I am very interested in the nursing program for both schools and would like to ask for some advice: do both schools have the same level of good reputation when hospitals interview the graduates from USF and SMU? Or are graduates from SMU treated differently from USF graduates?
I would appreciate any advice from anyone in the healthcare field or anyone who has had friends graduate from either university. It is a tough decision for me because I understand that USF requires students to wait one year before starting clinicals, and the nursing program is 3 years in addition to that (so 4 years total), versus SMU which is only two years and slightly cheaper since I won't have to pay for another year there. I am wondering if the quality of education at USF would be better than SMU or vice versa. Any help is appreciated....thanks for reading!
In no way is that reasonably true. There are no guarantees in life and in this economy. It should be common knowledge that the bay area is among the toughest in the nation to break through as a new graduate.
More inline with the original post, I have many friends that graduated from SM absn program and are very strong nurses in their respected fields.
I agree about the guarantee, no way can that be true. You might ask them how they can make such a bold claim.
I don't doubt that good nurses can come out of SMU. I can only speak to their reputation as a whole. I am sure there are plenty of excellent nurses that are grads of SMU.
By the way, I watched a USF tour video recently and it said that a job is guaranteed immediately after graduation...is this true? Is the campus highly involved with connecting new grad students with a job?
Hahahahahaha.... *deep breath* Hahahahahah. Yeah, no. Anyone who tells you that is flat out lying and trying to get your business. No one can guarantee a job, let alone in the Bay area. If you don't network in the Bay area, the likelihood of you finding a job within a year is pretty slim. I know a few nurses who graduated years ago are still trying to find a job.
People need to get internships during summer, speak to instructors or charge nurses. You HAVE to network to get ANYWHERE in this region.
I'll definitely try that out, thanks! I guess we all have to step out of our comfort zone to land our dream job. BTW- can you describe how the medsurge is like so far? I may be interested in ICU in the future, wondering what's the best way to get my foot in the door for that.
and LOL runbabyrun, I definitely feel your excitement.
AAARG, I just had this whole long response I was about to post, and it deleted!! Grrrrr....
I am SOOO excited to have this job lined up! I believe I'm the first in my class to have a job offer, though no one, myself included, is running around shouting, "I have a job offer!!"
My best advice is to put yourself out there. Speak up! All through clinicals, when I would hear good feedback from nurses, I'd tell them, "Be sure to tell your manager!" I'd seen the manager of the med/surg unit where I spent 3 semesters, but I heard she was moving to MBU this winter. I leapt at the opportunity when I ran into her, and she ultimately offered to help me get my preceptorship switched if possible (a LOOOOOONNNNG shot, but worth a go). After talking to instructors and email exchanges with said manager, we got it worked out, and now I have this offer! I am SO grateful! How many people come out of school these days with a job offer in one of their top choices of units AND hospitals??!!
Make yourself known with the managers, introduce yourself, tell the world you're looking for a job, get on LinkedIn, do whatever it takes. I'm also applying everywhere I can online. I'm going to talk to the owner of the freestanding birth center I used to work for as well. If you know nurses, have them talk you up! Be your own best advertising!
I'll definitely try that out, thanks! I guess we all have to step out of our comfort zone to land our dream job. BTW- can you describe how the medsurge is like so far? I may be interested in ICU in the future, wondering what's the best way to get my foot in the door for that.
and LOL runbabyrun, I definitely feel your excitement.
Med/surg and ICU are actually quite different, and if you're stellar in your clinicals, you may be able to precept in ICU, which is good when you're looking for a job there (just be sure to try to get into a hospital that's open to new grads- VITAL!!). I really enjoyed med/surg, and I got to do a lot. The floor I was on was more medical than surgical (though we had some surgical, the ortho med/surg floor was another floor), and I had some nice, complicated patients, including a couple that ended up in ICU. Those complicated patients with a litany of diagnoses were always my favorites, and it was interesting to look at how the different diagnoses interacted and impacted one another. It's really interesting getting to talk to people (the way students get to, as most med/surg nurses are way too busy) and hear how they ended up where they are, and address more of the psychosocial stuff. I had a patient who contracted HIV from his wife, and that's how he found out she was cheating. He had some major depression and a zillion things all linked to that, but learning that made the puzzle fit together a lot better for me, and we could address some of that stuff. Another was really anxious about returning home after the delirium his diagnosis had caused before he went to the ER, and he'd scared the hell out of his daughter. I love having the time, as a student, to really sit down with these people and listen to them and empathize. Med/surg nurses are often running around trying to put out fires most of their shift, and it's interesting, and I'd do it, but it's not where my passion is. In ICU, you usually have one or two patients, and can really delve into their histories and treat some complicated stuff, of course. Sometimes you can't talk to them, obviously, as they're unconscious, but their medical records hold some interesting stuff. If you can, shadow nurses in both units and see what you think.
