How can I get in?

lunden · Jul 12, 2009

It's a luck of the draw. U may have everything they r looking 4 and still might not get n becuz of 2 many applicants and not enough spots. I attend wcccd in mi. Where they go by a point system. All prereq. Taken at their school, pass medical background,gpa , net entrance scores, essay, background check, and all prereq. Completed. Hope this helps

scrapworking · Jul 12, 2009

Ace your A&P lab. Score high on the entrance test. If allowed (all school's are different on this issue!) maybe re-take a course you're strong in to increase your GPA. Really, it all depends on seat's available (as noted above), your school's process and application criteria - talk to an Advisor in that program, they should be able to help you.

Ours looks at GPA (3.8 is what I'm hearing), completion of ALL pre-req courses (this way you're more able to solely focus on the nursing courses and do well).

Also, Plan B is that I'm looking at a 2nd school nearby where all my credits will be accepted/transferable both to the 2nd school and then back again to the first one where I'll do my BSN (confirmed through Advising as the 2nd school only offers the 2 year RN). The 2nd school has different requirements - I'll have to take their nutrition course and an assessment test prior to applying for their 2 year RN.

Good luck!

Sharon

greeniebean · Jul 13, 2009

Your exam score (if it's high enough) may be your saving grace. Your GPA isn't bad but I hear most nursing schools are looking for 3.5 and above. Could you retake 1 or 2 courses to bring it up? Also, does your school like to see expirience? Perhaps you could get a job as a CNA or something to make your application stand out (if they show preference to expirience).

IdontWannaGrowup · Jul 13, 2009

lunden, they do have a point system, which i belive will work to my advantage.

scrapworking and mimib, Do to time constraints I will not be able to take any classes over. I am going to try to ace my exam. Any advice? Which study books are good for the exams?

Thanks everyone

lunden · Jul 13, 2009

Are you taking the "net" test? There are study guides you should be able to get at school library,or for any test you are taking. Good luck

IdontWannaGrowup · Jul 13, 2009

I will be taking the TEAS. I am going today to get a test date. I will see if they have any study material while I am there. The test does not sound like it is complicated though? Anyone have to take the TEAS?

scrapworking · Jul 13, 2009

I just read a thread on the board about the TEAS exam... timnug provided a link to down load the McGraw Hill Study Guide on Nursing School Entrance Exams...which a lot of people recommend. And it's free. Here's the link to his thread: https://allnurses.com/florida-nurses/teas-test-prep-399551.html go to his second post where I've left kudos and read his note.

Definitely check and see what exam you'll be taking and that'll help guide you and maybe do some searches on the board to see what others have thought of the guides (some are saying the SG are weak in the science portion for example). Best of luck to you!!

Sharon

nsrs2005 · Jul 14, 2009

Well when applying to nursing school that is a job in itself. I took off work when I began applying to the nursing programs for the simple fact it takes up so much of your time. I have a BA degree and I had to only take science courses which bought my GPA down. But what I would suggest is to look at all the colleges in your area and see all the pre-requisites that they require and then apply to the ones that most likely would accept all your prerequisites. You have a better chance of getting in if you apply to several colleges instead of just one. I applied to 6 colleges in my area and got accepted to two. The criteria for some of the colleges are changing where they are only looking at your math and science courses overall GPA. The rest of the classes that they require are not being added into the GPA. For the schools I applied to, two of them only averaged my science and math classes which made my GPA on the low side. But you might really want to sped your time looking at several colleges instead of one. As mentioned sometimes its the luck of the draw and others it is the highest GPA and the passing of the entrance exam. So with so many applicants and so little seats available makes it difficult. Good luck

AccelCNL, MSN, RN · Jul 14, 2009

It depends on what type of program you are trying to get in and even what state you are in? are you in NY or in the tristate/NYC area?

IdontWannaGrowup · Jul 14, 2009

There are two adn programs around my area. One is preferable because it is a 40 min drive instead of a 1hr and 10 min drive. I would like to get a bsn but do not have the time right now. My wife is a med student. She is starting her second year, so I only have three years total to complete my program. If I do not get in this time I will have to wait until we move for her residency. That is why I need to get it right the first time. I need my application to stand out in some way. I am sure they get tired of looking over the applications, so if I could throw something in there that would catch their eyes maybe I would have a shot.

No I am not in NY I am in Louisiana

Thanks everyone for posting. I went today to sign up for the entrance exam and all I got was negativity. The lady at the nursing school told me to apply to several places because it is a very competative program. Aren't they all competative? You have like 300-500 applicants for 100 or so spots. What ever, I am 31 and I have finally decided this is what I want to do and I will do it one way or another. If I don't get in that gives me three years to make my application stronger. Once again thanks everyone for posting

anoon · Jul 14, 2009

I go to Nursing school in Texas, and I never had to take an entrance exam so as far as that part of the application goes, I don't know. What I can do is give you some tips on your application. I am in our Nursing Student organization at my school and a lot of what we do is help the pre nursing students compile their application. Some of what we do may not apply to you, but hopefully some of this will help:

1. The application. We actually have ours typed most of the time. It looks professional and like you took your time. Sometimes, if the application is in pen, even if it's neatly written, someone will construe that as "this person didn't take enough time to type it out." While that may not seem fair, you have to be prepared for anything or anyone.

2. Letter of recommendation. I always suggest that people get letters of rec from someone that they actually know. I know most people are tempted to get one from any nursing professor they can find, but sometimes it looks better if your letter comes from someone who can actually vouch for your level of professionalism, responsibility or other character traits. A personal letter of rec looks so much better than a generic one (but the personal letter still needs to be from a professional, not just anyone...)

3. Volunteer/work hours. This is always a big problem with our school. Our application requires volunteer hours and since we live in a large metro area with multiple colleges, it is hard to get volunteer hours. However, I always tell people to get their hours somewhere that is health care related. Not everyone has to volunteer at the hospital - a lot of clinics, physician's offices, community outreach programs, etc need helpful volunteers! While all volunteer hours are a great service to the community, healthcare related hours look better to a selection committee.

4. Personal Statement. Our application requires a personal statement. If yours does too, then I recommend starting on it as soon as you can. Write about what you want to do as a nurse, what made you want to be a nurse, personal experiences that shape who you are, where you want to go from here and what you want to do for the profession of nursing (teaching, research, advanced practice, etc). Have everyone you know read it. Ask a professor to read it. Just get everyone you can to read it - this will help find any problem areas.

HTH

Amber N - Elsevier Student Ambassador