Community College Selection Process-What A Joke!

U.S.A. California

Published

I am one of those middle-aged students who just applied for the Nursing Program at my local college. I was very careful to pick a college that based their selection process on merit. However, the local college I attend was forced by the Chancellor of the California Community College system to change the selection criteria for the Nursing program. Some of you know this new process as the lottery system. This happened well into the process of working on my Prereqs. Due to money considerations, it was immpossible for me to change colleges. I feared at the time that this new process would hurt me, because I have never been one of those who has benefited from chance drawings. My name was not picked during this so-called lottery. You see, under the old guidelines the top 7% went straight into the program. I made the the top 5%, however my academic achievement under the new system means nothing. I was forced to compete for a spot with all applicants who scored above 70%.

Now please understand that I am well aware that some have many responsibilities outside of school. I am no different. I have someone who I care about very much who is an epileptic. She has never been under control. I have had many nights that I have spent in the ER rather than sleeping or studying. I have paid the price many times over to be where I am now. But I am getting close to fifty. And at this point, I am very emotionally tired. I really do fear that if I do not get in by the next semester, that I will not be able to finish my dream. I am very angry and dissapointed that this has happened to me. In fact, my longtime study partner was accepted and I cannot even talk to her because it upsets me knowing that she will be moving on without me. I do wish her the best but it is just too painful. But the thing that bothers me the most is that I am being told by this new process that my academic achievement means nothing.

I have to admit, that even though I am a man I broke down and cried.

I believe there is room for all types of selection processes in our state. But this new model is nothing but socialism. It rewards the many but penalizes those who achieve the most and some of us pay the ultimate cost. Please be aware that the Chancellor is trying to force this program on every single community college in the state.

I just do not know where I am going to go from here.

Specializes in Tele Step Down, Oncology, ICU, Med/Surg.

Tim1957:

Your post touched me and I will send you a hug and prayer. I hear your discouragement becuase you did everything in your power to ensure a seat in nursing school, and this decision rendered you powerless.

You obviously worked hard with your academic achievement only to have the rules change on you mid-stream. Be proud of your accomplishments and go with the flow, and trust this may have happened for a reason.

"Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans." So reapply next semester or next year, so enjoy the time off. Don't give up on your dream and what is meant to be your purpose in life. 49 is young, baby--and the time will go by anyway.

I volunteer at the local hospital in the Mother/Baby Unit on Sundays, and it keeps me involved and connected. Holding those babies just makes my week!...and makes my real job bearable. Doing something like this may be good for you to, or maybe taking some "fun" classes at the CC for a change....not that I didn't have fun in anatomy or chemistry, but yoga and painting were good for my soul. You may need this time out for a little soul recharging.

I'm in Northern California, and my local community college does the lottery system too, but they allow higher priority (two entries vs. one I believe) if a student re-applies after failing the first time. Also, apparently there can be many drop-outs between now and starting day, so who knows what may happen for you Tim (can you feel me patting you firmly on the back).

I have my heart set on the CSU Eastbay extension program biking distance from my house and I've been retaking classes from a prior degree to move B's into A's so I can go in with a solid GPA.

But, the local CC and private school entry level MSN programs are very good and I will be applying to these as well. I would be honored to gain a seat to these two programs, even with the longer drives or higher expense. I'm glad to hear you are applying elsewhere. Your maturity obviously makes you well acccustomed to making lemonaid out of lemons.

Tim, I know life is not fair sometimes and it this nursing school process can be very discouraging. I feel your pain and want to send you some cyber energy to help you stay the course.

I am a mother of three young children, have had both my parents pass away within the last 4 years--my Dad while I was struggling with chemotherapy and trying to take my chemistries with a witch teacher (my only B's). I too am a parent of a child with special needs and a seizure disorder. As an older student who's been through hell and back, I feel for you. My fear is I will be in your shoes come May/June.

Therefore, I want to hear about your eventual success getting into a program. I want to hear that you are not giving up. This loooong process into nursing school is discouraging at many points; However, I want you to keep your spirits up. A year of your life will go by anyway--365 days are nothing when your whole life is still in front of you. I look forward to hearing good news about you within the year.

Feel the good vibes heading your way.....

Many Blessings,

Bertolozzi (1962!)

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Tim1957:

Your post touched me and I will send you a hug and prayer. I hear your discouragement becuase you did everything in your power to ensure a seat in nursing school, and this decision rendered you powerless.

You obviously worked hard with your academic achievement only to have the rules change on you mid-stream. Be proud of your accomplishments and go with the flow, and trust this may have happened for a reason.

"Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans." So reapply next semester or next year, so enjoy the time off. Don't give up on your dream and what is meant to be your purpose in life. 49 is young, baby--and the time will go by anyway.

I volunteer at the local hospital in the Mother/Baby Unit on Sundays, and it keeps me involved and connected. Holding those babies just makes my week!...and makes my real job bearable. Doing something like this may be good for you to, or maybe taking some "fun" classes at the CC for a change....not that I didn't have fun in anatomy or chemistry, but yoga and painting were good for my soul. You may need this time out for a little soul recharging.

I'm in Northern California, and my local community college does the lottery system too, but they allow higher priority (two entries vs. one I believe) if a student re-applies after failing the first time. Also, apparently there can be many drop-outs between now and starting day, so who knows what may happen for you Tim (can you feel me patting you firmly on the back).

I have my heart set on the CSU Eastbay extension program biking distance from my house and I've been retaking classes from a prior degree to move B's into A's so I can go in with a solid GPA.

But, the local CC and private school entry level MSN programs are very good and I will be applying to these as well. I would be honored to gain a seat to these two programs, even with the longer drives or higher expense. I'm glad to hear you are applying elsewhere. Your maturity obviously makes you well acccustomed to making lemonaid out of lemons.

Tim, I know life is not fair sometimes and it this nursing school process can be very discouraging. I feel your pain and want to send you some cyber energy to help you stay the course.

I am a mother of three young children, have had both my parents pass away within the last 4 years--my Dad while I was struggling with chemotherapy and trying to take my chemistries with a witch teacher (my only B's). I too am a parent of a child with special needs and a seizure disorder. As an older student who's been through hell and back, I feel for you. My fear is I will be in your shoes come May/June.

Therefore, I want to hear about your eventual success getting into a program. I want to hear that you are not giving up. This loooong process into nursing school is discouraging at many points; However, I want you to keep your spirits up. A year of your life will go by anyway--365 days are nothing when your whole life is still in front of you. I look forward to hearing good news about you within the year.

Feel the good vibes heading your way.....

Many Blessings,

Bertolozzi (1962!)

Thank You for your words of encouragement and telling me your story. And even though I was greatly tempted to throw in the towel, all of you are giving me hope. And if anything, one must have hope to continue the fight. I have overcome many things over the past few years just to be in the place I am now. In fact, I lost my own mother just six days after I returned to school. I really never even thought I would ever make it this far. I must continue. Thank you again.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I know how you feel, sorta. I applied to the community college I did my pre-requs at as well as the local state college because of the lotto at the JC. I made it into the State college that went by merit first time around and I was about two years out on the waiting list at the JC.....

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Have you tried talking to the head of the nursing dept.? You never know, they could make an exception for you or maybe put you on an alternate list. I hope the pendulum swings your way.

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Things are set in stone out here. But I have told the dean of the science dept. how I feel. My hope is that through what I say that they will change it for those in the future. I just need to make a new plan and continue forward. I cannot give up on this. I have come too far.

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Do the schools on the lottery system have waitlists or must you reapply each semester?

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No waitlists. You must reaaply every semester. You do with the Chancellors model get your name entered twice the second time. However, the one lesson that I have learned from this process is that to never limit yourself to the ADN, think also BSN and take your classes with that in mind. Have it in your mind that you might have to transfer to a four year college.

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Specializes in Tele Step Down, Oncology, ICU, Med/Surg.

Good Advice!

Approaching pre-nursing courses as if you will transfer to a four year college is the best advice for all nursing students. Even if your first choice is an ADN program (often considered the fastest/cheapest/closest option), chances are high you will want to bridge to a BSN or higher at some point in your career.

Best to bang out those units now, as well as giving you more nursing school options come application time.

From what I'm reading on several forums, gaining entry to the ADN programs can be harder than BSN programs. It's all impacted here in Northern California, I will consider it an honor and a blessing to have my butt in a seat next Fall.

Good Luck!

Bertolozzi

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Just to let you know, Tim, that the College of Sequoias is MAJORLY impacted... it's the only nursing program for 2 counties, so everyone wants in.

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Thanks

I thought that might be the case. Nice to hear from someone in the area. I guess I can also assume that FCC is the same way, right?

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Sit down boys and girls cause I'm going to enlighten you on something. I have come to the realization that the nursing shortage in the US is a manufactured shortage. There's several reasons why I have derived this conclusion. This is all based on my observations, people I have discussions with (including members of the California BON), and two retired hospital administrators. I'm sure the same applies all around the country.

The first thing we must recognize is that hospitals in the US are a business. Hospitals make money by taking care of patients which provide a service and collect $$$$. OK nothing wrong with that basic idea, however it goes far beyond that.

Ever wonder why it is so difficult to enter any nursing program in the US? What is the logical reason? To keep the number of nurses down? I think it is just that.

On average, it takes 2 to 3 years to get all the prerequsites done before one is allowed to apply to nursing school. Then one is put on a waiting list or even worse, a lottery. Either system will cause one to wait an additional 2 to 3 years before being accepted. If accepted, then an ADN program is an additional 2 years. Wow! That makes on the average 6 years before one can become an RN! Who would wait that long? Well, most don't when they realise that one can get a BS or BA in another field in 4 years instead of an ADN in a minimum of 6 years. Who decides the rules governing the education level of nursing programs? The California BON.

Now who are members of the California BON? Well I found out that they all are senior administration members of various hospitals within the state who volunteer to be on the state board. Wait! Can that be? The same people who are responsible to assure that the hospital they work for earns the most $$$$ for the service they provide? Hmmmm ...

What about the rules and regulations for the level of education and how many can enroll for the various nursing school in the state? Well those are made by the members of the BON. Hmmmm ...

So, since there is a "shortage" of nurses, where do they find some? Well some come from the local nursing school, yes, but most are recruited from overseas. God love 'em, these recruited off shore nurses want to be good nurses, work hard so they can help provide family back home.

The next statement most likely will not apply to California because of the recent (2 year old) ratio law, however it will apply for the other states. "Because of the nursing shortage", you nurses will just have to take care of 8 - 10 patients.

Do you see the pattern?

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Well. Well, Well!

I have stayed away from the political aspect of this problem simply because I am not sure how the Mods would react to it. But now that you mentioned it I will say this: I have a friend who holds a Master's in History. He visits the Philipines about twice a year. There are huge signs in Manila advertising for nurses to work in the U.S. Why employ foreign nurses? Answer- You do not have to pay them the benefit package that most American born nurses receive. Yes it is an induced shortage. And if they really wanted to solve it, all that needs to be done is have the Hospitals and the local businesses invest back into the educational infrastruture of the college system. This investment would come in the form of money to increase the instructor salaries to the level of a working nurse. And money for additional classroom and lab space. If a serious effort was made in this direction starting tommorrow, the so-called nursing shortage would dissapear within about five years. But don't count on it!!!!

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