Has anyone dropped out of CEP?

rachaelofcourse · Feb 17, 2017

Hello,

I have been told that you can drop the CEP program and continue in the blocks. This is entirely up to your school, teachers, and department head. Since GCC is now 100% CEP, I question whether they would let you drop CEP. I would agree that the CEP isn't hard, just time consuming.

I would also like to let you know that, while I understand the need to work to pay bills and such, many of my classmates have cut their work hours back significantly or quit altogether. I am in the GWCC Evening program, which in my opinion, is not as rigorous as the weekend program. I don't mean to be harsh or cliche, but the program needs to be a top (if not the top) priority in order to be successful.

My mother-in-law did the weekend program before it went 100% CEP and has said numerous times that she had to spend double the class time at home studying just to learn the material. She was studying all the time, and didn't really take breaks. She also didn't work, and she still struggled. Nursing school is one of those things where you kind of have to do whatever they tell you. That being said, is your job flexible?

I sincerely am not trying to be rude; I think it's only fair that someone throw anecdotal evidence out there. Could a weekend program work for you, that way you don't have to do CEP?

Just some thoughts to consider.

jen91 · Feb 17, 2017

Thanks for the reply! I do not think you are being rude or anything, I honestly appreciate the input.

The reason why I can really only do the weekend program is because I currently work as an MA at a hospital, in surgeries and work 4 - 10 hour shifts. I work from 7am-5:30pm, so I do not get out of work early enough to make the weeknight classes, plus I have a child at home.

rachaelofcourse · Feb 17, 2017

Thanks for the reply! I do not think you are being rude or anything, I honestly appreciate the input.
The reason why I can really only do the weekend program is because I currently work as an MA at a hospital, in surgeries and work 4 - 10 hour shifts. I work from 7am-5:30pm, so I do not get out of work early enough to make the weeknight classes, plus I have a child at home.

Would your boss let you leave even 30 mins early? My classes are from 5:30-9:30 PM. I, too, work in a hospital and have a child so I can empathize.

jen91 · Feb 17, 2017

My boss would, 1 of our co-workers is currently in the weeknight program, so I see her stressing out about the long days, plus she still has class on the weekends sometimes so she doesn't get much time to study.

My thought is that it might be less stressful having the classes on the weekends, when I am not working, and be able to study during the weeknights but I could be wrong.

Apple-Core, ASN, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2017

Hi! I am also applying in May - (don't forget that the deadline is May 31st!! :yeah: ) Do you have an idea which University you plan to attend? I can only speak for Ottawa, as that is my choice of University-CEP partner. Here's some info I have gleaned from the (wonderful and very helpful) nursing advisor: if you are accepted, the online portion of the degree with Ottawa will begin in the fall. For the entire semester, you will only be doing the online part of the degree via Ottawa. The nursing block will begin in the Spring semester (January 2018), and at that point the online portion will most likely drop down to 1 class. You then pick up more classes online in the summer, when there are no nursing blocks running....and so on.

In other words, the program (at least with Ottawa) is designed to maximize your online workload during the times you are not in nursing blocks, and minimize the workload when you are. However, I was also advised that in the event a student is simply finding it too much, they can delay some of the online classes with Ottawa and pick them up later. This will, most likely, delay your ability to graduate at the same time that you complete the nursing blocks (which should be end of the fall semester 2019). However, that is preferable to dropping out all together!

You cannot, however, delay the nursing blocks - they have to be done in the exact pathway as set out by GCC. Fall behind in those, or attempt to skip a class, and you'd most likely fail. In other words, there is flexibility in the online program even if it means the entire BSN takes you longer than the estimated 2.5 yrs that is the current desired timeline for the CEP, but there is zero flexibility in the GCC program.

Having said all this, the amount of time and the rigors of the nursing blocks alone (without even taking into account the online classes) will be very tough and demand an incredible amount of your time, and so just like rachaelofcourse, I would suggest finding ways to reduce your work hours, even if it means finding a source of income from elsewhere (scholarships, FAFSA, loans?)... and just like rachaelofcourse said, this is not intended to come across as rude, just being honest about the incredible amount of studying and time one needs to devote to the CEP in order to succeed.

You are, however, not alone in needing/desiring to continue working while in school; from what I heard the evening and weekend classes are very popular and they are usually the classes with the most applicants.

GCC is my first choice too!!.