Advice for California schools

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Hi all, first post. To start, I'm graduating in June from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a BS in biology. I'm seriously thinking about getting into nursing, but I'm not sure how competitive it is to get into various programs. I know 4-year schools require something above a 3.0, but how about community colleges? I have about a 2.5 college gpa, but a 3.4 in 3 quarters of anatomy and phys. I also have all my pre-reqs out of the way and have an EMT license. Am I competitive anywhere? I'd like to go to school in the Bay Area, as well.

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All of the community colleges in CA have waiting lists. On average, about two years. And they are probably more competitve than the four year programs, at least currently.

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Ditto what Suzanne said. Also, GPA doenst matter at a lot of them. They go off of lottery systems, which sucks. I have a 4.0 and it doesnt get me anywhere! Good luck to you!

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Specializes in NICU.
All of the community colleges in CA have waiting lists. On average, about two years. And they are probably more competitve than the four year programs, at least currently.

I have to disagree here. The CC I got into (Santa Rosa JC) does not have a wait list. They do however have a lottery. You just have to qualify for the lottery, then hope your name gets drawn. If I remember correctly, qualifying is based on overall GPA, pre-req science GPA, and English GPA. Oddly English GPA is weighted more than science! I'm not sure how accurate this is, as it is just rumor, but I've been told that they actually had more spots than qualified applicants this past year. This is the first time in 7 years that has happened. They only take applications once a year currently. This is going to change soon though as they just added Spring entry this year. I believe they are accepting applications again next Fall (Oct. or Nov. I think.) Though with those of us that did not accept our spot (I got into a BSN program as well, and am taking that spot), they might have room in the spring?

For the university, acceptance is based on overall GPA (I think it had to be a 3.0 or highter), Pre-req science GPA, TEAS score, essays, and letters of recommendation. There were 170 qualified applicants and only 32 spots.

Good luck!

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I agree that many of the CC are harder to get into. Check out San Jose State. Their program is based on grades and the TEAS score. No waitlist, you reapply each semester if you dont get in. Dont get me wrong, there are tons of prenursing majors but at least you know if you have good grades and all the prereqs done you have a good shot...I will finish the program in December:monkeydance:

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I'll definitely check out san jose. I also heard about the USF and UCLA Master's Entry Options. Anybody know if you have to have a 3.0 in undergrad for either of these schools (I have above a 3.0 in prereqs)?

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I'll definitely check out san jose. I also heard about the USF and UCLA Master's Entry Options. Anybody know if you have to have a 3.0 in undergrad for either of these schools (I have above a 3.0 in prereqs)?

You must have a 3.0 GPA undergrad for UCSF. USF is more lenient. I'm not sure about UCLA. They are all pretty competitive.

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