Maricopa skills or Southwest skills center??

Pepperdean · Dec 30, 2009

I am considering applying to this program in the fall. Does anyone know how many spots that they accept? Or what the competition is like? Thanks!

Pepperdean · Jan 2, 2010

I am currently planning to fly to Arizona in a few weeks and visit with a councelor. When I call they are pretty vague. Any info would be great appreciated! Thank you

frodo-dog · Jan 6, 2010

The MCC information packet is available online and has a lot of the information. The slots available are split between 4 campuses. Lake Havasu, Bullhead city, Kingman and Colorado City. You select which campus you are applying to. They have, as of Jan 4th, switched to the TEAS test from the NET. When I applied, I believe that the statistics were that there are 50 slots and generally around 150 applicants, that may have been the stats for the first 3 locations and the application numbers may have increased like all nursing programs.

It is a competitive selection process: GPA, TEAS score, references, number of co-reqs completed, health care experience and residency. My friend was selected for the Jan 2010 cohort and has a 4.0 GPA, achieved 95% percentile on the NET, had all of the co reqs completed, is a CNA and an AZ resident.

Albeit that MCC does not require a CNA as a pre-req, lot of the county colleges in AZ do require it.

Pepperdean · Jan 7, 2010

Thank you very much for the info. I have read the packet and am scheduled to take the TEAS test in my home state in two weeks. I have my CNA, I have all of the Pre-reqs and Co-reqs completed, I have my reference letters completed and I have health care experience. The only thing that I do not have is that I am not an AZ resident.

The competition in AZ is much less, than it is here in my state. Last year our school recieved 850 applications for 70 spots.

dreamann · Jan 7, 2010

I just graduated from Mohave Community College December of 2009. I wanted to let you know that when I applied for Spring 2008 there was about 200 applicants, I have heard that the number has doubled since then. They except 50 students twice a year between Bullhead, Kingman, and Lake Havasue. Colorado City is seperate. Anyway, what really matters is the number of co-requisites that you have done, your GPA, and your teas results (NET when I applied). They give extra points for residency and previous health care experience. I got in with a 3.4 GPA, 4 co-reqs. left to complete, a 97 percentile on NET, no previous healthcare experience, and a long term resident of AZ. Hope this information helps. Also, their is a lot of traveling involved between campuses and to clinical sites. All of the cities are about 35-60 miles from each other. There is also clinical in Las Vegas during 3rd and 4th semester, about 100 miles from Kingman and Bullhead and about 140 miles from Lake Havasue. Let me know if you have any other questions about the program or the area.

Pepperdean · Jan 8, 2010

Congrats! I cannot wait until I am accepted into a program, let alone finished. You must be so relieved. Have you taken your NCLEX yet?

I think that all of the schools are going to be recieving exponentially more applications especially considering the job market. I really appreciate that you have shared your statistics when applying. That is so helpful to me as I try to gauge where I measure up. I think that is probably the most nerve wracking part is all of the anticipation.

Thank again for all of your wonderful information. It is a bit intimidating applying to a school that you have never been to, or an area that you are unfamiliar with. I have visited Kingman a couple of times as I have family there.

dreamann · Jan 9, 2010

Yes, it is incredible to finally be finished. I take my NCLEX this Thursday. The job market has finally started to pick up in this area, so most of us will be able to find jobs without difficulty. Kingman is probably the best place to live out of the three towns. The weather is better and it is greener than Bullhead and Lake Havasu.

Don't be discouraged about not being a resident that is only a very small part of the selection process. In my graduating class there was a person who was from California that moved out here just for the program. The person, like you, also had family in the area.

Make sure when calling about information that you call the nursing department's main office in Lake Havasu. The counselors and advisers don't have a lot of information other than the classes required for the program.

This is the only post ever on all nurses about Mohave Community College so I was very excited to respond. In fact I think that I am the only student from the school that is a member of all nurses. Anyway, I wish you the best in your adventure of becoming a nurse! Let me know if you have questions.

Pepperdean · Jan 10, 2010

Good luck with your NCLEX! I am sure that you will breeze right through it! Thankfully the job market is improving and you should have no trouble finding a job.

I am very glad to hear that Kingman is the best place to live as I want to be as close to my family as I can. As I have a daughter that has down syndrome and autism and finding quality care for her can sometimes prove to be quite difficult.

I will make sure if I have any additionakl questions that I forward them to the Havasu campus. I am pleased with how helpful they are.

Thank you for responding. I was a wee bit worried when I was searching for posts about MCC. I am so thankful that you responded.

Best of luck

mattison · Mar 11, 2010

A friend of mine went to the MSC and said that it is very difficult and he has had some problems with racial issues. He is Chinese and said that by the middle of the course all students other than caucasian were gone except him. He told me there was an investigation going on there. I don't know much more other than he is always studying, but I do know that the SWSC has alot of newer resources and updated curriculum. I start the LPN program at SWSC this month and I'm pretty excited. It only cost me a down payment of 650 oor something around there. I payed that then applied for financial aid which covers the rest, but seriously if you have a family like me financial aid is the way to go. Most of the time you get it because you have a family. Hope this helps anyone in the future.

Bogeyboy · Mar 11, 2010

Hi,

I will start my 2 year Nursing Program at Pima C.C. in the Fall of this year. I am very excited but nervous as well. It has been a couple of years since I had A&P and Chemistry. Any advice on what would be good to study before I start in August. I will have Pharmacology, Drug Calculations and Nursing Process classes. Thanks so much for any advice, it's much appreciated! :)

MsBruiser · Mar 11, 2010

Honestly, this is not going to be a popular answer (lots of threads about people doing studying groups before school starts) but: just relax and get your personal life in order. The vast majority of people who did not finish my program (30% drop rate) were mainly due to not having their personal affairs in order (spouse, childcare, work, etc.) and subsequently flunking their classes. Unless you are really, really smart - in all likelihood you will not retain much of what you studied. Many nursing exams are specific to the content you learn in class, I doubt you will take much away from pre-reading. That said, never hurts to know some basic algebra skills for drug calculations. Other than that - just relax, show up to class, do the reading, take good notes, and study. So what you are told. Be where you are supposed to be - on time. Try and keep your personal life stable - the results will show in class. So don't stress over studying before school actually starts.

Bogeyboy · Mar 12, 2010

Thanks so much for your reply. I do agree that getting organized at home is "key" and do plan on having that taken care of. Thanks again..:)