For our class, if you had med/surg down, you could precept in a specialty unit. I imagine other schools have a similar approach. So work hard in med/surg, really get your skills and critical thinking and prioritization down, and work to get into ICU for preceptorship.
Now, that said, you may find, once you spend some time in clinicals, that some units you thought you'd love or hate may make you feel differently. I thought surgery would be interesting, but NOPE. LOL
Can't agree with you more...I'm very excited to start school (ESP clinicals) to find out what I want to specialize in. Cannot thank you enough for your help. I'm taking all your advice to heart.
Med/surg and ICU are actually quite different, and if you're stellar in your clinicals, you may be able to precept in ICU, which is good when you're looking for a job there (just be sure to try to get into a hospital that's open to new grads- VITAL!!). I really enjoyed med/surg, and I got to do a lot. The floor I was on was more medical than surgical (though we had some surgical, the ortho med/surg floor was another floor), and I had some nice, complicated patients, including a couple that ended up in ICU. Those complicated patients with a litany of diagnoses were always my favorites, and it was interesting to look at how the different diagnoses interacted and impacted one another. It's really interesting getting to talk to people (the way students get to, as most med/surg nurses are way too busy) and hear how they ended up where they are, and address more of the psychosocial stuff. I had a patient who contracted HIV from his wife, and that's how he found out she was cheating. He had some major depression and a zillion things all linked to that, but learning that made the puzzle fit together a lot better for me, and we could address some of that stuff. Another was really anxious about returning home after the delirium his diagnosis had caused before he went to the ER, and he'd scared the hell out of his daughter. I love having the time, as a student, to really sit down with these people and listen to them and empathize. Med/surg nurses are often running around trying to put out fires most of their shift, and it's interesting, and I'd do it, but it's not where my passion is. In ICU, you usually have one or two patients, and can really delve into their histories and treat some complicated stuff, of course. Sometimes you can't talk to them, obviously, as they're unconscious, but their medical records hold some interesting stuff. If you can, shadow nurses in both units and see what you think.
For our class, if you had med/surg down, you could precept in a specialty unit. I imagine other schools have a similar approach. So work hard in med/surg, really get your skills and critical thinking and prioritization down, and work to get into ICU for preceptorship.
Now, that said, you may find, once you spend some time in clinicals, that some units you thought you'd love or hate may make you feel differently. I thought surgery would be interesting, but NOPE. LOL
I'm currently a USF student graduating in may doing my clinical in the ICU right now. USF is a great program and I would highly encourage you to apply and see what your financial aid package ends up being. The aid I get from the school is huge... What I pay per semester is actually less than the tuition at a CSU.
Also, I'm very involved at USF and haven't seen the video promising a job after graduation. Will you please link it. Like everyone else is saying that's not realistic to promise.
Hi casmith5, thanks for joining the forum. That's music to my ears that your FAFSA is covering a large amount of your expenses. It is my first time signing up for FAFSA; did they notify you through mail/email how much you are eligible to receive before the first school semester started for you?
Regarding the video, I'll certainly post the link onto this forum when I find it again. I believe it was posted a few years back, and I discovered it through hunting around google for student reviews regarding USF's nursing program.
I'm currently a USF student graduating in may doing my clinical in the ICU right now. USF is a great program and I would highly encourage you to apply and see what your financial aid package ends up being. The aid I get from the school is huge... What I pay per semester is actually less than the tuition at a CSU.
Also, I'm very involved at USF and haven't seen the video promising a job after graduation. Will you please link it. Like everyone else is saying that's not realistic to promise.
It was four years ago, but if I remember correctly it was via mail. Then once you are a student everything is online on your student account. If you have any questions post them here.
Best of luck! I would say PM me, but I can't reply yet...
I very excited that you have chosen nursing as a profession. It's a great career, not for everyone, but for those that like the challenge and stimulation the medical field brings, it can be very rewarding. I am a graduate of the University of San Francisco's (USF) MSN-CNL program. I must say it was a great program! I got the much needed one on one attention from my professors, my classmates were helpful and supportive and it was only 2 years. All this and many other features helped me through school. I also looked into Samuel Merritt (SMU), but choose USF for the simple reason that they had a program that I felt more compelled towards in the end.
