New and Curious RE: ADN Program at GPC

RN 2005 · Jan 27, 2004

Hey! Click on search and enter Georgia Perimeter College as your topic. I know I have read posts from others who are in the program there - hopefully you may get some insight from their posts.......They are out there!

NurseMeco · Jan 28, 2004

Thank you so much for responding...I did a search and found a few post, not many....I just wanted someone to speak with re: GPC's program and I didn't want to email anyone w/o their permission.

Hopefully something will come up soon. Take care and thanks again.

SonyMom · Feb 6, 2004

I'm in the process of just trying to get accepted into GPC right now, let alone into the nursing program. It seems to be a slow process. I'm hoping to get in to start in the fall. The nursing department also has monthly information meetings. I went to one in December, and the person giving us the information really tried to scare us (i.e., the program is really difficult, a lot of people drop out, etc.). I think I'm in the same boat you are. I got my Associates Degee in Applied Science in physical therapy assisting in 1987, so I'm going to have to take Anatomy and Physiology II again (they don't require that you take Anatomy and Physiology I again, though, which is nice). I don't know if I can be of any further help, but let me know if I can.

NurseMeco · Feb 6, 2004

Did i hear you right? Don't have to take A&P1 over....that's got to be the best news I've heard yet. I was under the impression that if your sciences were over 5 or 6 years old, they needed to be retaken.

I'll be starting this summer. The process to get in wasn't difficult at all, but I'd been there b4 for other classes. I'd love to keep in contact. Send me an e-mail on how to reach you.

SSURN · Feb 13, 2004

Hi Everyone, I've been following the boards for a while now but decided to become a member and chat a bit today. You guys are so informative. :)
I was curious about GPC (Georgia Perimeter College), ADN program. I took my pre-reqs, years ago and now have to retake them...no big deal, but was wondering if anyone knew or heard of how the program was a GPC. If anyone has any info to share, that would be greatly appreciated...
Thanks,

Hi MecoInGa-

I graduated from GPC's ADN program. I thought it was a tough program, good but tough! I thought that I was very well prepared for my boards- I passed with the minimum # of questions. In fact, the boards were a piece of cake compared to some of my tests in nursing school. My graduating class had a 100% pass rate. Yes, a lot of people drop out, but these are people who barely made it into the program, (i.e., scraping by in the pre-reqs with low C's). If you really want to make it and you study hard you will be fine. Best of luck to you. :)

NurseMeco · Feb 13, 2004

Thank you so much. I am so excited (for now anyway) and I haven't even started. I've done a lot of research on GPC, but it really helps to hear it from someone going or has gone thru it.

So the program is tough......mmmmm, well, I guess I better start preparing myself for it now. Thanks again for your response, I really appreciate it.

kimtab · Feb 15, 2004

I'm in it now. If I were deciding again, knowing what I know now- I would find a way to go straight for the BSN and go to Kennesaw, or GSU, or Ga Baptist. If you want more specific info please PM me.

Kim

Adriennefu · Feb 15, 2004

I just graduated from GPC. I felt extremely well prepared for the boards. However, the school's program still needs a lot of work. The pharmacology module is self taught. i did hear that they were looking into ingrating it more into the program.

Board Pass rate HIGH, but Graduation rate LOW. Although gpc pass rate for state boards is high, very few make it that far. My class started with about 115 students, about 60% didn't make it to the second year of the nursing program. And only 20-35 students will/ have graduated according to schedule. Some have to retake classes 2 or even 3 times before passing (that's an additional course fee to pay for every retake). By the end of the program, most have dropped out or failed, due to personal or academic reasons.

Obviously, the course can be completed with success. i found positive thinking, making friends with other students in the program, (good emotional support) and good study habits helpful.

Disorganization, lack of faculty support/concern about student welfare, unprofessionalism of some faculty and unnecessary stress prevent me from recommending the program to others, until it is better structured.

NurseMeco · Feb 15, 2004

WOW!!!!!!

Thank you for the info. It seems like they really make it hard for the students. Do you think this is done purposely or they just don't know any better? With such a high failing/drop out rate, it seems like someone would try to figure out where the "real" problem lie (obviously the faculty) unless a great deal of students were accepted into the program that weren't mentally or academically ready.

OK, I think I need to re-visit my choices and make sure that I'm ready for what I may be getting myself into.

Meco

Adriennefu · Feb 19, 2004

A couple of years ago, I heard that there was a threat of GPC losing their accredation because the board pass rate was so low. Well, they have been inspected and recently re-approved for 7(i think) years accredation. Now, it seems, they'd rather admit 150 students and have 130 students fail or drop out.

If they make it really tough to get out of the program only the best are gonna get the chance to take the boards, therefore, it increases their chances of having good pass rates. Of course, the state doesn't look at program admission and graduation rates. They only look at how many take the boards vs how many pass the boards.

For example, if 20 excellant students take and pass the boards that would give them a pass rate of 100%. If they graduate 100 mediocre students and only 60 pass the state board that would be a pass rate of 60%. Think what that would do for business. It might even leave them open to being scrutinized by the state and public. Many students commented that they felt like they were being weeded out.

In my opinion, if the drop rate is that high, the program isn't very good. I feel that the program fails to allow enough people that are new to the medical field to feel comfortable enough to stay in and give it a try. The faculty, all too often point the finger at students, who couldn't make it, instead of pointing it at themselves and trying to find different and more effective ways of teaching the subject matter.

If you have to take Anatomy & Physiology before you start the program, i suggest that you take it as close to the start time of the program as possible. They do very little A&P review when they present the medical stuff. In all fairness, there is so much learning material to cover, they really don't have the time. i found it helpful to review the a/p on my own before we covered the subject. So, don't sell your a/p book!!!! Also, get all your prerequsites out of the way before you start the program. majority of the people who failed out were people who tried to take more than 1 course in the semester concurrently with the nursing stuff.

Some might ask why i am showing so much negativism, toward the program after graduating. Those who criticized the program before graduating, seemed to be ostracized by some faculty to the point of them failing out or dropping out. I couldn't speak up then and didn't want to, after investing so much time and money into the program. Now that i have my license in my hand, i will say what i feel needs to be said. GPC's program can use some improvements. ;-) As, i said in my message before, the program despite it's flaws, can be completed sucessfully. Many of the other schools also have high fail rates, just do a little research to find out which is the best program for you. You just need to make up your mind to NOT make failure an option. My advice, Do your best, no matter where you decide to go and eventually, you'll succeed!!! Good luck. I hope the extra information and pointers help you to feel as if you are making a more informed decision. If you do decide to give GPC a try then at least you know what to expect.