West Coast University

Psata · Sep 4, 2014

Well.....if you can afford it, then you can. If you can't....you can't. Me personally, have a 3.8 sci based gpa, I'm not waiting on a comm college list for years, just for an associates certificate. I agree it's expensive to most. But great school, I say if you're dedicated and your finances permit, then go ahead.

The sad reality is most students that attend this school cannot finance their education without resorting to student loan from both federal subsidized/unsubsidized and private sources. We see individuals on this forum who have to get family members to co-sign for them in order to get student loans to attend this overpriced institution. I would like to see how many WCU students complete their degree, find jobs after graduation and the default rate on student loans.

The bottom line is students with good grades do not have to wait to get into many California Public nursing programs and this myth being perpetuated that if you are in California, you will automatically be put on a waiting list is patently false. BTW, who said that WCU is a good school for Nursing? Can you provide some statistics to support your position? What is the retention rate, graduation rate, the pass rate for boards, etc.? What is your overall GPA, since I notice you cleverly state your science GPA? Where (school) did you do your prerequisites? Are you paying your entire WCU tuition out of pocket?

RyFutureRN · Sep 4, 2014

The sad reality is most students that attend this school cannot finance their education without resorting to student loan from both federal subsidized/unsubsidized and private sources. We see individuals on this forum who have to get family members to co-sign for them in order to get student loans to attend this overpriced institution. I would like to see how many WCU students complete their degree, find jobs after graduation and the default rate on student loans.
The bottom line is students with good grades do not have to wait to get into many California Public nursing programs and this myth being perpetuated that if you are in California, you will automatically be put on a waiting list is patently false. BTW, who said that WCU is a good school for Nursing? Can you provide some statistics to support your position? What is the retention rate, graduation rate, the pass rate for boards, etc.? What is your overall GPA, since I notice you cleverly state your science GPA? Where (school) did you do your prerequisites? Are you paying your entire WCU tuition out of pocket?

I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm not taking out any loans for school. I also can't speak for anyone else's success after graduation for school, however I know a good number of graduates personally, who graduated, passed NCLEX first attempt.

Also, with California public nursing programs, my co worker has been trying to get into nursing school, with just about straight A's since 2011, it's now 2014!

My pre req's were done at national university, accelerated courses, so if anything much harder than a semester class.

I was put on waiting list for quite a few programs! With great grades! I'm just not waiting for years, just to receive a certificate. But that's just me.

Also, I'm speaking from my experience going to WCU as I say it's a great program. I'm speaking in terms of professors, the technology, the hands on environment.

When I speak of the retention and pass rates, I'm speaking for people who I personally know, they don't seem to have a problem passing NCLEX or repaying their loans. As I stated above "if your finances permit" and if you know that they do not, then it's not the best idea.

I'm not saying at all that WCU isn't extremely expensive, but that has nothing to do w/ the program in itself. Most people who I see bashing WCU are either those who started attending but got kicked out because they failed out (they're very strict w/ grades and attendance) or those who cannot afford it and are mad at those who can, and succeed. I don't see why you feel the need to come on here and be negative but best of luck to you kid!

RyFutureRN · Sep 4, 2014

Also @psata ....who are you? And are you a nurse or in the healthcare field? Just wondering!

ShondaJ · Sep 16, 2014

For the life of me, I can't understand why anyone would pay anywhere from $100,000 to $132,000 to attend a "University" for a BSN. This is beyond stupidity and to be talking up a school because you chose to attend a highly overprice institution is despicable. From my understanding, the only people that chose this route are individuals with very poor grades who could not get into a reputable Nursing Program. The Community Colleges and State Universities in California have one of the lowest tuition rates in the US and yes, it is competitive to get into one of these programs, but the out of state option is still vastly superior to West Coast University outrageous Tuition/Fees.

You shouldn't talk bad about a school you are not a student of. Everyone has a preference of where they want to attend and what is best for them. It may be pricey but its their choice. No need to say its being stupid for choosing the school and talking about how they like it. It has nothing to do with people getting poor grades at other school and and cant get into another program. People go where they choose to go that is best for them. Thats like calling students of WCU stupid and only possessing low grades. Not appropriate.

If they like the school, they should not lie and talk about it just because its a private university that is a bit pricey.

