Frederick Community College?

I am taking my prereqs there, too. I am hoping to apply for their spring 2012 program, which is even harder to get in to, as there are only 30+ slots and the minimum GPA is 3.5+. But the nurses I've spoken with who graduated from FCC all have spoken very highly of their program. So far my professors have been top notch. You can apply twice a year, as there is a spring program and a fall one, it is just more competitive in the spring since there are fewer seats. The fall program is the day option, the spring program is the evening/weekend option. I plan on studying like a madwoman to achieve the highest GPA I possibly can to improve my chances of getting in. Did you place into any honors classes? If you can take some of those, the GPA counts as .5 higher (for instance a 4.0 would be counted as a 4.5).

I'm currently in the evening/weekend program, about to finish my first semester. I can't say enough good things about the program, as I've experienced to far. From what I understand so far, there are different instructors for the day program and the evening/weekend program, but my instructors so far have been wonderful. You hear a lot of horror stories on here about how awful nursing instructors/programs are, but that hasn't been my experience at all. Everyone has been extremely supportive and nurturing. They have shown that they are there for OUR success, and they really want all the students to succeed. It's hard, hard work, I won't lie. Pre-req's were NOTHING compared to this. In A&P and Micro I usually had a good idea about how I'd done when I left an exam, now I have no idea usually, but I've managed to maintain good grades.

In regards to them "raising" the GPA, its not the school that's doing it. Essentially everyone who applies is ranked according to their GPA. There's a points system, as I'm sure you know. You get points for finishing your pre-req's, you get points for being a Frederick County resident, but everyone who applies IS a Frederick County resident and HAS finished the pre-req's so it all boils down to the grades of the applicants. The lowest GPA that was accepted for my class was a 3.56. That's crazy to me a little. A 3.5 is a darn respectable GPA to me, and to be the WORST in your class at that, wow, is intimidating. So you are basically competing against the other students who have applied, so it would behoove you to get the best grades possible. Good luck, FCC's program is WONDERFUL and one of the highest in the state as far as NCLEX pass rates go.

Terpgal- thank you for the post and helpful info! Best of luck to you as you progress through nursing school.

Well, I don't know how far along in your prereqs you are (this is my first semester), but Stacey Drabic is **outstanding** for any math classes you need, and Kathy Brooks is also outstanding if you haven't had CMSP 105 Group Discussion yet (fulfills Cultural Competency requirement). Drabic only teaches evenings and Saturdays, though. I did CMSP 105 during the crazy two week Jan-term. I am enjoying Dormo's BI 55 class right now. This summer I am taking EN 101 and LS 101 online in 8 weeks, and Pottery in the first 5 week summer term. Tackling BI 120 this fall. How about you?

Well, I'm taking EN101 online this summer. Better for me since I have two young children I am home with during the day. I didn't know Dormo had any A & P classes! I would love to have him again, but I have to take Micro and A & P 1 & 2 on Saturdays so that my husband or older children will be home to cover child care. Yes, the two week Jan terms are kind of crazy...it just worked out that I had free child care for that short period of time. I am going to take the Medical Terminology online this coming Jan term, though, in hopes that getting myself as familiar as possible with the "lingo" will help with A & P in the spring and then later for nursing school. Now that I'm in BI 55, I can't believe they offer it in the Jan term, can you imagine having to learn all this in two weeks?!

I am finishing up MA 82 and will take MA 103 in the spring if they offer an 8 a.m. class twice a week. That's how I am taking BI 55 now...I go to the 8 a.m. class and my 19 year old stays home with my little guys, then he has a 9:30 class so he drives to FCC with his brothers and we meet in the parking lot. They offer MA 103 online, but I don't feel comfortable taking it outside the classroom.

Good for you retaking English! I would do that too, if I needed to, this is my first go around at college.

I definitely appreciate classes in small chunks, too. For me, taking math only once a week is a disadvantage because one week can be a looooong time, and it is easy to forget what we learned in our last class. But if I keep up with studying and practicing during the week, it's all good.

I would rather not post which days I have BI 55.

No, the medical terminology class is not required, I just want to become as familiar as possible with the terms. The class is called MDA 109.

I have heard the Psychology class is challenging and that the tests were hard. I was planning on taking it online in the fall of '11. Maybe I'll take the plunge and take it on campus, we'll see. I would hate to get a B.

ladies and gents

i have not read the replies to this thread so i apologize if i am repeating. however, i have just (yesterday) graduated from this program and i know how hard it is to get in, but i honestly cannot even imagine one negative comment to say about it. the women that run this program are the most amazing, intelligent and inspiring women i have ever met. it's hard to get into, but that's bc the program is hard. the gpa required is much higher than when i applied but there is a reason that this program is known as one of the very best. you will be the best when you're done and capable of running circles around others, in my opinion. hang in there, stay consistent. when you're done, it will be bitter sweet. knowing that you aren't in the security that the amazing instructors offer is scarey but the baby ducks have to jump out of the nest at some point right? good luck on your journey, its hard and it stinks but it is worth it! promise!!!!

xoxo