Questions regarding Maricopa CC's Nursing program

U.S.A. Arizona

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issue resolved - and no useful information in my posts, hence no need for it here

I looked into MCC for the ADN. By the time I added up all the time it would take to take the pre-reqs to the pre-reqs and then take the pre-reqs, I realized I could get my BSN in that amount of time at ASU. So, that's where I'm at. There is no wait list at ASU. You either get in, or you don't. I apply to the program next semester. We'll see what happens...

so what happens if u dont get in? i mean there isnt enough spots for everyone... how do they deal with placement there? i kno its about grades and the net and stuff.. but what happens to all the people who dont get in...do they try to apply in the maricopa nursing school or what.. hmm i kinda wonder about that...

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I agree. The wait would not be bad at Maricopa CCs if they would just open up some more classes that you can take while waiting. Ethel Bauer would be worth it if it meant getting into the workforce a year and half or two years earlier. I don't know it's so frustrating. I look at the placement list at Maricopa CCs and I see some that have waited a year plus and some who have waited a week. Who knows.

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its all so confusing..... lol

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You know though, I had been set on CAC, now I'm waivering again. I forget who it was here that just got accepted for Spring enrollment, but I did a search on their posts and saw that they'd only applied last Spring. IOW, the only sat out one semester. Granted lottery system may mean they simply lucked out and I could unluck out in the opposite direction and end up with 2 semesters sitting out. But.....

Just having so many doubts about CAC. Can't get a hold of anyone there through phone or email to answer a simple question. Also, I can't get any word about where they're doing clinicals. I sorta heard their new director might still be working on securing hospital clinical sites. Where and who her contacts are who knows? Ugh. They don't show up as having any rotations scheduled with the group the other AZ colleges use. It would not be worth it cost-wise (gas) and time-wise (hours on the road) for me to be stuck doing clinicals in Casa Grande when I live in AJ.

To those leery of MCCCD's list, it might depend on where you're at in your education. If you've had no college prior and have to take it all, you just plug away at it and take those courses that are prereqs to the nursing program. While you're waitlisted you take the few remaining general ed classes you'd need -- enough to keep you busy F/T one semester at least.

Don't forget about Rio Salado. If you can hack an online course, their course schedule is very flexible with start dates quite often. Going slowly, I'd be able to knock out Chem, A&PI, A&PII, and Micro -- all of them -- in under a year without ever overlapping them (iow, one at a time). Keep that in mind if you have a prereq to a prereq.

If online isn't your style, don't rule out summer courses. Some are even offerred as accelerated courses (if you feel you could handle that).

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Sassie, I was just reading your post on Ethel Bauer and not starting until Oct.07. Do they have a wait list at their cost of tuition? Does Pima and Apollo the other pricier schools have a waiting list? Thanks for your replies.

Pima is beginning a new class in January, 2007, and my impression is that there were more students who applied than who were accepted. I don't have the exact numbers, but my estimation was that there were over 150 applicants for the 34 seats. Pima evaluates applicants on prior healthcare experience, GPA, entrance exam scores and an interview. The prerequisites are built into the program, which saves time, but the disadvantage is that the prerequisites are not North Central accredited and will not transfer into most campus based BSN programs.

So, the discussion essentially centers around the issues of wait lists with the MCCCD programs, the costs of the proprietary programs like Pima or Ethel Bauer, or the risks of taking 4 semesters worth of Gen Ed courses through the university system and not being admitted into the nursing core. Every program is not ideal for every student, but all of them have a vital and necessary place in nursing education.

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And if you thought EBSN was high, Pima (Medical Institute, not the other Pima) beats 'em: $36,000 (includes everything -- tuition, books, uniforms). Ouch!!!! But they'll get you through in two years.

I spoke with one of the counselors there a few months back regarding the CNA course. She had me take some reading/math test, a formality for all their programs I guess. She said I'd scored rather high. Sure I'm smart but am I anything extraordinarily special? I dunno, lol. They may just tell everyone that. Anyway, she said that if it weren't for all my kids (responsibilities) they'd love to have me go through their program.

My point? It's a 96 week accelerated program with all prereqs thrown in there. That's gotta be rough. You'd do well to be extra smart and have little on your plate.

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And if you thought EBSN was high, Pima (Medical Institute, not the other Pima) beats 'em: $36,000 (includes everything -- tuition, books, uniforms). Ouch!!!! But they'll get you through in two years.

