How to avoid the 'waitlist' in a nursing program?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

I'm taking up nursing prerequisites at community college, a lot of people say that the nursing program has a waiting list, in what way can I avoid that? How can I be accepted into the program as soon as possible? Thanks. :)

I imagine wait lists are for students who have equal high scores as the people who entered before them. I honestly don't see a student below a 3.0 gpa being granted entrance thanks to a wait list.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Go to a school that admits based on merit instead of charging for pre-reqs and putting prospective "students" in a holding pattern.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The "33 schools" is for schools that offer refresher courses rather than what the rest of the page is about. They missed many, many schools; actually, I don't think it is supposed to be a comprehensive list - it looks more like a social interaction thing to me. I highly doubt that website keeps up with changes even if they might check for accuracy in the first place. Regardless, Mercy, Northwest State CC, and Owens do not have waitlists. If you go here http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/PDFS/education/RNprogramlist122012.pdf you can get a complete list, then look up each school to find out their requirments.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

A program that drops everyone at the start of each semester doesn't have a waitlist... it has rankings until they sent out the acceptance letters and then an alternates list - even if the school uses the term waitlist.

Janelly, I think there are a few schools that do a true waitlist with a min gpa of 2.5 or 2.75.... "true waitlist" meaning everyone who applies with a gpa greater than that cutoff (and perhaps some other requirements like certain classes completed) gets put on the bottom of the waitlist and is sure to get a spot when their name reaches the top of the list. If I remember correctly, the programs were quite good as of a couple of years ago. Many people got on the lists as soon as they could then worked on prereqs and gen eds while they waited so they got their degree in the same time frame as the people in competive programs without the worry about getting in.

There are, of course, programs with true waitlists that have higher gpa requirements.

And programs that do both waitlists (for first term freshmen) and competetive entry (for transfer students), with varying formulas concerning how many of each type will make up a given class.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The "33 schools" is for schools that offer refresher courses rather than what the rest of the page is about. They missed many many schools; actually, I don't think it is supposed to be a comprehensive list - it looks more like a social interaction thing to me. I highly doubt that website keeps up with changes even if they might check for accuracy in the first place. Regardless, Mercy, Northwest State CC, and Owens do not have waitlists. If you go here http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/PDFS/education/RNprogramlist122012.pdf you can get a complete list, then look up each school to find out their requirments.

Hmm, didn't realize that, great info!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Dementia.

Is there really a way that youre going to show up at a school, jump all these students on the list who have worked hard, to get the prereqs done, scored high on the entry exams etc. and qualify for the program (just like you did ofcourse), and expect to not wait? Please let me know which school that is. If you also qualify for the program, I'd think you'd be told to take your spot on the litst. Let me know which school that is... I will even move there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Is there really a way that youre going to show up at a school jump all these students on the list who have worked hard, to get the prereqs done, scored high on the entry exams etc. and qualify for the program (just like you did ofcourse), and expect to not wait? Please let me know which school that is. If you also qualify for the program, I'd think you'd be told to take your spot on the litst. Let me know which school that is... I will even move there.[/quote']

Not sure exactly what you are saying.

Most quality nursing programs admit on academic merit not a wait list.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Not sure exactly what you are saying.

Most quality nursing programs admit on academic merit not a wait list.

I agree. There are more quality programs without waitlists than there are with them. My school does not have a waitlist. I'm finishing up pre-reqs this semester and my application goes in this coming week. They take the top 65 students based on pre-req GPA and HESI test score. The rest are denied and told to try again next application period. No waiting list.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Apply for programs that have points-based or GPA-based admissions rather than first-come-first-served waiting lists.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I'm taking up nursing prerequisites at community college a lot of people say that the nursing program has a waiting list, in what way can I avoid that? How can I be accepted into the program as soon as possible? Thanks. :)[/quote']

What state are you in? I am in California, and here some schools have waitlists, some do lottery and some go by points, you have more options if you are going for ADN, however BSN programs are more selective, also you can avoid waitlists by going yo private school, I almost went that route but thanfully I got in a program right away.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Lol that will definitely do it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment