How mant times have you applied?

Jess_Missouri_RN · Feb 21, 2008

I applied to my community college nurse program in January 2007 but didn't score high enough on the test, so in March 2007 I applied to the school I go to now. I didn't make the fall 2007 class but was accepted into the January 2008 program. I applied in March and got my acceptance letter in July 2007.

I'm in Missouri

Hotflashn · Feb 21, 2008

I have been on a couple CA CC waitlists for a year now, with at least another year to go. Myabe two. I also applied to a lottery based CCC, and will find out in a few months. I should have applied to that program last year, as well, but at the time I didn't think I really wanted to go to there. Now after a year of the lists hardly moving, that lottery school is looking pretty good! They usually have hundreds of eligible applicants for 60 slots. In the fall I applied to a CSU, and will find out the end of May. What a long wait to find out! Something has to give at some point, I have grown to become thankful for having waitlists - at least then I know I have a shot.

I am sorry you haven't had much luck. Are you applying to lotteries? It seems if you don't get in after a certain number of years they should automatically take you if you meet the requirements.

Rianna1 · Feb 21, 2008

In 2007 I applied to 2 master's programs and got rejected, 2 BSN programs (rejected to 1 and waitlisted for 1.5 years for the other), 2 JC's (didn't get name picked in lottery for 1 and the other waitlisted for 2 years), then the ABSN program I applied to and got accepted so that makes 7 applications. When I first started, I asked DH what my "magic" number was and he said "8". He was off by 1. I also applied to two more JC's for 2008 but haven't heard back yet. So I guess in total if you count 2007/2008 that was 9 applications. In the end, it is all worth it when the letter comes...btw, i'm in CA bay area.

MedicalNerd · Feb 21, 2008

In 2007 I applied to 2 master's programs and got rejected, 2 BSN programs (rejected to 1 and waitlisted for 1.5 years for the other), 2 JC's (didn't get name picked in lottery for 1 and the other waitlisted for 2 years), then the ABSN program I applied to and got accepted so that makes 7 applications. When I first started, I asked DH what my "magic" number was and he said "8". He was off by 1. I also applied to two more JC's for 2008 but haven't heard back yet. So I guess in total if you count 2007/2008 that was 9 applications. In the end, it is all worth it when the letter comes...btw, i'm in CA bay area.

Overall I have turned in 9 applications in the last 2 years, hopefully 10 is my lucky number!

RNDreamer · Feb 21, 2008

Once. When I applied I had no science pre-reqs done. NONE what so ever. I only applied to schools that would consider me a nursing (major) student while I was finishing pre-reqs. I didn't apply to any of the cc or cheaper 4 years because of waitlists, etc.

I applied to an LPN program, an accelerated BSN program (it was one year long if you had all pre-reqs done and two years long if you didn't), and the 4 year university I am currently attending.

This (more expensive) university exempted me from taking GE courses since I already have a degree. In addition, I am guaranteed a place in the professional phase as long as I maintain a good GPA in my pre-reqs. I started in summer of 2007, and I'm starting clinicals this Fall.

AmericanRN · Feb 22, 2008

The first time I applied for nursing school I was an alternate. This was a CC, no seat ever came open. The 2nd time I was rejected (same school but different set of applicants) In October of 2007 I applied to a 4 year university and took their NET. I was depressed and downhearted and only put it in the app and took the NET on a direct dare from husband and friends. My husband actually drove me there if that gives you an idea of how sad I felt. Umm anyways January 08 I found out I got in and I start clinicals in April. I was so shocked I called the school to make sure they had not made a horrible mistake.

Don't give up. I was going to but no one would allow me to wallow in my misery and thank God they didn't.

I also heard a story in my leadership group that I had forgotten when I was feeling like a failure. Here goes....

