Joliet Junior College or BSN program?

Workingonit2009 · Oct 5, 2009

I came into this post a little late, but I hope this helps . The JJC nursing program is constantly changing its acceptance practices (every year). So don’t be surprised when they change it on you. The guidance counselors are useless and point students in the wrong direction all the time. I have been attending JJC since Aug. 2007 and have heard and seen it all; at least I think. Counselors have even given misleading information about what classes students need to take; I know a few of them and they enrolled the same time I did. All because of misinformation these students are now a year behind me, in their ability to be able to apply to the nursing program. I only saw a guidance counselor once and that was enough for me to stay away from them.

Look and pay attention to your catalog!!! AND DON”T let them overwhelm you with classes. Just a personal opinion but 5 classes in one term is too much for single parents that has been out of school for awhile, you will burn yourself out!!! I have been handling anywhere from 6 credits up to and no more than 11 per term. You can take 6 credit hours minim before you have to repay any student loans. (depending on what type they are and who they are with).

The best thing to do is look at other Universities. Look at their transfer guide; it gives you the equivalent between the two colleges. Also check what their pre-reqs are, as you will find that Universities / Bachelors degree will require more pre-reqs (transfer classes); Phil 101, Soc 101, Math 128 possibly Chem 101 or 108, and etc. So take transfer classes in the summer, and don’t mix those with any JJC pre-reqs until you have completed all JJC classes. By knocking out both you are covering your Butt . If you are lucky enough to get accepted into the nursing program then fine, but at the same time at least if you decide to go after a Bachelors or need to transfer you will have already completed some of the course work.

I personally used a sheet of paper divided it into 4 columns and 4 rows. Headed each one with the term (fall 09, Spr, Sum S. 1, Sum S.2) I was attending then marked each class that had a pre-req itself; ex. Chem 100 requires math 94, or Bio 250 requires Bio 151, Math 128 requires Math 095 & Math 098. So I planned each class out that had these requirements first, and then fit in the rest of your classes. Pay attention to the classes that they calculate for the program. You want to get good grades the first time around, you don’t want to have to go back and take something again. Plus that doesn’t fly with some colleges. Take the CNA class the summer before you apply to the program. It will lighten your course load as it takes place of the nurs 140 class.

I am also a working single parent and don’t have time to waste, so I planned everything to the nine. So I took all my pre-reqs required by JJC and I have also completed some transfer classes as well. I just applied to the program for the first time, now it’s a wait game. I will give JJC two times if I’m not accepted on the second round I will transfer out to a university. I know that if it comes down to it that I will have completed a good majority of transfer classes required at the university, so I won’t have but a few more for the Bachelor’s degrees beside all the nursing classes.

Once you get accepted into the nursing program it will take you 2 years. So the amount of time you are at JJC will depend on how long it takes you to complete your pre-reqs. Check the nursing department for the admissions which of course changed the week we made applications. After your first year in the program you can apply to sit for your NCLEX Exam to become an LPN.

I hope this helps.

determined_30 · Jan 23, 2012

blue cat how would you suggest studying for the teas test and gen bio?

hello, i am hoping someone can give me some advice. i want to attend the nursing program at jjc. i am registered to begin taking pre-req's at jjc this summer. i met with a counselor at jjc today and feel like i did not get the direction i need. a little about me: i have a certificate in surgical technology from triton college, 1992. have not worked in the or for about 10 yrs and have been a stay at home mom for the past 5 1/2 yrs. i got divorced last august and am hoping to get into nursing school so that i can become an rn and be able to provide for myself and my children.
i am currently registered for eng 101 (summer), fall: math 094, nutrition, sociology, speech. the counselor told me the only course from my cst that would count is my psych, so i will still need psych 215 when it is available. she told me i should contact the director of the science dept to ask if i can skip bio 151 and take bio 250 once i complete my math course. i was hoping that my prior education would give me something toward these, but i am pretty much starting fresh.
i have been reading a lot of messages on this board about how difficult it is to get accepted into the jjc nursing program and that has me very concerned. i really only have 3 yrs, maybe 4, that i can attend school full-time so i'm concerned that once i complete my pre-req's, i may not be accepted into the jjc nursing program. i am not sure how long it would take to get in. the counselor told me it takes 3 1/2 yrs to complete it there. so i am wondering if a better approach would be to attend a bsn program where it will take 4 yrs, but i will definitely be a nurse after 4 yrs. i would prefer to go thru an adn program and then continue on to a bsn later. i need to have some control over how long this process will take. i'm afraid i will spend the time getting my pre-req's out of the way only to find that i can't get accepted to the jjc nursing program for a few years. is that possible?
i appreciate any input. i am overwhelmed and can't seem to get a straight, helpful answer from the jjc counselor. i have no idea how i will do any of this. it's hard enough in itself just being a mom to twins or returning to school at 40 yrs old. i have no idea how i can do both. i really want to use the next 2-3 yrs to get an education that will allow me a career and not just a "job". i don't want to start all of this only to find out that i won't be able to complete it within 3 yrs.
thanks,
blue cat