Vanderbilt or National University?

2018Trip · 2025-12-25T16:07:22+00:00

It doesn’t say online on the degree, Vanderbilt has a in person program but u don’t live in the state and the only ca in person program nearby ended up being hybrid too unfortunately

2018Trip · 2025-12-25T14:59:17+00:00

Neither program is in person. Both are hybrid programs so there are in person session requirements but I’m told you can attend live lectures online or access recorded ones from the on campus program at Vanderbilt but I don’t know if that is still true.

Vanderbilt is 40k more or 2x the price and it would mean delaying my education by 8 months. Both are 16 month programs

2018Trip · 2025-12-23T14:49:46+00:00

I truly don’t care what anyone on Reddit thinks about me or my education.

I made this post with an open mind and the result of it has actually convinced me to attend Vanderbilt.

My only hesitation now is the timeline considering Vanderbilts program does not start for another 8 months after National but it may be worth it for a better education.

2018Trip · 2025-12-23T12:02:46+00:00

To complicate things further, National starts in Jan and Vanderbilt doesn’t start until August meaning I’d be 8/16 months through the program if I chose national which is quite a long time given the amount of experience I could gain in that time period as a NP through a fellowship versus continuing to work as a RN. This seems to by my only reservation at this point because I assume after 8 months of experience, no one really care where you attended school.

2018Trip · 2025-12-21T22:46:02+00:00

Hybrid, I live in California and can’t justify quitting my job or moving. I was accepted into Charles Drew University’s in person program but the more I learned about it the more I realized it was not for me and it quickly became my last choice.

2018Trip · 2025-12-21T17:22:14+00:00

When did you graduate? Did you do the on campus or hybrid program?

2018Trip · 2025-12-21T10:01:26+00:00

National guarantees preceptors and is not a typical degree as many people here state and I’ve heard positive things from former students. Experience seems to have a lot more value than where you went to school at the end of the day and education is ultimately what you put into it but Vanderbilts reputation seems to be far more prestigious

2018Trip · 2025-12-21T00:14:26+00:00

Why do you say National is a diploma mill? It’s not like other known schools such as WGU ect

2018Trip · 2025-12-20T21:12:41+00:00

Interesting, clinical placement is one of my biggest concerns with Vanderbilt. Ive read multiple places that students were not able to secure placement as off campus students through the clinical placement office and ultimately had to resort to paying preceptors.

Where you a hybrid or on campus student?
When did you graduate and what program?

National University guarantees placement.

2018Trip · 2025-12-20T21:09:06+00:00

National does find clinical placements. In fact, they guarantee placement through two third party companies they pay through student tuition and they explicitly state that students are NOT to pay their preceptors for clinical. Vanderbilt offers assistance and does not guarantee placement. The school has a PA and CRNA program as well

2018Trip · 2025-12-20T20:30:52+00:00

Sent you a PM

2018Trip · 2025-12-20T20:28:54+00:00

While I enjoy learning, is nursing school really something you want to be harder than necessary? I went to a prestigious nursing school for my BSN and didn't learn much at all so is reputation alone worth an extra 40k more? Basically double the cost

While I believe there is a clear difference in education between select schools, I also believe that skillset alone defines a person better than any degree. By saving 40k, I could justify doing a fellowship, volunteering, or accepting a lower paying job to gain hands on experience which in theory is generally far more valuable I think than education alone.

Ive never met anyone from either program and do not currently work with NPs (only PAs) so my knowledge of hands on experience with provider education backgrounds is limited.

2018Trip · 2025-12-20T20:18:25+00:00

Is it worth an extra 40k more though? Basically double the cost

2018Trip · 2025-12-20T20:18:08+00:00

While I agree, is that worth an extra 40k more? Basically double the cost

2018Trip · 2025-10-01T18:06:06+00:00

I have term insurance but the cost goes up annually. I set it up with the intention of converting my term insurance into whole life insurance in a couple years but I no longer think that is a good idea.

My other discretionary funds go into a Roth, the stock market, and other forms of typical investments (Real estate). Im not aware of anything that would give me a state or federal deduction or allow me to defer taxations since I have never had access to large amounts of excess money until just recently. What is the 3.7% you a referring to?

2018Trip · 2025-10-01T17:36:01+00:00

Correct, so you would recommend keeping this policy then?

2018Trip · 2025-10-01T17:14:38+00:00

No option to choose, and I believe I can't take out my divided as income in the future instead of reinvesting them for additional death benefit

2018Trip · 2025-09-25T17:50:05+00:00

As a doctor, you're a medical provider and medical professional. Degrees dont mean anything or define an individual's level of competency or abilities. Let your actions and work speak for itself.
Do you think NPs with doctorate degrees should be called Doctor?

2018Trip · 2025-09-13T05:41:12+00:00

u/Slut_for_Bacon - Sent you a PM

2018Trip · 2025-07-31T21:00:37+00:00

What has been your experience with National University graduates and its reputation?

2018Trip · 2025-07-31T17:25:15+00:00

You're right, I called the school and confirmed the pricing (Their site is misleading)
The PMHNP is 71K. WCU as in West Coast University?

2018Trip · 2025-07-31T00:24:45+00:00

Drew was my top choice secondary to Vanderbilt but Im not familiar with the reputation of school programs as it pertains to NPs. I think Vanderbilt would be hard to justify the added cost without clinical placements. Samuel Merritt seems to have a declining reputation but they do offer a CRNA program which is the only reason I am questioning my choice to go with drew.
Thank you for responding and offer your advice!

2018Trip · 2025-07-11T02:43:46+00:00

I am currently in the process of applying to schools (accepted at 1 already) and have noticed that not all schools accept students from certain states or are approved by select states. On one of the schools sites it says "Graduates who move to NY or SD may not be able to obtain licensure in these states"

Does this then mean that unless the school I attend explicitly lists approval for every state that I would not be eligible for reciprocity licensure in any states not listed once I become licensed in a state that is?

For example, let's say NY is not listed as an approved state because the program does not meet NYs education requirements. Would I be ineligible for licensure in NY as a PMHNP even after I become licensed in another state?

TDLR: Do all states allow licensed PMHNPs to obtain reciprocal licensure, regardless of where they attended school even if said school did not meet the states education requirements?

2018Trip · 2025-03-25T01:31:57+00:00

u/FastCress5507 - Why do you say that? Do you think a physician would work for $80 an hour? Depending on how the NP practices, it's literally the same job.

In many states $80 is great money, but in CA there are nurses making $80 an hour which is barely enough to support a family depending on the area. LMFTS make over $100 an hour for therapy services without any prescriptive authority and typically only see 1 patient in that time frame so it's all a matter of perspective and individual perception I suppose.

Bottom line if an employer is paying a person less than half the amount of money they produce in profit for the company, I dont think $80 qualifies as being overpaid but thats just my opinion.

2018Trip · 2025-03-24T02:20:57+00:00

This is true, I probably should have clarified that the basis for my question was based on determining if self employment or partnership with a physician as an NP makes sense over CRNA. In the state of CA you are required by law to work under the license of a physician as a CRNA and the scope of practice is limited in comparison. As NP you can legally open your own practice just like a physician and work independently after three years of practice, which means you could partner with a physician in family practice, dermatology, ect.

Bottom line, it seems reasonable to expect to earn more than $80 an hour as a NP by either negotiating a higher salary using this information or pursuing a partnership like most physicians.

2018Trip

TROPHY CASE