I spoke with one of the counselors there a few months back regarding the CNA course. She had me take some reading/math test, a formality for all their programs I guess. She said I'd scored rather high. Sure I'm smart but am I anything extraordinarily special? I dunno, lol. They may just tell everyone that. Anyway, she said that if it weren't for all my kids (responsibilities) they'd love to have me go through their program.

My point? It's a 96 week accelerated program with all prereqs thrown in there. That's gotta be rough. You'd do well to be extra smart and have little on your plate.

True. While Pima's cost might be unreasonably high, the time saved by not having to complete the pre-reqs and then sit on MCCCD's wait list for 2 years, is time that can be used to earn an income to pay back the student loans!

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Going to ASU for BSN! Bring on the school work; I can not possibly get enough - I love it!

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True. While Pima's cost might be unreasonably high, the time saved by not having to complete the pre-reqs and then sit on MCCCD's wait list for 2 years, is time that can be used to earn an income to pay back the student loans!

That sounds like a good opportunity, but it certainly isnt for me. Too much money (I couldn't even get a student loan that big) and I don't want to be in a 2 yr program w no good breaks, either.

One of the reasons why I want to get into nursing is to be able to make a living while only working about 8 months a year.

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Specializes in Telemetry, ICU, Psych.

I used to think that the wait to get into the MCCCD system was rough...

...until I met two people who moved here from out of state and one from Canada because their waitlists were twice as long....

CrazyPremed

P.S. - I think the CNA requirement should be brought back.

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True. While Pima's cost might be unreasonably high, the time saved by not having to complete the pre-reqs and then sit on MCCCD's wait list for 2 years, is time that can be used to earn an income to pay back the student loans!

I think that can be a good plan, provided one realizes the dedication needed to pay back such a huge loan. Truth is, we as Americans tend to spend what we make. We feel we "deserve" it after all that hard work (tough program).

$36,000 divided by those two years it saves ya = $1500/month you'd be paying over 2 years time (not including interest). Looking at what new RNs make -- let's use $24/hour less 25% for taxes/insurance and your monthly paycheck is around $3100/month. $3100 - $1500 = $1600/month you're coming out ahead, or what you have to live off of for two years.

I'm not wanting to be discouraging. Not at all. It's up to everyone to decide what's right for them. I just encourage anyone who hasn't (not saying you didn't) thought it through to take a look at the math and see if it makes sense and is doable for you. Also consider the time commitment. I can't possibly see how you'd come up for air for two years straight.

If I hadn't the kids and had the bankroll for their tuition (home equity loan, cash out refi, fancy inheritance), I might have strongly considered it. It's very tempting to go accelerated and be all done in two years vs. dickering around. And I know I have the dedication and am smart enough.

But I don't have the bankroll and more importantly I do have the kids, so it's a nonissue. (BTW, the Pima gal didn't even try to talk me into the program because I have a large family; I think their standards are very high and they too want to be realistic in who they think can make it. They seem very honest in that regard; they won't just take your money and flunk you out.)

Anyway now that I've started knocking out prereqs, I'm okay with going more slowly. I prefer it. It allows me to still have time for a life, I get to really really study my subjects well because I've got the time, the stress just isn't there. We hear how rough the traditional nursing programs are. Accelerated must be hell.

JMO.

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Specializes in Cardiac.
True. While Pima's cost might be unreasonably high, the time saved by not having to complete the pre-reqs and then sit on MCCCD's wait list for 2 years, is time that can be used to earn an income to pay back the student loans!

Let's not kid ourselves, nobody will really pay off 36K in two years. That's a car loan. If you think about it, it would be 2 1/2 a car payment, since most car loans would be paid off in 5 years.

36K for an Associates degree? You are not coming out ahead. You might as well looki nto NAUs BSN, and drive up there when you need to (most classes are online), that will save you tons of money, and you'd have a BSN.

Truth is, we as Americans tend to spend what we make. We feel we "deserve" it after all that hard work (tough program).

How very true.

Guys, find a hospital that you can work at, get the tuition reimbursement, and wait out the few semesters. Like I said, it seems that most of you are waiting only 1.5 years. Would you rather wait 1.5 years, or be 36K in debt? And does that 36K just go towards tuition? So you'd still have to find time to work to pay bills?

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