or previous post-secondary experience (2 years minimum usually.. at UBC 48 credits).

Basically UBC only offers this 'accelerated program', the difference WAS that UBC took in students directly from highschool, and let the fresh grads' go and pick their own courses for two years counting that as '2 years of nursing'.. even though they learn NO nursing theory courses. They share classes with science students arts students and pharmacy students and learn a lot more on collaboration with other future healthcare providers. UBC Nursing students also have opportunities to take courses such as IHHS, where med students, social work students, pharmacy students etc. learn to work with each other I believe.

When people speak of the UBC Nursing program, they shouldn't be saying stuff about the 4 year program because in reality, the only nursing stuff is in the last two years of the program like every other major university offering the "ACCELERATED" program. The first two years are thus, still 'general studies'.