GTC 2011?

blueharlequin · Apr 27, 2011

Lol, I haven't touched the NCLEX review book yet. I don't want to stress myself out earlier than I need to and if I don't get in, then it'll be even further down the road that I'll be taking that test. I've just been studying for my classes (well, for chemistry...it's the only class that I'm having to spend a significant amount of time on) and playing Xbox. Actually, I think because everything on my end is done with the process (ie, no more tests/interviews), the stress/difficulty of chemistry has taken over my mind and allowed me to not be too anxious about waiting on an email. I'm definitely still checking my email multiple times a day, but it's just not consuming my thoughts. I'm just glad the application (audition somehow sounds like a better term for it, lol) process is over. To me, that's so much of a relief that waiting feels like no problem. But a part of me also dreads it in a way...I'm not looking forward to figuring out what to do if I don't get in (GTC was the only place I applied).

miss_impatient · Apr 27, 2011

I felt relief at first, like just by making it through the process I had accomplished something. But its Wednesday and still no news. As my name implies, I am NOT taking that very well.

I want to start studying something to keep my mind ready for school. But I'm with Olivia, if I don't get in, what would be the point?

blueharlequin · Apr 28, 2011

Well, it's good to keep a few things in mind. In the interviews we (at least my group) were told we would know by the end of this week. That means by Friday at 5PM, assuming business hours. And given how up in the air this process has been in terms of dates (because they never did give any dates that were set in stone, so they technically don't have to tell us by the end of week), it might not even be a bad thing to expect the beginning of next week.

Also, I think it's a really good idea to follow the nursing faculty's advise and not start studying early. It's really easy to get burned out during extremely intensive programs like this. You may start off with a little bit of an edge at the beginning by studying over summer, but this can also VERY easily lead to a quicker burn out. If you don't and you just take the time to relax before, you may not (or may) start as strong as those who did study, but probably won't burn out as fast (if at all). This has been my experience with intensive music programs I've done in the past, and it's actually a common piece of advice among top athletes, musicians, etc. I'm not going to study anything over summer, because I want to recharge and be fresh for the program in fall (if I get in). I may flip through my NCLEX review book a time or two, since Melissa brought it up and now I'm kind of curious about what's in there (I haven't thumbed through it in close to a year, lol).

But not doing any studying for me also comes from taking chemistry this quarter. It's a hard class that's bending my mind in crazy directions (learned about an equation/process that ignores mathematical rules today...didn't think about chemistry crossing lines with basic physics quite this much), so not studying would be a nice reset before the program start.

hereicome · Apr 28, 2011

Hello!!!

You all will be just fine. I think the chances of getting in are very high.

I had my interview on Friday and we were told to expect the final decision on either Friday or Monday because the person incharge of confirming the decisions was on vacation.

I am not very anxious, may be because I was surprised they called me for the interview in the first place. As for now, Chem and Psyc classes are keeping me busy.

We were told the av. GPA for those interviewed was 3.5 and the test score 85%. Remember the interview is just 5 points. They will be accepting 60 out the 70 interviewed(anyway, that was before they decided to add more interviews.)

Wowwww!! I am so surprised to hear people already have the NCLEX book. I can see you guys are just so ready for the program.

It shall be well with us all. Good luck!!

blueharlequin · Apr 28, 2011

All of these last minute changes are making me start to wonder about the school. I understand the department is going through changes due to the new building, but there have been so many "last minutes" throughout the entire process that it's leaving a bad taste in my mouth. I guess I'm just worried about how much of a reflection this actually is on the nursing department. I've loved the faculty for my pre-nursing classes (I've been happier with GTC than with where I got my BA) and have been pretty excited about the nursing school because of the positive reviews by students. This is really starting to make me worry and wonder, though. :confused:

hereicome · Apr 28, 2011

@olivia.tieman.

There's is nothing to worry about. As someone said earlier, they want to have a full nursing class in August. For sure not everybody who gets accepted will be attedning. Some people have other schools they applied to and will have to choose at the end. They were supposed to interview 75 people and admit 60, but not everyone turned up for the interviews. They better have a "waiting list" for "incase."

So far I love GTC. I had heard before that they already have their candidates for the nursing program, so I had no hopes they will even interview me. Now I know it was all rumors because non of those people at the faculty know me personally, but I got to be amongst the 75 that were called to be interviewed. I know there will always be exceptions e.g I saw only one guy for the nursing program the day I did my interview, so I just told my self, "Lucky boy, you are IN no matter what," because the faculty needs atleast some guys.

