UTHSCSA-Fall 2011

yekpewa21 · Jan 29, 2011

Has anyone heard anything yet?

kyexplorer · Jan 29, 2011

Thank you, CyclicalEvents! I'm trying to decide between UTHSCSA and Wayland Baptist. What are your thoughts on the big school vs. smalls school experience?

CyclicalEvents · Jan 29, 2011

Thank you, CyclicalEvents! I'm trying to decide between UTHSCSA and Wayland Baptist. What are your thoughts on the big school vs. smalls school experience?

I'd be a little uneasy about Wayland Baptist's program. It's fairly new and it took some effort to even find information on their nursing program. Their nursing program was only recently accredited (Spring 2010).

In July 2007, the Board granted Initial approval to Wayland Baptist University Baccalaureate Degree
Nursing Educational Program in San Antonio, Texas. Classes began in Fall 2007.
* The program's first cohort of 9 students graduated in August 2009 and 8 students tested during the 2009
examination year with a 100% pass rate.
* The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission conducted a survey visit in October 2009 with
a very favorable outcome. Initial accreditation is expected in Spring 2010.
* The program is requesting a move to full BON approval.

For Fall 2010, their pass rate fell to 85% with 17 out of 20 passing the NCLEX. Not that this is bad, UTHSCSA has comparable pass rates.

If you feel you would be more successful in such a small group, go for it.

I chose UTHSCSA because from my research (on AllNurses), it seemed that the instructors really care for the students. And in my experience, that has consistently been the case. They really listen to what we have to say. There are periodic meetings with the staff throughout the year where we discuss issues with the curriculum or other problems. Then they make whatever changes are needed to improve, and those fixes are trickled down to the next semester (you guys!) where you get what we wish we could've gotten.

UTHSCSA changed their entire curriculum for all incoming students after my semester (which required state senate approval or something) and all the instructors seem very excited and feel that it is infinitely better than what my semester is experiencing. I find that hard to believe, as I already feel the curriculum is excellent. It's apparent that the staff works really hard to provide interesting lectures and content.

If you're worried about not being heard or seen with such a big class, that won't be an issue. While the lectures are given as a full class (100+ students), skills labs and clinicals in the hospital are much smaller (about 8 students per instructor). A majority of the instructors really care for their students and if you ask for it, they will go out of their way to help you.

Choosing this school was one of the better decisions I've made in my life.

PS - The Wayland Baptist scrubs are ugly as hell. All white? No thank you. Our orange and black scrubs are ever so slightly less tacky.

bananamtz · Jan 30, 2011

@CyclicalEvents: Thanks for posting the schedules. I certainly hope they stay that way--it doesn't seem too bad. I think I could handle that.

The TEAS invites should start going out on the 31st. 1 more day guys!! Good luck! If you get an invite let us know.

-asian- · Jan 30, 2011

@ CyclicalEvents--

thanks soooo much for helping us out. u have no idea how helpful ur info is. do u work during the school year? and if u dont mind my asking, how much does it cost per year w/ tuition and rent? i have a feeling i'm going to take out loans to pay for school and stuff...:uhoh21: and maybe work..

kyexplorer · Jan 30, 2011

Thanks, Cyclical! That was so helpful!

Actually, I wasn't thinking so much about getting lost in the crowd as I was about hassle vs. facilities/opportunitites. Wayland Baptist is so small that it seems like there would be less hassles (i.e., no parking fee, no one-year waitlist for parking, consolidated buildings so getting school administrative tasks taken care of will all be in the same place and I would know the people I needed the assistance from, etc.). But then UTHSCSA undoubtedly has much larger, better and more sophisticated facilities, more student professional groups to join, more networking opportunities, and would look better on my resume.

CyclicalEvents · Jan 30, 2011

Thanks, Cyclical! That was so helpful!
Actually, I wasn't thinking so much about getting lost in the crowd as I was about hassle vs. facilities/opportunitites. Wayland Baptist is so small that it seems like there would be less hassles (i.e., no parking fee, no one-year waitlist for parking, consolidated buildings so getting school administrative tasks taken care of will all be in the same place and I would know the people I needed the assistance from, etc.). But then UTHSCSA undoubtedly has much larger, better and more sophisticated facilities, more student professional groups to join, more networking opportunities, and would look better on my resume.

