Is there anyone else out there, or is it just me? :)
I'd love to connect with others who are applying for the Fall 2017 nursing program.
I am signed up to complete my prerequisites in the spring. English and Public Speaking are already done with an A, from a prior degree with Ivy Tech. They are also going to waive the IVY112 class because I am an Ivy Tech grad.
So I am signed up for APHY101, MATH123, PSYC101, and SOC111.
On one hand, I can't wait for classes to start! On the other hand, with the Holidays, I know the time is going to fly by.
About me: My degree is in Business Administration and my work history is mostly in accounting, but I've been home with our 3 boys for the past 16 years. We have homeschooled for the past seven years. They all went to public school this year, and they are doing GREAT! Now I need a new direction, as well... I've got maybe 30 years of working ahead of me, and I want to have a solid career. I hated being stuck at a desk. Nursing ~ here we go!
Well, I'm not so worried about the coffee break now! :)
I went ahead and purchased the practice tests from ATI. I really felt like this would be helpful for me, so that I can get a feel for what the actual TEAS exam will be like.
I did Practice A last night. Tried to simulate the testing environment as much as possible. I went out to our travel trailer and only took the computer, paper and pencil with me. Everyone left me alone. I had one very quick bathroom break. (I wouldn't even call it a break.) I finished the entire thing in 2 hours, 10 minutes and my overall score was 88.7%.
This morning, I was up WAY earlier than usual, and I thought, "Hey ~ I've got time, I might as well do Practice B!" Well. I felt a lot more rushed because as the time went on, I knew I'd have kids getting up for school soon... I had breakfast to cook, lunches to pack, etc. I also felt like this one was more difficult. There were more things I simply did not know how to do and/or things I had never even heard of. Anyway, I finished this one in 2 hours, 4 minutes and my overall score was 82.7%.
With both tests, I probably felt more "rushed" than I needed to. Part of this is because it does not show me a countdown timer for each section. For some reason, what shows up in the top right corner looks like it is counting down from ~8 hours. I have no idea what this is supposed to represent, but it was not helpful to me in any way. I expected the practice tests to have a timer counting down for each section -- and someone please tell me that's how the actual TEAS exam is...?
BUT ~ I will also say that I don't feel it matters all that much. My experience with most of these questions is that I either know how to do them, or I don't. Period. If it is something I have no clue about ~ extra time is not really going to help me in that situation.
I also did not go back and look through or change any of my answers. I did this a couple of times when timing myself on the practice tests in the TEAS Secrets book, and both times -- I should have left my original answer alone. This may be a good strategy for some, but for me, I find that "going with my gut" is definitely right-on. Multiple times this morning, if I had chosen the FIRST answer that came to mind, I would have gotten something correct. Instead, I sat there and thought about it for too long, and I got it wrong.
I'd say this money for the practice tests has been well-spent. I jotted down quick notes to myself and that will help direct my studies for the next few days, leading up to exam time. I would like to go back through and do each assessment one more time, also. I'm not sure how helpful that will be in the overall scheme of things, but since I paid close to $100 for the two tests, and you are able to access them two times -- I just feel like I SHOULD. I think I should slow down the second times and take more notes about the things I got wrong (and the "lucky guesses")... really evaluate their explanations.
Glad you got the tests. I didn't do the online tests, but did the ones in the book and felt like it represented the actual tests material very well. You are ready for the test. Just take your time. Bring ear plugs if you want. The computer noises distract me. If you get anywhere close to that 88% then you rocked it!
I've been through both practice tests again, and of course I scored better the second time around on them -- partially from remembering the correct answers, and partially from actually learning things I needed to study.
Have I read here that the practice tests are generally more difficult than the actual test? If so, then I may be "okay".
I averaged out my initial scores of Practice A & B just now, and came up with this:
Overall: 85.7
Reading: 94.7
Math: 89.1
Science: 77.65
ELU: 79.15
Clearly, I am going to continue to study... But I'm down to ~42 hours left. Lol. Anybody have last-minute tips? Things you wish you'd have known or studied more? Surprises?
I take my test today at 1:00. Not sure how I'm going to do. I did not put forth the effort in studying like I should have because I was too focused on my classes. If I do bad I still have time to retake it.
I do have an unrelated test question though. What service did you go through for your high school transcripts? I found one that wants to mail them but I was hoping to find one that will send them digitally since we need to upload them.
I take my test today at 1:00. Not sure how I'm going to do. I did not put forth the effort in studying like I should have because I was too focused on my classes. If I do bad I still have time to retake it.
I do have an unrelated test question though. What service did you go through for your high school transcripts? I found one that wants to mail them but I was hoping to find one that will send them digitally since we need to upload them.
Hey ang, hope you will come back and let us know how it went for you today!
I wish there were more clear guidelines re: the TEAS testing timeframe. When I called the testing center here in Muncie, the guy told me they had issued a "statewide" date it had to be completed by. I told him I hadn't heard anything about that...?! But it didn't really matter -- my advisor had already told me to have it done early, because the "official results" can take up to 30 days to post.
Then, as I was reading through the nursing program information online (again) the other day, it says the TEAS must be completed "one month" prior to the deadline. This is from page 27 of the "Overview and Application Booklet". So these two things combined lead me to believe that I will not have a chance to take it again before the application deadline -- or, that if I did, it might not "count".
Re: transcripts. My high school uses a site called "parchment". Maybe check that out? I don't know if every school participates or not -- but I did get my transcript sent to me electronically through this site.
Completed TEAS test results must be submitted one (1) month prior to the application deadline
That's right! I forgot all about the one month thing. I did horrible today. It's my fault though. I barely put any effort into studying. What really kills me is on any other English and Reading placement tests and a Hesi test I took once, I always scored a 100% on those sections. Not today... reading was a 68%, and English, sad to say was a 58%. My problem with those two sections today is technical stuff like is this a narrative or expository, etc... I don't remember that stuff. Why can't the test be over stuff like comprehension and actual English language. The stuff that you're actually going to use in nursing. So my total score was a 66.7%. Since I can't retake the test in time for the deadline, I will probably just wait and apply for the spring 2018 admission. My total score is 111. Don't know if that is good enough for even the LPN program. Also there are a few other factors as well - I need to improve my health. I have cardiomyopathy and high blood sugar. I need to go to the dentist, which is gonna cost me a total of $2300.00, plus I have to pay for my schooling. So this could be a good thing. The only thing I don't like is my choice of schools I can apply to. Any thoughts on my pitiful 111 scores? I don't like rejection. That's why I probably won't apply for this fall.
No harm in trying to apply for the program, but if you want to do the RN program, do not take the LPN spot. The RN program can be done in just over 1 year if you are allowed to take summer classes, while the LPN takes 12 months. It is worth applying, and if you don't get in, sort your stuff out before reapplying. The last thing you want is to get into the program and need to take a break for other things. If you have any corequisites, get them done before entering because credit hour cost increases when you enter the program regardless of the class. So I'm going to be paying more to take Chem and advanced A&P. Sucks.
I agree ~ take this time to really think about what you want & what it is truly going to take to get there. Sounds like you have some things to get in order first. Then you can try again! At least you now have the experience of taking the TEAS and knowing what to expect. I think that's a big advantage.
Leadkrm, this is the first I've heard that credits cost more just because you're in the nursing program? That seems pretty wrong! What's the reasoning here ~ do you know?
All I know is that in my hand book the credit rate is changed when you switch from a general student to a nursing student. I can't remember the price difference though.
Leadkrm, RN
211 Posts
You can try! Idk haha