West Coast University - BSN Program

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Hi Everyone,

I got a 75% on my TEAS V test. I know I needed to get at least 85% on my Teas V score to be competitive on most BSN programs.

I found out that West Coast University is now accepting Teas V scores with a minimum score of 58%. So with a 75% score on the Teas V, I was a qualified applicant and I didn't have to take their HESI exam.

Once you're qualified based on taking their HESI or Teas V, the biggest qualifying factor you have is getting approved for Financial Aid or Private Student Loans. If you have all your finances straight, then that's when they secure your spot in their Nursing Program.

However, my biggest gripe right now and most of the students that I have spoken with is that they have a weird system of transferring credits. Each student I spoke to had different experiences on what classes transferred to that school and what didn't.

For example, WCU transfered all of my science classes that I took at Los Angeles Valley College:

Anatomy

Physiology

Microbiology

Psychology - Intro

Psychology - LifeSpan

BUT, they didn't transfer my General Chemistry.

They transfered my CAL STATE LA:

English 101/102 but they said that both my English 101/102 class that I took only transfers over to their English 140 Written Communication I, but not to their English 140 Written Communication II.

They also didn't transfer the following G.E. classes that I took in CAL STATE LA:

Philosophy

College Mathematics

Public Speaking

Their reason is that CAL STATE LA is a Quarter system and WCU is a Semester system. This is how they calculate it: 1 quarter unit = 0.67 semester unit

In addition, if they don't think your class is equivalent to their class they won't accept it as transfer credit.

My biggest advice is to go to their transfer credit website: 4

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Thanks for this post! Pming you :)

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For those that sent me a pm, I apologize for not being able to pm you back because of this issue as stated below:

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So to reply to the private messages I will reply based on the question, but not reveal the user who pm'd me.

“I am getting my general Ed done at a community college and hoping to transfer there?”

I think the best thing to do is attend an orientation session with WCU. Because this will give you a good idea of what pre-requisite courses you can take prior to transferring to WCU.

You also have the choice (if you can afford $132,000 of student loan, or you can get this lower with government grants) to take all your pre-requisite courses at WCU, which will make you get your BSN in just 3 years.

The one thing I must stress is, if you do plan on taking your classes at community college and transfer them over to WCU make sure before you take those classes that they will transfer to WCU. Because I had to repeat some pre-requisites like college math and chemistry since they didn’t transfer my classes over from the community college. So MAKE SURE the class you’re taking is transferable. You can call WCU or go to that link I posted to see for yourself.

“I just wanted some insight on how classes will be is it really hard?”

I can’t really say if it’s hard or easy. I think that depends on each student. For me I’m currently taking public speaking and college math and I must say it’s easy for me. I think the biggest thing is DON’T PROCRASTINATE on your homework and go to class all the time because there’s only 9 weeks of class so it goes by fast. So if you get behind homework it will be very hard to catch up. There’s lots of homework too, so it’s more tedious than hard in my opinion.

As far as nursing goes, everyone is telling me that Nursing classes in general is just hard everywhere.

“And is math really needed as an RN, I mean I am going to take it but is that math useful later on?”

A certain level of math is needed for RN like dosage calculations, which is very easy once they teach you. As far as the other things you learn in math I wouldn’t say it’s important to know for an RN, but it might be important in real life like when you want to create a monthly expense budget or calculate your interest rate for your car or house.

I hope my answers were helpful. Please feel free to contact me anytime if you have further questions.

Best of luck to you.

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Here's another reply I made to someone who pm'd me:

First of all I would like to apologize for the late response.

How long did the process take?

The process doesn’t take long.

  1. First you need to take a test: HESI Exam or TEAS V or your SAT score.
  2. Then the most important part is to qualify for financial aid.
  3. Once your financial aid is setup and ready to go, you will be given your classes for your 1st term, which you have no control over. However, on your 2nd term and so on, you can choose your own time and date of when to take the class that you’re assigned.
  4. If you have classes to transfer it will help you reduce the $132,000 tuition fee. I know some people, due to grants and transfer credits they were able to reduce their tuition to $70,000.

