GA Perimeter College

abmsam · Jan 7, 2007

I'm so sorry for your predicament. I went through exactly the same thing. I passed first semester with 79.XX and withdrew from the second semester at the midpoint. I'm sorry to say that the second semester is twice as difficult, due the extra clinical hours and much more complex content.

Do a search of the forums for "GPC" and "Georgia Perimeter College" to read some of the personal stories, including mine. You may also find some of the issues expressed as questions, which could help you to develop your own questions and considerations.

In my opinion, the entire program needs a full "reconstruction." It needs new professors, a new curriculum, a new outlook. As extreme as it sounds, I simply do not believe that the current administration of the program can change the direction.

Good luck to you.

SonyMom · Jan 11, 2007

Carostar,

Congratulations on finishing your first semester at GPC! You should be very proud of yourself. I myself am going into my fourth and final semester in the GPC Nursing Program and actually see "a light at the end of the tunnel." All I can tell you is to take one day at a time. I know it's very disheartening to watch your fellow classmates drop/fail, but your in school for a purpose, and you can get it done. If you have any questions/concerns, please feel free to contact me.

opradiva · Jan 12, 2007

Carostar,
Congratulations on finishing your first semester at GPC! You should be very proud of yourself. I myself am going into my fourth and final semester in the GPC Nursing Program and actually see "a light at the end of the tunnel." All I can tell you is to take one day at a time. I know it's very disheartening to watch your fellow classmates drop/fail, but your in school for a purpose, and you can get it done. If you have any questions/concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Hello all.

I have heard great and not so great things about this program. I am only a pre nursing student, however, we all know that you must think ahead if you want a chance of getting into a nursing program. I am considering GPC's nursing program despite all the bad press it has recieved.

Just yesterday, I was speaking with the mother of a student at the Clarkston campus. She praised the program there and said that if you graduate from the program, you are guaranteed a pretty good entry job, because employers realize how difficult GPC's program is. I told her I had my reservations about applying because of what I've read, but after thinking about it, I guess it is what you make it. She said some students she spoke with thought nursing school would be easier than what it turned out to be. Some students accused the faculty of being unfair instead of taking the time to prepare for check offs and tests. Maybe this is true, maybe not. From what I gathered from her, her daugther is extremely happy at GPC, and she is doing quite well.

I'm so sorry to hear all of the negativity about the program. I may not be a student there, but I know that all the bad press hasn't been conjured up. maybe there is a huge lack of communication between faculty and students. I hope the problems are resolved soon.

opradiva

bsugaRN2b · Jan 14, 2007

I'm so sorry for your predicament. I went through exactly the same thing. I passed first semester with 79.XX and withdrew from the second semester at the midpoint...
...In my opinion, the entire program needs a full "reconstruction." It needs new professors, a new curriculum, a new outlook. As extreme as it sounds, I simply do not believe that the current administration of the program can change the direction.
Good luck to you.

As others have said, good luck to you.

I'm at a different school, but I just wanted to say to make a long story short, two of the GPC teachers left there and came to teach at the school I'm at now, at which point the students that had these two teachers were reduced to tears more than once, and the rest of the teachers are now seriously questioning their ability to teach here.

We also have a student who left GPC who had the same complaints about GPC, so I'm presuming he was telling the truth...

GPC would have been a heck of a lot cheaper for me to attend, but if my money's going in the trash, then not really - which is why I took out a loan and went somewhere else.

Personally, I'd leave, but that's not really for me to decide...

Good luck!

abmsam · Jan 14, 2007

She praised the program there and said that if you graduate from the program, you are guaranteed a pretty good entry job, because employers realize how difficult GPC's program is. I told her I had my reservations about applying because of what I've read, but after thinking about it, I guess it is what you make it. She said some students she spoke with thought nursing school would be easier than what it turned out to be. Some students accused the faculty of being unfair instead of taking the time to prepare for check offs and tests. Maybe this is true, maybe not. From what I gathered from her, her daugther is extremely happy at GPC, and she is doing quite well.
opradiva

First, nurses should NEVER have trouble finding a job. The shortage is devastating right now, and I would NOT choose GPC simply because you think you have a better chance of finding employment if/when you graduate.

Second, nursing school is NOT what you make it. It is a combination of your interests, study habits, motivation AND the instructors and school. GPC is lacking in instructor ability as well as a clear program direction. Take it from someone who has been there. You do not want to get yourself into that. Nursing school is never easy. GPC has such high standards for accepting students into the program, and even these elite students fail. The only common thread is the school itself. The accusations of "unfairness" may be exagerated. Why? Because the instructors and administrators are not unfair on purpose. Many of them simply do not care, thus are not concerned with being effective teachers. They don't try to cheat you. They just do not put enough time into the students.

I'll get of my high horse now.

opradiva · Jan 15, 2007

First, nurses should NEVER have trouble finding a job. The shortage is devastating right now, and I would NOT choose GPC simply because you think you have a better chance of finding employment if/when you graduate.

I totally agree with you here. I'm only a pre nursing student, but I have done my research, and I'm very aware of the nursing shortage and the need for qualified nurses in our country. That being said, I was merely relaying what I had been told from a GPC student's mother. Maybe I should open every post of mine with the disclaimer, 'Please, do not kill the messenger.'

