HELP I need college advice!!

ChuckeRN, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2011

I wasn't aware that Apollo merged with GC. I thought DeVry bought Apollo? So now, DeVry has Apollo, and Chamberlain.

Regardless, why not apply to Apollo/Carrington's ADN program?

Also, you can't take the NCLEX without going to a certified nursing program and there is not a limit to how many times you can take the NCLEX (see all of the 'I failed the NCLEX x times threads").

So I'm not sure what your problem is exactly.

hilzaberry · Jul 18, 2011

I wasn't aware that Apollo merged with GC. I thought DeVry bought Apollo? So now, DeVry has Apollo, and Chamberlain.
Regardless, why not apply to Apollo/Carrington's ADN program?
Also, you can't take the NCLEX without going to a certified nursing program and there is not a limit to how many times you can take the NCLEX (see all of the 'I failed the NCLEX x times threads").
So I'm not sure what your problem is exactly.

I am doing a BSRN I've already finished everything apart from the actual RN core classes...and there is a 3 time per year state limit in Arizona. After the nightmare with GCU I am so scarred I won't deal with another private university EVER AGAIN!

ChuckeRN, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2011

If you fail the NCLEX, you have to wait 45 days before you can take it again. But you are looking at this the wrong way. 86% of first time NCLEX test takers pass.

Second, if you do choose to wait for a public school, ASU, etc., then you will have a LONG wait. And with your grades, you will not get into ASU anytime soon. My babysitter has a close to 4.0 GPA at ASU and has been waiting to get into the Nursing program at ASU for longer than 2 years.

The bottom line is, if you don't want to wait, a private school is the way to go. You can't have it both ways.

dunitrazzy · Jul 18, 2011

Have you considered going out of state?

hilzaberry · Jul 18, 2011

If you fail the NCLEX, you have to wait 45 days before you can take it again. But you are looking at this the wrong way. 86% of first time NCLEX test takers pass.
Second, if you do choose to wait for a public school, ASU, etc., then you will have a LONG wait. And with your grades, you will not get into ASU anytime soon. My babysitter has a close to 4.0 GPA at ASU and has been waiting to get into the Nursing program at ASU for longer than 2 years.
The bottom line is, if you don't want to wait, a private school is the way to go. You can't have it both ways.

But I'm not looking at ASU that is not even CLOSE to an option...NAU and U of A I have been told are a very big possibility...I have so much experience it's frankly retarded that I'm not in a school regardless of my GPA! The only reason my GPA is that low anyhow is because the JERKS at Grand Canyon University refused to let me withdraw from a full semester worth of classes when I got into a car accident mid semester and suffered a severe blow to the head! Thus they gifted me with 3 F's...and when I took the classes AGAIN they ROUNDED MY A's WITH THE F GRADES AND MADE IT A SET OF 3 C's!!!

I was even a lab assistant in the school microbiology, biology and anatomy lab and would assist my professors with bacterial slide preps, cadaver dissection procedures, and lab demonstrations! I have STELLAR recommendation letters from 6 of my professors including the head of the science department who's written SEVERAL books on viral vaccinations and molecular biology who left after the Apollo College merger AND my EMT/Medic professor who WROTE part of the national registry test!!!

I was also an EMT at the age of 18 a paramedic in California at 19 worked in Compton with a 40 year old EMT partner!! I couldn't keep my license when I moved back to AZ (age 21) because the stupid laws changed right after I moved back so I was unable to handle narcotics because I was under the age of 23 so my plans to do a Medic to Nurse degree got messed up (thanks Jan Brewer).

This is STUPID I am so angry that I have THIS MUCH EXPERIENCE but nothing to actually show for it! No school actually cares unless I have money and an over the moon GPA. I've worked SO HARD but no matter what I do I just CAN'T WIN!

hilzaberry · Jul 18, 2011

Have you considered going out of state?

Grand Canyon University cleaned me out financially I am just happy to have gotten out with my education...I haven't found anyone out of state that has a better nursing school situation regardless...

dunitrazzy · Jul 18, 2011

Colorado Northwestern Community College accepts on merit and will take into account gpa, previous work experience, etc. Their grid is posted on their website, the classes are small this year they accepted 28/35 applicants that applied for this upcoming year. I moved from CA where the wait was 3-5 years and lottery out here for school. As of yet, there isn't a waiting list at this school. It is rural, but the program does travel to Grand Junction for clinical rotations. Have you tried petitioning to have those F's removed from your transcript seeing as you did retake the classes receiving a higher grade in them?

