Wait list v. no wait list, and other related Q's

jabraham99 · Sep 8, 2008

Recently I made the decision to attend Baker college for my pre-nursing/nursing instead of MCC. That is the Nursing school I am going to shoot for now.
I am registered to take the HESI at MCC in December, and I still plan on taking it.
Let's say, worse case scenario, I don't get accepted to MCC and I don't get accepted to Baker, either. What other options do I have? Wait for each new year to come along to see if I made it in? Could I be waiting for 3, 4, 5+ years, theoretically, if I keep doing bad?
I'm wondering if I should try and get on a wait list in addition to taking the NET (at Baker) and the HESI (at MCC). Will that wait list guarantee me a spot in the Nursing program? How long are the wait lists, typically?
I am looking for anything in the South Eastern, MI area. Southfield is a little far for me, but I would be OK with that. I'm getting really frustrated because I want to be a Nurse more than anything, but I'm 23 years old and I have this feeling that I have wasted so much of my life, and --- Ugh! I sometimes feel so discouraged
Thanks in advance for any info. :heartbeat

I envy you. I am 42 and trying to get into a program. You have a lot of time. Apply to as many schools as you can!

july123 · Sep 8, 2008

I envy you. I am 42 and trying to get into a program. You have a lot of time. Apply to as many schools as you can!

agreed. i'm 30 and still doing pre-reqs :)

dwern31 · Sep 9, 2008

Try OCC (Oakland Community College). There is no waitlist. They go strictly by GPA for your pre-reqs. Application deadline for next fall's ADN is Dec 15th so you better have all your pre-reqs done by then or you'll have to wait until next year since they only start a new program once per year. I applied for their LPN program and supposedly will know tomorrow if I'm in. I'm 37 and wish I had made the decision to go into Nursing in my 20's. Like the others said, you have plenty of time and tons of options. Good Luck!

jabraham99 · Sep 9, 2008

Try OCC (Oakland Community College). There is no waitlist. They go strictly by GPA for your pre-reqs. Application deadline for next fall's ADN is Dec 15th so you better have all your pre-reqs done by then or you'll have to wait until next year since they only start a new program once per year. I applied for their LPN program and supposedly will know tomorrow if I'm in. I'm 37 and wish I had made the decision to go into Nursing in my 20's. Like the others said, you have plenty of time and tons of options. Good Luck!

Just my opinion, but I think your age is going to make you a lot better nurse. I don't know about you but life experience teaches you a lot and you grow as a person. I am not knocking people in their twenties, but after you have kids and the responsibilities of family it seems to make you a better, stronger person. I know at the age of 42 I am a lot different than I was twenty years ago. I don't think I would have made a great nurse when I was in my twenties. But I do think I would make one now. Just my two cents.

I hope you get into your program. Good Luck!!! Don't ever let age get you down or get in the way of what you want to do.

dwern31 · Sep 9, 2008

Thanks Jabraham99. I agree with you that age brings life experience. The first time I was in college at 18 I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life so I just chose a very general business major. After 15 years, several jobs, and 3 kids I have definitely learned a lot. I can't wait to start nursing and a new chapter of my life. Best of luck to you too. Like they say...Life begins at 40!

Toxicshock, if you really want to be a nurse just keep trying and applying. It will happen. While you wait you could always volunteer in a hospital or try applying for other jobs in the medical field for some experience. You could also take CNA or PCT training while you wait and get a job in those areas. Don't panic and just follow your dream.

ToxicShock · Sep 9, 2008

Thank you all so much for the support. I don't feel so bad about starting "late", knowing that there are so many others who feel the same, and from a wide variety of ages as well.

Unfortunately, dwern31, I wouldn't be able to go to OCC's Nursing program because Highland Lakes is waaaay too far for me to drive. Living on my own is not an option, and I would not be able to live with another person in a dorm.

However, I do feel more confident about getting into the program. I only have 2 our of 13 pre-reqs completed, so it will take me until at least spring 09 before I am able to take any entrance exam. I shouldn't "count my chickens".

Anyway, thanks again for the kind words, everyone. I really appreciate it very much! Good luck to all of you, as well - perhaps we will be nurses together one day!

hair_tie · Sep 10, 2008

By MCC do you mean mott or macomb? Just remember baker requires different classes than a "normal" college. I say "normal" because Baker is a career college, give you what you need to get you working.

Baker lets people into the program on a individual basis, each applicant is looked at. To gaurantee you get in you would have to basically do perfect all around.

Mott, you do the requirements and go on a waiting list and get in eventually. Baker you may put all the time in the world into it but not be good enough.

I was at baker, going for LPN, I had to take 2 classes over and I was disqualified. Just make sure you compare, Baker will say anything to get you to go there.

I just started Mott and I must admit the process of getting registered for classes is alot easier. Baker is alot calmer due to each campus being self sufficient. Also Baker anticipates your fin. aid and loans and gives you a book credit to cover books so no out of pocket money on the spot. Mott I have to buy all my books up front and reemberse myself through my loan.

ToxicShock · Sep 11, 2008

I was talking about Macomb for MCC. I'm not sure where Mott is.

By doing perfect all around, does that mean a 4.0 and doing really well on the NET?

hair_tie · Sep 11, 2008

Doing basically perfect is th eonly way I would feel confident that I was going to get in. I have seen people get a less than perfect GPA but do well on the net / hesi (LPN does the hesi) and get in but like I said they ook at each individual case. I want to do my stuff at a college that is easier to transfer from just in case I have to move. My husband does demoliton work and that can take him anywhere so I need to keep my options open. I went to Baker thinking oh I did great in high school, getting a 4.0 should be more than doable. Well things were going good until winter hit and all Baker campus's were closed but auburn hills. I had a 20 minute drive straight down 75, well with all the snow we got there were so many accidents in the area that it took me hours to get to school. When asked the guy that helps make the decision to close campus said we are all adults and we can decide if we want to traavel in bad weather, no need to close an entire campus because some people live far away, what about those that live close?

jabraham99 · Sep 11, 2008

Doing basically perfect is th eonly way I would feel confident that I was going to get in. I have seen people get a less than perfect GPA but do well on the net / hesi (LPN does the hesi) and get in but like I said they ook at each individual case. I want to do my stuff at a college that is easier to transfer from just in case I have to move. My husband does demoliton work and that can take him anywhere so I need to keep my options open. I went to Baker thinking oh I did great in high school, getting a 4.0 should be more than doable. Well things were going good until winter hit and all Baker campus's were closed but auburn hills. I had a 20 minute drive straight down 75, well with all the snow we got there were so many accidents in the area that it took me hours to get to school. When asked the guy that helps make the decision to close campus said we are all adults and we can decide if we want to traavel in bad weather, no need to close an entire campus because some people live far away, what about those that live close?

Are you still at Baker or a Macomb?