Does anyone know inside details about RIC's nursing program

[Honeybunny6275]

It is my 4th year at RIC. I have applied once to the nursing program. I was not able to get a seat because they couldn't accommodate me. I have everything finished, I mean everything. I have more than 90 credits. I only have the minimum GPA required, a 2.7. Last month I was diagnosed with ADD, and I was just placed on medicine a month ago. I tried so hard in all my classes, but got mostly C's in my science and chem courses. My advisor told me to take some classes over again. I have taken 4 over, and my GPA will still be under a 3.0 after taking physiology over this semester, I had a C in it. I am Hispanic, and know others with the same waiting situation who are not being accepted. Does anyone think it is discrimination? I even wrote a letter to the committee explaining how I lost my best friend the first yr of school, so my grades really suffered. Now that I am on concerta, they are telling me to submit another letter explaining my learning disability and how my grades have changed. I feel like I am at the end of the road. I am 23, and I don't want anything else but to be a nurse. I know if I do get in for this fall, it will be almost 3 more years! 7 yrs is crazy for a bachelors. Can anyone help or give ma any advice???

Thank You so much!

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

Chris-

I agree about the science thing and completely understand where you are coming from. BUT....to put it bluntly, Micro completely SUCKS and I would never dream of repeating it. I took 4 classes last semester and ended up spending 90% of my time on Micro... and still only pulled off a B-....

Maybe a different science? Chem II and Bio 108? Just throwing ideas out here.

Lala is in a tough situation because without a decent number of credits at RIC, the chances of being admitted are low. Another not-so-good thing is the fact that all of her prereq's come from a different college.

I guess there really is no clearcut answer here in terms of what would give the greatest chance for admission....I think it's a combination of things:

a high GPA, most of the prereqs and coreqs at RIC, a sizeable number of RIC credits so the committee has an idea the student can handle a 4 year college, mostly A's and B's in the sciences, etc.. etc...etc...

There are many students in a bind with getting into nursing programs all over the country. It really comes down to whether you are willing to work hard and wait for your chance.

I can see where your coming from, that makes a lot of sense. Chem 106 and Bio 108 sound like a good idea. Bio 108 is pretty timid for a science and will help to show some strength in science. The cold reality is that Lala might not get in on her second try and it may take a third time. I don't want to toot our horns here but between me and you we make some pretty gosh darn good nursing councilors. On another note I am wondering first of all what is your first name GreenEyes? I don't know if you told me yet and I forgot or something (I am horrible with names) and secondly I was wondering if you are signing up for the Student Nurses Organization? I am this Fall, I was told that it meets on Wednesdays from like 12 - 2. I am going to join with my friend Kim, I think it will be a good group to get to know people and to find out the in's and out's about certain courses plus it will look good on a resume.

!Chris

[LaLa783]

Lala is in a tough situation because without a decent number of credits at RIC, the chances of being admitted are low. Another not-so-good thing is the fact that all of her prereq's come from a different college.

I guess there really is no clearcut answer here in terms of what would give the greatest chance for admission....I think it's a combination of things:

a high GPA, most of the prereqs and coreqs at RIC, a sizeable number of RIC credits so the committee has an idea the student can handle a 4 year college, mostly A's and B's in the sciences, etc.. etc...etc...

There are many students in a bind with getting into nursing programs all over the country. It really comes down to whether you are willing to work hard and wait for your chance.

I understand what you two are saying, however don't you think this kind of contradicts having a 2nd degree program. Of course all of my courses are from another school because I have another degree. I minored in Biology so I did have many of the pre-req's and I was going to be a physical therapist which require similar courses. Which I'm surprised that I got into URI's physical therapist program but the chances are slim of me getting into RIC's nursing program. The committee should realize that I am capable of handling a 4 year program because I've done it, every semester at least 15 credits with some semesters I had 17 credits.

I really think 2nd degree candidates need to be placed in a separate category from the students already enrolled at RIC and the RN-BSN students and I think the program should be different all together. They should hold interviews for potential students or include an essay. There are just so many variables that go along with all the criteria. I applied at RIC because the program fit my situation, I would probably be better off starting all over again, but I can't.

I'm not saying that I should have gotten in the first time, I applied and now I have some work to do to better my chances for next time. Like GreenEyes said, I will work hard and I'm willing to wait for my chance. I just know that it will take a lot more than 1 more semester at RIC to get my GPA up. Also, going by GPA alone is somewhat fair, but it is not the complete definition of a student or their character. Re-applying just puts you back into the pool of students with 4.0's and 3.8's, etc. Does the committee know who is re-applying and who is a first time applicant?

Okay I'm done rambling, sorry guys!! :) Have a good day!!!

Katie

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

I understand what you two are saying, however don't you think this kind of contradicts having a 2nd degree program. Of course all of my courses are from another school because I have another degree. I minored in Biology so I did have many of the pre-req's and I was going to be a physical therapist which require similar courses. Which I'm surprised that I got into URI's physical therapist program but the chances are slim of me getting into RIC's nursing program. The committee should realize that I am capable of handling a 4 year program because I've done it, every semester at least 15 credits with some semesters I had 17 credits.

I really think 2nd degree candidates need to be placed in a separate category from the students already enrolled at RIC and the RN-BSN students and I think the program should be different all together. They should hold interviews for potential students or include an essay. There are just so many variables that go along with all the criteria. I applied at RIC because the program fit my situation, I would probably be better off starting all over again, but I can't.

I'm not saying that I should have gotten in the first time, I applied and now I have some work to do to better my chances for next time. Like GreenEyes said, I will work hard and I'm willing to wait for my chance. I just know that it will take a lot more than 1 more semester at RIC to get my GPA up. Also, going by GPA alone is somewhat fair, but it is not the complete definition of a student or their character. Re-applying just puts you back into the pool of students with 4.0's and 3.8's, etc. Does the committee know who is re-applying and who is a first time applicant?

