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- Degrees: Bachelor
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Northern Virginia Community College • Annandale, VA
Studying Nursing (completion in 2000)
• 7/7/2011
"I am happy with my school and the quality of my education. I believe that I received excellent training and on-the-job practice that will allow me to continue caring for my clients. The program is well designed and it works well for the motivated student."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Going to a community college for training in the healthcare field is a no-brainer. For starters, you are paying much less tuition than if you were going to a four-year institution and you receive better training. Faculty at two-year colleges have more time and patience and can help you on a one-on-one basis when the going gets tough. This school has an excellent reputation and the nursing students consistently pass their boards and licensing exams on the first try. Good luck if this is what you want to do! |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Since I graduated, the Nursing and all allied health programs moved into a new building with state-of-the-art labs and equipment. The reputation of the program is exceptional, as the college is now partnering with four-year institutions, hospitals, clinics and private doctor's offices to place graduates. There is also an advisory board with a number of prestigious practicing medical professionals serving. |
| Program Quality | 8 | The program is very intense and the faculty members are awesome. They helped me secure my clinical internships at prestigious hospitals and were there every step of the way to give me advice and guidance. It was a tough program, but I learned a lot and everything translated to working in a home setting. |
| Instruction | 10 | This is an excellent program that provides solid preparation for the real world of healthcare. I had my choice of specializing in different areas of healthcare, but I decided I wanted to work as a home health aide. This is where I feel I can make the most difference. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Academically, this was a tough program and you were expected to be on top of all your classes all the time. There was a lot of material to cover, but we had a great group in my class and we were able to form study groups that helped us keep on top of everything. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This was definitely a hands-on experience. Although we had textbooks and other written resource material, most of our learning was in the lab or on-site with real patients. We learned through a "baptism by fire" and I would have it no other way. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The program was extremely flexible, which allowed us to take classes on our own timetable. They had an accelerated option and also "early bird" classes (starting at 6:30 am). I can't imagine how some of my classmates would have gotten through the program without the flexible scheduling. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | The lab facilities were really good with state-of-the art equipment and patient prototypes. The classrooms were adequate and well maintained, but at the time that I was taking classes, a new building was being constructed so most resources were going into the new facility. The library was OK, but I ended up using the library resources at a nearby university because it was better stocked. We had good computer labs, but the computers were always about two years out of date. The faculty members were always great and very dedicated. They all became friends more than faculty by the time the program was completed. |
| Social Life | 5 | I did not participate in any extra-curricular activities or social events. When I was not taking classes, in my clinical rotation or doing homework/research, I was working part time or helping out at home. I did not have time to be part of the social scene. |
| Placement Services | 8 | They have a good placement service and as long as you maintain a solid "B" average, you will have no problems finding a job or getting interviews. In some areas of the nursing and allied health career field, there are jobs that go unfilled because there just are not enough qualified graduates available. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | There is an alumni organization, but it is not very well organized. I think that a community college has a tough time keeping alumni engaged and involved once they graduate. There are a few graduates who help with activities, but for the most part, we are going to find networking opportunities and support on our own. |
Virginia Tech • Blackburn, VA
Studying Health Care (completion in 2012)
• 12/8/2011
"It was a great school. I made many friends."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is a beautiful campus and a great program. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | We're ranked high. We have a good program. |
| Program Quality | 9 | I learned a lot. They helped teach many things. |
| Instruction | 10 | The teachers were great. I learned a ton. |
| How Difficult | 3 | College is for monkeys. Why am I so poor? |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We had more hands-on learning than from books. The books were interesting though. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 6 | They offer lots of classes including online options. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | They have tons of libraries and great resources. |
| Social Life | 4 | I met many friends and attended many parties. |
| Placement Services | 7 | They helped me look for work. I haven't found much. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | They always ask for money. I don't have any but it doesn't stop them from asking. |
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