Ok, I'm sure this isn't a new topic. I am just quite frankly surprised at a few reactions I've received. Everyone I've told, that I'm going back to school, is overwhelmingly happy that I'm doing this. A few have surprised me though. They usually follow up with, "the U of --"? I say, "I'm going to -- Community College." First it's a nose crinkle which they immediately try to mask. Then a few have said, "community college?" Which I respond with something like, "it's an excellent way to begin nursing as an RN, then I'll continue and get my BSN at a the U of - and the hospital I work for will pay for it." Depending on the look I may make a comment like "well with tuition costs and my lack of a money tree, it's the only option, and I'm very happy to be doing this!"
I guess I'm a bit surprised. I thought that the community college stigma had lessoned a bit with the reality of tuition costs sky rocketing. I think this attitude may come from the same sort of folks who make fun at people who live in mobile homes. I guess it makes them feel superior, while they provide no alternate option for those who lack the money for what they deem appropriate. So judgemental and not helpful.
As I think about it, even if the tuition cost the same, I would go the ADN route. I don't have the money to get through four years at a university. I think the community colleges work quite well for older students. It's also a smart way to go because I can let my new employer pay my tuition to complete my BSN. The large hospitals here have on site classes that they pay for their ADNs to do to get their BSNs.
Anyway, I've gotten this attitude from my next door neighbor, a BSN psych nurse, my allergist, my aunt, and a cousin. I was just so surprised and caught off guard. My first thought with my older aunt was...if you look down on what I'm doing so much why don't you bankroll me to go all they way and get my NP at the U of --, you do have millions you are sitting on, and you can't take it with you. But I digress. :roll
I have gotten similar responses from people. Not just bc I'm at a CC, but also bc I want to be a nurse. It's gotten so I've stopped telling people unless it comes up naturally in conversation. Not bc I'm ashamed but bc I don't need the negativity.
I have doctors and lawyers and Wall St. people in my family. When I told my dad I was going to school for nursing he said "well, I can't see you changing bedpans for a living." When I told my ex-husband -- who's now married to a doctor, he said "why? You could be anything you want with your background!" Meaning, why should I settle for being a lowly nurse. Etc.
My first degree was from an ivy league school. I was an English major and went on to become a journalist. I've been SAHM for seven years and honestly have no desire to go back into that field. I've done a lot of volunteering in hospitals since then and feel that nursing is what I'll be happy doing. I also speak a couple of other languages and want to work with underserved populations, as well as do volunteer nursing for humanitarian organizations such as Doctors Without Borders. I also see myself doing healthcare writing on a freelance basis in the future.
I have had great teachers at the CC college where I attend, unlike where I went for undergrad which was very prestigious, but the superstar professors there were often inaccesible and had TA's do all their work for them. I get so much more attention and assistance from my teachers at my CC. They are smart and know their stuff.
I get the same thing. I love my college. There are several other colleges where I live and I would have chosen the cc route anyway. The funny thing is that the cc nursing program is better than some of the 4 years programs where I live. Plus I have been told that the area hospitals prefer the cc students because we get more hands on experience and we are better critical thinkers! I don't care what people say. We will all sit for the same exam at the end of it and we will all be RN's!
Ok, I'm sure this isn't a new topic. I am just quite frankly surprised at a few reactions I've received. Everyone I've told, that I'm going back to school, is overwhelmingly happy that I'm doing this. A few have surprised me though. They usually follow up with, "the U of --"? I say, "I'm going to -- Community College." First it's a nose crinkle which they immediately try to mask. Then a few have said, "community college?" Which I respond with something like, "it's an excellent way to begin nursing as an RN, then I'll continue and get my BSN at a the U of - and the hospital I work for will pay for it." Depending on the look I may make a comment like "well with tuition costs and my lack of a money tree, it's the only option, and I'm very happy to be doing this!"
I guess I'm a bit surprised. I thought that the community college stigma had lessoned a bit with the reality of tuition costs sky rocketing. I think this attitude may come from the same sort of folks who make fun at people who live in mobile homes. I guess it makes them feel superior, while they provide no alternate option for those who lack the money for what they deem appropriate. So judgemental and not helpful.
As I think about it, even if the tuition cost the same, I would go the ADN route. I don't have the money to get through four years at a university. I think the community colleges work quite well for older students. It's also a smart way to go because I can let my new employer pay my tuition to complete my BSN. The large hospitals here have on site classes that they pay for their ADNs to do to get their BSNs.
Anyway, I've gotten this attitude from my next door neighbor, a BSN psych nurse, my allergist, my aunt, and a cousin. I was just so surprised and caught off guard. My first thought with my older aunt was...if you look down on what I'm doing so much why don't you bankroll me to go all they way and get my NP at the U of --, you do have millions you are sitting on, and you can't take it with you. But I digress. :roll
Enough. How do you deal with this?
I've gone on the NCLEX website and it shows that the pass rate for community colleges is as good as better than most of the U in N.C. As a matter of fact, the one I'm attending had a pass rate of 100% last year. Tell them to put that in their pipe and smoke it.
