I know this is kind of early but I just wanted to check if anybody plans to apply for the Spring 2011 nursing program at BMCC (Borough of Manhattan Community College) in NYC. I just met the preclinical advisor this week and he gave an update that CUNY eliminated the need for non-preclinical students (like me who's currently at liberal arts at BMCC) to first change their curriculum to preclinical before applying for the nursing program.
Here's an April 30 memo from the nursing department for anybody who wants to apply for the nursing program:
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TO: All Non-Nursing Students
FROM: The Nursing Department
DATE: April 30, 2010
RE: Admission into the Nursing Program
Non-nursing student who want to apply to the Nursing program please note the following:
1. Admission into the Nursing program is based on the GPA in the four required prerequisite courses (Eng101, Psy100, Mat104 and BIO425) and the overall GPA for both the Day and Evening/Weekend Nursing Programs.
2. Students who want to apply for the Full-Time Day Program must wait one semester after completion of the four required pre-requisite courses to apply for admission into the Nursing program.
3. Students who work full-time during the day and want to apply for the Part-Time Evening/Weekend Program must wait one semester after completion of the following courses: ENG101, PSY100, MAT104, BIO425, BIO426, BIO420, and PSY240 or SOC100 in order to apply for admission into the Nursing Program.
4. Please be aware that admission into the Nursing Program is also based on seat availability. The College does not guarantee admission into the Nursing Program.
5. In order to advance into the Nursing Program, students must provide documentation for one of the following categories:
US Citizenship, Permanent Residency, and International Students with F1 status, Granted Asylum, Refugee Status, Temporary Protected Status, Withholding of Removal, Deferred Enforced Departure or Deferred Action Status by the US Government.
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By the way, for those who are applying in late October for the Spring 2011 program, make sure to bring your advisement sheet and transcript if you took some prereqs outside BMCC. If you're applying for the evening program, also bring proof of your current employment.
I'm sooo excited to apply and can't wait for October!
I am sorry that you had such a horrible time at the BMCC open house. When I applied to the school I did everything online so I never dealt with anyone at the school. Who did you talk to at the school? The counselors or the actual people in the nursing office? I've heard there is a world of difference between the two offices; to be honest, I've had a pretty good experience with the CUNY system. I think a lot of people expect schools to jump through hoops for them, but this is a public school system, there is going to be a lot of red tape to get through (and don't think private schools are any better, I have a BA from a four year university and it was the exact same).
As for what the staff told you, there is no waiting list at BMCC, it is all merit based, you either have the grades to get into the program or you don't, simple as that. Whoever told you there is a waiting list was WRONG, and it's not impossible to get into the program, you just have to work hard and it will pay off. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of getting a 4.0 on your four pre-reqs if you want to get into the program whether it be evening or day. If you have a 4.0, I can almost guarantee that you will get into the program. But I warn you, it will take a minimum of a year to get into the program because after you finish your pre-reqs you MUST wait a semester before applying to the program. A lot of people are discouraged at hearing they must get a 4.0 to get into the program, but honestly the classes are not that hard if you're focused and determined. Nursing school is not easy and if the pre-reqs scare you away then you need to think about what the real nursing classes are going to be like.
Hunter is very difficult to get into, I've heard the staff at that school is even worse than BMCC but I have no idea really, I never applied to Hunter because I couldn't wait that long to get into their program, I wanted to be in nursing school as soon as possible and it took me a year to be where I am. But I am in the program and start my first nursing class next week! Maybe Hunter is the best option for you, I have no idea, it depends how quickly you do your pre-reqs but I know for BMCC it takes 1 to 1.5 years to be done with pre-reqs depending how quickly you finish the four classes.
However, I will tell you that BMCC recently changed their policy and the NLN is now needed to apply to the program where in years past it was temporarily suspended, also, there is no longer Pre-Clinical Nursing majors, if you want to do ANY health program at BMCC you MUST apply as a Undeclared Health Major, DO NOT APPLY AS A LIBERAL ARTS STUDENT. I have heard they try to enroll you as Lib Arts at registration, do not let them do this, it might hurt you in the end. I suggest you go to the BMCC website and look at the FAQs for prospective students, here is the link: http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/nursing/prospective-student/page.jsp?pid=1000&n=Nursing%20FAQs
It even says on the FAQ that the college does not maintain a waiting list, it's all based on the grades. I hope this information helps you and again, do not get discouraged by the people at BMCC, I have dealt with people in the registration office maybe once or twice and I have been attending BMCC for a year now.
