I am hoping someone can help me - I just received notification from Merritt College (NOT Samuel Merritt) that I "have been selected as an alternate for admission". When I called to find out exactly what this means, they were not clear. I asked what number I was on the lottery list so that I could get an idea as to how likely it would be that I could get in (e.g. 1 on the alternate list vs. 10) - they said they didn't use numbers.
When I asked how they decided which alternate would get in if a spot opened up, they could not answer at all.
Does anyone know how this works? Was anyone an alternate to Merritt who did or didn't get in?
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated - I've already been rejected from one school, am anxiously waiting to hear back from two, and just got this "alternate" letter, so am kindly teetering on the verge of insanity!!!
yea I wanted CCSF badly, live close, but I think 24 that passed NCLEX, that is the 24 that graduated. I can't imagine you'd go through a program, to not take the NCLEX, if they give me the excuse "well sir, that number are only those who took it, there are those who graduated and haven't taken it.." thats gonna be a problem. but we'll see, more info to come.
i would take reviews about a school with a grain of salt. i believe it all depends on the person, some people want to be spoon fed and it does not work like that once u r on the ward managing ur own patient list. so if u r hardworking, are good relating to people and be disciplined such that u sacrifice all other aspects of your life then u will do well in WHATEVER program...
see u guys at the orientation...
if i dont get into Samuel Merrit, CSU Stansilaus, OHSU, CSU San Bernadino!!!!!!!! (still awaiting those replies) i am also on two other waiting lists
The program there is pretty bad. They will accept you they take everyone. I went there last year and withdrew before the deadline so it wouldn't effect me applying somewhere else. They are really unorganized. The office staff is not helpful at all. They are actually pretty rude and so unprofessional. Some staff actually comes to work a hot mess, in sweats and don't even comb their hair!
The lab is so dirty and half the stuff there doesn't work. They don't even order enough books for every student so if you go there buy your books early! Some students had to wait weeks for their's and considering you have a test 2 weeks in on about 15 chapters you don't want to be assed out! Some students did make it but they were the ones that were there a second time, repeating their 1st year. More than half dropped.
Some of the teachers are nice but some have major attitude. They say they are just preparing you but seriously some things are pretty ridiculous they have no common courtesy. When it comes to the tests be sure to review each answer cause every test we took they had about 10 questions marked wrong that weren't. Another thing that's tricky is that they will tell you 1 thing and the book says something else. Go by the book atleast then you'll have written proof because when you argue your point on a question they will always say 'I never said that'. Avoid the program at all costs if you can but if you do go there good luck- you'll really need it.
I was an "alternate" too back in 2002. Like you I wondered what that meant. However I was told that there was two people ahead of me. I went to the introduction class that they had. I don't know if they still have that class. But it was just a class that told you what to expect(tests,grading policy,etc). And I was so desperate to get in the program I told the instructor If I was picked soon I was going to buy my books and sit @ the door!!! Good luck to you....:lol2:
I just would like to say that first of all they don't accept everyone. They only accepted 90 students last year, and about 500 applied. Please if you have nothing nice to say about this program atleast get the facts right. I understanfd there may be financial shortfalls, but so does EVERY program. This state is in a budget crisis. Do not think for a second that it might be easier here because it's a communicty colelge rather than a big hunky private school. Their trying to make us into a nurse in 2 years, if it's hard, if I need to dedicate all of my time, if I need to stop working, stop seeing my friends, I will do just that. otherwise, I will end up like the majority, failing and coming on to this site to bash this program.
i was on the alternate list last year for merritt college's lvn program. for those people who got accepted to the program, and they fail to attend the orientation, don't pass the background test, fail to complete the immunizations, cpr, etc. they are get rejected, and the alternates take up their spot.
don't give up! the young lady/receptionist told me a lot of people fail to complete the immunizations. i was close to last on the alternate list... but it turned out a lot of people miss orientation, have an incomplete immunization, or they get accepted elsewhere. merritt offered me a spot last minute; however, i didn't accept it for several reasons, and one of the reasons is not because of the negative things i've heard. i have a few friends who completed merritt's lvn program and had a lot of good things to say.
:lol2:
craizy_man
34 Posts
yea I wanted CCSF badly, live close, but I think 24 that passed NCLEX, that is the 24 that graduated. I can't imagine you'd go through a program, to not take the NCLEX, if they give me the excuse "well sir, that number are only those who took it, there are those who graduated and haven't taken it.." thats gonna be a problem. but we'll see, more info to come.