State universities are a "University" to get a BSN. A bit longer time and may cost less. But So What??

What you choose is what you choose. What they choose is what they choose. No need of speaking negative about a school you never attended which is like disrespecting the students here that are attending the program.

If you feel it cost too much. Then state that and leave it alone. She did not ask opinions on what you feel about the school the cost of the school.

ElizabethTonoyan asked if there "Is anyone going to the school and currently in the program?"

She also was worried about passing the program."

I am looking into the school myself. Going to the information meeting tomorrow morning.

My opinion is as long as you study and keep up with your work, get the grades needed and work hard at what you want, you will pass and do fine. The NCLEX have a study guide and training for it as well. Study for it and learn what you need to learn to get through the program and you will do fine.

Be prepared to work hard. That is with ALL Nursing Schools! They are more state of the art in providing simulations of hospital environments to help prepare you for when you do your clinicals. No other school does it so I can see why they are pricey. They provide a special portion of training that no other school has as far as I know so far.

My opinion. Good Luck on your decision and nursing education.

ShondaJ · Sep 16, 2014

Students from all schools have had hard times finding jobs. So WCU is not the only school that students have a hard time finding work. There are many students who do find work so finding work is not due to the school you attending. It is like that period.

Also I think its kind of harsh to say that students who work their behinds off to gain a career and pass their NCLEX (in which you need to be competent in their skills and knowledge to get through that licensing) is thrown at the bottom of the list for a job just because they chose a pricey school to get educated in. I have seen many students who have gotten jobs and are doing fine and are very competent at what they do. The school ensures that they are competent. If a student graduated from a program and passed their NCLEX, I believe they should be able to obtain a career no matter what school they went too. So does that go for all schools that students attend that don't require them to be CNAs or LVN to go to the school? WCU is not the only school that offer BSN without having to be licensed as a CNA, LVN or RN already.

mclennan, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2014

Well, sometimes the truth is harsh.

Get2theChoppa · Sep 22, 2014

I would have to agree with Psata. "For profit" schools do not have a good reputation in the nursing community. Students tend to be weak on skills, among other things, and end up being underprepared when in the real world--this comes from people I know personally in these programs.

I understand that there may be some very intelligent people who go to these programs who just don't want to deal with the competitive nature of state schools. However, you will also find people who clearly do not belong in a college level program--that is generally is not the case with places like Cal States or Universities.

It's true that new grads can have a hard time finding jobs, especially ADNs but our school's previous cohort have found jobs fairly easily. Name isn't everything but a school's reputation for quality does count.

ShondaJ · Sep 23, 2014

Just because it is a "For profit" school doesn't mean they have a low reputation. I have looked into schools myself and not all students come out weak in skills or unprepared. I would see those as students who didn't pay attention and barely passed.

Any student that works hard in a For profit or not for profit program will exceed especially when the school is testing you and giving you the experience prior to you even going out to a clinical. School giving students experience within the education portion before they go out to care for a patient then the student should not have any issues. If you don't want to work hard to get the best education regardless of what you paying for, (whether it be a cheap college where you get through easier and don't have all that can be offered to assist you in becoming a competent nurse in the real world or paying alittle more to get more from your program than you would going to a cheaper school), either or you will not be competent enough as a nurse and won't have the skills because in either school you did not put 200% effort into your education.

All nursing students have a hard time finding a job. It is not the name or cost of the school, it is the quality of education and after speaking to a few students already in the program and seeing it for myself, these student have an advantage over many of the lower costing school. Those that don't make it, did not work for it, they went in thinking they can breeze through. You can't breeze through a strict curriculum that requires alot of study, hard work, dedication in learning, and demonstrating the skills taught in order to make to clinicals.

Cost does not matter either, it is the quality of education and only each student have the choice to choose where they want to be and whats best for them. No one should go by what is said here either because many who only go from hear say of others and not actually attend the school themselves.

Again is is a choice and no one needs to be happy with it but the student.

Theone40 · Sep 23, 2014

If you have the grades and a good TEAS score you will have no problem getting into any California nursing program. If you don't private schools like WCU is probably your only option. My opinion, it is insane to pay that much for a BSN, but to each their own. I have a 3.9 GPA and 80 TEAS and got accepted to all 3 schools i applied to. My coworker who has a lower GPA 3.2 and a TEAS of 75 is struggling to get accepted into a program. Also most ASN programs have pair up with a UC so you can advance to a BSN if you like.

Get2theChoppa · Sep 24, 2014

No. West Coast is NOT on par with any state school or community college.

Hello All,
I am thinking of starting WCU next year, but trying to knock off my pre reqs. I heard this school is extremely expensive and their passing rate is very low compared to other nursing programs. Is anyone going to the school and currently in the program?
Once I start the program, I am going to quit my job to focus on school but still worried about passing.
thanks alot

To the OP, what's important is to see whether anyone would actually hire you after graduating from WC. Ask any and all nurses in a hiring position, and they'll tell you what's what. Or you can call the California BRN, and ask them about West Coast's NCLEX pass rate (which is in fact, very low: http://www.rn.ca.gov/schools/passrates.shtml), in addition to their opinion of the school--would they recommend it based on the data available to them?

ShondaJ · Sep 24, 2014

If you work hard for your degree and pass your NCLEX a you will succeed regardless of the school you attend.

If you want to know The Real, ask the actual students who have graduated and are working in their career and visit the school to see what they offer.

There area lot of schools with bad pass rates. WCU is above 75%. It's not horrible. There are a lot schools below 50%. If you get through the program which is very rigorous and intense to get through you will make it.

But ask those that have experience with the school, not hear say from other who have never attended or assume because they are for profit its a bad school. I have been finding that the negative comments come from folks who have never attended, they only go off of others words and they assume from what other people say,

I say investigate yourself and make the decision that is right for you.

I attended the information session and the students there were very active with their education and enjoyed the program. Seeing the experience they receive before even reaching clinicals helps them be more competent at working in their clinical settings. I did not see anything indicating this school was not educating their students for success.

The program is expensive but they are offering a lot and their program is used according to the NCLEX so when you graduate, you should have no problem passing because your learning your career field and practicing NCLEX throughout the whole program to the time you test. There are tv monitors all over the school with NCLEX questions displaying with choices for you to choose so you are constantly studying. Anyone who doesn't pass is not working hard and only trying to get through easy. You have to pass to moved on an passing is not easy.

All nurses and hiring companies have their own opinions desires on who they want to hire. If they choose not to hire a RN who worked hard at their education and passed their NLCEX and are ready to work that's their preference and I personally would sue a company who I find didn't hire me because I went to a particular school after all my hard work to get where I want to be. That's discrimination. No one should be letting it be known on a public site that they throw the application of students of certain schools to the back of the pile or chose not to hire them because of the school they went to. If the school was that bad, it would not be approved nor accredited.

My opinion.

Choose what's best for you not for others. It's your life, your education and your career.

Get2theChoppa · Sep 24, 2014

WCU has one of the lowest NCLEX pass rates in the state. I posted the BRN website specifically demonstrating the low pass rate. Even if WCU's pass rate is 75%, that's pretty pathetic when compared to other schools, especially when most respectable schools have pass rates in the 90's.

A nurse manager will not necessarily hire a person just because they went to West Coast, but your resume is mixed into a huge stack resumes with students who went to UCLA, UCI, and CSULB. Are you saying you worked harder because you went to West Coast? No. The students who went to UCLA, etc., worked just as hard if not harder because those programs are actually competitive to even get into. These programs have also just been around longer, are better established, have better hospital clinical contracts, have better staff resources, etc. I have yet to even meet a single West Coast graduate nurse on the floor. Most are ADNs from community colleges or BSNs from state schools with a few private schools like Mt Saint Mary's sprinkled around.

WCU is not UCLA or CSULB. WCU is a buy-your-degree school.

If/when West Coast raises its NCLEX pass rates to the mid-90's, the nursing community will respect it more, but it has to earn that respect by doing well by its students, instead of its bottom line.

I would highly suggest the OP look into Azusa Pacific if she is determined to go to a "for profit" institution. It at least has a better reputation, is slightly better established, and has a better NCLEX pass rate.

Otherwise, go ADN, then do ADN-BSN bridge program. Or do an LVN program to a BSN bridge program. Or for the price of WCU, go to an out of state school.