What choice should I make, Lindfield or PCC OCNE?

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I am seeking my first BS degree with hopes to continue on to a Masters program. I've been excepted at Lindfield's BSN spring 2011 program and PCC's OCNE fall 2010 program which duel enrolls you in the on line OHSU BS degree. The cost is tremendously different, the time frame ends up nearly the same (the longer PCC program starts sooner) and both give you a Bachelors degree. A Bachelors degree is the primary goal above the practice of Nursing.

I loved Lindfield when I visited there, but I dread the debt since I'm 50 years old and won't be able to spread out that cost as long. I worry that the PCC training will not be as good, but I really don't know that for sure. Does any have have any experience with the OCNE program?

I spoke to the OCNE adviser today and she said that very few students go the direct transition pathway to the OHSU hybrid classes. Only 10 a year do this. Most all of the students choose to finish their associates degree so they can take the RN exam and then enroll in OHSU's on-line BS program. That program takes two years to complete. She also said PCC is just coming on-line with the OCNE program and things could change quickly over the next couple of years. I called the Nursing director at PCC to get feedback and she said she could not advise me at all because she hadn't been trained in the ONCE procedure yet.

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I wonder about being able to get a job with an associates though...anyone know how that works? I am interested in both options @OHSU, I'm just worried about not having a job bc I don't have my Bachelor's.

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If I am reading your post correctly, you are saying you want your BSN either way, you are just conflicted on which is the best road to lead you there. This is a decision only you can make, but since you are asking opinions, I'm more than happy to give mine :) First of all, it must be said, CONGRATS :yeah: Getting accepted to multiple programs is no easy feat!

You are correct, Linfield is an excellent school, and a direct path to a BSN, but it is pricey. A much, much cheaper route is PCC and then transfer to OHSU for the third year. Since you are in the spring cohort at Linfield, you will finish at the same time regardless of which road you take. PCC/OHSU will just get you there a lot cheaper. I wouldn't worry about getting less of an education at PCC. As a matter of fact, PCC actually has more clinical hours than Linfield. In my opinion, having the technical stuff taught at PCC, followed by theory at OHSU is a brilliant way to go. It's really the best of both worlds. You'll be getting lots of technical/skills time followed with great theory classes and come out with an OHSU diploma. If cost is a concern, this is the path I would take given your circumstances!

Best of luck to you!

andie74, i agree wholeheartedly with your advice. however, i thought i saw on another thread that you got accepted to both pcc and linfield, and you're leaning toward linfield. sounds like you're deciding between linfield and ohsu actually. just wondering why you decided NOT to attend pcc's ocne program (and finish with a BSN from OHSU). i'm not questioning your decision... just wondering if i'm missing something because i'm having a hard time deciding myself. :D

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Hi Hedgehog,

No, you aren't missing anything. I applied to PCC, Linfield, and as a long shot, OHSU Portland campus. I was accepted to the fall cohort at Linfield, and this was originally my first choice. The reason for this is because the fall cohort is only 21 months long, so a full year sooner than OHSU and/or PCC and then switching to OHSU for a BSN. This was my first choice because of my personal circumstances (marriage, children, household income etc). If I was accepted at Linfield for spring cohort, I would have chosen PCC over Linfield, because they graduate at the same time (even with the switch to OHSU for the third year) and the cost would have been significantly cheaper.

Then I was accepted at OHSU Portland campus. This has thrown me into a tailspin. For a while I was still intent on going to Linfield, but I'm having a hard time turning down OHSU for so many, many reasons. After graduation, I very much want to move back to Seattle. The OHSU name carries a lot of weight nationally as it's ranked in the top ten nursing schools in the country. Since I want to relocate so quickly, this another consideration for me.

Anyway, I'm probably rambling and giving you more information that you wanted. What I'm really trying to say is that we all have to make choices based on the priorities that we have and the personal circumstances we face. Someone that is single and without children will have a different perspective than someone supporting a family. I gave Haircut advice based on what she said her biggest priorities are (BSN followed by cost). My concerns are time, securing a new grad job out-of-state, and cost. Does that make sense?

Which schools are you trying to decide between?

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the big dilemma for me is not the choice between ohsu and linfield alone, but do i want to do the nursing training at a community collage vs a four year school. i was also not clear about the transition process. i've been doing a lot of communicating with once office and have discovered that there are two options for transition to ohsu. they are very different. one is a pre-aas transfer where you leave pcc the spring term of you 2nd year at pcc and you go 4 quarters in hybrid classes at ohsu as well as needing a minimum of 15 upper division credits that you can't get at ohsu. you have to take them somewhere else and have all your other lower level classes completed. the other is post-aas degree. if you choose the post-aas you can sit for the nclex sooner and begin working but you don't have your bachelors degree and the transition is to an on-line bs program that takes about 2 years to complete. i'm told most students choose the later. i would want the pre-aas because my goal is the bs even over getting a nursing license.

i hope this helps. today i an leaning towards the lower cost pcc option.

