West Coast University

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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

When I sat on a hiring committee recently, WCU grads went to the bottom of the applicant pile. We seriously questioned the judgment and decision making skills of anyone who would choose such an expensive, mediocre option for their education. We'd consider an applicant who worked their way up from CNA to LVN to ADN to BSN at local/community colleges over many years while gaining experience working in the field long before we'd consider anyone who just took on 6 figures in debt to do it the fast way.

There goes equal opportunity, and then one wonders when nursing will become a profession that follows its own core values. What an individual is willing to honestly undertake to achieve a goal should not negatively impact their chances at fair treatment. Honestly I was offended by this comment, Lets punish those that study political science at Harvard University and did not become lawyers instead they became community leaders and teachers. Obviously WCU is not Harvard, but its a metaphor based on finances and return.

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Right! Willingly put it out there too.

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Specializes in Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.
There goes equal opportunity, and then one wonders when nursing will become a profession that follows its own core values. What an individual is willing to honestly undertake to achieve a goal should not negatively impact their chances at fair treatment. Honestly I was offended by this comment, Lets punish those that study political science at Harvard University and did not become lawyers instead they became community leaders and teachers. Obviously WCU is not Harvard, but its a metaphor based on finances and return.

No. WCU has earned the reputation it has. Potential employers view WCU they way they do because of their experience with WCU graduates. It is a buy-your-degree school.

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It is not a buy your degree program. I have talked to students as well. The program is very strenuous and not an easy one. People deal with a small portion of students who evidently were t serious about their stuff and the whole school gets labeled bad. There are plenty of successful students out there working for big hospitals who have great reputations.

When I think of buy your degree I think a school you can skate through with no effort and easy to pass. Which is NOT what WCU is. There are current students who have placed comments on here as well who tell you how the program is and they did not have any problems with it.

I believe if students can pass the NCLEX which is not easy to pass. That should let someone know they have learned what is needed to get their license.

I don't even pay much attention to negative comments anymore because they are not from actual students who been there. Really sad that people will talk bad about a program they never went through. They only go by some students who may have not done too well or barely passed and got through which happens at every school. That's not every student. But every student gets placed in the same category as those who called themselves skating through and not working hard for their degree. This is why I don't say much anymore. I know that WCU uses ATI and teaches according to it and ensures that before their students are sent to clinicals, they are competent in the skills needed and if not they will not make it.

I have met nurses from state colleges who work in the hospital setting and can't believe they got a license after watching them work. But hospitals are hiring them. So those type of students come from all schools. Not just WCU.

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Ms. Shonda, I truly admire the way you stand up for your school; as this is your school and your educational reputation is on the line. What I see in this portal of words corresponds to a lack of respect towards the nursing profession. If one is against any form of institution one should take the initiative to report to corresponding regulating board (simple, look at the nurse practice act), not bashing on students or accusing without merit. I was not going to continue this conversation as I have nothing to gain, but the fact is that as a nurse I advocate for my profession which means all nurses. What scares me is that this type of biases inflicted on schools may translate to biases inflicted on patient care. One may say no!!! it's different, well then one must practice equality in all spectrum. Shonda I hope you continue to exercise advocacy for your school, but most of all for your clients as well.

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That schools charges 150k amd yet has one of the lower NCLEX pass rates. They are taking advantages of desperate students.

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Thanks RC8R-Riding-RN. I see you are a rider too. Sportbike life. Me too.

I am not in that school yet. I have a couple of them I am looking at. Not just WCU. Weighing the options and researching. I am going back into the medical field so I am new new to it, just entering the nursing side of it because I love helping people and its my passion.

I have heard from students of the school and graduates of the school I have seen more of the negative in this site than anywhere else from non students of the school. So I am still researching.

Not sure where $150K came from. The program as a whole for a new student with no college education is $130k true but those who have a degree or all their pre-reqs done already will not pay that amount.

People will have something bad to say about all the programs so I am not making a school decision solely off of what people say who never attended the school or who did bad in their education and are bitter because they could not hang. They only go off of what they hear and see on select students. I will always advocate for my clients and patients because I did it in my other areas of the medical field so I shall continue.

