jmcomicÂþ»­

my first semester at this university was a train wreck. i walked in with high hopes for a better education in a major i passion in, just to be let down by my peers and professors. the nursing students in my cohort are very selective to who they talk to and thinking about helping those who struggle academically never cross their mind, i was judged by those i came to for help. i did have great professors who were kind and i also had ones who could care less if i did not understand the material. i went... Read More to study groups, study events, anything to help me out but it was more of a social gathering. i left each time with more questions than answers. a lot of the time when i had a quiz or exam, the questions that were on the paper weren’t what i studied or what the professor had said would be on the exam. the overall impression i have of the environment is that they care more about how they present on social media and how they present themselves rather than what goes on in the real world where there are some students who are digging themselves a deep hole in academic stress and fatigue. it’s very degrading to know deep down i have a strong passion for nursing and prior experience in that career, just to base my knowledge on a percentage to be deemed as successful.

Let’s just say nurses really do eat their young. I met a few mean and just pure evil nurses at this school that actually rejoice at your failure. I’ve never met such miserable powerless women in my entire existence. I got brutally screamed at behind a closed door after Acing a skill check off by a weak ( in all sense of the word) nurse who accused me of purposefully mispronouncing her maiden name— right before finals week. I spent the remainder of the semester ruminating on the incident and the trauma... Read More she put me through and how stupid it all was—wish I could get back the time I wasted talking to this lady explaining myself . My only regret is I didn’t defend myself— I feared she would retaliate and you know this school tuition is crazy expensive . I stood there frozen and in shock as she belittled and berated me for literally no reason. I saw this lady smile for the first time as I held back my tears—she enjoyed seeing me breaking down— it was all weird. She enjoyed seeing me Mind you, this thing teaches what is probably the easiest nursing lab course— one could sleep right through it and still pass. I excelled in the course, mainly by self teaching and relaying on the lecture—because she could not teach if her life depended on it. Let’s just say, nurse educator or not no one will ever again have a moment like that over me.

Deciding to pursue a degree in physical therapy came after just one semester of college. I found a love for anatomy and physiology, exercise, and working with people. Combine all of these elements, and studying physical therapy was inevitable. Figuring out where I wanted to earn my degree was definitely more challenging. I needed a school that cared about me personally, where my education was tailored to my needs, and a place where I would create lasting relationships with both students and professors.... Read More Shenandoah University provided me with everything that I required, and much more. Within just one and a half semesters I call professors by their first names. I am known as Vanessa, the person who likes dogs and pizza, not as just another student. I find myself walking down the halls of the school and always running into somebody I know and can have a conversation with. Yet, the education is still incredibly challenging. In just the first semester, I have learned more than in my entire undergraduate career combined. I am pushed further than I ever thought possible but never to the point of failure. The program is difficult, but with all of the support around, it is absolutely manageable. There are tutors for every class, professors with open door policies, and 40 other students in my class willing to help me with anything school related or personal. The opportunities I have been given at Shenandoah also surpass most others experiences. I have been participating in adaptive aquatics, where every Saturday I, along with 20 other students, are in the pool helping children with physical or mental disabilities. We work on motor coordination and increasing endurance all while facilitating social interactions between the children. Additionally, I will be joining 30 other students on a medial mission trip to Guatemala this summer to help underprivileged communities receive the medial care they need. Our mission is sustainability, not reliance on these trips. We plan to educate the medical personnel who is already there, as well as provide an adjusted plan of care to the patients which they are able to complete with the available equipment. This warm, friendly environment does not take away from the rigor of the education I have received so far it truly enhances what I am learning. All of the experiences complement what I am learning in the classroom. Experience is the best teacher, and here at Shenandoah I get both the best experiences and the best teachers to give me the most comprehensive physical therapy education possible.

There are students from all over the U.S. and international students here. The pharmacy program is small enough to get to know instructors and they will help you with anything you are struggling with. The curriculum incorporates physical assessment skills to keep up with the changing role of the pharmacist and emphasizes patient centered care. We have quarterly practicals that assess cumulative skills, which can be difficult, but overall facilitates professional growth and learning. The school also... Read More incorporates pharmacy economics, as this is the future of pharmacy and they are preparing us not for our graduation date, but for 10 years down the road.

Shenandoah University has very friendly and accessible professors that always welcome you to ask any questions. The only issue is that some classes are broadcasted from its sister campus. It is difficult to focus in the classroom with other peers when the teacher is not present in the room. The surrounding Winchester city is currently expanding. There is not much of a social life or things to do, but each year new things get added. Housing and Financial Aid is difficult to come by. There are no apartments... Read More for graduate housing owned by the school, so you are on your own trying to find something around the city. Also, the school is surrounded by highways, so you have to drive every morning and evening to/from class.

I have found that this program has been the most informative and rewarding of any of the degrees that I have taken on ( Bach and 2 Masters). The interactions with the professors for the class has been phenomenal and have always been available at any time to talk with us. The one con for me would be that there are little to no opportunities for taking classes online ( I drive 1:45 each way to get to class) but I also have the flexibility to take classes on campus in Winchester and in Northern Virginia... Read More (Leesburg) As a older student in the EdD program (just turned 46) I have found the overall experience to be fun and exciting not unlike my first years at University when I was an Undergrad

Like all advanced nursing programmes, Shenandoah University's had its faults. Mainly, difficulty with providing sufficient clinical sites and organizational annoyances. That said, this is a battle every institution must fight, and I felt confident that SU worked hard on my behalf, and ultimately provided me with an education that allowed me to find a job and more importantly, feel prepared for it. Of course you cannot learn everything in school, but the attitude of passion for care providing and... Read More nursing excellence was apparent and contagious. Ideally when you are seeking an advanced degree you start out passionate about your subject, but the personal experience that the staff creates for the students delivers the message of personal responsibility to achieve, and also the confidence that those who forged the path before you also stand beside you. You begin to consider yourself a colleague, not a student. To me, that made all the difference. So, despite the occasional moments of frustration during the process, hindsight is always clearer, and only later do you appreciate how much your school has done for you when you step out into the real world and put the passion into practice.