There will be lots of hassle the first semester with talking to the right administrative person. You spend most of your 3 day orientation meeting these administrators - it's exhausting. I don't pay for parking because I would get lot 17, which is a 20 minute walk to get to school, and ironically, a 30 minute wait for the shuttle. There's a shopping center and a street across from the school where I park. It's not entirely legal, but I haven't had any issues and it saves me money.

About the sophisticated facilities - your class will get them. They are currently building a brand new skills lab area where there used to be a computer lab. We got to see a preview of it last semester - it's AWESOME. The rooms look just like hospital rooms and they put a lot of attention into minor details. We'll be lucky if we get to ever use them.

I think that the hospitals you choose for your clinicals are more important. Y'all know you have to choose which hospitals you want to go to right? I have chosen University Hospital every single semester. It is one of the best hospitals in the country. Go look it up if you don't believe me :) I don't know much about the other hospitals, but the one's that specialize in something might be better for certain clinicals. For example, San Antonio State Hospital (everyone pronounces it SASH) has a long term psychiatric facility, so if you want an extreme mental health experience, go there. I think that UH was great for mental health as well, because it's an acute facility, so there's actually hope that the patient's can find stability and control. Santa Rosa is a childrens hospital, so that one might be better for peds. There's a hospital in San Marcos for people who live closer to there. And there was one hospital where students basically said if you want any hope of living, avoid it at all costs. Luckily for you, the staff takes the students very seriously and UTHSCSA is no longer working with that hospital.

Also, UTHSCSA will not look better on your resume than any other nursing school. At the end of the day the hospitals are going to look at three things - Do you have your RN license? Do you have your BSN? Do you have experience? That last makes getting a job so hard.

@ CyclicalEvents--
thanks soooo much for helping us out. u have no idea how helpful ur info is. do u work during the school year? and if u dont mind my asking, how much does it cost per year w/ tuition and rent? i have a feeling i'm going to take out loans to pay for school and stuff...:uhoh21: and maybe work..

I don't work during the school year, but I'm currently applying for the job. A little extra income doesn't hurt. My current tuition cost has been $2900 per semester without the schools insurance. You need insurance to attend so you can use your own or the schools. The school's insurance costs 400$ a semester bringing your total to 3300$. Currently I'm paying far too much for rent (500/month), but I'm young and have parents who are fortunate to be able to pay for everything. I racked up quite a bit of debt before coming here. I would like to live closer/cheaper, but I have awesome roommates, and I'm afraid i'll get ****** roommates like I had when I first started college. Also, I hate change. Also on the tuition issue, I receive enough federal aid, so I don't actually pay that. Rent's a ***** though.

@CyclicalEvents: Thanks for posting the schedules. I certainly hope they stay that way--it doesn't seem too bad. I think I could handle that.
The TEAS invites should start going out on the 31st. 1 more day guys!! Good luck! If you get an invite let us know.

That's my personal schedule. Yours will be very different. They revised the curriculum and y'all will have more hours/classes. I'm not sure how electives work. We are required to take 3 (usually during the summer), but y'all don't have to take any. That'll suck if y'all don't have electives, because I think they are important. I plan on taking an EKG course, as well as the ER clinical elective.

You choose what days/times/hospitals you want your clinicals, so your schedule could differ greatly.

kyexplorer · Jan 31, 2011

Wow, thanks for the heads up on the hospitals and the parking. I'm so glad I found this site!!

bananamtz · Feb 2, 2011

Anyone heard anything?

kyexplorer · Feb 2, 2011

Not yet!

Dorotheadar · Feb 2, 2011

Nope. My guess that the advisor who said J.31-F.2 was just giving a rough estimate. I noticed from last year's thread (Fall 2010) that most people started posting about their TEAS invites around the 11th of Feb. so maybe we will start to hear more in a couple weeks...

Dorotheadar · Feb 3, 2011

Okay, I literally JUST received this generic email that I am sure you all received too. It is from UTHSCSA with a list of specific dates:

Mon. Feb. 7: TEAS invites go out

Fri. March 25: Admission offers sent out

I wish it was late March already!!!