The man who wrote Chicken Soup for the Soul books receieved over 100 rejections. The publishing firms said people would not be interested in "sappy, feel good stories." He is a tenacious man and has a never give up mind set. On the 101 st try a small publishing company took the idea and it became a best seller in 6 weeks ........and the rest is history.

dannibee · Mar 1, 2008

This is my 4th time applying at Sacramento City College and American River College. I have applied for the Sutter Extended Campus program 3 times, Sierra College once, San Joaquin Delta College once, Sac City's part-time program once, and Yuba College once. I am on the waitlist at Yuba. I am getting soooo restless! Patient but restless. Lol, is that possible?

~FutureNurse~ · Mar 1, 2008

Humm...I applied to 2 schools for Fall 07, and was rejected! I then applied to two more school for Spring 08, rejected again. I have now sent in around 5 applications for Fall 08. I am applying to two BSN programs, and 3 community college ASN programs. Hopefully I will get in this time around!

MedicalNerd · Mar 1, 2008

This is my 4th time applying at Sacramento City College and American River College. I have applied for the Sutter Extended Campus program 3 times, Sierra College once, San Joaquin Delta College once, Sac City's part-time program once, and Yuba College once. I am on the waitlist at Yuba. I am getting soooo restless! Patient but restless. Lol, is that possible?

It looks like we are in the same boat. I have applied to ARC 4 times now, SCC 3 times, Sierra 3 times, SCC extended campus 2 times, SCC part time once and I am also on Yuba's wait list.

Just curious how many applicants are in front of you? I have 257 in front of me.

Maybe we need to get together and have a Sacramento nursing school bashing party!

I am crossing my fingers for you this semester!

butterflyeffect · Mar 1, 2008

I already have two bachelors degrees and I believe that I can no longer borrow money for another bachelors (even if it will only take one year) so I am limited to what I can apply to. I live in San Francisco and prefer to stay here or at the very least in CA. Also, while I know I must get my RN to go onto getting my NP...I would prefer not to have to get an AA at a community college (only thing I can afford without loans) and then go on to get my masters for a nurse practitioner degree (4 years versus 3 for direct entry)...also since I have no nursing experience and I am applying to direct entry masters level programs and I am not interested in administration (I want direct patient care) I am also limited in that way as well as most direct entry master level nursing programs will not allow you to go straight for your NP...you get this general masters in nursing then you must go another year to get a post masters certificate (again looking at 4 years instead of three)...add that all up and when you look at my options for staying in the bay area I have a choice of about 2 direct entry programs that allow you to go straight for your NP...UCSF (7% acceptance rate) and Samuel Merritt (20% acceptance rate).

UCSF turned me down twice and miracle of all miracles I am scheduled for an interview with Samuel Merritt next weekend...so thus far it has been 2 years and 3 applications...and God willing it will stay that way and 3rd time will be a charm. If not then I am doing the machine gun approach next time and applying for every AA, BSN, and Direct Entry Masters program in the state of CA, AZ, WA and CO and I will worry about paying for it when the time comes.

WARNING>>>>RANT: What is up with these lottery systems for nursing programs? Statistically they have the worse record for retaining students and pass rates on the NCLEX...here's a suggestion...how about actually PICKING the students that are the BEST FIT instead of pulling a name out of a hat...I mean we are talking health care here and as RN's we are responsible for the health and welfare of other human beings....maybe being a little picky is a good thing. I'm just saying.

coolpeach · Mar 1, 2008

We have a few CC's here in the area who have ASN programs. Originally I wanted to apply to all of them until I realized they all have different requirments, and pre reqs. It would mean an extra year of school just to meet all the different ones, and apply. Anyway, I decided to just concentrate on one.

The CC I applied to does NOT do a lottery Thank God. They have four pre reqs (English, Psych, A&P1, and Chemistry), and use a GPA from those 4 classes. You also get points for completing about 10 different support courses, and most of the your points come from the Hesi A2 entrance exam. I almost forgot you get 3 points if you have ever applied before, and met all the requirments to get in, but didn't have enough points.

I applied last semester with 22.something, and the lowest score to get in was 27.something. I just applied again this time with 34.something, and I will find out in April.

I think what it ends up coming down to with this school is you must make an A on the Hesi A2, have a good GPA on the four pre reqs courses, have completed all or almost all of the support courses, and have applied at least once to get your extra 3 points to be competitive.