University or Community College?

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I am trying to decide if it is worth the money to go for an Associates Degree in Nursing at a University or will I receive almost the same training and job opportunities from being educated at a Community College? Of course a University is more expensive and I would have to probably survive on financial aid. I do not have any former college credits so I would start out by taking the pre-requisites at the community college anyway. The university that offers the ADN is Houston Baptist University. The community college is Houston Community College. Do you think it is worth the financial difference for my ADN? I also found out HCC is not accredited by the NLNAC and I guess that is the most important reason I was thinking of trying to go to the university. I will eventually after a few years or working as an RN attempt to go to school for a BSN, so I was also thinking an ADN from a university (opposed to just a community college) will be an added bonus when I went back for a BSN.

Please advise when you have time. Thank you for your help in advance. :)

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I am trying to decide if it is worth the money to go for an Associates Degree in Nursing at a University or will I receive almost the same training and job opportunities from being educated at a Community College? Of course a University is more expensive and I would have to probably survive on financial aid. I do not have any former college credits so I would start out by taking the pre-requisites at the community college anyway. The university that offers the ADN is Houston Baptist University. The community college is Houston Community College. Do you think it is worth the financial difference for my ADN? I also found out HCC is not accredited by the NLNAC and I guess that is the most important reason I was thinking of trying to go to the university. I will eventually after a few years or working as an RN attempt to go to school for a BSN, so I was also thinking an ADN from a university (opposed to just a community college) will be an added bonus when I went back for a BSN.

Please advise when you have time. Thank you for your help in advance. :)

sometimes, the lacking accreditation can bite you in the butt later. Personally, I prefer the BSN--because with the difference in monies, I can just go for two years and be done...and then get my MSN laster while working if I want. Also, maybe another difference in ADN vs. BSN is clinical vs. theory. More clinical in ADN and more theory in BSN--just my two cents...hope this helps you out. Best to you, hty/

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Specializes in CCU.

Heatherbless gave some sound advice, and I have also heard bad things about HCC. To her advice I want to add that you need to do some soul searching and really examine your ultimate career goals. By that I mean do you want to be stop at a BSN or do you plan on getting an MSN and DScN? If you want to eventually be a specialist then I would say that your road is already long and you need to go ahead and get the BSN now, if obtaining a BSN is your ultimate dream then starting out as an ADN is a wonderful way to begin your career. Best of Luck and welcome :)

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Heatherbless gave some sound advice, and I have also heard bad things about HCC. To her advice I want to add that you need to do some soul searching and really examine your ultimate career goals. By that I mean do you want to be stop at a BSN or do you plan on getting an MSN and DScN? If you want to eventually be a specialist then I would say that your road is already long and you need to go ahead and get the BSN now, if obtaining a BSN is your ultimate dream then starting out as an ADN is a wonderful way to begin your career. Best of Luck and welcome :)

Thank you for the reply Graceful! :D

Did you attend school in Houston? I have made my decision to pursue nursing a little late(to me anyway) at 30 years old, I am engaged to be married soon and I will probably want to try and start a family in 2-3 years. So, after that soul searching and discussing it with my finance, I think it is best if I go for the ADN now and then I will go from there. I know my goal right now is to eventually get a BSN, if the MSN happens that will be great but that will come after my family. If I get a job, I can hopefully get my BSN while I am working and get some tuition reimbursement from my employer.

Now, with the second question I had, I am still trying to decide if it is worth the financial difference to go to a private University (Houston Baptist Univ) for an ADN, or should I just go to a Community College like San Jacinto or Alvin? Houston Baptist is the only University in the immediate Houston area that offers the ADN. They have a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX exam. Alvin said theirs is in the 90's. I do not know what San Jacinto's rate is.

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Have you thought about any of the North Harris Community Colleges? I like the looks of their program. That is where I am going to go for the ADN program.

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Have you thought about any of the North Harris Community Colleges? I like the looks of their program. That is where I am going to go for the ADN program.

Hi Katt! No, I have not checked into that one. Thanks for the information. I am looking on their website now. When are you starting your ADN program there?

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Hopefully Fall 2005, I am hoping to attend Montgomery College because I live really far North. I am starting my pre-reqs this summer. I have to take an ASSET test first...I am nervous about it.

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http://nursing.woodstock.edu/index.html

This is the link to the Montgomery College Nursing Program

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Hopefully Fall 2005, I am hoping to attend Montgomery College because I live really far North. I am starting my pre-reqs this summer. I have to take an ASSET test first...I am nervous about it.

Well, I do not live far North, I live on the Southwest side of Houston, but it will not be a problem for me to drive.

Wow, funny that you mentioned an ASSET test. I was going to take one for Houston Community College next month so I could try and take some pre-req's there. You should go to the library and get some study guides. The counselor at HCC recommended the TASP study guide. I have been working on that for 2 weeks now. After I finish with the TASP study book, I might try to find a GMAT study book because I think that will have more advanced information.

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I already have the Tasp study guide and some others I bought too, they have really helped out alot. I have been studying them for about 3 1/2 weeks now. I am taking the test on March 26th. Yes that would be a good idea for you to take the pre-reqs at HCC and then you can decide where you want to go after that.

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Oh and there are other North Harris colleges closer than far North too, I was just saying that is why I chose that one.

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I already have the Tasp study guide and some others I bought too, they have really helped out alot. I have been studying them for about 3 1/2 weeks now. I am taking the test on March 26th. Yes that would be a good idea for you to take the pre-reqs at HCC and then you can decide where you want to go after that.

Okay good, then you are on the right track with the studying. I have been out of school for almost 12 years and believe me, I am having a hard time with certain things. Well, mainly one thing, ALGEBRA. UUGGHHH :uhoh3:

LOL... Oh well, I must say that it is slowly and surely coming back, the more and more I work on the study guide. The reading and writing portions are going well. I wish you intelligence on your test! :)

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