Alvin CC lvn to adn Summer 2011

shay-shay · Feb 1, 2011

Applications open on Monday! Hoping that there are a few other LVN's hanging around here that plan to apply. I graduated from Alvin's LVN program last year, and will also be applying to UTMB for Fall 2011 since I have all my pre-reqs. Honestly, I'm nervous about being accepted into either and a little scared that nothing short of a miracle will get me in. I'd love to have a place where we could all chat back and forth about the process!!

Hello I just wanted to see if you would be able to share your exp. with the LVN program @ Alvin. I am waiting to hear if I am among the 50 or so that will be accepted this week. What happens when they email you the accept/decline letter. Do you need to pay money to hold your spot once accepted will they have a meeting at the school before classes start? I am soooo very anxious. Thanks for any advice, or comments on what to look forward to in this process

punkydoodlesRN, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2011

Ok, lets see if I can remember...

I got an email AND a phone call, both in the same day. I didn't get the email until after the call - I just hadn't checked for the day.

Yes, there will be a mandatory meeting before classes start. You will have to have your BLS done by then AND at the meeting you'll have a mandatory drug screening.

Ok - I just dug through my email :) The acceptance notice came Jan 27.

CONGRATULATIONS! You have been accepted into the 2009-2010 Alvin Community College (ACC) Vocational Nursing (LVN) program which starts June 8, 2009.
An acceptance packet will be postal-mailed in the next 2 weeks containing your official acceptance letter and instructions on what to do next. It will go to the following postal address:
IF THE ABOVE ADDRESS IS INCORRECT, PLEASE REPLY TO THIS EMAIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH YOUR CORRECT POSTAL ADDRESS.
There will be a MANDATORY ORIENTATION MEETING on Wednesday May 6, 2009 at 1 pm in room S-157. At this meeting you will do a drug screen and be told about where to get scrubs, supplies, textbooks, etc. and when/where is the first day of class. You will also be required to bring documentation of your physical exam, immunizations, and CPR certification to this meeting. More details will be in your acceptance packet that comes in the postal mail including physical exam form, immunizations required, and CPR class schedule.

Hope that helps! Good luck - once you're accepted if you have ANY questions, just send me a message here. I had nothing less than a positive experience there - with the curriculum, the instructors & the clinicals. Please do let me know how it turns out!!!

shay-shay · Feb 1, 2011

Thank you so vey much! Just reading your acceptance letter gave me goosebumps...lol. I will def. take you up on your offer for questions in the future. I called about a week and half ago and they said that they will be sending out acceptance letters/emails during the first week of Feb. since they were still waiting on about 20 other test scores to come back. I am applying to the ADN program as well, but if I am accepted to the LVN program I am letting that app. go for now.

Thanks again and thanks for replying so quickly. Hope to talk to you soon.

punkydoodlesRN, BSN, RN · Feb 1, 2011

I hope you get your acceptance!!

shay-shay · Feb 2, 2011

Thank you so much! Good luck and blessing to you in your endeavors.

PS was it hard to find a job as an LVN.

punkydoodlesRN, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2011

A little. I started sending out aps in April. Between May 10 and June 22, I send out close to 100 aps and resumes. And though I was a brand-new LVN, I had 8 yrs of military medical experience. I took the 2nd job interview I received - really had no choice as two days prior, my DH had been laid off from NASA. I recently put in my 2wks to begin working with Bayshore. I'm just on day 3 of orientation though. I had 3 interviews and 3 offers... but lots of frustration in between.

In your 3rd semester you'll take a professional development class where you'll be required to create a cover letter, resume, resignation letter as well as have 20+ job offers for LVNs. I got them from everywhere - Chron, Chron.com, Craigslist (which is where I found the job I just left. My base was $22!!) I think I submitted 73 opportunities for the project. So, they are out there. Your first job may not be ideal, but stick with it 9-12 months, get some experience and it will help open doors!!

punkydoodlesRN, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2011

What area are you in BTW?? Oh, one other thing, once you graduate you're added to a mass mailing list from the LVN secretary - I get 3-4/m with local LVN jobs - hospitals, physicians, nursing homes, and even school nurse for Alvin ISD. I know several of my classmates found their jobs from those emails. The school has some fabulous contacts - employers tend to like ACC grads.

shay-shay · Feb 3, 2011

Thank you so much! Sounds promising. Call me naive, but I wasn't really worried that I wouldn't be able to find a job after graduation. That is not until I see everyone posting and blogging that there are no jobs out there. I am happy to hear that they give you so much help during and afterwards.

I called today just to see if they started contacting ppl for acceptance yet, and someone (secretary I think) said they were sending out notices as we speak and if I did not hear anything by Friday to give them a call again. So I am really sitting on the edge of my seat with anticipation ready to hear something.

Thank you so very much for all of your help, info, and feedback. I am in the SW Houston area. It will be a hour and 15 min. drive for me everyday (I dont' drive on Houston's freeways) (My family and I moved to Houston about 2 years ago from Seattle). I feel pretty neutral about the drive-I am willing to sacrafice w/ the drive, but if I could pick up and move my husband and 2 little ones I would move closer to the school.

I also wanted to ask you how the clinicals worked, as far as the days and times. I am just a little concerned as to how I will do childcare. as of right now I will have to put my youngest (3 yrs.) in daycare and my oldest (5-will be in Kinder) will have to do before and after daycare Or my husband will have to quit working. So we shall see what happens.

punkydoodlesRN, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2011

It's been a while, but I kinda remember our schedule. Now I think they had planned on changing it a bit the yr after us, but yours would likely be similar.

Semester 1 (Summer) - Class Mon - Wed. 8-4ish. Clinicals Thursday 7-3:30-ish

Semester2 (Fall) - Class M & F 8-4-ish. Clinicals TW 7-4:30ish. We had thursday off.

Semester 3 (Spring) Class M&F 8-4ish. Clinicals tWTH 7-4:30ish

Mine were 1 & 3 when I started. They went to day care for the first time on my first day - and did FABULOUS. We had people that drove quiet a distance - it was a sacrifice - but nothing you want is easy (wouldn't that be nice!)

They do try their best to place students at a clinical location close to their home address. But it depends on the locations - LVN sites are getting harder to get for the school. I was at Christus St John for 2 semesters, and the third semester, I had a site in Alvin, Myerland Plaza area & Baytown.

General E. Speaking, RN, RN · Feb 3, 2011

Just wanted to say good luck! I was accepted at Alvin but also at Wharton. Wharton won because less traffic for me. That was a couple of years ago. The summer schedule was CRAZY! We had a test every few days. It basically covered what the brand new ADNs covered their first year. Good thing was as a LVN, you are already (sorta) familiar with the contents. Our class "merged" with the generics (regular 2 yr ADN students) in the Fall.

It is so worth it, money-wise and opportunity-wise.

koulett · Feb 14, 2011

Wow! I am in the process of applying to both Alvin and Wharton. Its encouraging that you were accepted in to both. The deadlines are fast approaching and I am getting nervous. If I get accepted to both..I think I'll choose Wharton as well...because of the proximity to where i live.