I'm so upset, I didn't get into nursing school this spring

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I live in AZ and the wait for NS is usually about one semester, some people don't even wait that. I applied this summer for Fall, and of course, didn't get in, but I didn't expect to because of the one semester wait most people go through. Well, ever since June when I applied I've been waiting for October 4th, when they do the run for Spring. They go by lottery numbers here, these are automatically generated by a computer, and even though I've worked really hard to keep my GPA up, it makes no difference, it's all in the number the computer gives you. Well I didn't get placed for spring. I"m so disappointed, I've made some plans all based on me starting NS in the spring. My dh has been working 70-80 hours a week so that I can go to school and not have to work, he can't possibly do that for another three years!!! I'm so depressed I feel like just giving up now, it's just not fair.

I have two daughters who are starting school in the fall, this means we'll be paying for three college tuitions for an extra eight months!! :crying2:

Wow...I've never heard of the lottery system, that's so unfair. Kind of ridiculous. I have applied for my 4th year in a row and was just notified last month that I did not get in..once again. I had vowed that if I didn't get in this year I'd give up, but I don't want to go back to being a secretary! The first year they told me that I was too financially stressed so I scored low in the personal interview is why I didn't get in, the 2nd year it was because I was a high risk of dropping out since my high school GPA was only 2.9 and I had done nothing since then, and they told me that showing that I had some kind of interest in the medical feild like obtaining some certifications may help me get in next time around. Sooooooo, last year, became a CNA, worked in LTC, had good work history and good references....just knew that would get me in. Not.....Said there were others who scored higher on the NET exam, which ok, I can understand that. This year they didnt' give me a reason, just that there were so many applicants and only so many spots and someone had to be turned down. I thought surely after them seeing how dedicated I was to getting into this program I would be a shoe in this year. But that's ok, guess it was the Lords way of telling me it wasn't for me. I do start medical assistant school Nov 3rd, not really what I wanted, but I'm excited anyway. It's only a 9 month program so I still plan to keep trying to get into a nursing school, and hope the med assistant training helps me get in next time around. I know how easy it is to get discouraged, time after time after time. They fuss about a nursing shortage and the ones of us who know we'd make good nurses can't even get a fair chance! Good luck to you.....

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.
This "lottery" system for nursing admission just chaps my behind. Why don't they just use pre-req and co-req GPA along with NET results.

Or the school can do interviews... Or make up their own test. Best score gets a spot.

Instead you're playing MEGA- MILLIONS or POWERBALL numbers to get in !!!! Sheesh

I totally agree. It's not fair at all.

Have you tried local hospitals? Many hospitals will pay for your school with work commitment. I know it won't help right now, but perhaps it could take some of the financial strain and stress off of your family. I wish I was there to give you hug. (((((((((HUGS)))))))))

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
I really do not understand why some schools use the lottery system. It makes no sense to me. Why not take only the MOST QUALIFIED students?!

I'm very sorry you didn't get in. Good luck to you, and don't give up.

That is what I think. I know at the JC I am at now does a lotto (I am also appying for GPA, past skills, TEAS score, ect school) Apparently a few years back the did do a GPA based application system, but then some one threatened to sue for discrimination and it has been lotto ever since. :uhoh3:

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Does anyone know anything about wait lists in New Jersey? My community college, Raritan Valley CC has a wait of two years after completing minimum course work. What about the four year schools or private ones?

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Calzonan,

I am so sorry you are dealing with this. I so understand having kids and a husband who works and working the behind off to get through the classes and having to plan out way in advance going to ns.

*Warning, I am getting on my soap box*

Calzonan, if I were you, I would rally up other disgruntled NS waitees and start complaining to the school officials. Really, you are a customer of the school. You have paid them good money to get an education. You have worked hard to get a good gpa. Now, you are basically being barred from completing your education and thus, you are in essence losing on the money you have invested into their schools. Where else would we hand over thousands of dollars and then just walk away silently when the company we had paid our good money too did not produce the expected result. The result being your admittance to the nursing program. I mean seriously, lottery, that is freakin' ridiculous. You are expected to do all these classes only to have your fate rely on a chance system? It should be based on some kind of merit.

At our school, it is based on all kinds of things. But if I don't get in this year or next, when I have a high gpa, I'm going to be down at the dean's office griping my head off. One thing I hate about our school, is one of the "merits" that pushes a person higher on the list is if they already have a degree. I'm not sure why having an unrelated bachelor in pottery or nose picking should make someone more deserving of a slot, but if I don't get it, that's the first thing I am going to contest. You really shouldn't sit by, you have paid your money, you have been working towards a degree that the college offers, now you deserve to be able to complete your degree.

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but then some one threatened to sue for discrimination and it has been lotto ever since. :uhoh3:

DISCRIMINATION!!! If someone doesn't study and do the work, and gets poor grades then they should deal with it. Their own fault. I think it should be merit all the way. GPA, nursing enterance exam, work in the field- people who are most likely to pass.

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I would like to know what percentage of students fail/drop out of nursing programs that use the lottery system as compared to ones that use a merit system. You might want to ask your school how many, of all the students accepted for the 2005 class, actually graduated this spring, and then call a school that utilizes a merit system and ask them the same thing. Then bring the information to the dean. I guarantee there's going to be a much higher fail/drop rate for schools using the lottery system. And with the nursing shortage, we can't afford to have people who aren't serious about nursing or who don't have what it takes, taking up spots in the nursing program, only to fail out when someone who could have made it all the way missed out because they weren't lucky enough to have their name drawn out of the hat.

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Great ideas everyone. I wonder if I can also use the fact that pretty much no one who applied during summer application week got into the spring classes (I think only 7 or 8 of the summer applicants). Our school (actually it's the Maricopa Community Colleges, so about 7 or 8 schools) takes applications during a week in October for spring classes, March and June for Fall classes. Because there's supposedly just a one semester wait, you know when you apply in March or June you'll get placed in Spring adn if you apply in Oct., you'll get placed in Fall. Problem is, none of the summer applicants got placed in the spring program, so we're the only ones with a two semester wait instead of a one semester wait.

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