Lonestar College Cyfair ADN Fall 2010

lilag02 · May 14, 2010

EmBeMap- Thanks for the recommendation. I've been looking at the Constellation package on Skyscape, Unbound Medicine, and epocrates, so hearing from people who are using it helps. Have you heard anything about Unbound? I see some time spent in the mobile forum in my future. :)

Ed- Congratulations!! My summer will be spent getting pharm out of the way, brushing up on A&P, and hunting down supplies. I've been reading up on NCLEX book recommendations, so once I've decided on one, I'll probably start trying to get a feel for the style. Other than that, just spending time with my family and getting the house ready for me to ignore it for two years. What are you doing to get ready?

Columnist · May 14, 2010

lilag02 - I received your message yesterday however I'm not allowed to send "private" messages...tried everything it said to do. No luck!!! Here's my email address [email protected] Can you send me your contact information? That's what I was asking you for in class. Thanks!!!

You will be able to send private messages once you have 15 posts.

Kaybee24 · May 14, 2010

@ed28 congrats! I'm doing the same as Lilag taking pharm in summer 1 and probably spend some of the summer working until school starts. :)

ed28 · May 14, 2010

im taking pharm at tomball also. but im wondering whether it would better to take it online bc i live far from tomball, NH, and kingwood. and ive heard that our tests will be different...anyone know how? and what i/we can do to prep?

lilag02 · May 14, 2010

I'm pretty far from Tomball too, but I really didn't care for the online format because I felt like I got so little from it. For me personally, it's worth it to make the drive. Since it's a hybrid I only have to go two days a week, and it's only five weeks, so as much as I hate driving, I'm going to suck it up.

I haven't heard anything about our tests being different, just the way the program is set up. From what I can tell, the only way we can prepare is to be ready for anything. :rolleyes:

bugalove · May 14, 2010

Congrats everyone for getting in that's awesome!! I have read that NH cutoff was 11.27 and Mont. was 11.6, does anyone have any idea what Kingwood's cutoff was??

I am planning on applying for a Spring 2011 start and was just wondering if someone could steer me in the right direction!!

GOOD LUCK IN CLASS EVERYONE! I CAN'T WAIT TO START!

bugalove · May 14, 2010

I meant "kingwood and cy-fair" not just Kingwood!! OPPS

agmom2012 · May 16, 2010

Hi all,

Need some feedback on CyFair's program vs. Tomball's program. CyFair was my first choice but I was an alternate there until this week when I received a letter of acceptance. I was admitted to Tomball initially and have done all my paperwork, orientation, and registered for classes already. CyFair was my first choice because I literally live across the street and have done all my pre-reqs there. Through this whole process I have heard good and bad things about both programs. :confused:

Desperately need some advice/feedback on both programs so I can make a decision about whether or not to give up my spot at Tomball. I know they have alternates waiting and I'd hate to make them wait any longer since I know being in limbo is awful.

lilag02 · May 16, 2010

bugalove- I haven't seen anything about Cyfair's cutoff yet, but I think Kingwood and Cyfair were both around 11.4 for Spring 2010 entry. I was trying to shoot for at least an 11.5 or 11.6, just to feel comfortable. Good luck!

pcrn1- When I applied I was trying to decide between the two also, so I can tell you my line of thinking. Everything I hear about Cyfair is good as far as how well prepared the students come out of it. However, I've heard that the instructors can be really tough and to be ready to be happy with C's, not just because it's harder but also the grading scale is different. I plan on eventually getting a higher degree and I am concerned about keeping my GPA up through nursing school, so I started looking into Tomball (the next closest to me). Unfortunately the only info I could find on Tomball was that after the change of directors, the program became really disorganized. My mother-in-law has had the chance to talk to some of the students at work and she said that most of them seem happy with the program. From what I can tell, the grading system is probably the same and all of the programs are going to have their ups and downs, so I decided to stick with my original plan and gut feeling and go to Cyfair. I also live practically across the street, so that helped too.

What kind of feeling have you gotten from the initial interaction at Tomball? Do you already like the instructors and feel like it's a good school? Or do you have reservations about anything that's been said or done so far? If you feel really good about it, then you may want to stay. If there's something that just doesn't feel right, then maybe you should consider other things like distance, feedback, etc. I don't think you can make a bad choice (they're all great schools!), so really it's going to come down to what you feel best with. I know that's all clear as mud, but I hope it helped you some. Good luck with your decision!:)

agmom2012 · May 16, 2010

Thanks for the reply lilag02. My plan has always been to go to CyFair but I had heard the same criticisms you mentioned - grading scale is tougher, faculty are hard on the students, the graduation rate is low, and there is some disorganization going on with the interim director. However the graduates are well prepared. With Tomball, the reputation is that it is somewhat less of a program regarding preparing students to be successful after graduation but that the faculty is incredibly supportive. I had also heard that some hospitals have been hesitant to hire a Tomball grad over a grad from somewhere else. The grading scale at Tomball is typical and not as tough as CyFair's. They do have a new director as of last fall and it sounds like she's been making some changes for the better.

I came away from the Tomball orientation feeling really good about the program but it's literally 40 minutes door to door without traffic. Most, if not all, clinical sites are in the Tomball area. They hit the ground running starting clinicals in August which is good. Haven't met any faculty but, like I said, I did like the new director.

Do you know any current CyFair program students? That's who I'd like to talk to. I really prefer to go through CyFair's program but I also don't want to be miserable for the next 2 years. I want to be prepared and want to be challenged but don't want to be bullied in the process. I'm an adult student with a family and while we're all prepared for me being less available over the next 2 years, we certainly don't need extra misery.

You mentioned your MIL has talked with some students. Are they from CyFair or Tomball? Do you anything about CyFair's interim director and if she will be permanent?

All that being said, most of what I've heard is heresay of course but when you're talking about my future, I get a little antsy.

lilag02 · May 16, 2010

I really prefer to go through CyFair's program but I also don't want to be miserable for the next 2 years. I want to be prepared and want to be challenged but don't want to be bullied in the process. I'm an adult student with a family and while we're all prepared for me being less available over the next 2 years, we certainly don't need extra misery.

Sounds like we're in pretty similar situations. While I don't personally know anyone in the program, I have talked to a couple, and my first question is always, "What are the instructors like?" I had also heard that they could be bullies, and while I don't care for the coddling that I saw in some of my pre-reqs, I do expect fair treatment. The response I've always gotten was that they are tough and expect a lot, but they are still very supportive. Works for me.

My MIL has talked to students from both programs, but most recently Tomball. On that same note, when she tells people that she works with that I was accepted to Cyfair, they all seem to think that's a good thing. I haven't really asked about the students from Cyfair that she talked to, since that was back when Cyfair first opened the nursing program. A good friend of mine was in the first graduating class from Cyfair, so I go straight to her anyway. She says it sounds like there have been a lot of changes for the better (apparently it was really disorganized in the beginning).

I had also heard that some hospitals have been hesitant to hire a Tomball grad over a grad from somewhere else.

I haven't heard this, but it would worry me with the job market like it is. I wonder though, if it is due to the issues while the program was without a permanent director. In which case, it's a moot point.

I'm probably just making your decision worse, so I'll stop with my opinions now. I'll see if I can find some of the replies regarding the instructors at Cyfair for you though.

lilag02 · May 16, 2010

Forgot to say, I haven't heard anything about whether or not the interim director at Cyfair will become the permanent one. I've found her to be nice and very helpful, despite being very busy though, so I wouldn't mind if she did.