[noellelynn]

Hey everyone! I am working towards completing some prerequisites before I can apply for Hillsborough Community College's Nursing (evening program). I am hoping to take Microbiology/Human Disease this summer (2008) at the Brandon campus and was just wondering if anyone else had plans of doing this too? Hope to hear from someone!

[CariLiz]

HI noellelynn!

As a recently accepted applicant into HCC's nursing program.....I'm not taking Microbiology this summer at HCC; however, I did take it last summer with Prof Sally Treat. She's kinda boring-reads directly from slide, but the notes are given and are ample enough to study for her tests. The test are rather tricky, but study hard and you can get an A. She is the only professor I know of that teaches Micro during the summer at Brandon. Good luck. Let me know if you need any advice.

Cari

[noellelynn]

Thanks so much for the response! And congratulations on the acceptance! : ) Will you be in the evening program at Dale Mabry or the day program? Did you take your other prerequisites at HCC too? Any thoughts on A&P 1 and 2 at HCC if so? Also since you were recently accepted..any tips on the admissions process? If you dont mind my asking about GPA, etc. I know the admission is based soley on prereq GPA so I just seeing if I could find out where I need to stand in order to hopefully get in. What area of nursing do you think you want to get in after graduation? Thanks again for the response, hope to hear from you again soon. : )

[CariLiz]

Thank you, Noellelynn !

No problem! Glad to help out.

Here are some answers to your questions.....
I pretty much took all of my pre-req's at HCC Brandon campus(with the exception of College Algebra online through Ybor).

I took A & P I & II with the same instructor, with Professor O'Dell(hope I'm spelling that correct). She's tough, but extremely thorough as you have a quiz every time you meet. Keeps you prepared for her style of tests though.

I will not be at Dale Mabry but rather the Plant City day program as I live in Valrico and it's much closer for me. There are more seats available at the PC campus rather than DM and I just heard that PC now has nights available as well. Just FYI.

I was soooo nervous about getting in. My pre-req GPA was 3.667 and the cut-off this term was 3.238. So that gives you some kind of idea....and the term before this one the cut-off was 3.143. Like you, I was adamant about wanting to know to see where I stood. Just try your hardest to pull mostly A's and the occasional B's in your pre-req and you should be fine.

My dream job would be to be in the OB department as I have always been intrigued by the birth process plus I have three kids. What about you what field are you interested in?

Also, if you plan on taking Nutrition at all, (not a pre-req) but will probably need it eventually for my BSN.....take it with Prof. Wright online!!!! Super easy! Easy A too! Good Luck and keep me posted.

Cari

[JSstudentMI]

Hello,
I ran across your post and wondered if I could ask a few questions about Hillsborough Comm College. I'm finishing up my prereqs here in Michigan and am thinking of moving down there for the nursing program (my mother in law lives in Riverview). Do you know how many students are admitted to HCC's nursing program per year? Also, how satisfied are you with your overall experience at HCC so far? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated, as it's hard to get a feel for a college from 1200 miles away!

Thanks,
Jim

[compassionate1]

I am in my last two weeks of Micro at HCC Dale Mabry campus. It is a class that definatly takes a lot of studying. Good luck to you.

[noellelynn]

It turns out that I will have Dr. G. Brannan at Brandon for Micro. I just got my books yesterday and have decided I should start looking at the material ahead of time, while I have it! The material seems pretty intense..like there's a lot to learn..but it's so interesting. I'm really excited! I'm glad you mentioned Nutrition to me--Ive already looked into taking it evn though it's not required, because I also eventually want to go the BSN route.

I'm not 100% sure what area I want to get into. I'm thinking possibly NICU. But it's hard to tell-my mind might change after clinicals..when i truly have a feel for each area. I'm pretty positive I dont want to be involved in ER or Surgical--I dont really want to be involved in all that blood and trauma patients.

I am going to try my best to get all A's...but we'll see!! I have 4 prereqs left: micro (which im taking this summer), soc (which im also taking this summer) and A & P 1 and 2...I'll def be studying my butt off that's for sure, because I want in SO bad! (as I'm sure everyone else on here does too)

So will you be working when you are going to nursing school also? Hope that's not too personal, just wondering about the balancing act--which if you have 3 kids that's 3 jobs in of itself!!

Thanks again for the help!

[noellelynn]

I'm not currently in the nursing program at HCC..but have went through the application process to be admitted as a student, and am starting some more prereqs for the program in May. I can just say from my experience with the college so far---be diligent!! Keep on top of everything--your application, your application fee, your transcripts--everything!!! Because sometimes they were hard to get ahold of..okay, basically impossible to get ahold of over the phone...so just try to have patience as much as you can..be prepared for that..and just be diligent!! St. Petersburg College also has a nursing program..you might want to look into that too...hope that helps.

[RxLAUGHqd]

Wow, I haven't found anyone who lives in the Tampa area until now! I got an acceptance letter to HCC in March and have accepted! I'm so excited! However, I'm a full time student at USF and have been trying to get into that program for 2 years now and I just got an acceptance letter from them too! Now I don't know where I should go, HCC or USF?

I don't know about the microbiology at HCC, but at USF, it's hard work. There is a LOT of memorization of diseases, their causes, etc, etc. There is definitely some work that needs to be put in in order to do well in any microbiology class.

Good luck with your prereqs!!

[CariLiz]

Hi everyone....

Jim~ for the most part I have had a good experience at HCC although you do have to stay on top of things when it comes to transcripts, financial aid, advising and such. All around, no problems. As for the amount of students (days vs nights and Plant City vs Dale Mabry) this are rough estimates as our "webadvisor" link is currently down....and I'm trying to go off memory here

Dale Mabry 30 students-day; 25 night (nights both Fall and Spring start)
Plant City 35 students-day; 30 night (nights only Fall start)

Don't know if you've been here, but here is some helpful info.

http://www.hccfl.edu/depts/healthsci/nursing/

Hope that helps. It is tough to get into, but can easily be done. I know this semester they said was one of their highest applicants rates.
Good Luck.

compassionate1~ Good Luck on your Micro final......here's to getting an A!

noellelynn~ Prof Brannan is good....just have heard he's known for having a little bit of a wandering eye. Good luck with the last of your Pre-reqs. Who are you taking for Socio?

And no, your not being too personal, I will not be working while I'm in the program as it will be the 3 days a week, with varying times. As of Aug, all of my kids will be of school age...yeah!!!! DH is Air Force so hopefully they are a somewhat flexible if need be.

ngoda~ First off, Congrats on getting into both!!!! That's a hard choice.... as USF was my back up plan if I didn't get in. However, if I had to choose b/t the two I would choose the one that is closer for convenience, and whose schedule fit mine moreso. Good Luck and let us know which you decide. If you choose, HCC which campus would you go to?

Best of Luck everyone.

Cari