Which rpn college has a better program?

m_aidez · Sep 18, 2010

Think about it this way, these programs are accredited and checked by some national board. All of them are suitable. All employers care about is that you graduate and pass the CRPNE.

loriangel14, RN · Sep 18, 2010

Think about it this way, these programs are accredited and checked by some national board. All of them are suitable. All employers care about is that you graduate and pass the CRPNE.

Well said.

bluer · Sep 19, 2010

So I just applied to the rpn program at Centennial college and George Brown college for the janruary 2011 intake (toronto canada)... I recently just got accepted to centennial, and im still waiting from george brown(they said they will start giving out offers in September)... But i don't know what school to go to... I heard SOME ups and downs about centennial.. mostly downs about their useless faculty, if anyone has heard or experienced the program at centennial, please let me know?!?!
I also heard a lot of pros about george brown college.. but just in case i don't get in and centennial is my last and only option, i want to know ahead and be prepared for what's to come...
so if anyone has any advice or input or anything about these schools please let me know!!!
THANKS!!:):)

Hi, I heard that Centennial is way more difficult than George Brown. I`m not sure of how true that is, but I know someone that flunked out of Centennial and went to George Brown and said it was much easier. Anyway, for some reason my friend also wants to go to Centennial, but he hasn`t gotten accepted yet. Actually, he hasn`t received anything yet form both school he applied to (Centennial and Conestoga). Were your marks really high? Did you have to write an admissions test? When did you apply because he applied after you got accepted.

Good luck wherever you chose to study!

sbm91 · Sep 23, 2010

Hi, I heard that Centennial is way more difficult than George Brown. I`m not sure of how true that is, but I know someone that flunked out of Centennial and went to George Brown and said it was much easier. Anyway, for some reason my friend also wants to go to Centennial, but he hasn`t gotten accepted yet. Actually, he hasn`t received anything yet form both school he applied to (Centennial and Conestoga). Were your marks really high? Did you have to write an admissions test? When did you apply because he applied after you got accepted.
Good luck wherever you chose to study!

I would say the opposite, GBC is harder because you tend to have a bigger course load, however GBC gives good resources which might be why some people say its easier. Go to the school closer to you. i went to GBC for a joint college-university BScN program, and I have to say, although GBC gives many good resources (charts, outlines etc), they give you WAY too many pointless courses and work etc that just wastes your time. I myself am going into the Centennial rpn program this January. What I like is their course listing. They give you only the courses you really need unlike GBC which makes you study many more courses (although they presumably are shorter than the Cen courses). Centennial's courses are like the university nursing courses: you have 6 first semester and so on (but they are obviously slightly easier than the uni courses because it is college nursing) which is better than GBC where you have like 10 courses first semester. At least for me this is easier, to focus on the main courses, and in centennial you only have to take one elective, GBC makes you take two unfortunately. GBC staff is very friendly and resources like handouts are great, but the labs aren't that good, there usually isn't enough equipment. I don't know, overall I didn't like the structure of GBC programs, however I like the resources and staff. I heard centennial's staff isn't as friendly. I'm not sure about their resources: I hope they give checklists and other resources like GBC did. It was very helpful. Also like how centennial is eastbound if you take the subway, not westbound (in downtown) where there are always so many people and no room on the subway. so I would say, go to the school closer to you since either way you will graduate with a diploma in nursing which ever school you choose. staff doesn't matter so much (if they're friendly or not because once you're done the program, you're done, you won't see them). Centennial's labs are also very well equipped. I hope I made the right decision choosing centennial since it's further away but what drew me in is how they're courses are structured. hope it won't be too brutal since I'm used to GBC. good luck to you which ever school you choose! :) PS: For both schools you have to write an admissions test. Centennial makes you write it after you accept they're offer. Don't know about conestoga. GBC has you write the test before they give you an offer. It costs $40 and if you score above the cutoff you will be exempt from three nursing communication courses! if you score at or lower than the cutoff, you will have to take those courses in addition to all the other courses at GBC. Usually to get into these programs a 60% or higher average is required. for the uni joint program you needed 75-85% average to get in (depends if its joint program or directly uni) so for college nursing it's around 60-70% average I think.

bluer · Sep 25, 2010

I would say the opposite, GBC is harder because you tend to have a bigger course load, however GBC gives good resources which might be why some people say its easier. Go to the school closer to you. i went to GBC for a joint college-university BScN program, and I have to say, although GBC gives many good resources (charts, outlines etc), they give you WAY too many pointless courses and work etc that just wastes your time. I myself am going into the Centennial rpn program this January. What I like is their course listing. They give you only the courses you really need unlike GBC which makes you study many more courses (although they presumably are shorter than the Cen courses). Centennial's courses are like the university nursing courses: you have 6 first semester and so on (but they are obviously slightly easier than the uni courses because it is college nursing) which is better than GBC where you have like 10 courses first semester. At least for me this is easier, to focus on the main courses, and in centennial you only have to take one elective, GBC makes you take two unfortunately. GBC staff is very friendly and resources like handouts are great, but the labs aren't that good, there usually isn't enough equipment. I don't know, overall I didn't like the structure of GBC programs, however I like the resources and staff. I heard centennial's staff isn't as friendly. I'm not sure about their resources: I hope they give checklists and other resources like GBC did. It was very helpful. Also like how centennial is eastbound if you take the subway, not westbound (in downtown) where there are always so many people and no room on the subway. so I would say, go to the school closer to you since either way you will graduate with a diploma in nursing which ever school you choose. staff doesn't matter so much (if they're friendly or not because once you're done the program, you're done, you won't see them). Centennial's labs are also very well equipped. I hope I made the right decision choosing centennial since it's further away but what drew me in is how they're courses are structured. hope it won't be too brutal since I'm used to GBC. good luck to you which ever school you choose! :) PS: For both schools you have to write an admissions test. Centennial makes you write it after you accept they're offer. Don't know about conestoga. GBC has you write the test before they give you an offer. It costs $40 and if you score above the cutoff you will be exempt from three nursing communication courses! if you score at or lower than the cutoff, you will have to take those courses in addition to all the other courses at GBC. Usually to get into these programs a 60% or higher average is required. for the uni joint program you needed 75-85% average to get in (depends if its joint program or directly uni) so for college nursing it's around 60-70% average I think.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. Do you think he still has a chance if he didn't get accepted yet. Also, what is the point of the admissions test at centennial if you are already accepted? And, I hope you made the right choice in choosing Centennial. Good luck there!

sbm91 · Sep 25, 2010

Hi,
Thanks for the reply. Do you think he still has a chance if he didn't get accepted yet. Also, what is the point of the admissions test at centennial if you are already accepted? And, I hope you made the right choice in choosing Centennial. Good luck there!

Hi bluer, Did he apply for the january start date? If so, offers have been coming out since August. I applied late to centennial, and got my offer in august. I would say there is still a chance of being accepted since I know george brown just last week sent me mail telling me to book an appointment for the admissions tests (by the way, these tests can be quite annoying, as I already had done them once), and that I have till October to do them, which means that george brown is still sending out offers, therefore I assume centennial is as well. One thing I would do is log on to the OCAS website and check to see if the january program at centennial is still open, waitlisted or closed. If it is closed, most likely he won't get an offer. It also depends on his highschool averages. The higher the better. My average was high enough to ensure I got into university so it is high enough for college as well. I would suggest having at least 70%. Usually its around 60-65% for college but its always better to have a higher average to guarantee acceptance. I'm not sure about the tests at centennial. Most college nursing programs have this testing and it is usually before you are accepted. I heard from someone that centennial has this testing but I got accepted without doing this testing yet. I know GBC's testing, not only checks to see if you are eligible to be admitted into the program, but also determines if you need to take certain "communication courses". If you do well, you will be exempt from three courses. I'm assuming testing at centennial would be similar (ie: checking if you are eligible to be exempt from some english/communication courses). I was surprised to be accepted because I thought I would need admissions tests, however, in my acceptance letter, the school still mentioned that there will be some kind of testing, so I'm not 100% sure about that but I'd be surprised if there was no testing. Hope this helps!

rpnstudent47 · Sep 26, 2010

Hi, I heard that Centennial is way more difficult than George Brown. I`m not sure of how true that is, but I know someone that flunked out of Centennial and went to George Brown and said it was much easier. Anyway, for some reason my friend also wants to go to Centennial, but he hasn`t gotten accepted yet. Actually, he hasn`t received anything yet form both school he applied to (Centennial and Conestoga). Were your marks really high? Did you have to write an admissions test? When did you apply because he applied after you got accepted.
Good luck wherever you chose to study!

Yeah i know someone else too that flunked in centennial for the rpn program, and she transfered to gbc and said it was muuch easier due to the helpful resources and profs. My main concern with centennial are just the teachers... i know like 3 people with testimonials that most of the rpn profs are very.. uh rude and unhelpful. Two of them are retaking the same courses they failed, the other transfered to seneca...

As for when getting accepted into centennial- i applied in may and got accepted at the end of july. I know their program is still open. My friend applied in the beginning of june and she got accepted like a week later... As for my marks, i know that my top 6 avg is like an 82%... which wasnt enough to get into the bscn programs unfortunately... so thats why i'm going for the rpn.

rpnstudent47 · Sep 26, 2010

I would say the opposite, GBC is harder because you tend to have a bigger course load, however GBC gives good resources which might be why some people say its easier. Go to the school closer to you. i went to GBC for a joint college-university BScN program, and I have to say, although GBC gives many good resources (charts, outlines etc), they give you WAY too many pointless courses and work etc that just wastes your time. I myself am going into the Centennial rpn program this January. What I like is their course listing. They give you only the courses you really need unlike GBC which makes you study many more courses (although they presumably are shorter than the Cen courses). Centennial's courses are like the university nursing courses: you have 6 first semester and so on (but they are obviously slightly easier than the uni courses because it is college nursing) which is better than GBC where you have like 10 courses first semester. At least for me this is easier, to focus on the main courses, and in centennial you only have to take one elective, GBC makes you take two unfortunately. GBC staff is very friendly and resources like handouts are great, but the labs aren't that good, there usually isn't enough equipment. I don't know, overall I didn't like the structure of GBC programs, however I like the resources and staff. I heard centennial's staff isn't as friendly. I'm not sure about their resources: I hope they give checklists and other resources like GBC did. It was very helpful. Also like how centennial is eastbound if you take the subway, not westbound (in downtown) where there are always so many people and no room on the subway. so I would say, go to the school closer to you since either way you will graduate with a diploma in nursing which ever school you choose. staff doesn't matter so much (if they're friendly or not because once you're done the program, you're done, you won't see them). Centennial's labs are also very well equipped. I hope I made the right decision choosing centennial since it's further away but what drew me in is how they're courses are structured. hope it won't be too brutal since I'm used to GBC. good luck to you which ever school you choose! :) PS: For both schools you have to write an admissions test. Centennial makes you write it after you accept they're offer. Don't know about conestoga. GBC has you write the test before they give you an offer. It costs $40 and if you score above the cutoff you will be exempt from three nursing communication courses! if you score at or lower than the cutoff, you will have to take those courses in addition to all the other courses at GBC. Usually to get into these programs a 60% or higher average is required. for the uni joint program you needed 75-85% average to get in (depends if its joint program or directly uni) so for college nursing it's around 60-70% average I think.

WOW thank you for all that information... VERY helpful. I guess i feel better with the centennial option. If you're going to centennial this january, then i MIGHT join you... but I'm still waiting for george brown.. I'm writing the admissions test this tuesday, but what i'm currently fuming at the moment is that APPARENTLY, the program is waitlisted... I was asking one of the officers about scheduling an appointment, and he says i should do it ASAP, because i'll be higher on the waitlist. BUT I JUST got the test receipt letter two days ago, and already, the program is waitlisted?? How is that possible? I applied before the equal consideration date, so how did people already get accepted!?!?!??!?! aaaagh.

Wait, so if you took the bscn program, why are you now taking the rpn?

sbm91 · Sep 26, 2010

Yeah i know someone else too that flunked in centennial for the rpn program, and she transfered to gbc and said it was muuch easier due to the helpful resources and profs. My main concern with centennial are just the teachers... i know like 3 people with testimonials that most of the rpn profs are very.. uh rude and unhelpful. Two of them are retaking the same courses they failed, the other transfered to seneca...
As for when getting accepted into centennial- i applied in may and got accepted at the end of july. I know their program is still open. My friend applied in the beginning of june and she got accepted like a week later... As for my marks, i know that my top 6 avg is like an 82%... which wasnt enough to get into the bscn programs unfortunately... so thats why i'm going for the rpn.

Yikes, I don't like the sound of the rude profs at centennial...it worries me, however, with my experience at GBC (BScN program) there were a few rude, unhelpful profs that marked assignments ridiculously and there were some profs that were just bad at teaching, but yes, most were helpful and nice, and that goes not only for the nursing department, but for other departments as well.I'm a little worried about centennial, I hope the profs are somewhat cheerful :) but it can't be that bad, I'm sure some of them are okay.

sbm91 · Sep 26, 2010

WOW thank you for all that information... VERY helpful. I guess i feel better with the centennial option. If you're going to centennial this january, then i MIGHT join you... but I'm still waiting for george brown.. I'm writing the admissions test this tuesday, but what i'm currently fuming at the moment is that APPARENTLY, the program is waitlisted... I was asking one of the officers about scheduling an appointment, and he says i should do it ASAP, because i'll be higher on the waitlist. BUT I JUST got the test receipt letter two days ago, and already, the program is waitlisted?? How is that possible? I applied before the equal consideration date, so how did people already get accepted!?!?!??!?! aaaagh.
Wait, so if you took the bscn program, why are you now taking the rpn?

Hmmm...the same thing happened to me when I applied for the rpn program at GBC for september, but I didn't mind too much because I was most likely going to accept offers for january programs anyway. I guess you should write the test, if you do well, you'll probably be accepted, but if you haven't already, I'd suggest calling or e-mailing the admissions department and asking them whats going on with the program.

About the BScN program, I only took one year of it and one: I had to drop out because each year the fees are around $6000 not to mention texts and other fees and two: because I had not passed one important course (even though I got 60 % in it, they want you to have 63 or something which is ridiculous) and I didn't want to pay 1000 dollars retaking it, so I decided that I would start with practical nursing because it is cheaper financially, and I'm hoping it is a little easier (since I have some nursing experience, I'm hoping I'll do okay in the program and pass), and then after working in the field for a few years, I will apply for advanced standing into the second year of a BScN program. I just feel that this way is a little easier for me and I don't know what I'd do if I continued into the second year of BScN and didn't pass a course.

Good luck with admissions test at GBC by the way!

PS: it's possible the program got waitlisted because offers were being given out earlier. I applied late for all programs, so IF you applied late to the january programs, it may be possible that people had already had their admissions tests booked and got accepted causing the program to be waitlisted by the time you signed up for your testing. If you applied on time for the program, then I really am not sure how it could be waitlisted so quickly.

I just checked the GBC STUVIEW website, before, they didn't let you book an appointment online (so i'm assuming testing has begun now for the program) yet it is waitlisted already. Wow, it does seem odd. It might just be that more people applied to the program then there is room for, regardless if they got an acceptance or not, so there's an excess of potential candidates (first come, first serve basis) and the testing will determine who gets in (but I guess people who applied before it was waitlisted will be given priority)? Not sure though.

Anyway, good luck!

rpnstudent47 · Sep 26, 2010

Hmmm...the same thing happened to me when I applied for the rpn program at GBC for september, but I didn't mind too much because I was most likely going to accept offers for january programs anyway. I guess you should write the test, if you do well, you'll probably be accepted, but if you haven't already, I'd suggest calling or e-mailing the admissions department and asking them whats going on with the program.
About the BScN program, I only took one year of it and one: I had to drop out because each year the fees are around $6000 not to mention texts and other fees and two: because I had not passed one important course (even though I got 60 % in it, they want you to have 63 or something which is ridiculous) and I didn't want to pay 1000 dollars retaking it, so I decided that I would start with practical nursing because it is cheaper financially, and I'm hoping it is a little easier (since I have some nursing experience, I'm hoping I'll do okay in the program and pass), and then after working in the field for a few years, I will apply for advanced standing into the second year of a BScN program. I just feel that this way is a little easier for me and I don't know what I'd do if I continued into the second year of BScN and didn't pass a course.
Good luck with admissions test at GBC by the way!
PS: it's possible the program got waitlisted because offers were being given out earlier. I applied late for all programs, so IF you applied late to the january programs, it may be possible that people had already had their admissions tests booked and got accepted causing the program to be waitlisted by the time you signed up for your testing. If you applied on time for the program, then I really am not sure how it could be waitlisted so quickly.
I just checked the GBC STUVIEW website, before, they didn't let you book an appointment online (so i'm assuming testing has begun now for the program) yet it is waitlisted already. Wow, it does seem odd. It might just be that more people applied to the program then there is room for, regardless if they got an acceptance or not, so there's an excess of potential candidates (first come, first serve basis) and the testing will determine who gets in (but I guess people who applied before it was waitlisted will be given priority)? Not sure though.
Anyway, good luck!

Ahh so did you do the test for the gbc rpn admissions? or you're just going to stick with centennial for sure?

Well i applied back in May, is that late? i was told that the equal consideration date deadline was sometime in the middle of August; i figured id have an equal chance with everyone who applied before august.

Lol i was hoping that would be the case with the program- that they just waitlisted it so anyone who applies now, has to wait, and the people who applied earlier are given first priority to write the test. Cus last time, i applied late for the september program, i was waitlisted automatically and i didn't get any mail to write the test. So maybe, HOPEFULLY, the waitlist status is just for the number of tests...

as for my testing on tuesday, i've been studying hard. I heard it was just basic science- ive been studying all of the organ systems, the cell organelles... is there anything else in particular i should study?

sbm91 · Sep 26, 2010

Ahh so did you do the test for the gbc rpn admissions? or you're just going to stick with centennial for sure?
Well i applied back in May, is that late? i was told that the equal consideration date deadline was sometime in the middle of August; i figured id have an equal chance with everyone who applied before august.
Lol i was hoping that would be the case with the program- that they just waitlisted it so anyone who applies now, has to wait, and the people who applied earlier are given first priority to write the test. Cus last time, i applied late for the september program, i was waitlisted automatically and i didn't get any mail to write the test. So maybe, HOPEFULLY, the waitlist status is just for the number of tests...
as for my testing on tuesday, i've been studying hard. I heard it was just basic science- ive been studying all of the organ systems, the cell organelles... is there anything else in particular i should study?

No I haven't done the test yet, I'm not sure if I'm going to or not, I guess I should do it though, if I change my mind and choose GBC. I'm thinking I'll go with centennial as I prefer the course organization. I just read at GBC in second semester, you have both anatomy and pathophysiology, and placement and your first nursing theory courses, whereas in centennial, once you're done anatomy in first semester, you are done. second semester, you have patho only which seems easier to me. Plus in last semester you only have field placement, but in GBC you have placement plus theory in last semester. But yeah, I'll just go ahead and do the testing now that I think about it, to keep the options open is good :)

I think May isn't late, I applied later (July?) so I think you are fine, your application would have been processed before the waitlist so I think you'll have priority.

The science test is basically things you learn in grade 11. Basic human anatomy, organ systems, cells, some physiology, hormones, enzymes/what they are/do, how organ systems work ie: how the body digests foods, I also think there were questions on genes/heredity and there might have been questions on blood types, but I'm sure they change each year. I remember being asked questions on the heart/flow of blood in heart and stomach.To give you a sample question, they ask something like: what organ is part of the abdominal cavity? and after blood passes through the left ventricle, where does it go? Its multiple choice and when I did it, the questions were fairly simple. There was usually one or two answers that seemed right and the others were obviously wrong.

Study things that you studied in grade 11 biology. I think there may have been a question or two on bio-chemistry (like showing you the drawing of a glucose molecule and having you identify it) but I'm not 100% sure about this, it's been a year or so since I've done the testing. I hope this helps you somewhat! :) Have fun!

Regards