Help !Schools mistake cost me clinical seat starting Jan. 8!

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Need advice! Applied for clinicals starting Monday way back when. Got letter that I was being considered, was eligible and had completed all prereqs. Went to orientation, hired a sitter for my little ones, got my physical, scheduled my drug screen, got my shots/titers, scheduled my NET and my fingerprinting, did the CPR and so on. Got a letter Dec. 22, the day the university closed for the holidays saying the competition was stiff and my point totals and GPA weren't as high as others and that I could apply for next fall with another 40$ app. fee. I have a 4.0GPA and very high point totals so I thought something was up. Called school today as soon as they opened. They made a mistake in calculating my GPA. I should have been in instead of out. The person in charge doesn't come back till the end of the week and so I have to wait till they discuss it to see how they want to proceed. Monday the program starts. They don't want to take an accepted candidate out of the program to put me in from the sounds of it. I am in a lurch... the babysitters waiting, my spring break plane tickets are waiting, my family is waiting. It was heartbreaking to tell people I didn't get accepted when the letter came.

I guess I need to vent some. I also need to know has anyone ever heard of them adding a seat to a program to fix a mess up? Or maybe removing an accepted candidate to fix a screw up? Or maybe just some suggestions to deal with this can of worms. I'm really trying to be nice but I really feel that I've been wronged and I'm not sure how to approach the chair of the department without making myself look like a twit as a candidate. Any outside the box solutions would be nice.

Thanks!:o

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.

OK....

First.... BREATHE!

Second... see "First" :)

At this point there really isn't anything you can do until this person gets back. Mistakes do happen and I would advise you to remember that. What I mean is... when you talk to this person, watch your tone! Get it out of your system now because if you go into that person's office, just a swing'n, you can kiss the opportunity good-bye.

I don't see a problem with adding one more student unless they completely filled their capacity. My college does not do that..they normally allow room for one or two more people. I don't know if your school will pull someone out but if that is the only choice, then I feel that should be done, especially if you made the cut off.

You have come this far.... don't stop now!

Ohhh... I would also follow the chain of command at your school. Don't hop over someone's head right away. Give the person the opportunity to fix the problem they made.

~Psych

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Thanks Psych. I believe all seats are filled as soon as points are totalled. Is there a legal student to teacher ratio they have to maintain so the BON allows them to teach the program? Also, how many people actually stay in clinicals? I'm trying to look at it like all the prereqs where I saw people dropping like flies at the expense, time demands, difficulty and quantity of content. They have to lose a few along the way. With that in mind maybe they'd add a seat knowing full well it won't be long till they'll be back down to the right number.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I'm of the belief that things happen for a reason. Especially things like THIS (something specifically cached that affects you particularly).

As far as advice goes: stay calm and play it out. Talk w/ the person when they get back.

All you can do is what you can do. It won't help in any way to fret or get angry about it before the process plays out.

It's difficult to remain patient with so much on the line. Really though, it's not like you have a choice BUT to be patient.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
Also, how many people actually stay in clinicals? I'm trying to look at it like all the prereqs where I saw people dropping like flies at the expense, time demands, difficulty and quantity of content. They have to lose a few along the way. With that in mind maybe they'd add a seat knowing full well it won't be long till they'll be back down to the right number.

I have heard of a student at my school given a spot for the next class automatically since the acceptance letter was sent to the wrong address (I have idea who was a fault)! I am also aware of a situation this past Fall, where two students were given seats over capacity (I do not know the circumstances) and it worked out well. The Fall class lost 3 people within two weeks so they were no longer over capacity within a short period of time.

I agree with the others. Continue to vent as you are doing now so you are calm when you approach your Director. Dress and act very professional. Ask the Director how he/she plans to resolve this matter so that it is fair to both you and the school. Whatever the outcome accept his/her resolution (I am already in nice fanny-kissing mode since school starts soon). Good luck.

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I hope the school will accept you. Good luck to you.

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Thanks everyone. Now it's just a waiting game from here to Friday. It's like watching the toaster for the toast to pop! In the immortal words of George Burns...."I'm very concerned about the future. I plan on spending the rest of my life there!"

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Specializes in LDRP.
Need advice! Applied for clinicals starting Monday way back when. Got letter that I was being considered, was eligible and had completed all prereqs. Went to orientation, hired a sitter for my little ones, got my physical, scheduled my drug screen, got my shots/titers, scheduled my NET and my fingerprinting, did the CPR and so on. Got a letter Dec. 22, the day the university closed for the holidays saying the competition was stiff and my point totals and GPA weren't as high as others and that I could apply for next fall with another 40$ app. fee. I have a 4.0GPA and very high point totals so I thought something was up. Called school today as soon as they opened. They made a mistake in calculating my GPA. I should have been in instead of out. The person in charge doesn't come back till the end of the week and so I have to wait till they discuss it to see how they want to proceed. Monday the program starts. They don't want to take an accepted candidate out of the program to put me in from the sounds of it. I am in a lurch... the babysitters waiting, my spring break plane tickets are waiting, my family is waiting. It was heartbreaking to tell people I didn't get accepted when the letter came.

I guess I need to vent some. I also need to know has anyone ever heard of them adding a seat to a program to fix a mess up? Or maybe removing an accepted candidate to fix a screw up? Or maybe just some suggestions to deal with this can of worms. I'm really trying to be nice but I really feel that I've been wronged and I'm not sure how to approach the chair of the department without making myself look like a twit as a candidate. Any outside the box solutions would be nice.

Thanks!:o

Another thing going for you is that there will probably be accepted students who are dropped for non-payemt or who drop for other reasons. Surely a spot will open up. Be persistent and make daily calls to the nursing dept. Show them you want it BAD!! GL!!

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I'd be soooo mad, something would hit the fan if it happened to me ;)

I hope things will work out for you and the school realizes that they made an error and correct it. Good luck!

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I have a privately funded scholarship to do this which is very flexible, but can you imagine if I had been receiving financial aid??? I would have lost the funding and it would have taking an eternity to get it back.

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Specializes in LTC, Nursing Management, WCC.
Thanks Psych. I believe all seats are filled as soon as points are totalled. Is there a legal student to teacher ratio they have to maintain so the BON allows them to teach the program? Also, how many people actually stay in clinicals? I'm trying to look at it like all the prereqs where I saw people dropping like flies at the expense, time demands, difficulty and quantity of content. They have to lose a few along the way. With that in mind maybe they'd add a seat knowing full well it won't be long till they'll be back down to the right number.

I don't know if there is a legal ratio... what I can tell you is that spaces open up all the time. My first semester 3 people left... my second semester 1 left and a few flunked, etc.... So there is hope.

One person mentioned to accept whatever this person you will talk to says. I disagree... find out the grievance procedure for your college. If this person is not able to help you... go to the next person. Everyone has a boss! Don't stop until you get to the top. They need to understand that this is there mistake... and they need to take responsibility, just as they want us to take ours when we make a mistake. There is nothing wrong with going all the way to the top provided you are professional about it.

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

Fight it as best you can. I almost had to wait another year to go to nursing school because some secratary gave me the wrong information about when the NLN exam had to be taken by!!! I sat down with the head of admissions and had a word with her, needless to say I got a seat in the last test that there apparently were none in! And now I am about to hopefully finish semester 4 of 4.

Swtooth

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