[GaMBA]

Originally Posted by noneil680

....I would have dropped from this, but didn't want to get a W on my transcript. I wish that I would have taken this time to work and save money to actually pay for RN school! This is my opinion, but felt I should share! Nikki

Hi Nikki, sorry to hear that the class isn't what you thought it would be. We've got some semester long (and more expensive) CNA programs here as well but when I heard about the shorter, cheaper options that's where my focus went. From what I understand, at least here in GA you have to do the clinicals portion of the CNA cert class in a LTC facility, which rules out the typical hospital (unless it has an affiliated LTC). Cleaning booboo and peepee ALL DAY definitely doesn't sound like my cup of tea but on the bright side, if you can get thru that you can make it thru just about anything. If you go ahead and get certified at the end of your course at least you'll have the CNA certification to fall back on should you need a hospital job. I know that several hospitals near me are looking for CNAs. That would get you away from the LTC environment and might provide an opportunity for you to get tuition assistance or reimbursement for nursing school should you decide to pursue it. Best of luck in whatever you decide!

[DESTINED 2B NURSE]

Originally Posted by CarinaBallerina

Hey everyone,

I'm still fairly new to this site. I haven't posted much, since I just joined, but I've been reading lots and lots - even before I joined.

I just wondered, are any of you getting ready to apply for Fall 2009? I'm working on finishing up my first degree, and planning to apply to an accelerated program to get my BSN in two years.

I'm volunteering at a local hospital, reading books (have any of you read Tilda Shalof's Story of a Nurse? It's really good!), and getting some early studying in for the Anatomy and Physiology class that I need to do next semester as a pre-requisite. I need to apply this winter, but I'm just trying to get an early start on things, especially in the summer, while I'm not at school (working, though).

For those of you that are getting ready to apply, what are you doing to get ready?

I just thought we could support each other while we're working out way through the application process!

Hi Carina,

I'm new here also. I actually meet with a Nursing Counselor Tomorrow to discuss my academic plans. I'm registering for the CNA program Tomorrow and I'm going to knock some of the pre-req's out this summer. So, yes, I will be applying for Fall 2009

[PreRN Katie]

Originally Posted by GaMBA

Hi Katie,

I didn't know about the substitution thing. That's great! At least that way the classes dn't go to waste should you not go to the school that has those prereqs. Right now the schools at the top of my list are the BSN or accelerated BSN programs at Uni of West GA, Kennesaw State and Clayton State. I might add Ga State to that list eventually. I'll also apply to Emory and Mercer (Ga Baptist), but will more than likely only attend those (if accepted) if I get a scholarship of some sort. Or a really gracious donor! I have been thinking about just getting a service cancellable loan though for those schools, but I don't know. That's a lot of money to owe on top of student loans I already have from another degree.

As a backup I'll also be applying to ADN programs though I haven't decided exactly which ones yet.

Sounds like we're applying to the exact same schools! I go to Kennesaw now and I love it...tough nursing program to get into but the nursing dept. people have said the accelerated one isn't quite as competitive. I would like to apply to West GA but I think you have to take pharmacology to apply and at KSU that's solely a nursing course (can't take it unless you're accepted into the program) and I am not driving all the way to Carrollton for one class.

[GaMBA]

Originally Posted by PreRN Katie

Sounds like we're applying to the exact same schools! I go to Kennesaw now and I love it...tough nursing program to get into but the nursing dept. people have said the accelerated one isn't quite as competitive. I would like to apply to West GA but I think you have to take pharmacology to apply and at KSU that's solely a nursing course (can't take it unless you're accepted into the program) and I am not driving all the way to Carrollton for one class.

I didn't see anything about Pharmacology in the West GA Nursing website but I'll double-check. I've heard nothing but great things about Kennesaw State. Everyone who's gone there--for anything--absolutely loved it. It's good to know that the accelerated programs are not as hard to get into as the regular ones, even though they sound a lot tougher with the constricted timeline. But hey, anything worth having in life takes determination right?! Do you know anyone who's been in Ga State's nursing program? I don't seem to hear much about that one, and the little I've heard has not been all that positive.

