El Centro students Spring '06

U.S.A. Texas

Published

i know some of us have received our letters so i was wondering who else i will be making this journey with for the next 2 years.

my name is allison shaffer and it's nice to meet you. i know we will all be close because it's a small group. it would be nice to get to know some of you before november 17. :)

sounds like youd be better off going through a second degree nursing program at one of the universities in all fairness. at least you wouldnt have to repeat any of your test outs and advanced math would count.

fun is right about the attitude though. without that - nothing else will matter anyway. self defeatism will get you exactly that - defeated.

congrats on your semesters! one more down and __ to go!!!!

twu- dallas has a second degree program. it might be perfect for you! :lol2:

i hate to see you give up before you start. we have an informal rule that everyone who posts in this thread must eventually become a nurse!:monkeydance:

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Sounds like youd be better off going through a second degree nursing program at one of the universities in all fairness. At least you wouldnt have to repeat any of your test outs and advanced math would count.

Fun is right about the attitude though. Without that - nothing else will matter anyway. Self defeatism will get you exactly that - defeated.

I don't consider it defeatist, I consider it realistic. Sunshine doesn't come out of my rear end, and I see the glass half-empty. That's just the way I am. I think it's a little early for people to be telling me that I'm not going to make it on the basis of a handful of posts.

I can't go through a BSN course since if you already have a bachelor's degree, they all pretty much require you to have at least a 3.0. Lacking that, an ADN is probably my only option. I did cover this in one of my first posts here. If you screw up during your undergrad years that low GPA will haunt you for the rest of your life. In my case I had suicidal depression and eventually a nervous breakdown...and yes, I'm better now; it was over 10 years ago. I was lucky to survive college; getting straight As obviously wasn't a priority. However, this is something I have to deal with all over again.

My undergraduate work is largely not considered for admission to an ADN program, which is why I think that is almost certainly the better option. However, it will probably involve repeating courses that I have already done, unless I can persuade them to accept the credit from my bachelor's degree. I really don't know what'll happen with that, but I suppose in the meantime I could take other things.

Oh, and I suppose I should mention...I'm in the midst of moving overseas for the second time in less than six years. I'm moving back to the United States, a country I have visited only twice since 2001. People keep telling me in a sing-songy way that 'things have changed' and that I 'won't recognize it.' They tell me awful negative things, as if they want me to fall flat on my face and will get pleasure out of seeing it happen. In the meantime, my beloved grandmother recently passed away and I'm depressed about that. I have had two major health scares in the last six months (I'm fine), and on top of all that my YOUNGER brother and his wife, who lead the world's most charmed lives, are about to have a baby while we've had to put our babymaking on hold for the time being, and I turn 32 on my next birthday. Add to that my worries about the future of my present career and my ability to continue to find employment in it, and you've got one VERY stressed-out lady db programmer...so please do excuse me if my attitude is not sufficiently positive at the present time. :o

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TWU- Dallas has a second degree program. It might be PERFECT for you! :lol2:

I hate to see you give up before you start. We have an informal rule that everyone who posts in this thread MUST eventually become a nurse!:monkeydance:

Heh, thanks; at least you're not scolding me. :lol2:

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Let me just say one more thing, and then you can ignore me.

I had to have a 4.0 to get accepted into an ADN program.

Just because you have a 3.0 doesn't mean you can get into an ADN program, and it doesn't mean that you can't get into a BSN program.

Read throughout the posts on AllNurses.....people all over have done poorly in college and have had to overcome.

We're not blowing smoke up your butt. If you aren't determined to make it....you won't.

End of my rant...............

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Lady db,

We sound similar.

I was a superstar in High school, but I suffered from major depression. I tried to commit suicide three times before my 18th birthday.

I started college in 1991. I got a 4.0 the first 2 quarters. Then the depression kicked in and the F's started rolling in.

I moved to many different states and 4 or five different countries. I eventually consolidated my credits from 5 different colleges and got my degree in 2001.

Life has been hard. I've been laid off 5 times since 1999. I almost had a 'nervous breakdown' in 2000. I was homeless and living in the car for a spell.

I had the CRAPIEST GPA. I went through the surgical tech program at El Centro and took classes at North Lake. I also took online classes at other schools.

Last year I not only got accepted to North Lake, I also got into Purdue (2nd BSN), and RUSH (2nd BSN). unfortunately I got sick and had to turn them all down.

I recently got accepted to a direct-entry Master's program starting May 2007.

Yes, I believe in spite of a half-empty glass, you can do it! I believe in you! :balloons:

p.s. I will erase this post in a few days 'cause it is so personal.

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Yes, I believe in spite of a half-empty glass, you can do it! I believe in you! :balloons:

Thanks. I don't think a direct-entry MSN program is on the cards for me. Basically the message I'm getting from these programs' requirements is that if you don't have the GPA, you should take a hike. The other ones will probably criticize me more for not immediately adopting a positive attitude in spite of the obstacles in front of me, but everybody is different and just because one person managed to overcome those obstacles doesn't mean other people will.

I've always had issues with confidence and self-esteem. I know I CAN do this. I already have a degree; it's not like college would be a new experience for me. The question for me is can I PERSEVERE...can I overcome my confidence and self-esteem problems for a long enough period of time to get this done? I have a deeply-ingrained fear of failure as a result of my college experience; basically I don't try new things unless I know beforehand I'll be good at them, and if I work up the nerve to try something I'm not sure about and I'm not immediately good at it, I drop it. It isn't that I'm afraid to try. It's that I'm afraid to try and fail. People don't understand that; they think having grit is enough. I'm afraid it runs a bit deeper than that for some of us.

