Is the application process through a community college a lottery?

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I am currently attending Mesa Community College, in Mesa, Arizona. I need to take one more class before I can submit my application for the nursing program. It's biology 201 which is human anatomy. I'm debating whether I should take it during the summer or wait until fall. When trying to pursue a degree in nursing through a community college is it really a lottery process? Is there anything that I can do to make sure that my application is called faster? I have heard that there is but the nursing department here says that those are just myths. My boyfriend thinks that I'm not looking into it enough but everyone I talk to tells me something different. Has anyone actually gone through the process at a community college? Wht do you recommend?

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Schools have different processes for admission. Some are based on GPA, some use a point system (where points are derived from GPA, pre-reqs completed and where, experience, previous degrees, etc). Some are a combination of factors including an essay and/or interview process. Some are lottery based. Not all community colleges use a lottery system to determine admission. I attend a BSN program, but there is also a community college in my city which has both an ADN and an LVN program (Texas). The community college here does not use a lottery. Instead, it bases admission on a point system where it ranks potential candidates. You really need to look into the specific program(s)/school(s) you are looking to apply to. While there are a lot of prereqs that are "standard", some programs require some that others don't and vice-versa. Same thing with admission processes. It really depends on the school. I would do some research into potential programs. Search school websites and, when it doubt, contact an academic advisor at the program you are looking into. Best of luck.

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I'm sorry. I thought your question was more general. I just noticed that you are trying to get into a specific school/program in Arizona. I would contact an academic advisor in the nursing dept. You could also move your question or re-ask it in an Arizona specific forum on this site to try and get answers from people who have gone through the specific program you are trying to get into.

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Specializes in Hospice.

What is this lottery practice? They pick your name out of a hat? I've never heard of this. I am attending a community college ADN program in the fall and if that's all we had to do was throw our name in a hat it would've been much easier! I had to work three semesters on pre reqs and a good gpa, decent TEAS score, recommendation letter, volunteer service, etc. to finally get in my nursing program.

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I wish it was that easy but I think this way is harder. Your name is put into the system and then u have to wait to be called. The minimum wait is 2 1/2 yrs. GPA doesn't matter. Atleast you know what you have to do exactly to get into the program and I'm thinking its at a reasonable time.

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Specializes in Hospice.
I wish it was that easy but I think this way is harder. Your name is put into the system and then u have to wait to be called. The minimum wait is 2 1/2 yrs. GPA doesn't matter. Atleast you know what you have to do exactly to get into the program and I'm thinking its at a reasonable time.

Not even a minimum GPA requirement? So this must be what I have heard referred to as a "waiting list". My college doesn't have that. They review about 125-150 applications for about forty seats. GPA, TEAS, and having all pre reqs met is what they go by.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Each school has different admissions protocols. Our school admits based on a points system. No lottery or waiting list (although they do have an alternate list in case people drop their seats once offered). I prefer the points-based admissions because it's not a "first-come, first-served" way to admit students. It's based on your effort & experience (pre-req GPA, healthcare experience, volunteering, etc.) I think it's much more fair.

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I found this FAQ that you may find helpful:

http://nursing.maricopa.edu/pdfdocs/Nursing_FAQs.pdf

...Program does not have a competitive acceptance process. Once a student meets the admission requirements and the application is accepted, the student information is entered into the nursing database. The nursing program has a placement waiting list, not a true waiting list, of approximately 7-8 semesters. However, because this is a placement process, there is no way to

tell applicants exactly when they can expect admission because the wait depends on the choices made by all applicants and the student capacity of each nursing program in any given placement

cycle.

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My bridge program admits based on pre req GPA and your GPA from LPN school. You thrown in the pool every time you apply, top 50 best gpa's get in. I think this is very fair and prefer it very much over the wait list. I am a hard worker I don't want to wait behind someone with a crappy GPA just because they enrolled first.

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Not mine, but I'm in Holyoke, Mass. It's a point based system. Then if you didn't get accepted you are told you are on the wait list for that year only. Then you need to reapply for the next year.

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My program was points based, GPA, entrance exam and essay all played a part. 250 applicants top 32 point earners were accepted. They notified 10 alternates and 9 of them got in. I agree with previous posts, I would rather this system than sitting on a wait list for 7-8 semesters :o

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