Saddleback students - a few questions about your program...

U.S.A. California

Published

Hi everyone,

I have applied to several nursing programs in Orange County, among them Saddleback College's, and I'm wondering how students who are currently enrolled there like the program.

I have a few questions, and I'd really appreciate if you could take the time and let me know what you think of the program.

Please feel free to write as much as you can think of. I'm really interested in anything that comes to your mind. Just skip any question that you don't feel like answering.

1. What semester are you in?

2. What do you like about the program?

3. What do you dislike about the program? / What do you think should be changed?

4. When comparing Saddleback to what you've heard of other programs, are there things that you believe Saddleback does better than other programs? (aside from producing high NCLEX pass rates)

5. To the A-hunters among you who entered the program with A's in all classes: Do you think you'll manage to graduate with A's in all your nursing classes as well?

6. Do you work? How much?

7. Is there anything you wish you had known before you entered the program?

Many thanks to all of you in advance!

Jessie

Specializes in Critical Care.

Irvine Valley College is a "sister" school to Saddleback, so I'm sure that they would accept classes from there. From my experience, it sounds like a lot of people starting the program next week took some of their classes at Coastline Community and/or Golden West.

I took the child/adolescent development class at Saddleback when it was Psych 7 (a LONG time ago!) They accepted my Gerontology class, I'm assuming because I took it at Long Beach State.

You might want to try contacting Saddleback's division office for the nursing program. They have always been very helpful with any questions I had.

2lroberts:

I called the nursing counselor you talked to, and she verified that my course meets both lifecycle 1 & 2, and my college is not one of the neighboring schools. I also know of someone else who had a three unit psychology course (human development) approved for lifecycle 1 & 2 (also not from a neighboring school). It depends on what the course covers.

I think when she told you that the teacher was very strict and would not accept most courses, she probably confused the lifecycle courses with pharmacology. Many pharmacology courses (even those of some other nursing programs) are not accepted at Saddleback.

I would still try e-mailing the catalog description or the syllabus description of your course (if your catalog is not detailed enough) to the counseling department and ask if it will waive lifecycle 1 & 2. You definitely have a shot.

Good luck!

Jessie88, thanks for updating me! I called the counselor back and explained my situation and she told me the new class I signed up for would "probably" transfer. I'm still not really sure what happened the first time I talked to her, but I have a feeling you're right- she must have thought I was talking about pharmacology instead. Sorry I scared you! Thanks SO much for mentioning this whole thing to me- I'm really glad that I can knock this class out in advance. I owe you! :D

Thanks SO much for mentioning this whole thing to me- I'm really glad that I can knock this class out in advance. I owe you! :D

No problem. Glad I could help. :)

Whoohoo, got my acceptance letter in the mail yesterday! I'm so excited!!! Jessie88, did you hear back yet? I hope we'll be classmates!

Congrats 2lroberts and anyone else who made it in! So exciting:yeah:

Specializes in Critical Care.

2l:

Congratulations!!

Are you for sure going to go to Saddleback?

When do you all have your paperwork sessions and orientation?

Thanks you guys!!!

AAnderson- Yup, I'm totally sold on Saddleback and I can't wait to start! Paperwork/TEAS is Oct 12th and orientation is Dec 11th.

Specializes in Critical Care.

2l:

Congratulations again! :)

When are you moving down here? What area are you planning on moving to? Mission Viejo? (I'm so nosy - I can't help it!)

I ordered the study guide for the TEAS off of the ATI website & did fine.

My paperwork sessions & orientation didn't seem like that long ago! I can't believe that I'm starting at the hospital this week already!!

AAnderson,

Thanks so much! SUPER exciting that you're starting at the hospital this week- I'm dying to hear how it goes when you've got time!

I totally don't mind the nosy-ness. You're so nice for being interested! At the moment I have no idea when I will move down or where I will live....scary! Do you have any good suggestions for apartment/condo complexes that are affordable but nice and near the campus? I'd like to live in Mission Viejo because it seems a bit more affordable than most of the surrounding areas. What do you think?

For the TEAS I ended up buying the ATI guide plus another Kaplan one since I've heard ATI doesn't cover the science portion very well. Probably overkill but it'd be horrible to fail and not be able to start the program! So far I feel ok about the material, I just need to review chemistry and physics since it's been a loooong time since I've thought about any of that stuff. Any tips you have would be great!

I really appreciate all the help everyone has given on this forum- it was definitely the determining factor in my decision to go to Saddleback. You guys are the best!

Hi 2lroberts,

I had friends who took the TEAS test and some thought it was hard and others though the opposite. But when I took the TEAS Test I thought it was pretty basic. The science section of my test had no anatomy :eek:.

I took the test in April just to see how it is. I all nightered before the test and managed a score of 91.2%.

I was pretty shocked and of course happy. haha...

I hope you do well!

Good luck!

AAnderson,

Thanks so much! SUPER exciting that you're starting at the hospital this week- I'm dying to hear how it goes when you've got time!

I totally don't mind the nosy-ness. You're so nice for being interested! At the moment I have no idea when I will move down or where I will live....scary! Do you have any good suggestions for apartment/condo complexes that are affordable but nice and near the campus? I'd like to live in Mission Viejo because it seems a bit more affordable than most of the surrounding areas. What do you think?

For the TEAS I ended up buying the ATI guide plus another Kaplan one since I've heard ATI doesn't cover the science portion very well. Probably overkill but it'd be horrible to fail and not be able to start the program! So far I feel ok about the material, I just need to review chemistry and physics since it's been a loooong time since I've thought about any of that stuff. Any tips you have would be great!

I really appreciate all the help everyone has given on this forum- it was definitely the determining factor in my decision to go to Saddleback. You guys are the best!

Jolen,

Wow, congrats on doing so well! I've heard mixed reviews from people too- some say it's super easy and some think it's really tough. I'm glad to hear you thought it was pretty basic. I can't believe there wasn't any anatomy! Darn, that was one of the subjects I actually felt ok about. Thanks for the info!

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