FSCJ Fall 2018

[captaincorningware]

Hey everyone, I figured I'd make this for all of us planning to apply to the AS RN program at FSCJ for Fall '18. The application deadline is May 15th.

Is anyone else finishing up pre-reqs right now? I'm currently taking MCB, AP2, and Algebra.

For those finishing up pre-reqs this Spring, are you planning to take any summer classes for other areas of study?

If you're currently finishing up pre-reqs, how are you balancing your classes while also studying for the HESI A2?

[Jess.W]

On 5/1/2018 at 2:03 PM, Lmenendez18 said:

Hey everyone! I submitted my application yesterday. I'll be anxiously waiting until mid-June when Fscj begins to send acceptance emails. This is my first attempt applying, but I'm positive I'll be accepted. The only prerequisites I have not completed are Micro and Human growth. I will successfully pass them this summer term. I'm looking forward to getting to know my potential classmates. God bless!!

Hi there! ?

Hoping to hear back from you @Lmenendez18, because this will be me in Fall 2019. Right now, I'm taking Chem and A&PII this Summer 2019 and will just need micro bio and DEP2004. How did you fare on your first attempt applying for the nursing program? Did they accept you even without those last two pre-reqs? What were your scores like on the HESI?

For those of you who got accepted into the program, was it your first attempt in applying? Are there any applicants on here still waiting for their acceptance letters?

Really hope I get a reply. Just wanting to pick some brains on here about application process, pre-reqs, being in the program, etc.

TIA for your input!

[cabrerakm, BSN, RN]

4 hours ago, Jess.W said:

Hi there! ?

Hoping to hear back from you @Lmenendez18, because this will be me in Fall 2019. Right now, I'm taking Chem and A&PII this Summer 2019 and will just need micro bio and DEP2004. How did you fare on your first attempt applying for the nursing program? Did they accept you even without those last two pre-reqs? What were your scores like on the HESI?

For those of you who got accepted into the program, was it your first attempt in applying? Are there any applicants on here still waiting for their acceptance letters?

Really hope I get a reply. Just wanting to pick some brains on here about application process, pre-reqs, being in the program, etc.

TIA for your input!

@Jess.W I see that they updated the application since I had applied. It used to be where you were required to have completed the 5 classes in bold on the application and the ones not in bold would not keep you from being considered but you just wouldn't get any points. When I had applied, I had all pre-reqs done prior to the deadline/admission except for DEP2004. I added that as an online class while I was in term 1. I was a first time acceptance for Spring last year with 136ish points.

Application process was pretty straight forward. Just stay on top of every single email you get. They had issues with receiving all of my transcripts but I bombarded them if I didn't get an answer within 24 hours to make sure everything was taken care of on time. It was a bit of a mess going into orientation because the communication from the nursing department is not always the best - they like to tell you things at the last minute and make it mandatory.

After acceptance, they send the student handbook that outlines dress codes, etc for clinicals/lab. They give all of the information to go get your background check/fingerprints done, along with how to order you lab kit. They also have a breakdown of the physical required along with the required titer proof they need in order for you to participate in clinical rotations.

As far as being in the program, it takes a good full term to get used to being bombarded with a ridiculous amount of tests (4 tests per 7 week class - not including the med-surg HESIs you have to take each term) on top of clinical assignments/papers. The amount of reading/studying is insane but once you find a rhythm that works for you, then you take off. We lost a lot of people in term 2 so be prepared to step up the game because that was the hardest term.

I just graduated the program so if you have any questions about anything from start to finish, please ask! :)

[Jess.W]

30 minutes ago, cabrerakm said:

@Jess.W I see that they updated the application since I had applied. It used to be where you were required to have completed the 5 classes in bold on the application and the ones not in bold would not keep you from being considered but you just wouldn't get any points. When I had applied, I had all pre-reqs done prior to the deadline/admission except for DEP2004. I added that as an online class while I was in term 1. I was a first time acceptance for Spring last year with 136ish points.

Application process was pretty straight forward. Just stay on top of every single email you get. They had issues with receiving all of my transcripts but I bombarded them if I didn't get an answer within 24 hours to make sure everything was taken care of on time. It was a bit of a mess going into orientation because the communication from the nursing department is not always the best - they like to tell you things at the last minute and make it mandatory.

After acceptance, they send the student handbook that outlines dress codes, etc for clinicals/lab. They give all of the information to go get your background check/fingerprints done, along with how to order you lab kit. They also have a breakdown of the physical required along with the required titer proof they need in order for you to participate in clinical rotations.

As far as being in the program, it takes a good full term to get used to being bombarded with a ridiculous amount of tests (4 tests per 7 week class - not including the med-surg HESIs you have to take each term) on top of clinical assignments/papers. The amount of reading/studying is insane but once you find a rhythm that works for you, then you take off. We lost a lot of people in term 2 so be prepared to step up the game because that was the hardest term.

I just graduated the program so if you have any questions about anything from start to finish, please ask! ?

Congrats on graduating from the program @cabrerakm ! and thank you for the rapid response ?

Did you know anyone who had to repeatedly re-apply into the program? I'm just trying to weigh my odds right now on getting in this Spring. I plan on sending my application by Sept 15, but I feel like I'm putting so much on my plate right now that I may not even get accepted then. My mom (who is a RN) told me yesterday that it's really hard to get into nursing programs despite the high demand of nurses right now. I'm trying not to freak out too much about the HESI A2, because that's really what it all boils down to hehe.

[cabrerakm, BSN, RN]

Just now, Jess.W said:

Congrats on graduating from the program @cabrerakm ! and thank you for the rapid response ?

Did you know anyone who had to repeatedly re-apply into the program? I'm just trying to weigh my odds right now on getting in this Spring. I plan on sending my application by Sept 15, but I feel like I'm putting so much on my plate right now that I may not even get accepted then. My mom (who is a RN) told me yesterday that it's really hard to get into nursing programs despite the high demand of nurses right now. I'm trying not to freak out too much about the HESI A2, because that's really what it all boils down to hehe.

@Jess.W Thank you! And as far as I am aware, there were a few that applied the first time when I had applied and didn't make the points cutoff but that reapplied and made it either the term after or the one after that. The unfortunate part is that it is all dependent on how strong the pool is for the individual term starts and has nothing to do with you as an individual person. If your points are low, you just have to hope that whenever you apply, no matter how many times, that everyone else that is also applying has a lower score average. There are only 120 seats per term start so it is extremely selective (mostly because there aren't alot of nurse educators too), BUT very possible as long as you kept with As and Bs on your pre-reqs and your HESI scores are good. Even though I received 0 points for not having completed DEP2004, I made up for the lost points by gaining quality points for all 4 sections of the HESI for 80% and above.

I came from no medical background whatsoever - no family in the field and was literally just hoping whatever I had was enough. I didn't even really know if I had a chance when I was calculating out all of my points because I didn't even know if 136 was good. All I saw was that it was a max of 160 and thought that I didn't have anywhere close to what I needed but it was. For my cohort, the point cutoff was something like 128 if I remember correctly. There is also a waiting list where we had 1 or 2 people added to our cohort at the last minute before term 1 started due to people declining their acceptance or being unable to provide all the medical documentation needed.

There were also people that applied to both the LPN program on top of the RN program in hopes that if one didn't work out, then maybe they could get accepted into the other, and actually ended up getting accepted into LPN instead.

[Jess.W]

@cabrerakm ah, I didn't even think of applying for the LPN program too. I will definitely do that. Thanks for your incredible feedback! I wish you all the best in this new part of your life! ?