STRATFORD UNIVERSITY- Fairfax, VA

U.S.A. Virginia

Published

Hello Everyone!

Has anyone ever attended Stratford University in Fairfax, VA for the BSN Program? If you have, please let me know how it was. There's a good chance I might be going there in October. Any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

*Jenn

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I just applied there today and may be going in May. Just like you, I am looking for information on whether or not it is a good program etc. It's so much more expensive than the community college!! Let me know if you hear anything about it!!!

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I heard the BSN program is a new program they just started last October. I currently reside in Southern California and if I take the Teas Exam and pass with a 78, they said they will accept me. I know it's pretty pricey but not as pricey as California. They have a school here called West Coast University where you can get your BSN in 3 1/2 years, but it's 120,000! No way! Luckily, I have the Post-911 GI Bill which covers a good portion if I go to Stratford. If everything goes right, I'll be attending there in August. It'd be nice to know someone there! Write back.

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This is good timing because I just went there today to sit in on a class and get an idea of the students and the teachers etc. :-) Stratford is a rather small school - it's only one building in fact. It looked like the nursing department was practically only one small hallway on the 2nd floor. Great for small class sizes and a very personalized experience. The class I sat in on was a basic nursing class and had maybe 20 people. I also noticed another class (anatomy and physiology maybe)...it had only about 5 people in it. The teachers that I met or saw passing through the hallway looked like very nice people. Dr. Khan is also very nice - he's the head of the department. The students are definitely on the older side. I'm 26 and I felt like the youngest person there by a long shot. It is also very diverse. I heard lots of different accents from the students in the class. Average age in that class - I would guess maybe 35? The school also does this delayed billing thing where they don't send you a bill until 6 months AFTER you graduate - which is awesome if you are like me and already have student loans from my first undergrad experience. I feel like it hasn't really developed a reputation like the other local schools (Marymount, George Mason, Georgetown, even NVCC - the community college). That has me a little nervous - but it definitely has it's appeal in certain areas (billing, the local area, the small/personal size etc, the 10 week quarters). I think with the program being new - it makes it a little easier to get in too. I just went there on Friday to visit the school for the first time and apply - he basically told me right there on the spot that I would be accepted. If you have any other questions about it or the area - just let me know! I'll definitely keep in touch with anything new I find out and I'll let you know how it is when I actually start attending in May. For 120,000 - yeah - that's definitely not worth it!!

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Hi everyone,

I'm also interested in Stratford's BSN nursing program. I went there this past Tuesday and spoke to Dr. Khan, who was very nice and explained a bit about the program. I'm kind of worried that maybe employers would hire based upon where you went to nursing school at. However I did call a couple of hospitals and they said that they do not discriminate against where you went to school. I was going to NOVA but I'm unfortunately going to miss the deadline for the fall program. I like the idea of stratford considering you are working towards your BSN and not just your Associates degree. Hopefully I'm not making a mistake by not doing NOVA's program because they are quite respectable. Have any of you taken the TEAS? I'm trying to get prepared to take it by this May so I can get into the fall program at Stratford. Hwcats if you have any advise or answers for me that'd be great, I think I might try to sit in on a class if I can. Who knows, maybe we will see eachother in class lol.

Thanks,

Tam

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hwcats67, have you taken the TEAS?

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That was a good idea calling local hospitals - hadn't thought of that!

As for the TEAS - I did take that last year at NVCC. Got an 82.4%. Not all that great but Dr. Khan said it was fine. For studying - I recommend the study guide although I just went to the library and used a GED study guide. NVCC does seem to have a good program - but to be honest...when I went to visit the school last year, I just didn't get good vibes from it. No real reason on why - just didn't feel right. I also know someone who used to work in there and they seemed unimpressed with the school in general. So yes - NVCC is a LOT cheaper. But Stratford seemed easier to get in to. And with it being a fairly new program - I'm sure in time, it will become more well known in the area.

However - to be honest - if you liked NVCC and felt like it was a good fit - I would go there simply because of the price. They have a spring start too don't they? But definitely go and see if Dr. Khan will let you sit in on a class before making up your mind either way. Also consider what you are looking for in a school. NVCC has a larger program and therefore more students. And think about age as well. I felt a bit out of place at Stratford because I'm only 26 and it seemed like everyone was much older.

All that said - I do think that all the teachers seemed really nice and supportive. I could definitely sense a strong camaraderie between them. But check out a class and meet some of the teachers. OH - and another thing - Stratford does clinicals at the Virginia Hospital Center which is super convenient for me. Not sure about NVCC but might be something worth looking into. If after all that - you're still unsure - doesn't NVCC do a spring start?

And anyhow - if you decide to give Startford a try - you can always change if you end up not liking it!

Hope that helps - feel free to ask any other questions you might have.

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hwcats67,

Hi, thank you for your post. Thats a good score on the TEAS, I'm very stressed out over getting ready to take it due to the short amount of time that I need to take it by. I went to NVCC's medical campus to get more info on the nursing program but they made it seem like it was such a hush hush program, and they just told me to go online, even though I already had all the info that they offered online. They wouldn't even tell me the times and days for the program either. When I went to Stratford, it seemed more friendly, plus I kind of like going to smaller classes considering you could get more attention from the teacher. I'm 24, and NVCC is ok but I don't care much for being around some of the immature party people. Even though I could save a lot of money at NVCC, I'd haveta wait a whole year from this fall that is if i even get accepted into the program, since I've missed the deadline for this coming fall program. I've already taken almost all the of the pre-reqs for NVCC, so Dr. Khan said all of those such as anatomy and physiology, and microbiology etc.... will transfer to Stratford.

Thanks,

Tam

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Sounds like Stratford may be perfect then for you! I had the same feeling at NVCC - they definitely weren't all that helpful. And with the average age at Stratford - I'm sure that everyone is there for one purpose only. With all the questions the students were asking in the class I observed - I could definitely tell that they weren't messing around this time with school. You'll be fine on the TEAS I'm sure - especially with just having taken some science prereqs. I did ok and I hadn't taken most science classes since HS. I only studied for about a month anyhow and only rigorous studying in the last week.

Have you checked out Marymount at all? I applied there but it'll be a little over a month before I hear back. I definitely liked it there and the price is about the same. It's a 2 year accelerated 2nd degree program. Their 2nd review deadline is in April so if you're interested, it's not too late. And if you got above a 3.0 I think, in college, then you don't have to take the TEAS. You might want to check it out. :-)

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hwcats67.. So are you attending Stratford in May? I'm taking the TEAS the end of this month. Cross my fingers.. hopefully I can pass. Dr. Khan said I need a 78 % to pass. Than I have to get ready for the big move from west coast to east coast!

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Well, it's official. I will be starting the week of May 24th. :-) Got my letter in the mail on Wednesday. I'm a teacher right now and school isn't out until June 17th so I'll only be taking 2 classes in the first 10 week session. Medical Terminology and A&P.

Justjenn562 - did you take your TEAS yet?

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Congratulations!!! That's GREAT news! I took the TEAS exam 3 weeks ago

and scored a 68% :( BOO! I did not study at all! I work full time and

I go to 2 different schools.. taking 3 classes at one school and

attending CNA classes on the weekends. So I don't have much time to

study! I'm scheduled to take it next Thursday and I ordered the ATI

manual online and HAVE not been able to study. I'm freakin out and I

think I'm just going to schedule to take it for a latter date, but I

REALLY want to attend the August session :( I did HORRIBLE on the

science portion of it and I skimmed through the ATI manual and they

don't have anything on geology, Newton's Law, and some other stuff. How

did you prep up for the test?

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