how many tries?

ggfifirn05 · Jun 26, 2003

I'm also a Florida student, and I've noticed there a number of us on the board, and I think the others will attest to the fact that it isn't that easy to be accepted here. Applicants at my CC are given this handout titled "Steps to applying to the ADN-RN Program", which states the following courses must be completed before applying: A & P 1 & II, College Algebra (or higher) and Chemistry (one full year of high school Chemistry with a "C" or better is accepted), as well as completion or current enrollment in Microbiology. You can take English Comp, Gen'l Psych, Sociology, a Humanites course and Human Growth and Development while attending the nursing program. However, since your admittance to the program is based upon points earned by your GPA (# of credit hours x grade value, i.e, an "A" equals 4 points) and your PSB-NAT scores, its foolish to apply until you've completed most of your prereqs, because the students that you are competing against for a spot have done the same thing.

But since I was taking Micro this spring, I went ahead and applied for the Summer term. The only other prereqs I lacked were Sociology and Humanities. I had scored pretty well on the PSB-NAT (so I thought), had completed my CPR certification, and had a 3.88 GPA...but because there are only 60 spots available for the summer program, the point cutoff was around 175. I only had about 150. Needless to say, I was rejected because they were taking students that had completed more of their prereqs by the deadline than I had, and who had a higher point value than me. I heard there were over 300 applicants for the Summer term.

I've applied again for the Fall term, retaken the PSB-NAT (and scored higher this time), plus have finished up Micro and Sociology. That gave me quite a few more points (I think it was just over 200) so hopefully I will be accepted this time. I believe they take 120 students for the fall term. I was disappointed I didn't get in for the summer term, but in the long run it has worked out better for me and my family.

I've talked with several of my classmates who were also rejected, and they ran into the same problem. The main reason seems to be that either they had applied while still taking Micro, or had a low grade in one or more of their classes, so their point value was knocked down. I don't think my school makes it very clear that you really stand a better chance of being accepted if you apply after you've completed Micro and most of your science prereqs. They just sort of set you up for disappoinment. Maybe that's their way of preparing you for the tough road ahead...I'm not sure.

Best of luck to you!

Cynthiann · Jun 26, 2003

Susan, I'm just curious - what part of Florida do you live? Just wondering since I grew up there.

seewhiterabbit · Jun 26, 2003

I will be applying for my third time to a BS-RN program this September for the Spring 2004 semester. The first time I applied I applied with a 3.2 and got on a waiting list. The second time I applied I had a 3.39 and all my pre-reqs were done and again I got on a waiting list. Now, I have retaken 7 classes that I got B's in and I have made straight A's in the 7 classes I retook and now I have a 3.7 GPA. I will be reapplying with a 3.7 and hopefully that will be good enough since a 3.39 was not good enough. I know other people that have had to retake a whole year's worth of classes to get into the program they want. Some people think I am wasting time. I personally do not. I want what I want and I will get it. Some BS-RN progrgams are just very competitive even though I don't think it should be, considering the shortage. Some people think I should just go for my AS in nursing instead of BS-RN, but they just don't get it! I already have 2 years of pre-req's behind me. I am willing to put in another 2 years to get my BS-RN and YES I know I will get paid the SAME as the AS-RN's but I can eventually go into administration if I choose to and I have my heart set on going to graduate school and I can't do that without my bachelor's. So anyway, there's my little story on getting into nursing school. I have worked really hard to get to the point I am at and I really hope a 3.7 will get me in. When I do get in, it will feel taht much better. I'm not going to give up on my goals just because of some stumbling blocks. I will reach my goals and set new ones as well.

cna on her way · Jun 26, 2003

At one of the local community colleges here in Winston Salem NC , the ADN fall program had a whopping 1100 students applying for a measley 84 slots. Its based solely on a points system and its a very competitive curriculum. So I have applied to two colleges. The other has a little over 80 applicants with 30 spots and they go on GPA. My GPA is 3.7 now so I am really crossing my fingers to get in. But who knows, some people will have better ones and with only 30 spots its still not even a 50/50 chance. Good luck to everyone!

