CCAC Spring 2010

When I started this fall, there were 90 students in the program. I don't how many are in the program now. I'm doing very good in the program. There is a lot of reading to do and we alternate between a quiz and an exam every week. Things are getting a little more intense because the material is becoming more complex. There's more paperwork to fill out in clinical. It's challenging but doable as long as you do what you're supposed to do.

As for scheduling, 2 days were assigned for scheduling and we had a lottery. There were 6 scheduling options to choose from and I was lucky to get my first choice. The registration form was already filled out, so all we had to do was take it to the registration office. That's how it is at Boyce; I don't know how it is at other schools. For 102 next semester, there will still be a lottery but the scheduling will be different: lab every other week, 10 hour clinicals, and clincial at some places starting at 1pm and ending at 11pm. A lot of students are concerned about that because they work and/or have families.

I'm not sure about being able to switch from evening to day, although what I've seen on the school's website makes it seem possible.

I asked that question about switching. Provided there is a seat, it is yours for the taking. Same goes for locations, if there is a position you can go for it. I was told there tends to be a lot of movement between Boyce and Allegheny, North and South not as much movement. You can technically start at one campus and graduate elsewhere. I found everyone had different opinions on which location was better for clinical's.

I appreciate the info on scheduling, what I was told was extremely vague (like they didn't know). No one mentioned a lottery, all I was told at North was three shifts for clinicals, day, evening and weekends, no one told me how it was selected, I assumed the day class had day, evening had evening and weekend was weekend.

Again, Thanks Cocobean, great info.

I am not yet at the point to apply to CCAC for nursing, but I am a student there now, originally I was taking prerequisites to go into Social Work and transfer to Pitt, but in the past 2 weeks I have decided to take a crack at prerequisites for nursing. As of now I have 24 credits @ CCAC, most are Social Sciences. Now let me tell you a little bit about the advisors. Do your own leg work, and networking. Most of the advisors don't know very much! In order to become a college advisor, most positions require a sales and marketing background, and that is major universities, now mind you this is Community College, so that right there should tell you alot! Bottom line is the longer the school can keep you there, the more money they make! Which is why you really need to be your own advisor! My daughter graduated from High School this past May, and when we went up to register her for classes for Fall, I knew more than the advisor did! I had my daughter's schedule all done, but even though all the classes were available on the days and times we picked, the advisor tried to interject her knowledge in the scenario, and for each suggestion she made, I had ample reason to shoot her down and correct her. After walking out of there I thought "My God, I can just imagine how many ppl this place has taken for a ride"! As for the teachers there, let me tell you, if you look them up on www.ratemyprofessor.com, which is what I do whenever I pick a class, so far everything said about a teacher has rang true! So beware, because some are really pretty crappy teachers! And really I don't know what it is with nurses that teach, and even many nurses in general, but alot seem to want to be sadistic at alot of programs, like they have some envious issue to square away!

So to all of you that are sweating it out, I feel for you! But just remember all things happen for a reason, and even if at the time they happen you can't see the "Why", trust me later down the line life will make sense of it for you!

I agree about most of the advisors. I was floored that at North some of the advisors are department chairs that have to donate X amount of days/hours a week. The preferred advisors, you never get to meet because they are booked weeks in advance!

As an adult student, I did my homework and walked in a told them what I wanted, not what they wanted to give me. The way I look at it, I am paying for a service, If they make a mistake I pay for it, if I make the mistake they can tell me they told me so. I also have seen classmates taken for a ride or worse yet, submit because they don't know any better.

I will add that the disparity between locations and professors are incredible. My A&P1 we had a ton of hands on labs, we dissected everything. My carpool mate is in A&P 1 at Allegheny and has not dissected anything, nor has she used the microscope more than once (I used mine almost every lab in my A&P). I don't get it personally how there can be such a difference.

I guess that makes me the oddball on the statistics. I have a 3.14 GPA from my degrees, a 3.6 CCAC GPA. Have taken all the courses except the nursing, my anatomy and physiology classes did not transfer so I will have to retake them. My degrees included 7 different biology classes and 5 chemistry classes. My NET score is a 97. My first choice campus for CCAC is California University of Pennsylvania. The other campus that I could possibly attend is South since I live in Waynesburg.

Good Luck to everyone and keep us posted as to when you hear something.
Lesli Joy

97! wow, that honestly makes me happy. The way the advisor's sold the NET was that only those right out of high school got into the 90's. Regardless, the NET was one test I just could not figure out, especially those last 3 sections.

Got to ask, how did you prep for the NET? I used the ERI stuff (book and on-line) and I will admit it, I took the CCAC NET prep. Not much of a prep to be honest, unless you call taking a practice test prep.

A 97 is awesome Lesli!!

I have a previous Bachelor's degree, have been done with school for 3 years and still managed to get an 87 - didn't quite make it to 90, which was my goal.

I just used the ERI study guide and googled extra practice problems on some of the different math areas as I was a little rusty on fractions, percentages, etc. I heard from several people the CCAC prep class was a waste of time and money, so I didn't bother with that. I just drilled myself on as many types of practice problems as often as possible. Sadly, it doesn't seem like there is much more you can do as good study guides for the test are seriously lacking. The only one I could find is the ERI, and it's quite brief.

I did not use any "prep material" I looked over my algebra notebook from college, I have kept every notebook from every class I have ever taken, I also read as a hobby (all the time) I read more than I watch TV and I read to my kids a lot and the comprehension just kicks in when you have to explain what you are reading to a 4 year old, so that is how I prepared. Not sure if that helps.

Hey all. I stumbled on this site when I googled ccac spring 2010 application... I am glad I am not the only one going crazy about the lack of response from CCAC! I hoped they would at least email you saying something along the line of "We received your application... good luck!" I feel suddenly a little overwhelmed... I finished all the pre and corequisites... with a 3.4 gpa, but only a 70 something on the NET exam. I was wondering if anyone has their NET scores posted under their "entrance exam" page on CCAC central? I took mine at CCAC, and included a copy of the scores in the packet... but CCAC did not post the scores? Go figure.
Good luck to all!

My NET scores are not on CCAC central, nor were they on the transcript page from the registar's office. I took my NET at CCAC as well.

Now a good friend of mine, she took NET at CCAC as well, but on her transcripts from CCAC it had her test score. She asked if she needed to include a copy of the report and they still said yes. I have to ask her if it is on her CCAC central page.

I took the NET at North, she took it at Allegheny. I would not think it made a difference, then again I was told today Allegheny does not use a lottery system for clinicals and they are only 6 hours long. A few posts back, Boyce uses a lottery and 10 hour clinicals. I was also sternly advised not to worry about all the disparities, everything will become clear during orientation. (did not know we had orientation either).