Just be patient. I don't think your chances will be hurt in anyway by the number of students they decide to interview next week. Remember interview is just 5 points.

Good luck!!

hereicome · Apr 28, 2011

Point of correction!!

The fact that I thought the only guy i saw at last friday's interview was lucky doesn't mean he was there by luck. Everydody was there by merite bec the points system (GPA+test scores) doesn't consider sex, but I think there will be some consideratons after the interview which might make a littlllleee difference.

MelissaLPN, ASN, LPN, RN · Apr 28, 2011

NCLEX RN is the way to study! All nursing tests will be asked like nursing nclex questions. That is how I got through nursing school the first time. You take the system you are studying and do the nclex review to prepare for the test. It is very good practice and its all application. They are all scenario questions that really do mirror real live nursing. And with rational you get basically the advice of an expert nurse to guide you through them. You do not have to study intensely but the wording and the 4 right answers are what nursing tests will be like. The key is learning what is a nursing priority and what a real nurse will do FIRST!

mommybear9 · Apr 28, 2011

Hi all,

I am currently in my first year in the ADN program at GTC. I am really excited for each of you and man I can remember how incredibly stressful this particular waiting period can be! You've done your part already so now is the time to let go for a few days and wait for the best roller coaster ride of your life.

Some people seemed concerned about how things seem to change or information does not always seem concrete. I have to tell you that you really need to accept that that will be a part of your future in any nursing program, especially a good one. As a nurse, you have to be flexible. Every single experience brings with it many variables so you have to be able to roll with changes. .... is the most wonderful director that we could have. She is amazing. They line up X amount of people to interview. Basically, they want to assure that they have met each of the top XX students (based on the GPA and test scores). They also want to assure that they have interview enough people because what tends to happen is that they offer the positions in the program to (in our case 40 people, in your case it sounds like 60) a certain number of students and not all of the students will accept. Some have chosen to go to another program, some have had life situations come up or change. You'd be surprised at home many of the original chosen 60 will actually decline their positions. So they need to make sure that they have a good base of people so if that happens they can pull from the next person on the list that has already been pre-interviewed. Does that make sense? As far as the dates changing.... I understand how absolutely crazy that makes people feel. Again... I was there! But as ..... is given more information as far as when we can move into our new building, when she interviews and locates top notch staff, that allows her to increase the number of students so it's worth waiting a few days so more people can come in, right?

Again... once you get in you will need to learn to take the information that you are given and ROLL WITH IT. Seriously. Our class leans on each other heavily. We have a blast! We work our tails off, but we laugh a lot and learn a lot too. Our hope is that once all of you have been excepted we will be here in case you have questions, need help, or just need encouragement when things get bumpy. I hope this helps.

We're so excited to meet you and to help you to have the best experience possible. Let me know if you have any questions. Oh! One more thing!! YES!!! Take the summer off!!! I am SO one of those people who has a hard time letting things go and who wants to get ahead of the game, but there really isn't much you can do. Give yourself some time off, have fun, love on your family and friends because once you do start it is intense, but WAY worth it. Take care!

blueharlequin · Apr 28, 2011

@olivia.tieman.
There's is nothing to worry about. As someone said earlier, they want to have a full nursing class in August. For sure not everybody who gets accepted will be attedning. Some people have other schools they applied to and will have to choose at the end. They were supposed to interview 75 people and admit 60, but not everyone turned up for the interviews. They better have a "waiting list" for "incase."
So far I love GTC. I had heard before that they already have their candidates for the nursing program, so I had no hopes they will even interview me. Now I know it was all rumors because non of those people at the faculty know me personally, but I got to be amongst the 75 that were called to be interviewed. I know there will always be exceptions e.g I saw only one guy for the nursing program the day I did my interview, so I just told my self, "Lucky boy, you are IN no matter what," because the faculty needs atleast some guys.
Just be patient. I don't think your chances will be hurt in anyway by the number of students they decide to interview next week. Remember interview is just 5 points.
Good luck!!

