Rush University Reviews

"I would recommend Rush University if you can make the most of the opportunity. The greatest benefits to professional development that I experienced came from reaching out to departments and forging my own path, the bachelors program provided little support in meaningful networking. The graduate programs are exceptional, however, I've not met many bachelor students who matriculated into graduate programs. They provide very little public info on graduate outcomes and that speaks heavily to the program.Read Less"

"Future applicants need to be warned about the state of the MS-MLS program. The current program chair is running a scam of a program that does not prepare students for the required skills of lab personnel. The cost of the program is absurd compared to the average annual wage for med techs. Classes and exams are riddled with errors, and teachers do not take any responsibility for the content, even when students bring the issues forward. Certain portions of the program (such as hematology) are being taught by instructors with no experience in the field, and do not have any advanced knowledge of the topic. Other classes (Clinical Lab Management) the teacher assigns about half the assignments/quizzes listed in the syllabus and doesn't reply to emails. This specific instructor didn't update her course shell until almost a month into the semester, and still had students who had graduated the previous year listed as group members. This is the only course she teachers, and it's only offered once a year. Students have to pay ($2500 for 3 credits) to be scheduled as a TA, and yet no information is provided to the "second year" students on what the role of a TA entails. Several of the instructors do not provide a schedule to their TAs (including the program chair). The clinical rotation portion of the program is equally messy and disorganized. Schedules aren't provided to students, the Clinical Practical Coordinator doesn't respond to student communications in a timely manner, and doesn't update the materials in the online portion of the class (such as the required quizzes) even when errors are reported. She also doesn't line up assignment due dates for the respective rotation each student is in (if a student is enrolled in Chemistry in September, the Chemistry assignments might not be due until December, even though the rotations are only 4 weeks). The program is not set up in a way to best support students or provide them with a strong foundation for this field. Overall this program is not worth the cost or the hassle. I wish I would have known what I know now before I accepted a place in this program, and had attended elsewhere.Read Less"

"Small but practical. Associated with a large medical campus, so multiple resources available. Faculty pleasant and want you to succeed."

"Rush University's College of Nursing is an unparalleled educational experience that I am fortunate enough to be a part of. I am currently a student in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Nurse Anesthesia program, which as of 2017, has been ranked as the #3 program in the country by U.S. News and World Report. After interviewing with several programs, the personable nature of the two program directors was unmatched and truly gave me the comfort in knowing I would be supported as I moved across the country to begin this program. From the very beginning, Rush has made it a point to accommodate the needs of its students. Being that the program is 42 months in length, Rush is adamant in providing its students with an educational workload that is manageable to allow students to both work and be enrolled in the program; which is unprecedented in other Nurse Anesthesia (CRNA) programs across the country. Additionally, Rush ensures that enough credits are provided each semester to allow for deferment of previous school loans which is critical when payments are difficult to make while only working part-time. Also, unlike any other program I personally have heard of, Rush offers an $800/month grant in the final clinical 15-month residency to each student as working during this time is not an option. I assure you, no other program does this, and this alone is a big enough reason to at least consider Rush. The clinical experience at Rush is of the highest quality. It provides the unique diverse background of patients and clinical locations where students are easily able to reach their case minimums during the course of the program. Of the many alumni I have spoken to, nearly every one of them has said how prepared they felt upon leaving the program. With the various clinical sites and the intensive 15-month clinical residency (on top of the prior year of clinical at Rush), students graduate with more than double the amount of required cases needed for certification. And as everyone in the healthcare field knows, your clinical experience is of the utmost importance. The program is front-loaded allowing students to feel prepared upon arrival to the OR, and the cost, given the length and clinical experience provided, is one of the cheapest in the country. Plus, who wouldn't want to live in one of the greatest cities in the world for a few years! Yes, it can get a little chilly, but hey, I'm from California. If I can do it, you can do it! Definitely do your own homework, but I would recommend this program time and time again, and couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity I've been given.Read Less"

"The Rush community does a superb job of balancing a supportive and understanding community with the highest standards of performance. Faculty are well informed in subject matters and seem personally invested in the achievements of their students. Questions and intellectual debate are encouraged while maintaining a mutual level of respect between all involved."