Cynthiann · Jun 26, 2003

Originally posted by seewhiterabbit
I will be applying for my third time to a BS-RN program this September for the Spring 2004 semester. The first time I applied I applied with a 3.2 and got on a waiting list. The second time I applied I had a 3.39 and all my pre-reqs were done and again I got on a waiting list. Now, I have retaken 7 classes that I got B's in and I have made straight A's in the 7 classes I retook and now I have a 3.7 GPA. I will be reapplying with a 3.7 and hopefully that will be good enough since a 3.39 was not good enough. I know other people that have had to retake a whole year's worth of classes to get into the program they want. Some people think I am wasting time. I personally do not. I want what I want and I will get it. Some BS-RN progrgams are just very competitive even though I don't think it should be, considering the shortage. Some people think I should just go for my AS in nursing instead of BS-RN, but they just don't get it! I already have 2 years of pre-req's behind me. I am willing to put in another 2 years to get my BS-RN and YES I know I will get paid the SAME as the AS-RN's but I can eventually go into administration if I choose to and I have my heart set on going to graduate school and I can't do that without my bachelor's. So anyway, there's my little story on getting into nursing school. I have worked really hard to get to the point I am at and I really hope a 3.7 will get me in. When I do get in, it will feel taht much better. I'm not going to give up on my goals just because of some stumbling blocks. I will reach my goals and set new ones as well.

Wow you are determined!

Is it that competitive at all the schools there?

seewhiterabbit · Jun 26, 2003

Well there are four programs here in Houston and I applied to two of them. Both put me on waiting lists with a 3.39 GPA. But like I said, I am ready to try again with a 3.7 GPA and that is a big improvement from a 3.39.

ggfifirn05 · Jun 27, 2003

Cynthiann,

I live in Jacksonville. Been here since '81, when my 1st husband and I moved here from south FL (Pompano Beach) to escape the rising crime rate and overpopulation, not to mention our interfering families! I'm from Chicago originally, but moved with parents to S. FL in 1970.

What part of the state are you from?

Cynthiann · Jun 27, 2003

Actually I grew up there in Jacksonville. Moved here to Oklahoma 5 years ago. I do miss it there, I hate it here in OK. Miss being able to go to the beach every summer. In case you're wondering, I graduated from Sandalwood high school. What school are you going to right now?

KristinWW · Jun 27, 2003

You go, Susan!

Straba, what were the 4 schools?

straba · Jun 28, 2003

I applied to Miami-Dade CC, and Broward CC, and didn't get in to either one. My wife is from Oregon, and has wanted to move home (at least for a couple of years) so I applied to Linfield College and Walla Walla College in Portland, and got into both!! So here I am for two years, in the wilderness of the Northwest, wanting so bad to be home (theres not exactly a large jamaican community up here)!! I will probably take my boards here, and transfer my liscence back to FL. I can't wait!! :cool:

PennyNickelDime_RN · Jul 1, 2003

Hi,

Two years ago I decided to go to college for the first time at 46 years old. When I proved to myself that I could in fact do a good job I decided that nursing was what I wanted to do.

I was at the University of WI and transferred as a pre nursing student. Students must apply then to the nursing school at the beginning of their junior year with no guarantees.

I then looked into the ADN program here in my area. I was accepted only to find out that there was a waiting list for clinicals with no openings until January 2006! I figured that if I had to wait that long to finish up I might as well consider the BSN again.

For the hell of it I applied to a private school here in the Milwaukee area as a transfer admission. To my surprise and delight I was accepted with a $15,000 annual renewable academic scholarship and the school offered me grants to cover the remaining expenses. What is unique about this school is that you begin as a nursing student from day one and you begin clinicals onsite your sophomore year. They have state of the art critical care labs and neonatal labs. They are very technology focused.

Although I have most of my general education requirements satisfied, I am just beginning my science and nursing courses.

I think that the ADN programs for the most part have waiting lists, there is a critical shortage of clinical teachers.

Good luck to you, I'm sure all your hard work will pay off soon!

Marcy

http://www.msoe.edu/nursing/ (Link to the school I'm attending)

Jen2 · Jul 1, 2003

I applied twice. The first time I did not have chemistry completed so I got denied. The second time I got in after my Chem was completed. We do not have a wait list at my school. Each year everyone who applies is considered whether you've applied once or 4 times doesn't matter.