Sorry, had to quote you to remember all of what you said (slept in late today and my brain hasn't woken up yet, lol). I'm not worried about my chances of getting in based on those odds. I'm actually happier about my odds. And it's a good thing that the nursing department is growing. It shows the program is reaching its goals and the faculty is dedicated to being the faculty of a school. And I do try to remind myself that the interview was only 5 points (I thought my interview went very badly, but that was for other very specific reasons).

The thing that makes me nervous are the inconsistencies that have gone on in the process. I did say earlier that they have never set anything in stone, so I really just need to remember that. It seems like there have been a lot of "things will be done on these dates" only for them to be done another date, but nothing major (like changing the interview date). It's really just expecting to find out about something around a certain time frame (based on what was said), only to have it take a little longer. I really just need to remind myself that the department is busy due to the new building and being able to expand the student base. And just having received their certification, which is FANTASTIC. Those are really big adjustments to make and even more so to prepare for (there are so many "what ifs" I'm sure the faculty has to take into account and make a balanced decision about), so their estimated dates (which they made it very clear they were estimates) being off a little isn't really that big of a deal.

In terms of the rumor mill (about them having already chosen the candidates), I try not to really believe something I have heard until I've heard it from a few different people...and typically I always ask if it was confirmed by someone higher up. And even then, I'm still not fully comfortable believing what I've heard until I've personally had a higher up (or someone involved in the rumor, not the mill) confirm it for me. If I talk about a rumor, I try to make an extra effort to say it was a rumor, where/how I heard it, if I heard it from multiple people, whether the person I heard it from had it confirmed or not, and whether or not I personally had it confirmed. And I try to logic my way through the rumor.

The reason I bring that up about the rumor thing isn't to criticize (because that's what it sounds like...sorry, I'm making my point ahead, lol). I just really try to logic my way through whether something could be true or not to keep myself from making unfair judgments. And from spreading false information, which would be unfair to the school and the person hearing the rumor. That being said, maybe they did know the candidates they wanted for the top 40 but decided to take 60 after that decision. Or the rumor started by someone making a comment like "they've probably already made the decision" and another person overhearing and misunderstanding. It's just hard to know. I also don't know where you got that information from, because if it was a faculty member, they may know more. *shrugs*

And with the guy getting in, I'm not sure how much the faculty would take gender distribution into account. There was a guy in our group as well. I talked with him and another lady (Melissa, what was that lady's name that was in our A&P II and interview group? I have a horrible time with names, but I definitely remembered her face) after the interviews and we both made the comment that being a male in a female dominated profession is a huge leg up. But I do think that gender won't be a deciding factor for the faculty if the difference in GPA/test scores is wide.

And good god I hope they don't interview MORE people next week. And if they do, they really deserve to give those of us who interviewed first an answer, since it sounds like these interviews were tagged on at the last minute.

But yeah, I'm really happy with GTC overall. It's been so much of a better experience for me than where I got my BA that it's almost kind of ridiculous. And it's definitely my top choice (right now it's my only choice, because it's the only school I applied to).

miss_impatient · Apr 28, 2011

Olivia, GTC is my top/only choice as well, which might be why I am so impatient. I have heard tons of rumors too, mainly on here, but some from people in my interview. It kind of makes me glad that I don't really know anyone else that's applied, because I don't have that much hearsay coming at me.

We were told in my interview session that they were discussing the candidates on Monday and we would know by Friday (at the latest). I contacted Saadia Jackson, and she said the emails should be sent tomorrow (but Monday at the latest). I'm going to plan for Monday and be pleasantly suprised if we hear anything tomorrow. Waiting is seriously the hardest part for me!!

I am going to have a hard time relaxing over the summer. I've taken this current quarter off, because I've done everything I can but SCT100, and I feel so unproductive. But I wouldn't even know where to start studying ahead of time.

Anyway, just a few more days! I can't wait to hear everyone's news!

blueharlequin · Apr 28, 2011

Yeah, I'm glad I don't know anyone else either. The rumors that people have written about here and overhearing other people talk at school is making me go a little crazy, because I'm wondering what's actually going on. I hope the emails will be sent tomorrow. But my dad and I were talking and he summed it up by saying this is one of those things where we would end up going crazy over the weekend by being forced to wait, lol.

I think I'll be fine over summer, but that's because I haven't had any time off since starting school Fall 2009. And this quarter I'm taking Chemistry, which is really hard (in a completely different way from A&P), so the break will be very well worth it.