Best of Luck

Southern Magnolia · Jul 18, 2011

I really am in a pickle and in some SERIOUS need of help/opinions/advice. I am a 24 year old pre-nursing student in Arizona and was one of the students that got totally screwed by Grand Canyon University when they merged with Apollo College, tanked their nursing program, and got sued left right and center. Thank GOD I was quick to the draw and got out early with my school credits in tact...sadly I was still left in a really bad spot because I was done with nearly all my pre-nursing school credits but now I have no nursing school to attend that doesn't have a 2 year waiting list attached. The 2 years is NOT avoidable and GPA, test score, recommendation letters, past certifications have NO BEARING the ONLY thing that helps is working at a partnering hospital. Issue? Everyone is trying to get one...
I have the ability to get my EMT certification reissued and am investigating a CNA as well because if you work in a partnering hospital you get wait time shaved off on the waiting list. The problem is I have been applying to every hospital within a 25 mile driving distance whenever I see an opening and check it every day with zero luck. Arizona State University (ASU) is so bad that they require a 4.2 GPA with a 90% test score so THAT is not happening, and I checked Coolidge College and their break down system is totally nuts and impossible.
Now I am left with these last and final options...
1) Go up to Northern Arizona State University (NAU) and hope to god that their nursing school situation is better. Is anyone up there and know what their situation is??? I have a 3.2 GPA and have been holding off on taking the NCLEX because of the 3 test limit and my indecision in regards to which school I wish to attend. Do they have a partnership with the hospital up there? I was going to drive up but if it's a total waste of time I might as well not bother and these people are a nightmare to get a hold of on the phone....
2) Go down to Tuscon and do the same the same information fishing at University of Arizona? Anyone know about that????
3) Stick it out in Scottsdale at Scottsdale Community College on their 2 year waiting list and keep praying to god a magic job appears out of nowhere and sit around till then...
THOUGHTS???? Keep in mind I'm 24 and I'm going to be running out of insurance at 26 on top of the additional irritation of constantly being reminded that I should already be in school and would have been finished by Summer 2012. God this is so frustrating >.
Hi,
Not sure I follow all your reasoning but here's some thoughts . . . Universities don't have wait lists to my knowledge. It's apply and either your scores get you in or they don't. Also, NAU has locations in Tucson and Yuma as well. NAU won't say this but it's a bit easier to get into Yuma for obvious reasons. I'm not sure I follow your thoughts on the NCLEX - you were pre nursing right? You wouldn't be qualified to take the NCLEX yet.
Also, with the economy the way it is I don't know of any programs that still have partnerships with hospitals like they used to. I know u of A's second degree program had a few sponsored spots but that's all I'm aware of.
I'm a 2nd degree student that will begin NAU tucson's BSN program next month.
To me your options are get CNA/EMT cert and sit on a wait list with the community colleges until your number comes up or get things together to apply to one or all of the universities and hopefully get a seat sooner.
Best wishes.

hilzaberry · Jul 18, 2011

Hi,
Not sure I follow all your reasoning but here's some thoughts . . . Universities don't have wait lists to my knowledge. It's apply and either your scores get you in or they don't. Also, NAU has locations in Tucson and Yuma as well. NAU won't say this but it's a bit easier to get into Yuma for obvious reasons. I'm not sure I follow your thoughts on the NCLEX - you were pre nursing right? You wouldn't be qualified to take the NCLEX yet.
Also, with the economy the way it is I don't know of any programs that still have partnerships with hospitals like they used to. I know u of A's second degree program had a few sponsored spots but that's all I'm aware of.
I'm a 2nd degree student that will begin NAU tucson's BSN program next month.
To me your options are get CNA/EMT cert and sit on a wait list with the community colleges until your number comes up or get things together to apply to one or all of the universities and hopefully get a seat sooner.
Best wishes.

Whooops I meant to type NET...other schools use HESIs and some even make up a version of their own. I was just given a glimmer of hope by a very kind woman who is the dean of a CNA certification school who was willing to allow me to test out of the classroom portion of the class (per me taking each section test/final) and only attend the clinical portion in person. Thank GOD for that I did NOT want to spend 8hrs a day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks listening to the same stuff over and over...I reviewed material from several CNA study websites and it was like elementary school science class work for me. I've done so much class work it's gotten to the point that if I participated in one more "medical ethics class" I couldn't participate with the class because the new kids could just cheat off me. **rolls eyes** At least an EMT/CNA certification will make my resume look a little nicer...

love7777 · Jul 18, 2011

I go to bmcc and have a 3.72 gpa I am gonna transfer because I have no chance to get into nursing

hilzaberry · Jul 18, 2011

I go to bmcc and have a 3.72 gpa I am gonna transfer because I have no chance to get into nursing

In New York? Sorry I'm horrible with college acronyms...Ugggg I wish I hadn't been stupid and allowed my parents to talk me into moving back home to Arizona from California to "save money" when I was working on getting into Loma Linda Medical School's pre-med program bridged with my medic license...All I ended up doing was getting stranded and screwed...Now it's almost taking the same time a freaking MD would have to do this stupid BSRN!