CCSF Spring Program compared to Fall Program?

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Hi Everyone!

After 5 long years of finishing pre-reqs and three years of applying (one of which I totally botched and failed to get into the lottery), I FINALLY got accepted to the CCSF RN program for Spring of 2011! I am so excited and nervous. I am wondering how the spring program differs from the fall program. It seems that I would have one semester, and then a summer break, since CCSF is not holding summer classes. This seems a little weird, and I'm wondering if you feel like you've forgotten everything by the time you return in the fall.

Also, it appears that a lot of the new grad programs (like Kaiser) start in the summer when the usual fall programs graduate. Is that true? Is it harder to get a job if you graduate in the winter?

Thanks All!

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hey, congrats!! don't be nervous, i'm sure you'll be fine!

as for the spring graduates, i don't think it'll be necessarily harder but maybe a bit of nuisance if you want to apply to further programs... that's just my two-cents

btw, this was my second year applying and i got ranked #122 and therefore, waitlisted.... if you don't mind me asking, what was ur rank? there was a total of 10 repeated names before me on the lottery result found on the site... if i were to subtract them, i'd be #112 (obviously)... even tho there's nothing i can do now, just trying to see if i have any chance x[

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Specializes in Perioperative, ACU, Hospice.

Hi Mika,

I was a Spring-start RN student at CCSF, I just graduated this last December. If I could have chosen, I would have preferred to start in the fall, but I was just thrilled to be in the program at all. I wouldn't say that it's harder to start in the Spring, just annoying. Mostly because you have to wait through two long summers to get finished.

Also, it used to be that the Spring class size was smaller - my class started with 50 and graduated 37, vs. the Fall class which starts with 80. But that may have changed because I think that one of the funding grants has ended.

Congratulations, CCSF's program is one of the best around! Don't worry too much about new grad programs right now. As of this writing, nearly all of them in the Bay Area are cancelled. But according to most of the recruiters that I've talked to, they expect the RN job market in the SF area to soften up by the time that you graduate.

You can PM me if you have any specific questions about the program.

:)

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Namedkwon, my rank was in the 50s. I'm not exactly sure what was the total number that they accepted for re-applying students. They have the results for re-applying students posted outside of the nursing office so you can see the total number for fall and spring. Don't give up hope, there's still a lot of time between now and January 2011. Some people may have gotten into other programs or decided to wait. Best of luck to you!

Frankiebaby, thanks so much for sharing your experience. I'm interested to know, when did you start getting out on the floor for clinicals and what did you do over the summer when you weren't in school?

Cheers!

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Specializes in Perioperative, ACU, Hospice.

Mika,

During your first semester you will take Fundamentals, Pharm, and a skills lab. You will begin clinicals a few weeks into that first semester. CCSF students get a lot of clinical time, which is great, IMHO. CCSF also has excellent clinical sites (SFGH, CPMC, Kaiser, UCSF...), and the teachers are excellent. You're in for quite a ride!

I spent my summers working full time, but my situation was a little different than most of my classmates because I was already an LVN when I started the program. Most of my classmates just tried to take it easy and relax over the summer, but some of them finished non-nursing classes that they needed to graduate. You will work very, VERY hard during the school year, so having some fun and getting lots of sleep during the summer break can be very therapeutic.

Good luck!

:)

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Awesome! Thanks Frankie!

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I got into the Fall 2010 program starting in a few months, pretty excited about it, i am a new applicant and need information about the Teas, is it required and when do i have to take it. I called the school but they were kinda vague on if i needed it or not.

i need help from those already in the program/anyone who has an idea if i need the teas

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congrats on getting in! i haven't applied to any schools yet and I'm in the process of taking all my classes....any tips on what I should and shouldn't be doing?? Where do I get all the nursing information? I tried looking at CCSF's nursing curriculum and requirements online and couldn't find it.

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Thanks

try this link ccsf.edu/rn

CCSF Catalog Nursing, Registered Curricula

one tip will be to get all ur pre-requisites done, and pray for luck.

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hello! I also got into the spring for ccsf. I just wanted to know how it's like. Do you start clinicals right away? And what's this concern about starting spring versus starting fall. I don't quite get or understand the possible disadvantage on which semester you are supposed to start. Will I not graduate right away? Can you give tips on how to study for the first semester and what should i expect? I would love to hear more from you about this program. Thanks!

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Hi, I started the CCSF program in Spring 2010. I'm just ending my second semester. There really isn't much of a difference to Fall semester. Don't worry about forgetting certain things during the long breaks because they will review and refresh everything in the first week of the semester. They will assign readings during the break so just make sure you're on top of your reading because it really helps. You should go over the math ( I literally read and did all the practice questions in the book) and make sure you learn your medical abbreviations list that they give you because it will give you a lot of extra points that you will need on the first exam. I'm also selling a few of my books if you are interested or know anyone who is interested let me know. I'm trying to get rid of my Med Deck, Calculate with Confidence Book and my Pharmacology Book. If you follow everything I tell you, you should be fine. First semester is the easiest semester so enjoy it.

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Lilykiss6, I got your message but the site won't let me respond so I'll just respond on here.

Well I thought 2nd semester was way more demanding than 1st semester. It also isn't as organized as well. Liana, Nancy and Julie will be your main instructors. Liana will do the GI and GU lectures, her tests are way more difficult than Julie and Nancy's exams. They are multiple choice but there will be a 15 point short answer portion. Some of my classmates didn't do to well on the first two exams because of this. I did fine, my trick was to listen to her lectures while looking at the slides over and over again before the tests. Make sure you complete your reading before the lectures. There is a TON of reading to do and recommendations of doing the study guide chapters too. If you keep up with it you should be fine. You should also attend Nancy's tutoring sessions, she so helpful! If it wasn't for her support we all wouldn't have made it, she so great to talk to for advice on anything.

For clinicals, I loved the VA! Everything is on the computer, and the medications are scanned, it's amazing. The nurses are friendly and nice as long as you know your stuff and you're willing to learn. There are a couple of nurses who will quiz you. LoL Clinicals is a little different than first semester, you don't get your patient until the morning of clinicals so it gives you about 20-30 minutes to look up your patient before you listen to report. Otherwise it's pretty much the same, there is a lot more medication administration and you get to spike, prime and set IV pumps.

Hope this helps you. Good luck and have fun!

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