Cerritos College: Getting into Nursing Program

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hello,

i have been doing my research online about how to get my aa in nursing, and i noticed several people saying that it is really difficult to get accepted. what are the requirements, and how long is the wait? i heard that you can get on the waiting list while you are in school, but i do not know if that is true. i would think you need to finish your general ed and prerequisites first in order first in order to submit the application. does anyone have an idea about any of these questions? please!! please!! please!!! i am so excited to become a nurse, and i am willing to wait, but i just want to be sure about what i am getting into.

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Also, let's say I did want to transfer to CSLBU, do they look at your overall GPA during your whole time in community college, or do they only count the pre-reqs? I heard they work on a point system rather than a lottery system, is that true? Something about 90 students being accepted, but I am not sure if that was by year, or by semester. I was just curious because if I end up waiting 2 years just to get into the nursing program to get my ADN, I might as well go straight to getting my BDN. At least I could put myself on the waiting list in case, but still work on my BDN while I wait just in case. What does anyone think?

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I am starting at Cerritos in Spring '10. The minimum requirements were to have finished English Composition, Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology with a 2.0 GPA (a few other schools in SoCal also require chemistry). By the time you finish the nursing program you will also need to have completed all the general education to get the degree. I applied there only once and got in by luck of the draw since it's a lottery program. They don't have a waiting list. You can get on the waiting lists at Cypress and Santa Ana after completing those same classes I mentioned above and then chip away at your general education and BSN prerequisites while waiting and/or applying for all the lotteries in your area. I was planning to apply to a CSU program but got picked for this one.

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Hi apgar10, is there program only based on lottery or is also academics? I just applied for Fall 2010 and when i was filling out the application , it says to put down what your grades are in all the classes. Somehow they have academics included right, it cant be just lottery. Reply soon...thanks!

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

it's lottery based on the minimum GPA to qualify. so whether you made a 4.0 or a 2.5, your odds are the same once you hit the lottery pile meeting the minimum requirements. from the school website you need (it looks like there have been some changes since i applied last year!):

  1. High school graduation or the equivalent.
  2. Completion of English 100, Math 80, and Reading 54 or equivalent with grades of Pass or “C” or higher or satisfactory completion of the college placement test test process. LVN applicants selecting the 30-unit option are required to complete the placement test process for advisement purposes but are not required to complete these courses.
  3. Completion of prerequisite courses with grade of "C" or higher: Anatomy & Physiology 150, Anatomy & Physiology 151, English 100, and Microbiology 200 with an overall grade point average of 2.5. Only one of the above courses can be repeated if grade of "D" or "W"(withdrawal) is earned or to achieve a better grade. A&P 150, A&P 151 and Micro 200 are recommended to be completed within six (6) years of admission.
  4. Students must pass a diagnostic assessment test (basic math, English, reading, and science) prior to program enrollment. Students who fail to achieve a passing score will be required to complete additional pre-nursing course work to become eligible for admission.
  5. Cumulative grade point average of 2.5 for all college work taken.

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ok thanks so much!

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Hi Apgar10,

I am currently taking some of the pre-requisites for the nursing program in Cerritos College. I have 3 more to go, and hoping to be finised by the spring of 2011. I will be applying into the nursing program in March of 2011.

If i apply in March 2011, when does the nursing program begin, will it be fall 2011 or Spring of 2012. Also, I wanted to ask you since I see that you started the nursing program in the spring of 2010. How is it? How do you like it? What advise can you give me, to begin preparing for this new challege in my life?

Thanks :clown:

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
If i apply in March 2011, when does the nursing program begin, will it be fall 2011 or Spring of 2012. Also, I wanted to ask you since I see that you started the nursing program in the spring of 2010. How is it? How do you like it? What advise can you give me, to begin preparing for this new challege in my life?

Thanks :clown:

If you apply in March 2011 (you need to be done with the core prerequisites to do so), you could be accepted to the Fall '11 or Spring '12 classes. It's a lottery so you could end up in either one... or none if you don't win the draw. I love the program and am happy to start the second semester today. As for the preparation for a new challenge, I don't know how to answer that because prerequisites are completely different from nursing school. Every first semester student is assigned a mentor... rely on them to help you prioritize from day one.

Good luck!!

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Hi, Apgar10 :)

remember me? i asked you so many qestions here and i finally got into cerritos in spring 2011.

however,, i have a question again...they recommend a class(nursing 5: removing the barriers to succese in nursing)in fall2010 while im waiting.

i guess it's like an introductory nursing class that i've already taken at el camino..

have you taken this class before you started nursing program?

if i don't take it and start nursing program.. am i going to be behind the others who have taken it?

i really want to thank you for giving me a great advice all the time !

good luck to your 2nd semester!!!:D

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the CA Nursing Programs Discussion forum

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
Hi, Apgar10 :)

remember me? i asked you so many qestions here and i finally got into cerritos in spring 2011.

however,, i have a question again...they recommend a class(nursing 5: removing the barriers to succese in nursing)in fall2010 while im waiting.

i guess it's like an introductory nursing class that i've already taken at el camino..

have you taken this class before you started nursing program?

if i don't take it and start nursing program.. am i going to be behind the others who have taken it?

i really want to thank you for giving me a great advice all the time !

good luck to your 2nd semester!!!:D

I didn't take it. They are strongly recommending you take it now. See if you can get in it.

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always thank you so much, Apgar!

i decieded not to take the recommanded class because is was reflected with my nutrition class and i thought

it would be better to take the nutrition to prepare for program.

i have another question regarding parking lot at cerritos though..

i've been to the health building several time and i found that the parking lot near nursing building is always pack!

i always had to wait about 30min for other student to come out... it was awful.......:crying2:

is there another parking lot near the building? or would there be some spaces if i get there early in the morning for morning classes?

i live far away, so im very worried about this parking problem.

you must be very busy with your 2nd semester. good luck to you.:up:

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