How long did it take you to get into a program?

[willowita]

I'm almost done with prereqs but looking at some of the time you can spend on a wait list (2 years!) before being admitted into a program is really freaking me out. I was so ready to quit my job and finally start my real life.

So I just wanted to get an idea of how long it took you to finally start a nursing program after the application process. If there was a year or more what did you do in the mean time?

[Truth0919]

if you apply to a university you should get right in but at community in arizona the wait is 2 yrs and has just been raised to possibly 3 yrs soon the list will be cut off I waited 2 yrs and it goes by faster than it sounds. however, you have to maintain NCLEX standards a 76% on exams or you will be dropped from the program have to reaply and wait again. If you finish a few semesters and fail and are out more than 1 semester you have to start the whole program again.....take the waiting time to work double and save money b/c it is intense and everybody has taken time off work to keep up

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

California is its own beast entirely when it comes to nursing school. Most of the schools seem to do a lottery system there rather than a merit system.

Community colleges in general do tend to be harder to get into simply because they cost less and thus have more applicants.

[mangopeach]

No waiting list at my school. Got in the first time I applied.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

It took me about 10 minutes or the length of a telephone conversation. I never applied. I just called and got in. Often, timing is key to life's successes.

[Pneumothorax, BSN, RN]

I was accepted to my school before i finished my last prereq. (its a 4yr program)

[OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN]

Well I'm not sure how to answer this. The community college I was at changed their admission policies making my accpetance and when it would occur very different so I decided that if it would take me equal or less time to go to a university by me. I then took a few years off because we had two sons. When I decided to go back and which school I finished up pre-req's and applied in July 2010 and got my acceptance letter August 23 (always remember because it was on my weddign anniversary) and started that following January 2011.

[spore2008]

I started taking prerequisite coursework in January 2011. I applied to three schools between June and July 2011. I was accepted at two and denied at one. I think the length of time it takes to get into nursing school largely depends on public vs private ($$), geographic location and willingness to relocate if necessary and how many prerequisite courses an applicant must take either before application submission or matriculation.

[Cathylady]

It took me about 10 minutes or the length of a telephone conversation. I never applied. I just called and got in. Often, timing is key to life's successes.

There has to be more to this story?? How could a phone call and no application get you into a nursing school?

[Annachu512, BSN, RN]

I got right in after passing the TEAS. But I am in central PA. My friend in Georgia just barely made it in with a 4.0 science GPA and like 40+ credits. It's much harder to get in down there. I just depends on the area and the school. Mine is a private one and expensive as all get out so less demand here I guess o.o

[mamayogibear]

I took classes on campus for a year doing prereqs for the community college then they switched to a random lottery instead of a point based/grade based system so I went for another year doing pre-reqs for the university here. Then I took time off to have a kid and work as a CNA. Then after getting accepted I realized I can't afford the BSN program since it is a private school and if I get the maximum of loans I will not have any money for my kids expenses! So now three years later I am finally starting a ADN program at a different community college. So um it took me two applications and three years to finally get to start a nursing program!

[macgirl]

It took 2 years at my school. I applied and earned points for the prereq. when they were done I got in. They went first by points then by application date. 13 was the max for my program, I had 10 I couldn't get one point for being a CNA in high school and I didn't get the CNA work points either. 1pt for 250 hrs and 2pts 500+ hrs. I graduate this Dec. That said there is a school here with no waitlist you just need the prereq done to get in. If it's something you want don't let the waitlist scare you off. When I first wanted to be one the wait was 7 years at a Community college and 4 years at Watts A private school. that was in 1991 I could have waited and been a nurse for a real long time already. take any other classes you can so that when you get in all you have is nursing classes. You might also want to talk to some one about taking classes that will lead to a BSN or MSN so the times not wasted.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I called to find out information on the program on August 14th. On August 26th I was sitting in the first day of classes. Waited for 11 days.