They are not the only school with low pass scores and that 50% is for am ADN program that does not exist anymore.

Its all good. I like to hear from the actual students and those who graduated and are working successful careers in reputable hospitals.

I will make my decision by the end of the year. I have options.

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Specializes in Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.
Ms. Shonda, I truly admire the way you stand up for your school; as this is your school and your educational reputation is on the line. What I see in this portal of words corresponds to a lack of respect towards the nursing profession. If one is against any form of institution one should take the initiative to report to corresponding regulating board (simple, look at the nurse practice act), not bashing on students or accusing without merit. I was not going to continue this conversation as I have nothing to gain, but the fact is that as a nurse I advocate for my profession which means all nurses. What scares me is that this type of biases inflicted on schools may translate to biases inflicted on patient care. One may say no!!! it's different, well then one must practice equality in all spectrum. Shonda I hope you continue to exercise advocacy for your school, but most of all for your clients as well.

I don't believe one's educational background is a protected entity like race. Employers are not suspicious of WCU just for the sake of it. Employers have experience with student nurses and/or graduates from this school. You can say that being biased against students from WCU may affect patient care. However, hiring a nurse who does not have a solid education is worse. Like I said, WCU has the reputation it does because it has earned it.

Providing facts about what happens in practice is not "bashing." People who reply that WCU is a bad investment are actually being supportive, and giving an honest assessment. People may not like to hear this information, and cover their ears, but replying that we're haters or bashers is not true.

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Specializes in Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner.

I have met nurses from state colleges who work in the hospital setting and can't believe they got a license after watching them work. But hospitals are hiring them. So those type of students come from all schools. Not just WCU.

The exception, not the rule. I've heard you say this before. Depending on the floor a nurse is on, she may never use certain skills. You'll find IV insertion and foley caths common in L&D, but you won't be doing a lot of NG tubes. If you become an advanced practice nurse, you may find that you'll never insert an IV again, and find it difficult if asked to do one for whatever reason. This happens to doctors too. Don't ask a podiatrist to perform CPR.

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I've been following this thread for awhile. I have heard from other people to DO NOT GO TO WEST COAST UNIVERSITY. In some cultures, the name of the school is everything, and in America people say the quality of education is more important. I'd say it's a balance. A school has a reputation for a certain reason. A school with a tradition of producing good nurses would attract highly qualified applicants. If a school was a name-brand, or Ivy League I would consider going into debt because I know that coming out of that school I'll have a good education and I'm going to find employment SOMEWHERE. But West Coast, I just have to shake my head. It's a for profit school. I'd rather get an ADN with in state tuition than have a six digit debt to become a RN. Graduating from West Coast, from what I heard is probably just as hard to find a job as an ADN.

Also, I've heard, look at schools with a 90% + NCLEX pass rate.

Peers and classmates are important. If a nursing student has lazy, incompetent classmates, it is less likely he/she would work hard. Also, when applying for employment, sometimes you've never even met the employer and they just have your 2 page resume. They'll probably want to rely on where you went to school as part of the selection process.

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btw, what's the reputation of Samuel Merritt, Concordia, or National? I'm kind of reluctant to apply to these programs as they are private as well. I do know of a National graduate who found a good job.

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I know all about Samuel Merritt because they are the only school that is highly recommended and they are in my hometown Oakland, Ca. They have been educating medical professions for about 100 years and if you want a higher chance of getting hired in some of the Bay Area hospital especially Summit Medical Center (old Samuel Merritt Hospital) being a graduate of Samuel Merritt will get you in over students from other schools.

If I was back home I would be in their ABSN Program. 12 months full time program to get your BSN.It is a really tough program to get through but I Would do it. Then go for my MSN NP.

I personally don't know about the others.

There is nothing wrong with going to a private school. They have to teach according to NCLEX and be approved by the state board just like everyone else. So who cares whether they are private or not. If you prefer cheaper the. Go cheaper. If you can afford the more expensive and it fits better with your life then do it. It is your choice. No one on this forum makes that choice for you nor should they be trying because it's not their life, it's yours. Period.

So we got some say Yes and some say No. Leave it at that! It is the students personal decision.

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