I feel both schools would be great, but in hind-sight I would not suggest either of them to be better than any of the state schools in the Bay Area. I have a couple reasons for making this statement. Both USF and SMU have high price tags and in my opinion, neither are worth the price you pay. That does not mean they are not good schools, it just means the price of education to attend these schools is extremely over valued. I work with people who graduated from SFSU, Sonoma State, CSU and various other state colleges and neither of my colleagues are less intelligent or less capable than I. Furthermore, I attended SFSU for my undergraduate degree and had an excellent education and experience, but the key there was it was completely free, thanks to grant money I applied for. My colleagues who graduated from state colleges to attain nursing degrees paid 3 times less than I did. My point being think price and look at this your decision to choose the right school for you as a business decision, because these schools that charge an arm and a leg look at it as a business decision, make no mistake about it.
The other thing I'd like to say is, your eduction is what you make it. I say this because whether you attend USF, SMU, SFSU, Sonoma State, you will have your share of great professors and your share of not so great professors. I've experienced both at both the private university and state university. At the end of the day it's up to you to make it happen and learn what you need to learn to feel successful. The bottom line is you're going to learn the same stuff, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology the list goes on, but the material does not change. I can have a conversation about the pathophysiology of Hepatic Encephelopathy with a colleague who went to SFSU and be on the same page.
At the end of the day I am happy I went to USF, I have no arguments with the education I received other than the price I paid. The point I'd like to impress upon you is to think of your education as a business decision, because that is what it is. These schools are thinking of it that way and so should you. Don't be awestruck by the fancy headlines bragging that their school is Number 1, or that they have the best reputation in the bay area, because when it's all said and done, it's the reputation, habits and good connections that you make during your education that will make the difference.
Thanks for the detailed explanation, PMG. It seems like the school I choose is a life changing decision so I certainly appreciate your answer to my question. Honestly I still do not know where I will be attending for nursing school...and don't think I will know for sure until it is the final date of being forced to secure my spot with the deposit for the school I choose. But your last sentence:
"Don't be awestruck by the fancy headlines bragging that their school is Number 1, or that they have the best reputation in the bay area, because when it's all said and done, it's the reputation, habits and good connections that you make during your education that will make the difference"
I cannot agree with you more...school is what you make of it.
I very excited that you have chosen nursing as a profession. It's a great career, not for everyone, but for those that like the challenge and stimulation the medical field brings, it can be very rewarding. I am a graduate of the University of San Francisco's (USF) MSN-CNL program. I must say it was a great program! I got the much needed one on one attention from my professors, my classmates were helpful and supportive and it was only 2 years. All this and many other features helped me through school. I also looked into Samuel Merritt (SMU), but choose USF for the simple reason that they had a program that I felt more compelled towards in the end.
I feel both schools would be great, but in hind-sight I would not suggest either of them to be better than any of the state schools in the Bay Area. I have a couple reasons for making this statement. Both USF and SMU have high price tags and in my opinion, neither are worth the price you pay. That does not mean they are not good schools, it just means the price of education to attend these schools is extremely over valued. I work with people who graduated from SFSU, Sonoma State, CSU and various other state colleges and neither of my colleagues are less intelligent or less capable than I. Furthermore, I attended SFSU for my undergraduate degree and had an excellent education and experience, but the key there was it was completely free, thanks to grant money I applied for. My colleagues who graduated from state colleges to attain nursing degrees paid 3 times less than I did. My point being think price and look at this your decision to choose the right school for you as a business decision, because these schools that charge an arm and a leg look at it as a business decision, make no mistake about it.
The other thing I'd like to say is, your eduction is what you make it. I say this because whether you attend USF, SMU, SFSU, Sonoma State, you will have your share of great professors and your share of not so great professors. I've experienced both at both the private university and state university. At the end of the day it's up to you to make it happen and learn what you need to learn to feel successful. The bottom line is you're going to learn the same stuff, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology the list goes on, but the material does not change. I can have a conversation about the pathophysiology of Hepatic Encephelopathy with a colleague who went to SFSU and be on the same page.
At the end of the day I am happy I went to USF, I have no arguments with the education I received other than the price I paid. The point I'd like to impress upon you is to think of your education as a business decision, because that is what it is. These schools are thinking of it that way and so should you. Don't be awestruck by the fancy headlines bragging that their school is Number 1, or that they have the best reputation in the bay area, because when it's all said and done, it's the reputation, habits and good connections that you make during your education that will make the difference.
I'm taking all your advice to heart.
But your last sentence:
RunBabyRN
3,677 Posts
I agree about the guarantee, no way can that be true. You might ask them how they can make such a bold claim.
I don't doubt that good nurses can come out of SMU. I can only speak to their reputation as a whole. I am sure there are plenty of excellent nurses that are grads of SMU.