Waitlist for My #1 school or go for the expensive private school that's a sure thing?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I'm facing a dilemma!

I just got notification that I was placed on the wait list for UTA nursing school!! it's half the cost of Baylor where I have been accepted, already been to orientation, and set up my financial aid. At UTA I would graduate sooner (it's an accelerated 15 month program) which means I could start working as an RN and paying my bills sooner. (Both programs start January 2015) AND it's a shorter drive every day BUT I may not get a call, and if I do it could be as late as December Do I accept? Do I go ahead and buy my Baylor books and scrubs and pay the deposit which is required by Oct 15 and stick with the sure thing? Should I hold out for UTA even though it's not a sure thing? What to do?!? Hope and pray I get into UTA or stick with the sure thing?

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A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. Commit Baylor , leave UTA. If the email comes- good. If it doesn't come even better.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

If you have the resources commit to Baylor. Hold off on buying your supplies as long as you can. Also, if you need to you can probably find someone to sell them to if you end up going to UTA.

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Rule #1: Do not take on more debt than you can reasonably expect to earn in your first year of working.

It looks like Baylor's nursing program costs about $76,000, which is much more than a new grad will earn in a year in Texas. However, the more finaid you qualify for, the better the price looks considering you know you're in the program.

I can't find accelerated program tuition for UTA, but their traditional classes are $5000 a semester, which is astoundingly less expensive.

The way it looks, the worst case scenario is that you finish UTA 3 months after you would have finished Baylor. In the grand scheme of things, that's not a big difference. The issue will come down to the total cost. UTA looks even more appealing when you consider you can work and save money until you get into their program, which further cuts down the cost there.

It looks like the UTA option is significantly less expensive. If you wouldn't mind sharing the accelerated program cost of the UTA program, I could give you more specific advice. But based on the little I do know, I'd seriously consider the UTA option.

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What are the NCLEX scores for each school? Employment rates? Which school to employers prefer?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I know this was a while back, but I did end up getting Accepted into UTA AP BSN program at the 11th hour, it was about 2 weeks before the semester started and I was all set to go to Baylor in Dallas which would have been over an hour commute for me each way for the duration of the 2 year program. UTA's program is 15 months classes are online, clinicals and exams are at the hospital. I am able to work PRN and keep up with school, and I have much more time with my two small children. the cost is SO much better than Baylor (I was borrowing $22K for my FIRST semester after financial aid and a scholarship plus $1500 in books), I was able to get back my deposit, return my books and scrubs that I had purchased for Baylor thank goodnes. UTA is about $5000 per semester, but I get financial aid so I'm borrowing about $3500 per semester and they are subsidized loans and I'm paying whatever I can as I go along so I'll be in significantly less debt than I otherwise would have been. UTA's program is excellent, I'm in my second semester. I have an awesome clinical group and all of the instructors so far have been amazing. Just following up in case anyone was curious :) I'm so happy with the way things turned out! I'm Not bashing Baylor it's a great school, this was just a much better option for me.

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