"I am currently enrolled in graduate school at Rush University. I'm pursuing my masters in clinical lab management with the option of Specialist in Blood Banking. I've been very impressed with the faculty, I feel like I have an open dialog and a great deal of personal attention. I highly recommend this program to other medical Technologist who desire to further their education and pursue a career in management."

"Graduating from Rush University, with a Bachelor's in Health Sciences exposed me to distinct healthcare settings/careers I did not know about. Now that I am a graduate student pursuing a BME degree, I have a better understanding as to where I can apply my ideas and projects in a validated healthcare setting without being completely clueless as to who may utilize the equipment I perfect."

"In my opinion, Rush University is the best place to pursue a doctorate in Audiology. It is located in an innovative medical facility, where you will see so many interesting cases. Everyone on the faculty is so kind and gets to know you on an individual basis. By the end they really figure out your strengths/ weaknesses and likes/dislikes, which helps in the process of figuring out your career goals. The academic professors at times teach more than one class or they also work in the clinic. For this reason, I felt like I got very close to some, which further advanced my learning experience. I feel comfortable asking questions and meeting outside of class with all of my professors. My clinical experience at Rush University has also been unlike a lot of the other programs I looked at. I chose Rush because of its unique, urban setting and because it was a part of a large hospital. The patients you will work with come from a very diverse population and are often complicated cases. This makes the Rush experience one-of-a-kind. The clinical supervisors at the Rush Audiology clinic are all dedicated to furthering your clinical experience. I've learned different strategies from each one. The audiology faculty at Rush really care about fostering the best clinicians and I highly recommend considering Rush University.Read Less"

"Rush University supports a phenomenal culture of nursing, and graduates of Rush University are well-respected leaders in the field of medicine."

"I am excited to be a part of Rush University's College of Nursing because I feel part of a very strong community of dedicated and respected health care professionals. The only downside to being in this program is that I live too far to take advantage of the on-campus activities and support. The university does its best, however, to include those active in distance learning, by offering online services that support those participating online."

"Pros - online options, great advisors, variety of program choices Cons - cost"

"I am just starting the program, so my opinions are very preliminary at this point. It's an accelerated program, an MSN degree in two years with emphasis as a Clinical Nurse Leader. The work load is stressful, with not much free time for extracurriculars."

"Outstanding faculty and clinical experiences within a highly rated medical center and surrounding health care centers. Currently there is a lack of administrative leadership, which is apparent in the organization of the program. The program is relatively expensive in comparison with other Chicago area nursing programs. In the heart of Chicago and is easily accessible."

"The Rush Medical College is a small community with a lot of faculty support. Its size makes it feel like a family, but can come with the administrative problems of a small staff. However, they are always working for us to make sure we have the best experience possible."

"Rush University provides students with the training needed for careers in health practices. The main pro is the quality of the education received and the main con is the cost of attendance."

"Overall, I am extremely grateful to be in the Masters of Nutrition program at Rush University. The pros I feel the program as well as the university have are: very high quality education (every professor I've had has really made it a priority to find ways to keep the courses challenging but also relevant and interesting), great network (with professors, hospital dietitians, alumni, the Chicago community of nutrition professionals - CDA, other healthcare professionals and students, etc) and many opportunities to serve or volunteer in the Chicago community. The weak areas in the program and university are that the department tends to lack student, professional and faculty diversity and it's not the safest area of the city to be walking around at night by yourself (but it's not the least safest either). Thanks!Read Less"

"Professors are more invested in hearing themselves talk then whether the students have learned anything. The quarter system also makes this program more difficult."

"Faculty responds promptly to emails and the competitiveness of the other students fuels me. The students are a diverse bunch, different nationalities, ages, and ways of life."

"Overall, I am very happy with this graduate program. My only real frustrations is with financial aid. There is very little available and getting people to answer the phone at the university is very difficult. On the positive note, teachers are very helpful and responsive to questions. Their feedback is very helpful. Most professors are easily accessible. Finding my own clinical placement is proving to be a challenge."

"Being an online student is a lot different from being an on campus learner. You have to be really self motivated. The teachers are quick to respond to emails and great help. It has been very frustrating working with financial aid. It took them forever to get together my award letter. They do not send you a printed bill, and they have no scholarships available for need based or academically based support."