I am in search of information that pre-, current, and post-students have of West Coast University. No need for opinions regarding the high cost of the BSN program, I've read through many of those posts and got my tour at West Coast in Ontario so I understand how expensive it is. I am an LVN looking to get into the BSN program.
Here are several questions on my mind before deciding to attend West Coast this year, please offer any info and advice if you have it, I'd really appreciate any help available :)
1. Has anyone entered the program with already all or almost all of the required prerequisite classes completed? Does the price of the program decrease considerably? I currently have about 7 prerequisites completed and am wavering whether to finish them all off at a community college and start the program next January, or to just go ahead and finish the rest of the prereqs at WCU and start right away in June. I'm not completely clear on how the breakdown of the $15,000+ per semester is in regards to the prereq's/units
2. When it comes to student loans, is a co-signer REQUIRED? I have never had a student loan before so the process is completely new to me. I am going in probably next week to talk about the financials but if there are any questions I should keep in mind to ask, please let me know
3. Has anyone that is currently in the program or finished the program have any complaints in regards to feeling like the quality of the education was not as expected or if you feel like WCU promised more but gave less? So far reading other threads I haven't seen any specific complaints regarding their education which is keeping my hopes up.
4. For anyone that has attended the Ontario campus, how far out were you required to travel for your clinicals and did you feel that the clinical experiences were decent?
5. Is the curriculum well structured and have your experiences with the instructors been pretty good? My cousin's sister in law was a physiology instructor at the ontario campus a year ago, and I was told that WCU caters well to the students but I would like to hear from a student's perspective
6. Does WCU help grauates with job placement? Is their staff readily available to help you with any questions and assistance if you need it?
I guess that is it for now. I can see the major issues with WCU according to other threads are the cost and somewhat WCU's reputation? Not sure what about the reputation but aside from the politics in it being a business as a private school, if there are any other facts or rumors about the school's quality or management, please spill the beans
Again I beg to please spare opinions relating to how high the cost is since that part of the program won't change. I have no debt and no house and no kids so I'm thinking that when I am finished in 2 1/2 years, I can work full time while continuing live like a poor student off of top ramen and pay off all my student loans in maybe two years. Time seems to be the more valuable part of the issue when it comes to deciding whether going to WCU or waiting for an open spot at a Cal State or elsewhere.. What do the rest of you think?
Do you have a degree which you know, (as in they said yes and you have it documented) will transfer in? I'm 32, have two degrees and most all of the pre reqs done, I was fighting with them well into the start of this semester to get things approved. I am actually still waiting for faculty approval on one course. I had to get a co-signer because I had previous student loans, and yes transferring credits did save me money, about 30,000 thus far.... Yes, nice clean facilities, I got in trouble for using the wrong bathroom last week, apparently the entire building is not WCU. Thanks for telling me WCU!
Talk to the Director of Admissions if you are having any problems, he is very nice, and very helpful. He is the only person at the school that I have worked with thus far that is really advocating for students.
Overall I am very disappointed with this school and actively looking to transfer out, I started in April! The only nice thing is the no wait list, which they tell you over and over again. Once you are in you feel like you have no one to talk to about your schedule, answer questions, or feel heard with a complaint.
I was really excited about starting nursing school, been in health care for 11 years as an EMT, and WCU has been disappointing thus far. I'm hoping it will change by the end of the semester, or an approval for a transfer comes in elsewhere. If you have somewhere else in mind, go there. If not, come find me, I'll be walking around with a look of disillusionment, and actively blogging about the stuff that goes on there, Good Luck!
Also they have a handful of classes that you can easily get a Jr. College
At golden west college they offered most of these classes fast track and it saved my TENS OF THOUSANDS of from the 132K
both English and math classes
both pyc classes
SOC
COMM - speech
I know micro. anat and phy are hard to get some times but I took the at Southern California University in Whitter all 3 in 3 months with the fast track integrated science program for 6k
at WCU they Charge you about 3-5k per class so playing only 100$ for the JC saved me TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS!.
Just to update. Anyone who has previous courses taken that do not get transfer credit, challenge the class. I have yet to meet someone who challenged a test and did not pass it. They give you the class syllabus ahead of time so you can give yourself a refresher.
Outside of that, I started in April and am really enjoying this place so far. The students really stick together, share notes, study together and help each other out whenever possible. My Anatomy professor is VERY helpful. He has even come in on his day off to do tutoring because I could not make it in any other time. He is always available for tutoring or via email for quick questions.
The classes are very accelerated so expect to spend lots of time studying! If you are expecting the classes to be a breeze, its not!
As for WASC, WCU is taking their upcoming visit SERIOUSLY! They function by the book at all times.
I've decided to just go ahead & start at the Ontario campus this June. I figure the commute will be a little better, plus I kinda like the feel of the Ontario campus a little bit more.
Anyways, I just got the syllabus' and books for 2 of the classes that I wanted to challenge. Gonna study as much as I can for the next 2 weeks or so. Nadi, which classes are you planning to challenge?
I'm both nervous & excited to start. It's gonna be a long road!
Just a personal question for those who are enrolled in WCU...
How are you guys planning on paying the 100k+ loans. I am trying to convince myself and thought about starting this past April but I could hardly sleep after I met with the fin aid advisor. Please enlighten me, what are your thoughts....
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Just a personal question for those who are enrolled in WCU...
