MCC Nursing Qs and advice

shannonmarie7 · Mar 27, 2008

I am currently attending Baker, but I am also applying to MCC for fall 09 to better my chances of getting in a program.

Here are a few things that I was told when I talked with a counselor there, but somebody that is attending can tell you more:

1. It is only your last 12 credits that count towards the entrance, she said a lot of people take really easy classes for the last 12 to get a better GPA. It doesn't work that way at my school so I am not sure if it is true.

2. The Hesi/NET only goes as high as Algebra so try studying basic math, pre-algebra, and algebra.

As for your tattoo's I am not sure about in class but a long sleeve shirt always does the trick under a scrub top in a Dr's office.:wink2:

Good luck!

mom2is · Mar 27, 2008

I would really aim for all A's in your classes! The program is very competitive and most students have a 4.0 or very close to it and a high HESI score. There was also some talk about not using the last 12 credit hours for the gpa and using the gpa from the nursing pre-reqs instead. The learning center has a study guide for the HESI that you can use or you can order one (Amazon probably has one). You are allowed to wear a white shirt under your uniform in the program. I don't think they would allow you to roll up your sleeves if the tattoos are visible. They are pretty strict on things like that. The nurse pack can't be purchased until you are in the program. They sell it in the bookstore at Center campus and it is just a bunch of bandages, foley kit, syringes etc.

Nursing classes are usually 2 half days of lecture or one full day along with 2 days of clinical. Classes run 8 weeks at a time. Whatever lecture class you have you will have the clinical at the same time. As far as math, yes, you will have to use it! Everytime you start a new clinical rotation (every 8 weeks) you will have to pass a medication dosage calculation test. They do have a book called "Math for Meds" or something similar in the bookstore.

I'll be totally honest and tell you that this is a difficult program! Be prepared to spend a lot of time studying. They don't recommend working more than part time during the program and a lot of students had a hard time with that. The end result will be totally worth it though!

deftonez188 · Mar 27, 2008

I'd like to mention, see how you do in those prereq classes, alot of people attend MCC and do mediocre in the prereqs and then expect some transformation to occur to propel them into Nursing.

It's alot of work, so if you actually want to do it, read read read read read read read read read and when you want to vomit, read some more, then read it again and again.

ToxicShock · Apr 4, 2008

Thank you all for the information. I'm going to bust my butt and work harder than I ever have in my life. I only work a couple days a week now, so I'm not too worried when I start clinicals because my job is thankfully very flexible. :)

SnowStar4 · Apr 10, 2008

I wouldn't worry about the HESI at all. It's basic knowledge that you should have aquired by the 8th grade. The study quide should be plenty to do fine on it. There were a couple questions with anatomy words that tripped me up since I simply didn't have them in my vocabulary yet, so I would study the words in the back of the study guide even though they say they are not testing on A&P. I didn't expect to need to know them.

The letter I got the other day said that last years acceptance class had a average 94 on the HESI and 3.93 GPA. Each of the last three years the average on the HESI rose 2 points (so three years ago it was 90) and the GPA has rises slightly each year as well.

I've also heard that people take really easy classes just to get a 4.0 as well, so I would do whatever it takes to get a 4.0. That makes me pretty mad since they are comparing simple community college classes to my senior year of a organic chemistry BS. Not good for me!

jabraham99 · Apr 10, 2008

I wouldn't worry about the HESI at all. It's basic knowledge that you should have aquired by the 8th grade. The study quide should be plenty to do fine on it. There were a couple questions with anatomy words that tripped me up since I simply didn't have them in my vocabulary yet, so I would study the words in the back of the study guide even though they say they are not testing on A&P. I didn't expect to need to know them.
The letter I got the other day said that last years acceptance class had a average 94 on the HESI and 3.93 GPA. Each of the last three years the average on the HESI rose 2 points (so three years ago it was 90) and the GPA has rises slightly each year as well.
I've also heard that people take really easy classes just to get a 4.0 as well, so I would do whatever it takes to get a 4.0. That makes me pretty mad since they are comparing simple community college classes to my senior year of a organic chemistry BS. Not good for me!

I agree with you. I get mad when I think of busting my butt to get a 4.0 in Microbiology and A&P while other people where taking blow off classes. Sorry, just needed to vent a little!!!

shannonmarie7 · Apr 11, 2008

I agree with you. I get mad when I think of busting my butt to get a 4.0 in Microbiology and A&P while other people where taking blow off classes. Sorry, just needed to vent a little!!!

Baker does not do it like that, they use all of the pre-reqs not just the last 12 so you can't use easy classes to get in. I'm not sure why MCC does it like that, I was surprised that the counselor would even suggest it.

ToxicShock · Apr 11, 2008

Baker does not do it like that, they use all of the pre-reqs not just the last 12 so you can't use easy classes to get in. I'm not sure why MCC does it like that, I was surprised that the counselor would even suggest it.

The counselor at the Nursing seminar said that MCC does it this way to benefit students who may have blew off their first year or so of college. He said that a lot of teens go right from high school into college, don't do very well, take off a few years, and come back. MCC doesn't want this to affect one's GPA and thus prevent them from getting into the program, so they take the last 12 credits.

Yeah, that would be great if I didn't have 17+ credits worth of pre-Nursing before next fall! :uhoh3: Not to mention the fact that I don't have the money to afford blow off classes anyway. I need to be wise and frugal with my (little) funds.

I'm still terrified of the HESI, but I think I'm gonna get a HESI study guide this weekend. I know I'm way ahead of the game, but I'm taking my test in either Oct, Nov, or Dec, and that's going to be here before you know it.

Thanks for all the advice and confidence! I'm not as clueless or scared as before, so I'm feeling a bit better :)

inspire · Apr 11, 2008

A counsler told me they will be changing the admissions process to the rn program over the next few years. They are supposed to be adding a science portion to the Hesi, and will based admission on the GPA of the pre reqs. They need to change it. When I got started in this process, I was determined to have a 4.0. I dont think any of the pre req classes are difficult (especially A & P that most dread.) The problem is many of the classes are very time consuming. I find many students dont want to put in the time to earn an A which makes me wonder how they expect to survive the RN program.

ToxicShock · Apr 12, 2008

Well that makes me feel a whole lot better! I have nothing but time to devote to school. I don't have any friends or a life, so I study all day. I'm reviewing my medical terminology on my own, independent of a class now, and I'll be knocking out my 2nd pre-Nursing class this summer: psych.

Thanks again for all the info, everyone!!