Getting a little discouraged with the overcrowded schools, anyone else?

leenak · May 14, 2012

Are you in California?

Where I live, the community colleges aren't crowded but they are also not cheap. I'm not sure if you could actually go to a state school (again, I'm thinking if you are California, the CSUs are relatively cheap, but not sure how crowded their classes would be compared to the community colleges).

aflack41 · May 14, 2012

You can take most prereqs online through any college. I'm in Illinois and the online classes like psych, algebra, sociology, health etc can be enrolled from any student from any state same price. The school out here is an accredited community college, it's Joliet junior college in Joliet Illinois. Good luck.

LifeIsGood76 · May 14, 2012

Yes, I am in California. I have all my pre-reqs done except my science classes and they don't allow those to be done online.

SICarroll · May 14, 2012

Oh yes, Ill be going back to RCC in Riverside, CA this next term (God Willing). But it is very overcrowded! And the horrible part about that is that fact that by the middle of each term more than half of the "FULL" class drops out!!!! But it will happen as long as you/we keep trying!!! Good luck to you!!!

aflack41 · May 14, 2012

I don't think I'd quit my job if I were you because you can only take one biology at a time for example a&p part one before you could take part two. They are consecutive, so you would be able to work and take one class at a time. Good luck.

nursingstudent3109 · May 14, 2012

I live in Maine and got accepted for the fall 2012 nursing program. I was one of only 40 accepted out of approximately 200 applicants! It's crazy how many people want to get into nursing now.

rubato, ASN, RN · May 14, 2012

Yes, they are crowded. You have to be very well prepared on the first day of enrollment. Every semester, I am on the computer and the phone at 8 am the moment enrollment opens. It never fails that the science class I need is full within 1 hour. Crazy stuff. The good news is that a few spots open up on payment deadline day, which gives some of the later people a chance at the coveted spots.

Stephalump · May 14, 2012

Maybe wait until the day after payment is due? There always seems to be a spot or two that opens up from people not paying.

Then in the future, get that schedule early, plan your classes, and be ready on the first day of early registration!

Where I am, I wouldn't say the college is crowded, but allied health classes are. I'm guessing because most they're the first stepping stone for so many programs, and a lot of people fail and retake them, as well.

leenak · May 14, 2012

If you only have science classes left, then I'm not sure you should quit your job. You might need a more flexible job though if you are trying to get one that would work around the classes you can get in. You can also look at multiple community colleges around you, even if one is more of a drive than another, and see if you can get classes at one versus the other.

I'm going for a second degree BSN but in my first degree, if you couldn't get into a class, you would just show up at the first day of class and see if you could get a spot. It doesn't seem like people at the community college I'm taking my pre-reqs do that, so I'm guessing that isn't an option for you?

Our science classes do fill up prior to the class starting but recently I forgot to register for my class which was a popular class with registration known to fill up quickly. I registered a few days late and still got a spot. We have a lot of people going in allied health careers as well, I guess just not as many as some areas.

LifeIsGood76 · May 14, 2012

Thank you for all the advice. Unfortunately, my job is not flexible at all. I have set hours and work some days and some nights, so it is impossible to take any classes without quitting my job. I've tried to see if I could squeeze in a class around my hours and I can't. It is very frusturating.

leenak · May 14, 2012

I feel for you. I had a friend who took her pre-reqs in California and told me it took her 3 years because it was so tough to get into the classes. She is going to a nursing school on the east coast now.

You could also look at possibly taking a training class for a health related career to get experience while waiting to get into nursing school and taking pre-reqs. CNA, Phlebotomy, Doula, etc. Also look for volunteer options at local hospitals.