Which school/situation would you choose?

[AnnaN5]

Hi, I have been accepted to 2 different ADN programs and wanted to get some other people's opinions.

The first school that I was accepted to will require me to quit my job and move back to the area that I am originally from. I will start at the end of August and will go for 4 semesters: fall & spring, summer off, then fall & spring. I will graduate in May 2008. I have all of the pre-reqs & co-reqs done from my previous degree so I will just have the clinical portion. The first semester I have lecture on MW afternoons and clinicals on TW mornings. The second semester will be lecture on Mondays, clinical TW. The third semester will be lecture on MF afternoons and clinicals on RF mornings. The final semester will be lecture on MTh and clinicals on TW. They have a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX for both their ADN and BSN programs and the program has a very good reputation. The program is at a 4 year university that also offers a few 2 years programs.

The second school I have been accepted to starts half of the accepted students in the fall & the other half in the spring. I am part of the half that would not start until January 2007. This program would require me also to go 4 semesters but with the spring start it is a little broken up. I would go spring, have the summer off, go fall & spring, have the summer off then have to come back for fall semester and would be done in December 2008. I also have all of the pre-reqs & co-reqs done for this program and will just have the clinical portion. They do not let you know the lecture schedule until a few weeks before the semester starts & you do not find out if you are in the AM or PM clinicals until 2 weeks into the semester. I would be able to keep my job since I would not have to move but my work schedule will not work if I get picked for the PM clinicals. It is a very expensive area and I would need to work at least part time to afford to pay for my living expenses. I can not seem to find out a straight answer on the NCLEX pass rates but the program does have a good reputation.

If you were in my situation, what scenario would you choose? Any thoughts/ideas would be great!

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Congratulations on your acceptance to two different programs. It was hard for me to get a sense of how important your current job/home is to you. I think that would make a big difference in how you decide. Good luck in whichever path you choose.

[AnnaN5]

Congratulations on your acceptance to two different programs. It was hard for me to get a sense of how important your current job/home is to you. I think that would make a big difference in how you decide. Good luck in whichever path you choose.

I really like my job, well I should say the people I work with, but obviously it is not something I love or I would not be pursuing nursing. I work in a lab for the Red Cross testing the blood that is collected. The class schedule may interfere with my work schedule so down the road I may have to quit the job even if I do decide to stay here. I currently do not own a home in this area because I do not plan on staying here once I am done with school if I do decide to stay. The only reason I have stay in the area because I got my current job right after I graduated with my first bachelors.

[battpos]

Maybe my thinking is going to be quite different from yours since I'm a bit older (38). Because of my age, I put a premium on my time. If I can finish the program sooner, I would always choose to go that route. Even if you have to take out additional loans. I'm always amazed at the kind of loans people take out to buy a SUV or what have you without so much as wincing ... closing such deals in a matter of an hour or two... yet they are ever so reluctant to invest in getting their degree. Good luck to you and congratulations on the acceptance letters.