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I would like to provide an update on the current classes I'm taking on my 1st term

I'm currently taking:

WCU SPCH 142-Oral Communication (I'm currently retaking since this didn't transfer over from my university)

WCU MATH 108-College Mathematics (I'm currently retaking since this didn't transfer over from my community college)

It is currently Week 6 going to Week 7 of the 1st term and I'm getting the following grades:

WCU SPCH 142-Oral Communication = 100%

Oral Communication is not hard, but it's a lot of work. I had to do 4 speeches, a quiz every week, a midterm, and a final.

WCU MATH 108-College Mathematics = 95%

Math is math, if you're good in math you're to fine, if you're not so good, you'll still do fine because they have free tutoring twice a week. Professor Kim is super nice and explains the material very well. So the only reason you would be doing poorly in this class is if you're not studying and slacking off.

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I will continue to update everyone each term about my experiences in this school.

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To add extra information:

1st term: You don't have control over your schedule

2nd term and so forth: You can choose your own schedule, but must stay with the classes they told you to take per term.

You can "Overload" meaning on your 2nd term and so forth you can take more than 2 classes per term for your General Education classes and pre-requisites.

Each term = 2 classes that lasts for 10 weeks, but it really is 9 weeks.

2 terms = A semester

You can also take online classes for some G.E. classes which is a nice option.

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Hi! Thank you so much for this information.. it was really helpful. I had inquired back in 2011 but I didn't follow through because the tuition was just too much for me. I went to LVN school instead and now I am not trying to get my BSN with WCU. I would like to get more information about your own personal experience with WCU.. since I am considering going here. LMK what you think, I would love to get your input!

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Hello there, I guess just thought to share that I am officially starting WCU-LA in August. I had thought about it soo much because it is very expensive but in the end I guess I didn't care anymore; it's either that or a long time before I start else where. I don't want to stress about waiting to get into other schools, taking the teas test, and making sure my science classes don't expire. Now a days things are not getting any easier or cheaper so might as well do it now or never. If I'm in debt I guess I'm in debt; I came to the conclusion that things are possible if I make them happen. I need to push myself to do it and leave all negative feedback behind about WCU in general. I had at least 7 classes accepted for credit and are studying to take a challenge exam for another class. All together it significantly change my fees. :-)

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Hello there, I guess just thought to share that I am officially starting WCU-LA in August. I had thought about it soo much because it is very expensive but in the end I guess I didn't care anymore; it's either that or a long time before I start else where. I don't want to stress about waiting to get into other schools, taking the teas test, and making sure my science classes don't expire. Now a days things are not getting any easier or cheaper so might as well do it now or never. If I'm in debt I guess I'm in debt; I came to the conclusion that things are possible if I make them happen. I need to push myself to do it and leave all negative feedback behind about WCU in general. I had at least 7 classes accepted for credit and are studying to take a challenge exam for another class. All together it significantly change my fees. :-)

Hey! I totally get where you're coming from! I too, inquired in WCU-LA.. so if things work out, I will start in November. You're applying to the generic BSN right? If you don't mind me asking, how much $ was waived off based on your transfer credits? I have some pre-reqs from a CC, and I think they were able to transfer everything except my Math since it wasn't college level. My tuition for LVN-BSN is about 113k + fees turned out being 120k. I still have to meet w the financial aid and take into account my transfer credit.

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Hi smadriaga,

Overall my personal experience as a first term student has been positive. The professors I've had this term have been excellent and very helpful. Although the professors give a lot of assignments and homework, they are course related and as long as you follow instructions and study you will do fine in the class.

This is not a place where you think just because you're paying lots of money you're guaranteed a passing grade. You have to make sure you don't procrastinate because classes are only 10 weeks long and make sure you study. They also offer tutoring sessions, so if you don't get the subject matter, you can definitely get help from the tutor they have there.

You can see your homework & grades online as well, so you're always up to date on your class.

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