[PreRN Katie]

Originally Posted by GaMBA

I didn't see anything about Pharmacology in the West GA Nursing website but I'll double-check. I've heard nothing but great things about Kennesaw State. Everyone who's gone there--for anything--absolutely loved it. It's good to know that the accelerated programs are not as hard to get into as the regular ones, even though they sound a lot tougher with the constricted timeline. But hey, anything worth having in life takes determination right?! Do you know anyone who's been in Ga State's nursing program? I don't seem to hear much about that one, and the little I've heard has not been all that positive.

Awesome, let me know what you find out about West GA, I may have just been having a brain fart when I was reading about the prereqs on their website.

I have a friend from high school who is graduating from GA State's nursing program on Friday. From what I've heard, it's a tough and demanding program, but then again I think most nursing programs are. I think it's a bit easier to get into...she used to go to KSU, was rejected from our program, and got in there the same semester. She's already got a job lined up at Northside in the Mother/Baby unit and I am soooo jealous! GA State has a 2nd degree/accelerated program too.

[nurse2btracy]

I am getting ready to apply for readmission to a nursing program. I am finishing up the last of my pre-reqs and I am taking a cna course over the summer to get some experience.

Good luck to everyone

[icechick]

I am also planning on applying for Fall 2009. I have been torn about what to do this summer. I haave already taken a year of pre-req's & will be taking more in the fall & it has been very hard to juggle a full time course load & my four kids. I know I need to get some volunteer experience & this summer will be my only chance, but I feel like I need some down time or I will burn out. Also, I can't afford to pay for camp or a babysitter while I am volunteering (aka not getting paid). I just don't know how important the volunteer experience is versus the life experience I already have. Anyone else having a hard time with this sort of thing?

[Do Or Do Not]

I'll be taking A&P over summer & fall, and Micro in fall as well, at which point I'll wrap up the "core". It'll make me eligible for nursing school as early as Spring 2009 and there's at least one school that's starting classes (Humboldt U) that semester that will also take applications when classes are still in progress. I put my odds of getting in there roughly 50/50. If I don't, I'm looking at no less than a dozen schools to apply to come Fall '09.

The list so far:
-Sacramento City College & American River College in Sacramento (ADN programs)
-SF State ABSN
-Drexel University in Philadelphia
-Humboldt State University near Eureka, CA
-Emory U in Atlanta

[RNBound83]

Hi Everyone! I'll be taking Elementary Algebra over the summer and then Micro and A&P II in the Fall. Then I'll be eligible to apply and *hopefully* get accepted in a Fall 2009 program. I'll be apply to as many programs as possible... I'm in Northern CA and will be applying to Yuba College and Solano College (both ADN and wait list programs; about 2 yrs long). The other ADN programs that are lottery or some combo thereof I'm applying to are: San Joaquin Delta Community College, Modesto Junior College, Los Medanos CC, American River College, Sacramento City College, and Sac City Extended. If I don't get in any of those programs I'll take Pharmacology and Patho and apply at a private school (expensive!) - Samuel Merritt for their ABSN and possibly ELMSN programs. I'm just going to keep taking classes and applying everywhere until I get in SOMEWHERE!!! It's going to cost me a fortune in transcript fees! lol. Good luck to everyone!
~ Kim

[NatashaFromOregon]

I am applying to an ADN program for Fall 2009. I'm almost finished with all my pre-req's and will apply to the program next winter. I'm very nervous about whether or not I'll get in; annually there are only about 80 spots in the program and about 400 applicants; entry is based on a point system that counts our pre-requisite grades (thankfully, mine are very, VERY good) and our scores for four proctored open ended essay questions. So our paper application is due by the first week of April, 2009, and if we score enough points, we are asked to sit the essay part of the application. We don't know if we're officially accepted into the program until June 2009, only 3 months before the program starts. The thin thats a little annoying, is that we have to have all our pre-req's done so early! I'll be done with mine after Fall 2008. I was thinking of being certified as a CNA....or working on the pre-req's toward a couple other programs (like RT) in case I don't get into nursing school.