upmc shadyside vs sewickley vs ?

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2006

I can tell you that Shadyside does have other breaks throughout the year, but yes, their summer break is only a week or two. They have a couple week break around Christmas, a week off for Spring Break, and various leagal holidays off. The benefit, of course to Shadyside's way of going through the summer is you graduate sooner. The downside, is you don't get a lengthy break. I'm hoping to go to Shadyside in the Fall, but I'd also seriously considered UPMC's other school, St. Margaret's. If you have any more questions about either feel free to ask.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · Jun 19, 2006

Thanks Noel...

I'm actually looking into Mercy, something I never really considered...so if any of you are familar with Mercy I'd appreciate some insight there.

I was also looking into St. Margaret's that would be so close to where I live (North Hills) but I see that I would need to complete A & P I before being able to start which would tack on more time, (I NEED to get out of my job, 23 years in the travel industry is taking it's toll on my burnout level! so I'd still have to work here while doing another semester of a pre req..not the worse case scenario...but I NEED TO GET OUT )

I just want the best possible education and I've seen some good replies on Mercy's school.

I'm guessing St. Marg has the same very little summer break? Why are you thinking of possibly going there instead?

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2006

Actually, if you are going to apply to St. Margaret's you have the best bet of being accepted if you have all of your gen ed classes out of the way, as opposed to A&P 1, Eng Comp, and Psych. This is their word of advice, not mine. This is why I originally wanted to go to St. Margaret's. I had started nursing gen ed classes at a cc in Ohio, and then decided to transfer to a school in Pitt. At St. Margaret's, I would have had all the classes out of the way that they wanted out of the way, and I would have started clinicals as soon as I got in (at Shadyside, you don't do clinicals for the 1st semester). I applied for the June '06 class last winter at St. Margaret's, and was told the June class had been filled for months. However, based on my scores, grades, etc. they would take me for the Feb '07 class. I didn't want to wait that long, so I applied to Shadyside. St. Margaret's starts classes twice a year, and each class has 45 students (I was told they go through 300-400 applicants to pick the 45). Shadyside starts full-time classes twice a year with 100+ in each class, so I had a better chance of getting in sooner.

As for Mercy, Swickley, or other hospital based programs, I'm familiar with them but never really looked into them much. After I found out about UMPC's full tuition reimbursment if you agree to work for them for two years, I was hooked. Since I could not afford the cost of tuition, and am hesitant to take out loans, this is the ideal situation for me. Plus, both UPMC schools have excellent NCLEX pass rates. I do know that at Swickley if you agree work for them for 3(?) years you'll receive a reduction in your tuition. Have you called the schools that interest you? I know that both Shadyside and St. Margaret's will mail an informative packet for prospective students.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · Jun 20, 2006

Thanks again Noel...great info.

I called Shadyside about a year ago and got their info. At the time the only schools I considered were CCAC North (not sure if their program still exists) or Shadyside, simply because they were the only two that offered part time classes. Now that I'm remarried and DH can handle my not working for a bit, I can go full time so I'm exploring other options.

The people that I've talked to at Shadyside seem wonderful, but their program just does make me hesitate on many different levels. They make it seem though that you don't "need" to have pre reqs done to pass their entrance exam, but it's clear from what I've read it's to one's advantage to have them done. I started the process of pre req's Winter of 05 and have my maths done as well as Psych, English, BIO and now I'll be taking Chem this Fall. Not sure if Sewickely will accept my English and they won't be able to tell me until after I would be accepted, so that's a drawback on their side for me.

I hear you on the money though...I really don't want to be starting off in debt either, but at the same time I'm not crazy about how UPMC seems to be 'owning' everything anymore, I understand they were or are still trying to get Sewickley and don't get me wrong Passavant is a wonderful hospital to me, but I'm not sure that will be the end goal to work in a suburban hospital, on one hand it is a lure (being 10 min from work!) but on another I'm not sure which path I'll travel when I'm done, I'm actually very interested in Sr. home care even though I hear the horror stories and how thankless it is...it does pull at my heart strings, but as they say, you never really know until you go through clinicals just where you really may want to end up.

Thanks again for all the info, you've given me more to consider...I think I have it narrowed down to 5 potentials now! BTW I've heard Mercy give tuition reimbursement in exchange for 2 years as well, but not sure if they still do. Ohio Valley is another one I'm considering, but there's the distance to consider and I think upfront their about 10,000 more than the other schools.

Oh, and I also look at those NYCLEX scores...I see that Shadyside is at 95 but Sewickley is at 93 and Mercy and OV are 90 so not bad, what made me nervous was CCAC 65 or 70 YIKES!

Take care.

danh3190 · Aug 24, 2006

I was wondering if anyone who is attending upmc shadyside can tell me if it's true that the only break you get in the 22 mos full time program is the 4th week of every August?
I'm not "lazy" by any means but I would like to know there is at least a 2 week break or something, b/c I see quite a few nursing schools take the entire summer off, Sewickley being one of them.
I realize upmc is very respected and would lend a great education, but I'm concerned with the overload aspect. I feel that having an intense schedule is not always in the best interest regarding pressure etc....and that Sewickely having much more time off would enable me to study on my own as well without the "pressure" feeling.
Any thoughts on either school or perhaps any other nursing school recommendations, I can attend pretty much anywhere in the Pittsburgh area full time.(I recently got re-married and am blessed by a husband who will hold down the fort for the 2 years or so) I'm currently finishing up my last pre req this fall so I will be ready by next March or the following fall to start nursing school.
TIA

Just looking at Shadyside's 2006-2007 schedule.

Fall semester 8/28/06 - 12/15/06

Winter semester 1/2/07 - 4/20/07

Spring semester 4/30/07 - 8/17/07

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · Aug 24, 2006

Thanks everyone for the replys...however I decided on West Penn (not just for the vacation schedule!)

It was a painstaking process to choose, since I didn't just want to apply all over the place, I wanted the one with the best fit.

danh3190 · Aug 24, 2006

Good luck in school. West Penn and AGH are great hospitals.