Looking for ways to finagle my way into ADN program ...

chicagoing, ADN, RN · Jan 26, 2011

hello!
i need some help and some creative ideas from you all. i am currently a pre-nursing student as a small college with an adn program in the midwest. i was admitted into an introductory nursing class this spring, but unfortunately not the actual nursing school/sequence.
the average gpa of the students admitted to the program was a 3.44 with an average teas (version 4) score of 83%. my gpa is a 3.16 with a teas (version 4) score of 80.6%. there were 45 applicants to the school. they ranked us and took the first 34 applicants. unfortunately, i was number 38 on the list.
i really, really want to start my sequence this spring. like, desperately. i'm pushing 25 y/o and i have yet to start a real professional job because i've been in one or another school forever. (already have a journalism degree). i already had to sit out last semester because of transcript/financial issues. i can't afford to wait another 6 months and reapply to the fall semester because i am financially, emotionally and physically drained.
since it's such a small program do you think it's possible to appeal their admissions decision? i want to make an appointment with the program director and lay out my case. i am retaking the teas in february (and planning on acing it), and i have an excellent grade in our introductory class (just scored a 92 on the first test).
i am more than qualified for the program, but the issue is that everyone is. everyone is my class either already has a bachelor's or better in an unrelated field or has prior medical experience.
what kinds of things can i present to the director in a meeting to get her to add another seat to the class? is this even possible? i just feel like such a failure for not getting into this program. i know that medicine is a competitive field right now because it's the only field that's has some semblance of stability, but it's an adn program! it should have been a piece of cake for me to have gotten in. i feel too old to be stuck in limbo like this ...
any advice or recommendations? words of encouragement? slaps in the face?
thanks

my advice? suck it up, put on your big girl pants, and hope that #s 34-37 give up their seats. retake an classes you may have received c's in (if they count towards the gpa calculation) to improve your chances for next year. many people don't get in on their first try and that's ok. you just need to keep plugging away.

i don't think it will help your case by asking the program director for what seems like special treatment.

anpvk7 · Jan 26, 2011

My advice? Suck it up, put on your big girl pants, and hope that #s 34-37 give up their seats. Retake an classes you may have received C's in (if they count towards the GPA calculation) to improve your chances for next year. Many people don't get in on their first try and that's ok. You just need to keep plugging away.
I don't think it will help your case by asking the program director for what seems like special treatment.

I don't really think it's "special treatment" per se, just a chance for her to re-evaluate my application with this quarter's grades and a new TEAS score. If I start in October 2011 it will take me 18-24 months to graduate (6 months of essentially doing "nothing" and a year or so of actual coursework) instead of 9-12 or so if I can start this March.

At this point I need to get a real career and start real life ... I'm getting too old to be sitting around. Plus I've got 15 months until I'm insurance-less. I don't mean to seem like a whiner, but I'm desperate. ANYONE with HELPFUL suggestions?

Student4_life · Jan 26, 2011

^^ on top of that, classes are limited by clinicals not classroom space so there is no way to squeeze into a class. Sorry that you are so close, but I think you are on the right track with improving your GPA and TEAS scores (really you are lucky to have a program that only had 45 applicants for 34 spots).

NewSN13 · Jan 27, 2011

Like Student4_life pointed out, it may be difficult to add another seat because of clinical considerations. Funding also plays a role in the number of seats available. If you wanted to try to convince your program director that another space should be made available, I think you need to consider (and be prepared to explain) why it should go to you and not to applicants #35, 36 & 37.

I think chicagoing's advice was good. If your school allows you to retake classes and replace grades, you could use the time between now and the next application cycle to do that. You mentioned other applicants have medical experience so another option would be to take a CNA class and make money and get experience before you apply again.

tokyoROSE, BSN, RN · Jan 27, 2011

What kinds of things can I present to the Director in a meeting to get her to add another seat to the class? Is this even possible? I just feel like such a failure for not getting into this program. I know that medicine is a competitive field right now because it's the only field that's has some semblance of stability, but IT'S AN ADN program! It should have been a piece of cake for me to have gotten in. I feel too old to be stuck in limbo like this ...
Any advice or recommendations? Words of encouragement? Slaps in the face?
Thanks

You said it yourself that medicine is commpetitive right now, yet you think it should have been a piece of cake for you to get in? Huh? My friend was in the same position as you last year. She sucked it up and re-took some classes and got in.