I have to disagree with you about your second point. Anything in life is what you make it. I applaud students that felt the need to leave GPC and find a better program. Great for them. However, I do believe whatever situation you find yourself in, you make the best of it and keep moving. I don't have to be a GPC student to know that. I understand those of you who have lived the GPC experience may have a different opinion. That's fine.

I will say this....again. Everything negative that's been said about the school hasn't been made up. Some things must be true. I'm sure every nursing program has its bad moments, but the things I've read here have scared me into applying at other schools that are farther away. Wherever I decide to go, I'll make the best of it, and succeed.

opradiva

mt33133 · Jan 16, 2007

Unfortunately GPC chooses it students solely based on the NET exam and grades. They do not take into account the whole person who is applying for the program. Just because a person can pass the NET exam does not mean they will be successful in a nursing program! The program is cheap in respect to other programs in GA and it is an ADN program.

For those of you who are pre-nursing, please seriously consider a school that offers a BSN program. Actually call the hospitals in the Atlanta area and speak to the recruiting department. Better yet, go to a NSNA convention or a job fair and ask the recruiters onsite. Ask them point blank from which school do they like to hire. I did that prior to applying to nursing programs in the Atlanta area. Believe me, this will help you narrow down your search of schools. Take a tour of the school, email to call some of the professors listed on the schools website. Are they interested in speaking with you, do they take the time to explain their nursing program? The attitude of the people who work at the school can give you alot of information as well. I have already been to several of the conventions, job fairs, etc. As soon as they find out where I am going to school they want to hire me as a tech on the spot! I have heard over and over again that BSN is the only way to go if you want to move into more responsiblity and better pay.

I am currently in a BSN program - it is a 6 semester program and well worth the extra two semesters. The professors at my school want us to succeed and I believe that is the difference between where I go to school and other nursing programs. The bar is set high for achievement and they expect the best from each and every one of their students, however, remediation is available and you are given three chances to pass checkoffs.

I know it is very competitive to get into nursing school, but for you pre-nursing students do not feel like you have to take any offer. Be selective in the school you choose. You want to be the best nurse possible and that entails getting the very best education possible.

opradiva · Jan 17, 2007

Unfortunately GPC chooses it students solely based on the NET exam and grades. They do not take into account the whole person who is applying for the program. Just because a person can pass the NET exam does not mean they will be successful in a nursing program! The program is cheap in respect to other programs in GA and it is an ADN program.
For those of you who are pre-nursing, please seriously consider a school that offers a BSN program. Actually call the hospitals in the Atlanta area and speak to the recruiting department. Better yet, go to a NSNA convention or a job fair and ask the recruiters onsite. Ask them point blank from which school do they like to hire. I did that prior to applying to nursing programs in the Atlanta area. Believe me, this will help you narrow down your search of schools. Take a tour of the school, email to call some of the professors listed on the schools website. Are they interested in speaking with you, do they take the time to explain their nursing program? The attitude of the people who work at the school can give you alot of information as well. I have already been to several of the conventions, job fairs, etc. As soon as they find out where I am going to school they want to hire me as a tech on the spot! I have heard over and over again that BSN is the only way to go if you want to move into more responsiblity and better pay.
I am currently in a BSN program - it is a 6 semester program and well worth the extra two semesters. The professors at my school want us to succeed and I believe that is the difference between where I go to school and other nursing programs. The bar is set high for achievement and they expect the best from each and every one of their students, however, remediation is available and you are given three chances to pass checkoffs.
I know it is very competitive to get into nursing school, but for you pre-nursing students do not feel like you have to take any offer. Be selective in the school you choose. You want to be the best nurse possible and that entails getting the very best education possible.

What a wonderful post. How inspiring! So much food for thought.

The school you are attending is one of my choices. I've spoken to their staff, and they seem very supportive. You are right about one thing. The way staff treats you over the phone is a clue as to how they will treat you as a student.

mimi2nurse · Jan 17, 2007

Hello. I'm also at GPC taking pre-req's...anatomy this semester wheeee! Are you talking about Mercer's nursing program? I shadowed a nurse at Piedmont Hospital last week and would highly recommend it to anyone thinking about nursing!

NurseBunky · Jan 18, 2007

I'm sorry to hear that GPC is still having problems. I too attended there back in 2003 and dropped my first semester which was devastating. Only through the grace of God and the love of my mother did I recoup and apply to Gordon's ADN program. Yes it was still extremely difficult but the professors rooted for us throughout the entire program. In fact they had open door policies in regards to asking questions after class or just needing a shoulder to cry on. I do plan on getting my BSN later this year. Many of the BSN programs here have waiting lists, and some even have low pass rates on the NCLEX.

To those who decide to go there. Good luck to you. Get your books early and get a head start on the requried reading. Keep your head up and take it one day at a time. Ask questions no matter how they make you feel. Don't expect a lot of hand holding through this program and if you are completely new to healthcare?....God Bless!!

zazenchic · Jan 24, 2007

I am so relieved after seeing this post! I started all my prenursing at GPC but with how rude the nursing staff to prenurse applicants, I decided to try Georgia Highlands in Rome. Yes it's a drive but its only 45-1hr from Marietta no traffic! Anyways they cator their program to help students suceed in understanding nursing! You get a personal nursing teach mentor who you can go to any day and cry,discuss strategies, and get support! The test are hard many people had to drop but they try so hard to cater to educating the students its amazing!!! THeir student success rate on the NCLEX is 99% from my understanding.

If you have any questions email me or send me a private message (PM).