How are you guys planning on paying the 100k+ loans. I am trying to convince myself and thought about starting this past April but I could hardly sleep after I met with the fin aid advisor. Please enlighten me, what are your thoughts....
Let's crunch some numbers. . .
$132,000 tuition financed over 10 years at an interest rate of 6.8% will result in a payment of $1519.06 per month. Your payment will be even higher if you had to take out private student loans, which you probably will.
The California RN job market is not what it used to be. There is no guarantee that you'll have a job immediately after graduation. It would be scary to have to repay all that money. My coworker graduated from WCU in 2009 and moved to Texas the next year because she could not find work in southern CA. Keep in mind that she also has LVN experience. Now she has to repay her massive student loan debt on the lower nursing wages in Texas.
Sometimes it is less costly to defer the gratification. . .
I've decided to just go ahead & start at the Ontario campus this June. I figure the commute will be a little better, plus I kinda like the feel of the Ontario campus a little bit more.
Anyways, I just got the syllabus' and books for 2 of the classes that I wanted to challenge. Gonna study as much as I can for the next 2 weeks or so. Nadi, which classes are you planning to challenge?
I'm both nervous & excited to start. It's gonna be a long road!
Thanks in advance!
I'm challenging Speech and College Algebra. I wish I challenged Written Comm as well.
Just a personal question for those who are enrolled in WCU...
How are you guys planning on paying the 100k+ loans. I am trying to convince myself and thought about starting this past April but I could hardly sleep after I met with the fin aid advisor. Please enlighten me, what are your thoughts....
For me, I'm a bit older so I wanted to get it done as soon as possible. Also, my husband makes enough to support us, so even If I do not find work immediately, I do have a back up plan. It is definitely not for everyone but it definitely was the better option for me. It means cutting back, but as a family we were willing to do it.
I tried the community college avenue and wasted so much time unable to get classes. Even after all the pre reqs were done then you go on the lotto system for the nursing program.
Do whats best for you though, because when that bill comes you don't want to have regrets!
Hello all! I am starting west coast this month in two weeks actually! I'm very excited! I am planning to attend the anaheim campus. Just some updates....
-I have had zero problems so far with any faculty.
-My counselor has been amazing and answers any questions I have.
-All my classes transferred. I transfered five classes total from my local JC. Which dropped my cost from $132,000 to $116,000. I was able to get the subsidized and unsubsidized loans as well as qualified for the parent plus loan. I have great credit,but with the parent plus the interest rate is fixedat 8% unlike a private loan. I have some money saved up as well to start making payments. The cost is not really an issue with me as I also do not have a house, kids, or family to provide for.
-Our schedules came out a month early and gave us plenty of time to order books. Which we had the choice to order online with WCU or on our own through ebay/amazon/etc.
-As far as WASC goes we have been getting forms from WCU updating us of the status. WASC is visiting the school this september and should have a response by early next year. Fingers crossed they get WASC accredited! -Many people have questions reguarding Cal States and accepting WCU credits....well I called CSUF personally and the head of nursing said that they acknowledge your RN but the credits do not transfer. So your nursing classes are ok but more than likely you will need to redue any pre reqs they require if you did not take at a JC before hand. Now this is all if WCU does not get the WASC acceptance. I encourage anyone to callthe school they are looking into for their MSN to see what their policy is.
So far everything has been great.I have talked with a few students from anaheim andthey love it andthe professors.Iwillkeep everyone updated! :)
The new term is about to start in less than 2 weeks! Both nervous & excited at the same time.
I just tested out of written com, up next is college algebra & hopefully psych or stats. Planning on testing out of 12 units(4 classes total).
I'm gonna be attending the Ontario campus. Anyone else starting there? I have anatomy + lab all day on monday. Hopefully meet some of you soon!
Lauren, I know you're starting at the OC campus, but which classes are you taking for your first term?
Hi JuRaTu!
Sorry I took so long getting back to you I hadn't seen your post...I'm so excited! The first week starts tomorrow! I am taking life span psych online and Physiology. I ended up transferring six classes over which really helped! Keep me updated how the programs working for you! Luck to us both!
YosemiteEMT
1 Post
Some things to consider...
Do you have a degree which you know, (as in they said yes and you have it documented) will transfer in? I'm 32, have two degrees and most all of the pre reqs done, I was fighting with them well into the start of this semester to get things approved. I am actually still waiting for faculty approval on one course. I had to get a co-signer because I had previous student loans, and yes transferring credits did save me money, about 30,000 thus far.... Yes, nice clean facilities, I got in trouble for using the wrong bathroom last week, apparently the entire building is not WCU. Thanks for telling me WCU!
Talk to the Director of Admissions if you are having any problems, he is very nice, and very helpful. He is the only person at the school that I have worked with thus far that is really advocating for students.
Overall I am very disappointed with this school and actively looking to transfer out, I started in April! The only nice thing is the no wait list, which they tell you over and over again. Once you are in you feel like you have no one to talk to about your schedule, answer questions, or feel heard with a complaint.
I was really excited about starting nursing school, been in health care for 11 years as an EMT, and WCU has been disappointing thus far. I'm hoping it will change by the end of the semester, or an approval for a transfer comes in elsewhere. If you have somewhere else in mind, go there. If not, come find me, I'll be walking around with a look of disillusionment, and actively blogging about the stuff that goes on there, Good Luck!