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the big dilemma for me is not the choice between ohsu and linfield alone, but do i want to do the nursing training at a community collage vs a four year school. i was also not clear about the transition process. i've been doing a lot of communicating with once office and have discovered that there are two options for transition to ohsu. they are very different. one is a pre-aas transfer where you leave pcc the spring term of you 2nd year at pcc and you go 4 quarters in hybrid classes at ohsu as well as needing a minimum of 15 upper division credits that you can't get at ohsu. you have to take them somewhere else and have all your other lower level classes completed. the other is post-aas degree. if you choose the post-aas you can sit for the nclex sooner and begin working but you don't have your bachelors degree and the transition is to an on-line bs program that takes about 2 years to complete. i'm told most students choose the later. i would want the pre-aas because my goal is the bs even over getting a nursing license.

i hope this helps. today i an leaning towards the lower cost pcc option.

there is a 1 year option to complete the bs at ohsu post aas graduation. it just takes digging to find it. you do have to take online classes which is $100+ more per credit, and you would have to take upper level classes in the summer to get it all in. :)

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andie74, i completely agree that everyone has a unique personal situation that plays heavily into the nursing school decisions they make. it's great to see so many people in this forum really taking the time to think their decisions through. there are so many options and schools, and it feels a little mind boggling at times. sounds like your main priority is finishing as quickly as possible because of your family and desire to move to seattle... and now the ohsu option is making things a little more complicated. good luck with whatever you choose. and no matter what, you know you really tried to make the best decision. sounds like either one will be great!

my main priority is a solid, thorough education for as little money as possible. i'm not in a huge hurry to get it done, although sooner would be better. i'm more concerned about feeling as prepared as possible when i actually start on the job... and i don't want to have bundles of debt at the end of it. i'm a cheapskate through and through! :rolleyes: i think i'm going to go with the pcc/ohsu ocne option. if i lived closer to mhcc i'd probably go there, but it's just not worth the commute for me.

haircut7b, thanks for the info regarding the transition over to ohsu. i didn't realize there were two different ways to combine the community college and ohsu programs. i'll have to do more research to decide which would work best for me. did you find out much about the difference in cost between the two options? is there a website that has this information? seems like there should be...

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So haircut and hedgehog.. what did you guys decide?

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i'm going with pcc. the much shorter/cheaper commute makes all the difference for me. but mhcc's program looks good, i gotta say...

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i'm going with pcc. the much shorter/cheaper commute makes all the difference for me. but mhcc's program looks good, i gotta say...

Would you care to join us in the Fall 2010 PCC thread where we can hatch plots for how to spend the summer.. plotting to take over the school bwahaha...

er.. at least review A&P while lawn bowling and eating BBQ.

Is there a significance to your screen name? I ask because am looking for a home for a lovely 2 year old hedgehog.

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i didn't know there was a "fall 2010 pcc" thread. i'll have to hop on over there. sounds fun!

regarding my screen name... i just think they're cute. not sure i'm ready for one as a pet though. good luck finding a home for him/her!

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I am still trying to make the same decision. I turned down UP and was accepted at Linfield for fall regular BSN program. Accepted at MHCC Winter 2011 program. I like a smaller school atmosphere and both schools fit that. Both were really nice schools. Linfield is a pain for parking, but MHCC is a 45 min drive.

Linfield is faster for the BSN and way more expensive, but supposed to be a good program for 'older' students with kids, family, dogs, cats, whatever. I already have debt in my life so the debt concerns me a bit. I could potentially start working a year sooner to pay off the debt. The debt thing scares me with the RN job market right now for new grads.

MHCC is cheaper but a year longer to get a BSN through OHSU. The BSN is my goal, so I would definately have to do that extra year. I don't know anything about how MHCC classes are structured time-wise, but I heard several classes are online, which would help with the long commute. I haven't heard anything about how they treat their older students. I'm not 100 yrs old, I'm just not 25 anymore. Unfortunately, I wouldn't start until Jan, so that would put me out even further. I have all of the classes done except for the specific nursing classes, path, pharm and a foreign language. Does anyone know if the OHSU BSN really makes a difference when applying for jobs?

So, any input would be very helpful because I would love to have this wrapped up. I was going to turn one down right away and as I was sending the decline email, I decided I would seriously think on it for a fews days before I make my final decision. My other half says to go for the quickest program and get to work, but I think he will have a heart attack when the student loans start actually rolling in. :eek:

Thank you all for any and all advice. I can honestly say I didn't think I would even get in this year and so although this is a good 'problem' to have, it is still quite stressful.

Lila

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