Fall 2010 applicants for ccac

dondk, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2010

CCAC is just very inflexible about everything, that's all.

when they have 3-4 applicants for each seat they will have available in Fall 2010, they can do what they want (and do).

With the amount of people they either toss out or give up (or give in and quit), it is obvious they really don't care about the qualifications either. I wonder at times how they picked some of the people I have seen in my class. Some honestly don't care, some put no effort into the program and then you have the majority that really try. The program does favor those that have some exposure in the industry. There is very few truly "green" people in my program.

Streamline2010 · Mar 24, 2010

This might be true about CCAC, lol. I am finding I have better success with the more rural locations. And/or the private schools that have higher price tags -- they are having problems filling those seats when the school down the road offers either a diploma program or a community college program for $11k - $12k. I also applied to programs in smaller towns with an overall lower educational level in the population, so my two college degrees stand out and I am one of the best educated and highest scores on the pre-entrance exams.

Still, I am surprised at some of the crackpot students that have been admitted. Tattoos, facial piercings, strange attire, and anything but a professional demeanor. I am starting to think that some of the admission committees are just picking people who won't outsmart the instructors. Or, can be pushed around. And maybe a certain percent of "underprivileged" as mandated by the government? Some of the tatt people I've seen accepted, the only way they will meet dress code is long sleeves to the wrists, and a bandage over those tatts on the neck. Every day, unless they get the tatts removed. Stupid.

kcha · Mar 25, 2010

I have to disagree and say that I really dont think your past experience in the medical field has any bearing on your acceptance into the program, I cant remember but I didnt even think they asked about your employment history on the application. The acceptance process I feel is fair and organized, now after you get accepted its a whole different story. I applied with a 3.86 GPA and a 78 on the NET and I had no previous medical experience and got in first try. I know others that applied with much lower GPA's and NET scores and they got in as well. Its different every semester cause the candidate pool is always different as far as how many apply and what their GPA's and NET scores are. I only knew two people who applied who didnt get in, one didnt pass the NET test and the other didnt attach NET scores to the application. My friends and I look back now and think about how nervous we were about getting accepted and all the rumors that circulated about crazy amount of applicants. Dont beliee all the crazy numbers you hear of people who are applying, same rumor differents semester. If you are a good student with a deceit GPA, passed the NET test you will probably make it in, the more classes from the nursing curriculum you have done are a bonus too but not a deal breaker, we have people in our class who took A&P and Micro alongside the NRN classes. Try to enjoy this time of not running around like crazy women/men cause when you get accepted and start the program you will be busy busy busy. So relax, clean your house well, spend time with family and friends and dont make yourself crazy checking the mail, they told us late April we would get our letters last year and I got mine May 1st!!!! Good Luck to you all and I hope you all get accepted!!!

mcRN2b · Apr 25, 2010

Guess what I saw Thursday at North campus... I saw 4 women going through all of the nursing applications and one of them was Ms. Adkins from Allegheny campus (she's at the advisement area) talking amongst themselves. I was certain that they were choosing applicants and if that's so, the new Dean has got nothing to do with who gets in and who doesn't. I honestly am hoping for a rejection letter. I am anxiously waiting for UPMC Shadyside to reply about my retake for the math section while I get my application together for St. Margaret. It will only take me 8 months (if I take 2 subjects every 7 weeks) at Chatham to get a BSN since they are affiliated with those two schools. I called the CCAC nursing office and they said that acceptance letters will come at the end April or first week of May.

rebecca6890 · Apr 26, 2010

really??!! im excited but of course oh so NERVOUS about the acceptance letters..a girl told me that theres 700 applicants!!!!!! im just hopeing for the VERY best! So do you know about other schools, just in case i dont get in i wanted to apply everywhere!!! and do you know about the BSN progrmas? like for example i have all my pre-nursing classes finished already and i only need the nursing classes now and was wondering if i could take BSN classes or where i would go next to do so and how long it would take to complete for the BSN...

Thakns!

rebecca

dondk, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2010

really??!! im excited but of course oh so NERVOUS about the acceptance letters..a girl told me that theres 700 applicants!!!!!! im just hopeing for the VERY best! So do you know about other schools, just in case i dont get in i wanted to apply everywhere!!! and do you know about the BSN progrmas? like for example i have all my pre-nursing classes finished already and i only need the nursing classes now and was wondering if i could take BSN classes or where i would go next to do so and how long it would take to complete for the BSN...
Thakns!
rebecca

If you want to apply everywhere, you better get moving... Right now you are left with the diploma programs, and maybe a few degree programs. Most had application dates of a few months ago. That is the one argument I have with the CCAC program. Last fall they dragged the letters out to the point where those who did not get in (spring) were shut out of everywhere else.

Looking at a BSN? a safe 3 years assuming you have all of the pre-req's out of the way from CCAC. If you already have a BA/BS, you can get a BSN from PIT I think in 18 months. Anyway, most of the CCAC courses will directly transfer to most BSN programs (pre req's for the most part).