I am beginning my pre-clinical courses this semester (eng101, mat104, etc.). I really want to get into the nursing program at BMCC but when I went to the admissions office the staff treated me really bad telling me it was almost impossible to get into the nursing program and to really think about it because there are years of waiting lists. As I have read on some posts about BMCC before, my guess is that it is not too impossible for someone with a 4.0 gpa so that is that attitude that I will be having entering this semester. I will be putti9ng my all into these pre reqs because I really have no other choice. I need to get into a nursing program as soon as possible and BMCC seems to be the quickest, or so i thought to be until those staff ladies brought me down to about a -10. I really need some encouragement or maybe just the truth that it kind of is almost impossible to get itn0o the nursing program at BMCC so I can focus on using my time at BMCC on finishing other courses that will help me get into a different nursing program. I went to the open house at Hunter college yesterday and loved their school. I know that their nursing program is really intense and the pre reqs take nearly a year and a half to complete. I was thinking about just spending my time at BMCC finishing some pre reqs that hunter requires and later transfer to hunter and finish there, or maybe I should just put in my all and take a shot at BMCC's nursing program. I guess I am just scared to fail because it is risky. Once I'm in, its hard to change or get out. Does anyone know about any other good nursing programs that don't require years of pre reqs? I would really appreciate some encouraging words being that the staff at BMCC made me feel so horrible about even wanting to attend their school. I can't believe how unprofessional and rude their staff is. I have never felt so let down especially at a school. I was seriously considering getting in touch with the president of the school or the dean and expressing my concern because it was that bad. I will be registering on friday for my pre reqs, hope I make it without wanting to kill somebody lol.
Ps. does anybody know of a professor/faculty member at BMCC that I could speak to who could help me out? someone who is really genuine and helpful please.
Hi Raven,
The first rule of thumb I've learned from being at BMCC is never let anybody get you down. Yes, there are staff that are rude but you have to fight back or let it slide. There are other nursing schools that might be better for you and will treat you better but for me BMCC is my only option because:
1. They have evening/weekend nursing classes as I have a full time job
2. My commute is easier as I work in Manhattan
3. I can only afford the tuition offered by CUNY schools.
If you have the same needs as mine, then yes, studying at BMCC is worthwhile. I initially enrolled at Hunter as well but found that they don't have evening nursing classes available. My advice is that choose BMCC if this is the school that meets your needs. If you only want the quickest route to nursing, then I'm pretty sure there are other accelerated nursing schools in the city that could do that.
For me personally, I started taking my prereqs in Spring 2009. I'm not sure if there is such a thing as waiting list at BMCC's nursing program since it's usually you either get in or not. As you've probably seen in other posts before, you have to get all As in the four prereq subjects (Mat104, Eng101, AP1, Psy1) to be able to get in.
I am just starting into the clinicals this semester and have not yet encountered professors that you can speak to regarding entering the nursing program and being helpful about it. Hopefully my prof. this semester will be one :).
My advice is not to let anybody let you down and decide your fate. I encountered a lot of challenges during my prereqs here at BMCC but I persevered with the help of this forum and classmates that you will meet as you go along. Having supportive classmates is key here at BMCC.
If you have any other questions regarding the prereqs at BMCC, just post in the board and we'll try to help.
By the way, Xilostgirl's registration advice is definitely helpful as I am one of those liberal arts student that was taken for a bumpy ride during my 2-year prereq time at BMCC.
Thank you so much Dee! I thought about it a lot and plan on taking a shot at BMCC. Hopefully this semester won't be too heavy. I will be taking psych, mat104, and chem (i believe i need to take this before i get into AP, right?), I already took eng101 at another college and got my A. I will let you guys know how my registration goes on Friday. Thanks again for your help, I am pretty alone in this, none of my friends understand being that I am the only one who is interested in Nursing so any support really helps!
The people at the orientation said oxford nursing shoes, they emphasized that they MUST be nursing shoes and they must be white, they cannot be sneakers or nursing clogs.
As for the paperwork, it says that it's due on the first day of class, but I don't think that it will be mandatory, maybe in the first week or so of classes it will be due. Definitely before we begin clinicals at the hospitals.
Speaking of clinicals, does anyone know where we are doing them. I've asked but no one has yet to give an answer...I was also curious about that...
I was told told that they do not expect us to have everything for the first day of class because vaccines/physical exam/CPR are needed for the hospital and since we are not going for the first 4 weeks, we have a little more time to do all that. In fact, the professor told me that it is fine if we take the BCLS during february as long as you have it by the first day of hospital.
RayenP
6 Posts
By the way- How long were some of you guys on the waiting list?