Okay I'm done rambling, sorry guys!! :) Have a good day!!!

Katie

No problem about the rambling Katie, we all need a chance to rant and rave. The Second-Degree candidate admissions is different from the students who are transfers or have been to RIC from the start.

Students who start at RIC:

Pros - They are preferred above all the other groups. Most accepted students come from this group.

Cons - They must have good grades at RIC to demonstrate that they are capable of handling difficult college level material because they no evidence of previously being able to do well in college courses.

Transfer students:

Pros - Their transcripts show that they have previous college experience.

Cons - They are the least favored group. They still have to demonstrate that they are capable of handling RIC courses. Transfers have a hard time getting into the program (especially from CCRI) because some students who couldn't pass the "difficult" RIC courses will take them at CCRI and then transfer back as a way to get into the program and so naturally the committee assumes that all transfers are doing this.

Second-Degree Candidates

Pros - Their transcripts show that they are not only capable of college level courses but were able to graduate with a degree in another field.

Cons - The committee still wants to see how you handle RIC's more difficult pre-nursing courses. Also only a few second-degree candidates are accepted every semester so the spots are hard to get.

Try not to get discouraged Katie, your time will come soon. You don't need to start over you just need to beef up your transcripts at RIC a bit. If you don't want to retake Microbiology then that's fine. Chem. II is a definite must. You could take some sort of psychology course if you want to like GreenEyes first suggested or you could go for another science like we suggested later like BIO 108. I think that CHEM 106 and BIO 108 are a good choice because BIO 108 is an easy class (especially with your previous experience) which you will be more then able to do at the same time as CHEM 106. I think if you can do good in both of those courses then you will have a really good chance of getting in for the spring semester.

!Chris

[RhodyGirl, RN]

LaLa-

I completely understand your frustrations. What's done is done, and you have already taken all those prereqs at CCRI....whatever! No big deal, it's just moving on from here. I think you'll have good luck in the program, you seem very motivated and bright!

On the other hand, you need to understand that the nursing committee has SO many applicants that bringing in students for interviews would literally take months. I agree that GPA is not a sole reason to accept a student. It is actually silly.....people cheat and lie all the time to get good grades. But, hey..it will bite them in the butt later.

It's tough for second degree students. They are some of the last students picked because, well, there are so many of us with no degree! :chuckle I'm 23 and I've been working on my first degree since I was 18 (did business for 1 year and hated it....then taking prereqs....then the long wait to get into nursing) and have worked so hard to get where I am at right now. This is not to say you haven't worked hard too....I know we all have! No one person deserves a spot more than anyone else. It's all in the hands of the college.

Yes, the committee does see on your application whether you have applied before or not, whether you have another degree, and what your grades are. They look at the application as a whole before making a decision.

Chris-

I agree, we make some good counselors! :chuckle My first name is Lauren (last name begins with a C and is very Italian..haha) ...add me on facebook if you're on there so we can keep in touch about school stuff. I really cannot wait to start this thing! Yes, I am also going to join SNA. I'm taking the TEAS on Aug 26th then staying for the student nurse info session after....are you doing this also?

[RhodyGirl, RN]

Ooops, I forgot to ask you Chris.....what classes are you in? I have Foote mon/wed 8am then Aflague mon/wed after Foote's class (930 am I think?).

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

Chris-

I agree, we make some good counselors! :chuckle My first name is Lauren (last name begins with a C and is very Italian..haha) ...add me on facebook if you're on there so we can keep in touch about school stuff. I really cannot wait to start this thing! Yes, I am also going to join SNA. I'm taking the TEAS on Aug 26th then staying for the student nurse info session after....are you doing this also?

I do have Facebook but I can't seem to find your name under a search. You can send me a message on AIM and I will tell you my full name and see if you can find it on Facebook. I was going to take the TEAS test on the Thurs. 28 but I suppose I can take it on Tues. 26 instead of Thursday, it doesn't really matter. I haven't submitted my paper yet for my class preference because I am delivering it by hand along with my background check tomorrow. I put down that I wanted Foote from 8 - 9:20 AM on M,W followed by Aflague from 9:30 - 10:50 on M,W. I wanted to do this order because my friends in the program say that sitting through Aflague's class early in the morning on a test day for Foote's class is like torture. Most of them agree that Aflague's class is easier to do after Foote's class. I have to admit this is the first time in a long time that I have been actually excited for school which is pretty far out.

!Chris

AIM (cjcsoon2brn)

[LaLa783]

Well said Greeneyes.... you are right we have ALL worked very hard even though we have taken different paths and I agree that no one deserves it more than another. Chris & Lauren you guys are great - and would definately make good counselors!!! I'll be your client if you decide to get a job on the side :) Thanks for all your time/advice/listening!!! Good luck w/school!!!!

Katie

[tamaraglennon]

Hi there,

I am a complete newbie to this website but so far I am loving it! Could someone help me here? I am a transfer student (29 yo) but need to take my "core pre-reqs" All chems, a few Bio's and A & P. I am taking all of those at Ric. If I do well in those classes what are my chances of getting admitted? I am not working so I will be attending full time. Oh and I will be transferring 48 credits! :yeah:My GPA coming stinks! But I am 10 yrs older, paying 100% out of pocket so I am defintly more motivated to acheive this dream!

Here is the problem. I completely SUCk at math and chem. Luckily my hubby doesn't so he can help! DO I have a shot in hell at this? Is there a wait list and when would the soonest be to apply for the nursing program?