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I can relate to exactly what you are saying. I have very low self-esteem and up until considering the RN program, I have nevery finished anything I have ever started. The point is if you do want to become an RN, the ADN program is the fastest route. When I was 1st considering this process, I thought this will take way too long. I am an extremely impatient person. I HATE trying new things. I stayed in the same dead-end job for 17 years before getting up enough nerve to move on. I didn't know if I was smart enough to manage the pre-reqs, but I did it. I worked full-time and finished all the pre-reqs in 1 year with a 4.0 and I'm not an overachiever. If I can do it, anyone can. Yes, the GPA is IMPORTANT and it is stupid that you have to jump thru all the hoops to get into the El Centro program, but overall it's the fastest and least expensive means (that I'm aware of) to becoming an RN. And I am NOT recommending El Centro to anyone. Once you get in, the hoop jumping just continues. If I were you, I would continue researching the programs in the area to find the best fit. If you have the time and money and don't mind doing the BSN (even tho you already have a degree) then TWU provides a much more supportive learning environment than El Centro. You have to ask yourself if this is something your comfortable giving up on. Is this something you will regret 5 years from now? If so, then I would get started ASAP. It goes by sooooo quickly and once your in the program, it is over before you know it! Good luck on making this important decision.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Let me say one more thing....

I almost gave up a full scholarship because I was scared that I couldn't do it.

You have to overcome your emotions and be determined...

That is all. :)

4 now. :uhoh21:

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Let me say one more thing....

I almost gave up a full scholarship because I was scared that I couldn't do it.

You have to overcome your emotions and be determined...

That is all. :)

I think that's sort of oversimplifying it, personally. That isn't all; a lot of it is luck, too, and family support. To the poster who said look into TWU; I don't think that will be an option for me because of my UG GPA and I'd have to do every single pre-req class since nothing from my BA would satisfy any of those requirements except maybe a history class or two.

I think the DCCCD circus is my only realistic option.

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Specializes in OR Internship starting in Jan!!.

Yes, DCCCD accepts credit-exams like AP and CLEP. You don't get the GPA points for it, but you can test out. I tested out of Comp I and Comp II by taking the SAT II when I was coming out of HS in '96, and they gave me credit for it. IIRC, you can only test out of one.

It seems like we've all had our share of challenges. I never thought I'd see my 18th birthday. I dealt with drive-by shootings, no food, no electricity, and no water. I was seriously depressed and thought that if someone else didn't take me out of my misery, I'd do it myself. It's been a long road, but here I am. The great thing about these forums is that they give us a place to encourage one another. When we are all struggling, it's hard to see a negative attitude.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele.
I tested out of both semesters of English. For my degree you did not have to take psych, and I never took college algebra; I started at a higher level than that in mathematics but I only took one math course in college and it won't transfer. When I was at UT they didn't offer college algebra during regular terms anyway; I think they only offered it to provisional admits during the summer. I don't know what they do now; with the 10% rule I'd bet they probably offer it during the regular term time.

You'd have to have been nuts to take Psych 301 at the University of Texas at Austin when I was there; it was a pure weed-out class. So were both semesters of English. So, a lot of people avoided them and either CLEP'd or AP-tested out, like I did. As far as I'm aware El Centro won't accept AP tests for credit...if I'm wrong please correct me. Even if they do, I wonder if they'll take AP test scores from 1993. I took the psychology AP test but my score would have given me a B at UT so I decided not to claim credit for it. I really don't want to have to take Comp I; I loathed English lit in high school but busted my behind studying for the AP tests so I wouldn't have to endure it at the college level. :monkeydance:

The pre-reqs themselves aren't so bad, but who gets in on just the pre-reqs? I've heard people saying that people who got a 4.0 with just the pre-reqs were basically told to take a hike. I don't think I'd even apply unless I had most of the support classes under my belt, and that's a considerable amount of coursework. :uhoh21:

I wrote to the DCCCD about distance education; their website isn't at all helpful and since I took a summer class at a DCCCD campus waaaaaaaaay back when I was a college student at UT, I'd have to fill out a paper application. I'm currently living in the UK, so it's not exactly a snappy process for me. We're moving back to Dallas in a matter of weeks...probably about 12-16 weeks...but if I'm going to do this before I lose my nerve, I'd like to start sooner rather than later. :D

I just wanted to let you know, I only had my 4 prereqs and one support course ready, all with a 4.0 though, when I applied at ECC this past semester, and I did get accepted. It all depends on how many people apply at the moment. I did finish all my support courses before I started the program,though, just so I would not be overwhelmed once I'd be in the nursing classes. Just don't give up, all they can say is no, pick your self up, add to your classes and try again.

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Yes, DCCCD accepts credit-exams like AP and CLEP. You don't get the GPA points for it, but you can test out. I tested out of Comp I and Comp II by taking the SAT II when I was coming out of HS in '96, and they gave me credit for it. IIRC, you can only test out of one.

If you can only test out of one how did you test out of Comp I and Comp II?

It seems like we've all had our share of challenges. I never thought I'd see my 18th birthday. I dealt with drive-by shootings, no food, no electricity, and no water. I was seriously depressed and thought that if someone else didn't take me out of my misery, I'd do it myself. It's been a long road, but here I am. The great thing about these forums is that they give us a place to encourage one another. When we are all struggling, it's hard to see a negative attitude.

Heh, judging by the reaction I've gotten that's sort of obvious. I think people here have already gotten it into their heads that I won't make it, and I haven't even started yet.

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