West Coast University

Get2theChoppa · Sep 25, 2014

People who point out the school's drawbacks are not doing so with the sole purpose of being negative or discouraging. They are actually trying to be helpful because they believe there are better paths to nursing.

Theone40 · Sep 26, 2014

The school is $130,000 for those coming in with no courses or degree and starting fresh. Not for those who already have a degree and their science course already done prior to enrolling.
Wow. So many discouraging folks in this site.
Your education is yours to choose. Do as you think is best for you. Thats all I shall say about it.
Best of luck to everyone in your educational goal in this great field.

Just FYI, I have had 5 friends who i went to LVN school, go on to WCU and all have nothing good to say. You should find some students who have graduated from the program and pick their brain about the school and job market.

I also met with an adviser at WCU, I had all my classes except for the chem and a psych class they wanted . I had also graduated from their sister school American Career for LVN which gave me a 15,000 credit if i made it to 3rd quarter. So i thought since i only have two class left and the credit it should cost me a lot less. Well not so, I would still have to pay 90,000 for a BSN, I'm not sure if you have sat with a adviser and have them make a schedule. From what i remember they charge 18000 per quarter, and they will streach out your classes to get the most money out of you. For my first quarter i only had a chem class, that's 18000 from one class. When everything was set and done i asked my adviser how come with all my classes the 18 month program was only short one quarter for me ? His answer was "that's how the program is set up" . again I'm not bashing the school they could have a very good BSN program, they have to be competent because they have to be approved by the BRN. My issues is admission criteria( there really is none) how they are all about the money and don't even try to hide it. Just wait till you get approved by Sallie Mae and wells Fargo..they receive confirmation that you have been approved, they will call you night and day to get you in there to sign the paperwork...Just make an informed decision student loans at that level are no joke. sorry about the typos and rambling ..wrote it on my phone.

zzbxdo · Sep 26, 2014

I have to disagree with this statement. I had a very high overall gpa 3.8 or something and my science gpa was 3.5. TEAS score was 95. I applied for 2 years to multiple schools. The lottery system did me no favors. That's great that people are having an easier time now. I was applying back in 2005/2006

Lottery or merit based? We are discussing merit, which with those scores should have gotten you in sac state in one attempt.

HopefulRN4 · Sep 26, 2014

There is a shortage of new grad jobs in CA and 150k is a lot of money for a career that will strugle to find your first job. A lot of new CA grad nurses have to move to other states and there some that can find employment for 1-2 yrs. Working as a tech or CNA does not help either, there are plenty of RN who are still working as an CNA or LVN because their own hospital wont hire them. Check out the new grad forums in Facebook. I am not saying dont be a nurse, I love working in the medical field , but we aware , you will struggle to find your first job.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2014

Lottery or merit based? We are discussing merit, which with those scores should have gotten you in sac state in one attempt.

OP was living in southern CA (Inland Empire), nowhere near Sacramento when she was in the process of applying to bridge programs.

zzbxdo · Sep 27, 2014

OP was living in southern CA (Inland Empire), nowhere near Sacramento when she was in the process of applying to bridge programs.

Was actually responding to the individual I quoted

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2014

Was actually responding to the individual I quoted

The member whom you had quoted (NickiLaughs) was living in southern CA (Inland Empire), nowhere near Sacramento, during the years that she was in the process of applying to bridge programs.

She relocated to Northern CA a couple of years ago.

kittilvr · Sep 27, 2014

I currently go to this school and love it! I did my pre reqs with no issues and now am 10 months away from graduating. It is expensive but worth it if you had a hard time getting into other schools! Our scores are improving with each group of students taking the nclex. The classes can be tough but if u buckle down and study your butt of you will be fine!

phoenoryker · Sep 30, 2014

No, actually, people are bashing programs like this because they exploit people for money, indirectly cause decreased nursing wages, flood the market, reduce nursing and nursing school credibility....that's why.

USMCRN2015 · Sep 30, 2014

Same. I met with an WCU advisor, had EVERY pre req except Chem completed, and even with 17,500.00 per semester paid for by the VA, my estimated cost was 120,000! With a completion rate of 33 straight months. Suddenly 3-4 of my pre reqs didn't "meet" their transfer eligibility.

Thank GOD I walked away from that! I'm one semester away from my ADN, a seat reserved in a BSN program (accelerated), AND my tuition has been covered by the VA (as I didn't have any astronomical costs). Also, every class I completed previously transferred in. Oh and my State/Public school (in Mass), has a 97% NCLEX- pass rate. I can't imagine the hole I would be in with my family had I taken the WCU route.

USMCRN2015 · Sep 30, 2014

Oh and my entrance stuff wasn't great! I had a 69.3 TEAS and a 3.2 GPA, two letters of recommendation.

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Oct 2, 2014

Which would have been fine but I lived in the inland empire. Mostly a lottery based system there apparently.