Thank you Jess, you are so sweet. Frankly, I like the CC set up. I like it that they have tutoring. I like it that I can pace myself with 5 week long classes, one at a time, and do 9-12 credits per semester. I don't think I'm engaging in cognitive dissonance when I say these things. I like it that the CC helps those from underpriviledged backgrounds. Sure, I'd love to have professors (ph.d's) who instill their knowledge in my brain, but ya know...I think masters level instructors at the community college are perfectly sufficient at this level, the first two years.
I just hate the -- looking down the nose attitude. It's so not helpful. It doesn't acknowledge reality.
I took BIo 163 last semester from a professor that has her ph.d and what a blip she was. I really think she is bi-polar. The students couldn't stand her, she would have temper tantrums for no apparent reason. If someone happen to ask another classmate a question, she'd rant and rave for at least 15 min. She was more disruptive than any of the students.
I guess I'm lucky because I have never had anyone say anything bad about going to a CC or nursing. I do plan on going to a University for my nursing degree (might as well because I have enough credits to just go for my BSN), but I am at a CC now because it is so much cheaper. Plus it is easier get classes since there is a waiting list at the University I want to go to.
I took BIo 163 last semester from a professor that has her ph.d and what a blip she was. I really think she is bi-polar. The students couldn't stand her, she would have temper tantrums for no apparent reason. If someone happen to ask another classmate a question, she'd rant and rave for at least 15 min. She was more disruptive than any of the students.
She's smart but completely out of her mind.
I had two professors with a Phd in a row that were out of their minds, my husband says that they were probably smoking dope or crack or something:smokin: ...my biochem teacher had temper tantrums and he even told us that he suffered from depression. He smelled and looked like a hobo and he told us that he had a 'homeless' friend. Yeah right, homeless friend, it was probably him himself. We were taking about cellulose and he gave us the example of how cardboard boxes are made of cellulose and it keeps homeless people warm. He supposedly stuck his tongue out at the department head (who does nothing about this guy despite many many complaints) I made the only B, nobody made an A......5 students were left in that class to take the final. Now the second one I believe was senile, I ranted and raved about him on the A&P 1 thread the entire semester makes you scratch your head how, where and why they are teaching and who is responsible for letting them do what they are doing and why these people are not stopped. I see Phd and I expect only the worst from now on
I had two professors with a Phd in a row that were out of their minds, my husband says that they were probably smoking dope or crack or something:smokin: ...my biochem teacher had temper tantrums and he even told us that he suffered from depression. He smelled and looked like a hobo and he told us that he had a 'homeless' friend. Yeah right, homeless friend, it was probably him himself. We were taking about cellulose and he gave us the example of how cardboard boxes are made of cellulose and it keeps homeless people warm. He supposedly stuck his tongue out at the department head (who does nothing about this guy despite many many complaints) I made the only B, nobody made an A......5 students were left in that class to take the final. Now the second one I believe was senile, I ranted and raved about him on the A&P 1 thread the entire semester makes you scratch your head how, where and why they are teaching and who is responsible for letting them do what they are doing and why these people are not stopped. I see Phd and I expect only the worst from now on
:rotfl: I must admit that all of them are not like the one's we've mentioned. My English 111 professor has a ph.d and he was great. He teaches at the 'U' during the day, and at the community college in the evenings. Also, one of my best friends teaches Biology and she has her ph.d and is the sweetest person you'll ever meet. But some of them, are completely "out of control".
Where I live, the community college I am going to go to has the best nursing program in our area. I have had absolutey noone react that way, and I cant believe anyone would. Tell them it is a two year program and it takes 2 years to get your degree. It doenst matter whether you go to a university or a community college. You wind up with RN.
:rotfl: I must admit that all of them are not like the one's we've mentioned. My English 111 professor has a ph.d and he was great. He teaches at the 'U' during the day, and at the community college in the evenings. Also, one of my best friends teaches Biology and she has her ph.d and is the sweetest person you'll ever meet. But some of them, are completely "out of control".
I had excellent prfessors in the past, too. My Sociology, Psychology and History teachers had Phd and were wonderful, needless to say I made A's with all. It must be this school.....something is not right, like you said, out of control! We can :rotfl: laugh now but boy while I was enduring those two I thought for sure I'll end up six feet under
I am so ready for this next adventure.....good luck to you and keep sharing your experiences :)
I go to Brookdale Community College and love it. I have to say the classes are smaller the tuition is cheaper and the professor are great. I start nursing classes on the 18th. After I get my assoc. they offer the bridge over to BSN AND MSN through the communiversty which allows me to continue through Brookdale but receive a degree at Seton hall or Rutgers which are all excellent university. Needless to Community College are a great was to start.
makes you scratch your head how, where and why they are teaching and who is responsible for letting them do what they are doing and why these people are not stopped. I see Phd and I expect only the worst from now on 
Fun2, BSN, RN
5,586 Posts
multicollinarity.....
If they don't like it,
TELL THEM TO
PAY FOR YOUR EDUCATION!