Since you have a journalism degree, have you looked into an accelerated BSN program? Your GPA is middle of the line, but it wouldn't hurt to apply.

studentmom77 · Jan 27, 2011

I agree with the other posters and indeed programs are very strict about how many students per instructor are allowed in the clinical setting so appealing is pointless and could even give your program director a bad first impression if you start things off by asking for special treatment...."I don't really think it's "special treatment" per se, just a chance for her to re-evaluate my application with this quarter's grades and a new TEAS score." unless they are giving everyone elses grades a second look it is by definition "special treatment" to give you one.

Additionally you should keep in mind that nursing programs are nothing like other associate degree programs they are extremely competitive and they only take the best students because they are not easy "but IT'S AN ADN program! It should have been a piece of cake for me to have gotten in." is not the way to look at it.

" I am more than qualified for the program, but the issue is that EVERYONE is. Everyone is my class either already has a bachelor's or better in an unrelated field or has prior medical experience." this is a much more accurate picture of things you may be very qualified but those who got in were even more so.

"At this point I need to get a real career and start real life ... I'm getting too old to be sitting around. " you're not the only one in this position but it certainly isn't the fault of your program director and doesn't impact her acceptance decisions there is only one person you can blame for your situation.

So reapply next year get your CNA and go to work it will not only make you a better nursing school candidate but a better nurse..... and you never know maybe enough people will drop the program and you'll get a spot after all my school's ADN program went 11 deep into the wait list last year, unfortunately I was #15 ....Good luck!

momtojosh · Jan 27, 2011

while i was taking a pre-req class last spring semester i befriended a woman who had a learning disability of sort...not sure what,but she had a tutor and took her test in a separate classroom and had all the time she needed.....now she was older and you can tell something was off about her...

I am somewhat in the same boat as the original poster,want to get in so bad...i am a LPn now,have an AAS degree in early childhood and all those classes transfer toward the RN AAS....but my GPA from my college days was not so impressive....it did go up with my chem and Alg classes....cause i received a letter telling me they received my app and i have made the min requirements for the RN program.....i did have 2 people...a co-worker and former LPN classmate and a former LPN instructor type and send in a letter of recommendation to go with my app....

now my point of this post is....if this school will accept this woman with NO medical experience and obviously struggles somewhat in classes...then i think i should be considered as well....now i am not being mean...just realistic....any thoughts on this??

oh and by the way...this woman started the RN prgram in the fall and dropped out....another lady told me....

mangopeach · Jan 27, 2011

Does your school list health care experience as a must or does it give points for experience? My school does not consider experience. It only looks at GPA and TEASV scores. So whether you should get a spot or the person with the disability should get the spot based on experience, depends on the policy of your program. As far as her disability, there are laws against discriminating against the disabled. She can't be counted out because of her disability unless it would affect her performance in nursing school and in the clinical setting. I've had classes with people with disabilities, anxiety, depression, or other learning disabilities. I don't think I deserved a spot more than they do.

To The OP, I know this is not what you want to hear, but I don't think its worth the time and effort to plead your case. The school in all fairness, would have to open spots for the people that were ahead of you. Keep trying. Do what you can to prepare for the next application cycle. I got in on my first try but my friend got in on her 3rd attempt. I know it sucks, but keep trying if this is something you really want.

Vinster · Jan 27, 2011

Everyone wainting on any competitive medical program feels this way at some point. 6 months will be over in a flash. Just keep your face pressed against the glass. They'll let you in.

momtojosh · Jan 27, 2011

my A & p prof said something today that didnt make sense to me.....he said if you havent already changed your major then you want to do so now...cause they are looking at apps and the first ones picked will be from a & p classes....i have applied for fall....and i am pretty sure the school knows i am taking a & p 1 this semester....i know the senior nursing advisor does cause i told him so in an email...

is for people who say are in the liberal arts and are planning on swtiching to the RN program? this college lingo throws me sometime......

2ndyearstudent, CNA · Jan 27, 2011

You will stories of students who "finagled" their way into programs, but the reality is...you cannot. Nor can programs add slots on a whim.

At 42, I finagled my way into my community college program by getting a 4.0 in the prerequisites and scoring in the 99th percentile on the entrance exam.

I guess those ADN PROGRAMS are a little more competitive than you thought? :eek: