Originally Posted by texancanadian I just wanted to get an idea of how difficult it is to get admitted to an RN/BSN program generally in Ontario and specifically in the GTA.
I am currently in the US and have taken many prereqs needed here to get into an RN program with a very high GPA and all A's in science courses. However I have been thinking and instead of completing an RN with a diploma in the US and then going through the hassle of CNO and then doing my Bachelors in Canada I might as well apply directly. I just wanted to get an idea of how fierce the competition will be.
I have been doing some research and my choices in the GTA would be the following. I personally wouldnt mind going outside the GTA if I was single but im not and hubby will be working in the North York area (near Finch Subway) in GTA. So far per my research I have come up with the following options. Please let me know anything good/bad about each of these programs because I have no clue what so ever.
1) Humber College - University of New Brunswick
2) George Brown College - Ryerson University (this seems to be the most conveniently located in the heart of the City)
3) Centennial College - Ryerson University
4) Seneca College - York University
5) Georgian College - York University.
All I know is that the first 3 seem to be conveniently located whereas 4 and 5 are both on the far northern outskirts of the city. I am applying through the OCAS common application process and from what I know you can only apply to 5 schools through them.
I know that University of Toronto also offers a programs but havent really researched into it deeply.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have never studied in Canada before but am a landed immigrant. Permanent resident.
Thanks.
I'm impressed, it sounds like you've really done your homework! Let me just say this...Toronto is a great city to live in. Make good use of the time your're there, there are lots to do and see. One of the great things about Toronto is its transit system. You can literally travel from the west end of the city to the east end for one fee...when I was there it was $2 for adults. Having said that, all the colleges and universities you mentioned are accessible by transit, except Georgian college, Univ New Brunswick and Seneca's nursing program. Centennial college is in Scarborough(east end of the city), Ryerson and George Brown are both downtown, like less than 5 subway stations north/south of each other...you could walk from one school to the other if you wanted to. Humber is in Etobicoke (west end of the city). I can tell you for a fact that if you're going to live near Finch subway station, then York University is the closest university to you. The area around Finch station up to Steeles Ave is Toronto (old name: North York). Steeles Ave is basically the border between Toronto and York Region. York University is in North York. Toronto has a great subway system, and there are at least two bus routes (from early am to around 9pm) that starts at Finch station and goes straight to York University(travels north on Yonge Street, then takes a left turn to go west on Steeles Ave). I was born and raised in North Toronto, I left in 2001 and that was the bus route at the time. Be aware though, to give yourself plenty of travel time, because that bus could end up stopping at EVERY bus stop, depending on time of day, etc... do a google search for TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) and hopefully they'll have a website that can give you more info.
I don't know anything about Georgian College, but I went to Seneca College for my nursing diploma (class of 2000). My class was the first class that started the Seneca-York U collaborative. We had the option of doing our last two years in York U and finishing with a BScN. I elected to finish with my diploma but I can tell you that although Seneca's nursing program is way north of Toronto, we had a shuttle bus that picked us up like once a day from certain intersections of the city and took us to Seneca's campus. Having said that, the closest Seneca bus stop to you will be Yonge/Steeles(that's how it was for me 5 yrs ago). I'd advise you contact the King City campus at Seneca College for more info...again do a google search for Seneca College and narrow it down for King City Campus.
Seneca's program is okay, but I did my LVN equivalent program at Humber and I enjoyed it. Humber's nursing program is a bit more strict though, in some ways I feel like I got more out of Humber than I did at Seneca....though I can't put a finger on it as to why.
Univ of Toronto had a RN-BSN program but they cancelled it back in the early-mid 90s because there was little to no interest nor enrollment in their program. If I were you I'd still do a search under Univ of Toronto, perhaps the issue of RNs graduating with a BScN changed things there.
I'd research the above schools more for requirements...do you already have a bachelor's degress in something else? In that case you might be in a different situation then.
Best of luck to you, sorry for rambling on...
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