CCBC Fall 2014 RN program

Published

Hello I just took my TEAS and scored a proficient at 75& and my GPA is 3.67. I really hope I get in. I figured I would start a thread :)

I got my letter today and I'm at least on the waiting list so there is still some hope!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I got my letter today and I'm at least on the waiting list so there is still some hope!

You will get it. I hear there are a few people declining seat at Essex. Ill keep my fingers crossed for you

Up Vote Up Vote ×

letter received :) It's getting so very exciting! @Fitmom84 and @tsnipe1 From what I gather from my girlfriend that just finished first semester, orientations they will work with you on… BUT if I'm calculating right, our start date for actual classes will be Aug 25 … I don't think they'll let you miss that entire first week … and I don't think you'd want to! I had a vacation planned end of August as well, but I was freaked out about this start date - so I moved it to the beginning of Aug. I hope this is an option for you! I'm so glad there are other student moms in this class!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Mail finally came yesterday at 4:30 as we were heading out the door! Orientation is May 22nd, phew! @jackiejeanne - I'm going to San Diego the end of this month, thankfully after orientation. I pretty much know that this point that last week in August is going to be the first week of school. You're in the Catonsville Day program, right?

@ambitionsBSN - congrats on getting into NDM! I have my undergrad from them and had considered them for this as well, but alas, finances do not allow.

Just goes to show you it really depends who is in the pot! I got accepted with an 89% on my TEAS (I think that's advanced, I don't remember), actually a 3.1 for my prereq GPA (I graduated college with a 3.4 but was an awful student my first two semesters) and a science GPA of 3.5. Anyone else accepted care to share their stats?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You will get it. I hear there are a few people declining seat at Essex. Ill keep my fingers crossed for you

Thanks!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

First of all congrats to everyone for even attempting the process thus far :) THANK YOU to all of you on here - I STILL haven't gotten my letter (moved and had to go down and officially change address and worried that's what is holding it up) but after I got on here and read through this feed I got onto SIMON and then my account and saw there was a seat fee…I am cautiously excited.

I applied to Catonsville Day program - so am I correct that you all have said orientation is the 22? I paid the fee and am hoping my letter comes today. If it's not here by Monday I am going down there personally to find out and proceed from there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My TEAS was a 86% I believe and my GPA was a 4.0 when I applied - it's not anymore due to a lovely Sociology class that I took online and honestly didn't give my full attention. I have a 3.85 but I was still in Micro when I applied and was pretty worried that was going to hold me up. From what the advisor I spoke with said (she was wonderful btw - Ms.Degner) if you have high marks in Sciences it goes a long way. I am taking Stats online right now as well (awful idea but couldn't fit into my schedule any other way) and that will likely bring my average down as well - I don't see making it out of that with anything higher than a B. Huge congrats - I guess it's time to buckle up for the ride ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
First of all congrats to everyone for even attempting the process thus far :) THANK YOU to all of you on here - I STILL haven't gotten my letter (moved and had to go down and officially change address and worried that's what is holding it up) but after I got on here and read through this feed I got onto SIMON and then my account and saw there was a seat fee…I am cautiously excited.

I applied to Catonsville Day program - so am I correct that you all have said orientation is the 22? I paid the fee and am hoping my letter comes today. If it's not here by Monday I am going down there personally to find out and proceed from there.

I'm in the same boat with the letter can you please let me know when you receive yours so I know when I should expect mine I would appreciate it !

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Absolutely @KarlaTaylor

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Congrats to everyone! I graduated CCBC Essex in 2013, and it was hard! I worked full time and didn’t really have any idea of what I was getting myself into. If I could offer a few words of advice it would be:

  • Fundamentals is a gravy train, do not think the rest of the semesters will be the same!
    My first exam in concepts one was on DM with Ms. M. I did fairly well on the test and thought the next exam would be the same. *WRONG* Ms. Thompsons F/E exam was tough! I ended up failing Concepts 1 by .5pts ! CCBC does not give breaks, when they say you need an 80 to pass the class, they mean it.
  • If you can afford to not work, then don’t. I had to move back home with my parents and drop my hours to 30 a week to keep my insurance. Now looking back, I should have gotten a job as a tech. Most hospitals will give you insurance if you work 16 hours a week (2 days, or 1 longggg day). Working and commuting like I did, it was hard to focus in class and even harder to study on my own.
  • Take advantage of whatever resources they offer. Study Groups, Study days before class, Books with NCLEX type questions (the sooner you master these types of questions, the easier testing will be for you)… Tutoring, VEN diagrams, Diagrams on Pharmacology etc.
  • To understand how things work, you really do need to look at the bigger picture – you may need to brush up on you’re A/P, or spend a little time on Youtube, or google some animations to full understand a concept. Memorizing content is great, but you need to put it all together on the exams. (Example: Learning how heart pumps blood into circulation will help you fully understand concepts like preload, afterload, cardiac output and how some cardiac medications work. The same goes for learning about ABG’s and how the body exchanges oxygen & carbon dioxide. If you can try to visualize what is happening inside your body, it will help you answer some questions easier.
  • Concepts 3 - Randy Weir *sp* is a great teacher, but her ppt’s are literally from the smeltzer website, jazzed up with some of her content. Her tests are from the text book. So you really do need to read the textbook when it comes to her.
  • Concepts 3 - Community Nursing with Ms. Hill. Sweet Baby Jesus I am sorry, you just have to soldier through it. You will NEVER FORGET these classes, though you may wish you could. Ms. Hill’s test was hard. She expects you to look at all her modules and extra content she gives you. She will have you do a web based module; there are optional practice questions at the end. I suggest you do them because some of those questions are on the exam.
  • Concepts 3 – Cancer class. A Oncology nurse taught the class and she was awesome, but the exam was written by Ms. Hill. Really study your pharmacology for this exam.
  • During Clinical try to do as much as you can! Not all clinical instructors are the same. There are some really great ones, and then there are some that just want to sit around and check off med’s while you spend 2 hours trying to give someone a bed bath. Those instructors are there to work for you. If you want your teacher to find you some Rhonci lungs to listen to, you ask her. If you don’t understand how coverage works with insulin, ASK. If you didn’t get to put a catheter in yet, ask the nurses on the floor to let you know if they have one, and tell your teacher you really want to do it. I sincerely regret that I did not do these things. It seemed every semester I just had normal patients with nothing too exciting going on. To be honest I was somewhat terrified, and relieved that my days weren’t too hard, but looking back, I regret it. I wish I made a teacher sit with me when I did my assessment and make sure I wasn’t missing anything, or asked what you do when you have a combative patient. Just because I didn’t experience it in clinical, doesn’t mean I won’t once I’m on the floor. Also – don’t be afraid to ask the nurses questions. Some of them put off a “leave me the heck alone” vibe, but others love to show students things. Find these nurses and stick to them like glue.
  • Get a job in the hospital before you graduate & Network. It wasn’t until my last class that my teacher said we’re going to start recommending students spend more time networking during fundamentals. (THANKS A LOT CCBC). This is the best way to get a job as soon as you graduate & refine your skills. It’s hard finding a job as a new graduate. I still haven’t found a job yet and there is a lot of competition.

I hope that helps and doesn’t scare anyone. I don’t mean to scare anyone, I just don’t want to see people making the same mistakes I did!

Good Luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion