I need advice for Dallas area schools

mysterious_one, ASN, RN · Nov 6, 2006

Hi,

I am a first semester student at EL Centro ADN programm and have found out very quickly that you have to almost teach yourself by reading a lot. The tests are very hard, and yes we are in our 10 th or 11 th week now and have quite a few drop out allready. It is very hard to get into the programm also. From what I have heard and of course, I don't know that for sure, four year programms might be a little easier, simply because there is more time for the instructors to teach all the material. ( I don't know, could be other reasons, too). El Centro is known for having a high passing rate at the NCLEX, so if you are determined you will make it. And I am not sure if it makes a difference if you fist do the LVN programm and then bridge over to the RN, it will be equally hard. Also there is North Lake , in Irving, which is connected to El Centro and Brookhaven in Plano, which used to be connected to El Centro. So all these are simillar programms.

Good luck

Jtejas · Nov 6, 2006

Not to get you down more. But to help in decision making. Im a 3 rd semester student at El Centro. Yes, reading is required. Big time. You do get alot of notes as in power points and such with certain instructors. Here is the scoop on El Centros testing.

They have made a test bank of questions. This bank is by now years old. The questions are, well, retarded. It comes down to splitting hairs on these questions, down to just a word that can change the meaning. The questions are also from older versions of books, sometimes over material that you may not have covered. Now here is the real kicker. They purchased this program and want all the teachers to use it.... But not all of them do. Some teachers make their own test's, in those classes the students do alot better. Some don't, and in those classed the failure rate is high. very high.

Elcentro's average to pass is 78, yes...78... Its hardcore. I spend 30 to 35 hours a week crammin every week. Im barely keeping up...

At ElCenro if you have a 4.0 on your pre reqs and can pass the entrance test your in. A 3.77 might make it depending on amount of appicants.

Also now if you get two scores below 78 your on probation... Not sure what that means..... Its a way to help you improve.

mysterious_one, ASN, RN · Nov 7, 2006

Not to get you down more. But to help in decision making. Im a 3 rd semester student at El Centro. Yes, reading is required. Big time. You do get alot of notes as in power points and such with certain instructors. Here is the scoop on El Centros testing.
They have made a test bank of questions. This bank is by now years old. The questions are, well, retarded. It comes down to splitting hairs on these questions, down to just a word that can change the meaning. The questions are also from older versions of books, sometimes over material that you may not have covered. Now here is the real kicker. They purchased this program and want all the teachers to use it.... But not all of them do. Some teachers make their own test's, in those classes the students do alot better. Some don't, and in those classed the failure rate is high. very high.
Elcentro's average to pass is 78, yes...78... Its hardcore. I spend 30 to 35 hours a week crammin every week. Im barely keeping up...
At ElCenro if you have a 4.0 on your pre reqs and can pass the entrance test your in. A 3.77 might make it depending on amount of appicants.
Also now if you get two scores below 78 your on probation... Not sure what that means..... Its a way to help you improve.

Actually , no if you make two test scores 70 or below you are out, period.

Hi, James , who are those teachers that make up their own test,that you are talking about ? You have any good tips for me, going into sec. semester.

jodibmk · Nov 11, 2006

i would recommend tarrant county's adn program.

i was accepted there but due to a move i was unable to attend. but i did do all of my pre reqs there. the nursing department secretary was so nice and helpful. their student labs are built like a real hospital room with two "patients" in a room. i am currently in a adn program and you pretty much have to read, read, and oh yea read.

plus be very flexible as far as your schedule when you begin. if at all possible take all possible classes that you can take before actually applying. it will make your first semester a bit easier:rotfl: if you can say nursing school is easy. i know a few people in my class who are also having to take micro and other classes in addition to the curriculum.

don't quit! you can do it!! just know you will be completely frustrated and want to cry frequently but after wyou are finished you will look back and realize that it didn't break you and you percivered.

good luck

Fun2, BSN, RN · Nov 27, 2006

I hate to correct anyone (ok, not really...lol), but 4.0 students get turned away in El Centro's program.

The competition is so fierce! However, it bobbles from 4.0 to 3.77 from semester to semester. Spring '06 had 15 students with 4.0's get declined a postition. I'm sure they made it for Fall '06, if they reapplied, though.

(Fall '06 was 3.77, and Spring '07 was back to 4.0 with the NET being used to break ties!)

NLC is a satellite for ECC's program. Brookhaven has their own now, with Mountain View being their satellite school.

The lectures aren't really lectures. They are mostly 'reading from the Powerpoint' mostly, and you get nothing if the Powerpoint isn't working! :eek:

Yes, we are having to read & teach ourselves mainly, and yes, there is a high withdrawal rate. Three tests in, and we've lost 10 out of 50 students, just at the North Lake Campus.

We just took our 4th exam, over Fluid and Electrolytes and Nutrition, etc, and it was a terrible test. I wouldn't be suprised if we loose another 10 just from that one test.

If you get two 70's or below during any one semester, you are kicked out of the program, it doesn't matter if you made 100's on the other tests.