Can't get into nursing school!

[jellybean321]

Hey ya'll, so here is my dilemma. I am a pre-nursing student, all of my pre-reqs are done and I'm ready to apply to nursing school. However I talked to the advisor at my school and was told that there is a slim chance I will get in. (I actually appreciate the realism- I would rather someone tell me straight up then string me along so this isn't the problem). There are 80 seats in the nursing program and over 1,000 people applied last admission. I go to a community college in a small state (there aren't many colleges to choose from) and they require the NLN. My school uses a ranking system for admission based on your classes and NLN score. So for example, A&P if you have an A you get 4 points, if you have a B you get 3 points, etc. And they also calculate your NLN score into points for the ranking system. I get mostly high B's in all of my classes but didn't do so great on the NLN (and I can't take it again for another 6 months).

SO I am just feeling EXTREMELY discouraged. All of those 80 students who get accepted will have done excellent on their NLN and have 4.0 GPA's, I'm sure, especially when they are choosing from over 1000 students. And most of them dont have to work, well I do..I have to work full-time to pay my bills. I'm not right out of high school, I live on my own and take care of myself so not working is not an option. Some girls in my current class I am taking have been waiting 2 years to get into nursing school. This is just ridiculous to me. Why do people do this? I refuse to wait 2, and what sounds like more than 2 years to get into nursing school. It may never happen and you're just sitting there waiting and applying. How is this OK?! I am incredibly frustrated and just needed to vent on this site because I know others must feel the same way or are in the same boat. I'm considering changing my major at this point because I am not going to sit around and wait forever and ever for a REMOTE chance to get in. I may never get in and then I'm sitting around waiting for nothing. What is everyones thoughts on this?

Thanks for your comments ?

-Frustrated Pre-Nursing Student

[swansonplace]

That's great. It also gives you an additional background, and experience if you want it.

[green34]

Well, it is fairer in a way. Before with wait lists, it was unfair because people waited a long time to get in only to not do well and fail out. I have seen people struggle with the classes and fail out in their 2nd or 3rd semester. It is better this way to find out earlier and not fail out than to get in and fail out.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

And this is why I did the private college route. With so many people trying to get into the community college programs, it can take years (if at all) for some to get in. The community colleges here do 60% of the seats to those with the highest 'scores' which are calculated by TEAS scores, A&P scores, GPA and a few other things. The remaining 40% of the seats are then given in a 'lottery' type thing. Which means you could have a higher scores/averages on all classes and yet you don't get in but someone with much lower ones do.

I started doing my pre-reqs for the RN program years ago. Ended up doing the LPN route. I was an LPN for 3 years and then entered the LPN to RN bridge program at a private college. I just graduated in May and became a licensed RN in June. I have friends who are STILL trying to get into the community college programs..some even have to retake a few classes because now the timeframe that the program allows for those classes have expired.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

CT pixie, you bring up a good point regarding pre req's and expiration; OP, if you have enough credits, and you don't get in, find another college in the area, even try a university; if possible, apply for you associates degree. I did this, while I went to PN school, worked as a LPN, and went into a part time BSN program. I didn't have to retake any classes; I challenged only 2 sciences, entrance exam was above 90%, and got in. Been a RN for a year now.

[Gentleman_nurse, MSN]

Fireman767:

The OP is just frustrated. Be kind. Nobody said people with 4.0 GPA's shouldn't get in or didn't work hard. Fairness is subjective thing. Some people are very intelligent but not good test takers on standardized exams. Grading can be variable among different professors teaching the same subject. It's done like this because it's administratively efficient. Put the grades in a computer and spit out some names. Doesn't take a lot thought, effort, or manpower. But numbers can't tell you everything. It can't measure people skills or character. That's why some programs also look at data from other sources such as interviews, essays, and letters of recommendations.

Now let's see if we can help Jellybean:

Unfortunately it is what it is. This is the way most public community colleges work so you're facing very stiff competition. Some options:

1. Complete an LPN program and then an RN bridge. I notice around my area it's much less competitive. This has been mentioned a few times.

2. Relocate. Again I noticed certain schools have less competition. Usually because they're private and expensive but it's a path to the RN.

3. Complete a Bachelors degree and do an accelerated program. Also competitive but most programs look at the whole picture not just grades. Working and going to school at the same time will work in your favor.

[whattodo4]

As been said many times lpn to rn is certainly a viable route

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

they told me there were 300 applicants for 50 slots when I applied. A minimum of them did not have the requirements to even apply let alone be in contention. If you have your pre reqs and decent grades, you might stand a chance. Don't give up.

[HammockBound]

I would think the easiest route would be ...if you dont get into a public college...try a private one.

[MrsStudentNurse]

Short answer; move somewhere that isn't as competitive. I'm applying to two different cities both 2,000 miles away and opposite Sides of the country. My husband and I want out of here too but point is there are tons of nursing schools in this country to choose from.

[swansonplace]

What was the time limit before you had to retake classes?

[ScrappytheCoco]

I have been there OP! I had less than stellar grades and applied to a school with 500 applicants for 40 spots. I got in because I busted it and took a bunch of extra classes like a CNA course, etc to give myself extra points on my app. I also blew my entrance exam out of the water and had LPN classes on the backburner in case I wasn't accepted. I have never been more shocked in my life than when that acceptance letter showed up in my mailbox. I'm an RN now and just got my first nursing job in the Emergency Room. It can happen for you too! Good luck.

[norlns24]

I agree with the others who suggested moving. Where I live in rural NW IL, the local community college's ADN program is far less competitive than it used to be. Part of the reason is that ADNs are slowly but surely being phased out, and many hospitals in the area do not hire ADN RNs anymore in favor of BSN-RN applicants. On the positive side, more and more four year schools have rolled out RN to BSN degrees, mostly online, which makes getting the BSN post ADN that much easier. Also, more and more community college ADN programs are teaming up with local colleges or hospitals with BSN programs (as mine has recently announced it will do) to offer a BNS post ADN seamlessly, something like a satellite program.

I was in school with many successful applicants to my community college's ADN program who earned Bs and Cs in the harder courses. AFAIK, most applicants actually got in! Again, though, some of the more competitive applicants are now by-passing the CCs for 4 years schools and a BSN. Also, nursing jobs in this area have really dried up, so more students are considering other options and career paths now that news of the end of the nursing shortage has finally reached the masses (though it actually happened quite a while ago).

Also, some schools will allow LPNs (much easier to get into) to pick up an ADN by attending the second year of the AND program. At my CC, however, these spots are competitive and only open up if a student in the ADN program during his or her first year is dropped. Therefore, there is never any way of knowing how many spaces will be available. I believe a few spots should be available to LPN candidates every year, but it's all about the funding and the clinical spots, so adding second year spots for LPN candidates is not really feasible (according to the nursing program director).

Anyway, good luck to you! Come to NW IL and you will likely get a spot with high Bs.