I sure was grossly misinformed!

Vsummer1 · Feb 21, 2004

Your class size is 12!?? Are you sure? How could they run a program with only 12 students per semester? Ours has 40 - 60 per class. With all of the equipment they have to buy to train us it just seems that revenue from only 12 students would not even be enough to pay the instructors!

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 21, 2004

I got the impression the class size was closer to 30, but a TON of people took deferments this semester, so they're guaranteed a spot for fall semester.

Vsummer1 · Feb 21, 2004

Then maybe you will only have to wait 1 semester if you dont' get right in. Good luck to you!

EchoOfThoughts · Feb 21, 2004

klone: The NET score is probably only one of of many factors considered. My school used the NET score, gpa, how many pre-reqs you had finished, if you had ever applied before (it gives you more points if you have), if you had applied and been accepted before but declined to attend that semester etc, etc, etc...

Each item had a certain number of "points" that would be added up and the top eight were sent their fabulous letters and lists of items to buy.

p.s. Vsummer1, yep - I said eight. Our class started out as eight. They expanded it to ten (and it was tough to get them to allow that many).

40-60 seems HUGE to me. Do you all gather together for lectures? Or are you broken down into smaller groups for everything?

Mithrah · Feb 21, 2004

What Arizona school did you apply too?

RedSox33RN · Feb 21, 2004

One of the LPN programs around here only admits 8 per year. I applied to one tech colleges' RN program that only has 14 spots.

My situation seems similar, in that there are few spots for a TON of applicants. Do you have your pre-req's done? I know the more you have done, and the better you do in them, the better off you may be.

And apply, apply, apply! Do you have the option of applying to several schools? Last year I made the mistake of applying just to one. Unfortunately, I have to travel an hour to any school I apply to because of where I live. This year I applied to 5 schools. You may not end up with your first choice, but your odds improve quite a bit.

I also decided if I don't get into an RN program (I'm still waiting to hear from 2 schools - my last hopes!) that I will apply to an LPN program AND a Surgical Tech program AND a CNA program. I want to at least get my foot in the door without waiting another year.

I feel for you! My advice is to not dwell on it right now, but send in applications to more schools if you can.

Best of luck to you!!

Vsummer1 · Feb 21, 2004

p.s. Vsummer1, yep - I said eight. Our class started out as eight. They expanded it to ten (and it was tough to get them to allow that many).
40-60 seems HUGE to me. Do you all gather together for lectures? Or are you broken down into smaller groups for everything?

It depends on the semester. Our first semester we all met in one room. Second semester was divided into 2 separate lectures, so half would do OB and half did Med/Surg. The third semester was 3 different groups doing 3 different rotations. This last semester, we are all doing the same lecture, but they did not have a room large enough for all of us so the instructors do the lecture in one room, then we break and the instructors move to the other room.

The clinicals are 11 or 12 people per instructor in 4th semester, but in previous semesters it was only 10. The reason for more in one clinical group is because on any given day 2 people will be doing the community service so only 9 or 10 will be with the instructor.

I hope this made sense!! I feel sorry for the instructor's who have to figure out who goes into which rotation. It must be a nightmare for them.

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Feb 21, 2004

klone:
p.s. Vsummer1, yep - I said eight. Our class started out as eight. They expanded it to ten (and it was tough to get them to allow that many).
40-60 seems HUGE to me. Do you all gather together for lectures? Or are you broken down into smaller groups for everything?

We have 64 in our Theory lecture but we have pretty big lecture halls. I never felt it was too many students. Our theory is once/week for 3 hours. But our labs have I think about 20 in each class and then the clinicals are down to 4:1 to 8:1.

Jennerizer, ASN, RN · Feb 22, 2004

Wow.....small classes. We started with 120 students & they are looking to expand the program even more. We have 4 campuses.....so 30 students at each campus. But now in third semester we are all on one campus. There are about 80 students that have made it out of the 120. We are split into 2 separate classes.

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 22, 2004

Echo: Nope, they ONLY go by NET scores. It's meant to be a true 2-year program, and as such, they don't require any prerequisites to be done before applying (other than the typical algebra, chemistry, CNA). They don't look at GPA or anything else besides NET score.

Mithrah: Yavapai College in Prescott

WannaBe: Unfortunately, I don't have the option to apply to other schools. I live in a small town which is 1 1/2-2 hours away from the two nearest cities in the other directions (Flagstaff and Phoenix). Yavapai College is the only school within 2 hours that has a nursing program, and with a husband, job and two small children, commuting that distance is just not an option. So this is it for me.

mitchsmom · Feb 22, 2004

My local CC's 2 RN program only takes 12 student a year, I figure that's why they were able to get 100% on the NCLEX :) My class now started with about 80 but class already looks smaller now in the second semester. I'm not sure how many have dropped out so far.

I have three young boys and a husband and I commute two hours b/c I need a BSN for what I'm going to do in nursing. I attend part-time though and commute only 2 days a week. I would probably do it this way even if I only needed a 2 year RN, the program here in town only allows full-time and since I don't have to I am not willing to be gone from the boys full-time at thier ages.