What Would You Do? Advice Please!

[FutureTexasNurse]

Hello,

I am looking for some advice, suggestions, personal experiences, etc.

I am currently trying to decide which BSN program I should go to (the deadline is quickly approaching, so the decision must be made soon!). Here are the programs, broken down:

Program 1: An Accelerated BSN program, 3 semesters in duration, all classes are "on-line" with a seminar meeting once a week for discussion, this program is through the University of Texas. If I choose this program, I will graduate from it loan-free.

Program 2: An accelerated BSN program, 4 semesters in duration, all classes are "lecture classes", although this program is one semester longer, I would graduate with 15 hours towards a master's degree, this program is through an Ivy league university. If I choose this program, I will graduate with $35,000 in student loans.

Now, first off, I want to say that I feel very fortunate to be accepted into both of these programs. I am extremely grateful.

That being said, this is a tough decision. The student loans are the hugest thing for me. However, I want to go on to pursue my Nurse Practioner in the future, and I am wondering if going to an Ivy league school will make a difference when it comes time to apply. Also, I think I would learn a lot more with a 4 semester lecture-based BSN than a 3 semester on-line BSN. I would also like to add that I have a fiance in Texas that I would be living away from for 4 semester, although he is very supportive, and our relationship could survive me being away.

What would you do? Any comments are welcome and appreciated!

Thank you!

[ZASHAGALKA, RN]

Sounds like a no-brainer to me. 15 credits towards post-grad edu isn't worth 35,000 in loans and extra time. In that extra time period, you could get those same credits for a fraction of the cost. It's also not worth giving up your relationship w/ your fiance - which in effect, you would be doing. School is stressful enough without a long dx relationship - and you are extending that stress by a semester AND adding the long dx if you go that route. It would, in all probability, kill your relationship.

It's a time issue, a money issue, and a relationship issue. And they all err on the side of the UT program. But, I bet your fiancee already told you that.

The answer, as you presented it, is so OBVIOUS, it makes me wonder why you are even considering the other option. That, I think, is the question... And that requires that you give yourself an honest answer. Before you do that, you can't make the decision that best suits you.

~faith,

Timothy.

[FutureTexasNurse]

Well, I really don't think the answer is all THAT obvious. There are a lot of things tp consider. An Ivy league school is more prestigious than UT, no offense to UT, it also is a great school. But in all honesty, there is a lot in a name, that is just the way the world works.

Additionally, there is a big difference in an all on-line program versus an all in-the-classroom, lecture-based program. In all reality, I would probably learn a lot more (and anyone would) through a lecture based program.

The relationship thing with my fiance is not optimal. However, I am very secure in our relationship, and people go off to war (that are married) for longer than 16 months. In a lifetime, 16 months is nothing.