700? I heard a bit higher, but that was months ago. Regardless, that is roughly 2 people for every seat available.

mcRN2b · Apr 27, 2010

Well, I think that UPMC Shadyside and St. Margaret, including Mercy which is improving are known to make better nurses. I have received complaints from graduates of CCAC. St. Margaret and Shadyside have an articulation with Chatam for a BSN (also MSN and DNP is available). The BSN, if you take 2 subjects every 7 weeks online, will be done in 8 mos. (26 credits). They told me that at the Chatham open house. CCAC will be a good 2 years through their articulation with Cal U, 36 credits instead of 26 with Chatham. I don't know about the others. I am also not impressed that CCAC removed pharmacology as a separate course to integrate it with clinical instruction. I feel from feedback from graduates and current students, hands-on training is better in a diploma school. I am getting tired of the wait for Shadyside so, I will see what CCAC has to say soon, hopefully!

INSPIRATIONAL2ME · Apr 28, 2010

Hello MCRN2B,

I have taken alot of my classes at Boyce Campus and I must say that I had some excellent teachers. I also had heard alot of bad things about CCAC's Nursing Program mostly about it being disorganized and that is one of my biggest pet peeves. And I'm all for organization so I knew that their program wasn't for me. But I don't understand if their were so many people giving you information about their program you didn't like why did you apply to their program? And why didn't you already apply to St. Margaret, Mercy, and Shadyside SON their spots fill up fast and if you just took the test at Shadyside you are really pushing the deadline and if you haven't taken the test for St. Margaret or applied to Mercy you are talking about waiting a whole year to apply to these programs that already have waiting list. I wouldn't be waiting to get a rejection letter I would be praying to get in for it is not easy to get into these nursing schools and it seems to me that if CCAC sends you an acceptance letter you would take it

and if I was you I would.

mcRN2b · Apr 28, 2010

Well, I didn't know anything about CCAC's program until I started taking higher sciences. I was informed that it's better to have an ADN rather than a diploma. I felt like I followed bad advise later on and there are others in my class. If I do get in, it won't be bad but it scares me to be taught in disorganization. And if Boyce is good, all campuses should be good too. I don't feel comfortable with the fact that one campus is better than the other.

dondk, BSN, RN · Apr 28, 2010

Well, I didn't know anything about CCAC's program until I started taking higher sciences. I was informed that it's better to have an ADN rather than a diploma. I felt like I followed bad advise later on and there are others in my class. If I do get in, it won't be bad but it scares me to be taught in disorganization. And if Boyce is good, all campuses should be good too. I don't feel comfortable with the fact that one campus is better than the other.

It is better to have a ADN over a diploma? ONLY if you plan on continuing towards a BSN. While BSN programs will take the credits from a diploma school, they generally tend not to take ALL of them. Thus, if your goal is a BSN you are saving some time and money by going through a ADN program.

Diploma schools are becoming less common in fact, years ago there were better than 800 throughout the country, now there are about 100. This is just an opinion, diploma schools are more clinical oriented, whereas ADN programs are more classroom/theory oriented. Does not mean one is better than another, personally I think more clinical would be better over the heavy theory of CCAC's program.

Okay, are the programs disorganized? heck ya! and that includes Boyce. I can't say if they are the least disorganized of the bunch, but I doubt they are the most disorganized. Boyce on the outside seems to have it together, until you get into the program, and you realize it is not that together.

Is one better than another? well, I don't know and personally I doubt it. You will hear pro's and con's for each campus, you will hear positive and negative stories about each as well. I think you need to decide what campus works for you personally and not whether it is better than another. Boyce clinical sites range from Shadyside to West Moreland county, it will suck if you live in Robinson and have to drive all the way out to West Moreland when you could go to Allegheny campus and be at Magee. That is what I mean by what works for you. They all teach the same stuff, maybe not in the same order or use the same textbooks, but what you learn at one campus you will learn at a different one.

With this lousy economy, the waiting lists are long, The Sewickley Nursing program has a 18 month waiting list (I think that is unreal). If you are not on a waiting list, the competition is tough. Spring 2010, there were 3 applicants for every available seat, I hear there are just over 2 applicants for every seat for the Fall 2010. If you get the letter, take it and run. You can always transfer to another campus or to another school, it is easier to transfer in with advanced standing then to compete with the hundreds of other students for the open seats for Nursing 101. Not everyone makes it to 102 or above, so there will always be an open seat somewhere that has little to no competition for.

Lastly, right now CCAC has 5 Campuses, they all run differently, the new Dean is trying to get them to be all the same. I guess we will see if she is successful, but it will not be this year, maybe next year... maybe.

mcRN2b · Apr 28, 2010

Well, when I went to Chatham University, the man clearly told me that CCAC students must take 36 credits when they get their RN inspite of the higher theory than St. Margaret and Shadyside and that due to their affiliation with those diploma schools, those diploma students can get their BSN in 26 credits, 10 credits less than CCAC students. I have heard that many states won't even hire diploma students unless they get their BSN. And, I'd rather more clinical than theory. I learn better that way. And, the diploma schools have better NCLEX pass rates (except West Penn).

tokidoki7, ASN, RN · Apr 28, 2010

Well, when I went to Chatham University, the man clearly told me that CCAC students must take 36 credits when they get their RN inspite of the higher theory than St. Margaret and Shadyside and that due to their affiliation with those diploma schools, those diploma students can get their BSN in 26 credits, 10 credits less than CCAC students.

I didn't know this. I had requested info from Chatham but it wasn't sent to me. I wonder what extra courses CCAC students would have to take?