My school seems to be different....what admission req. do you have to complete?

dani_girl · Jan 21, 2007

no.. my college requirements to apply to the nursing program is Highschool Chemistry, Biology, and Algebra.. and then the usual GED/diploma and then the accuplacer that says how you are in English, math, ect.

What most of us are talking about are non-core credits such as A&P I & II and english, ect.. classes that anyone can take, that you don't have to be in the "Nursing" program to take..so if you don't get in right away you have classes to take or if you want to take them to get them out of the way so you aren't carring 21 credits a semester (which is how my school has it set up one semester if you don't get them out of the way, which BTW considering A&P has lecture and lab can get really busy)

Depends on type of school, but for me once you are in.. you start doing clinicals and taking nursing classes.. hope this helps..

Valasca · Jan 21, 2007

Are you applying for an RN or LPN program?

In my area the LPN program has essentially the same prereq's that you are talking about however, it is not done on a first come first served basis.

The RN program does require you to complete chemistry, micro, math, and A&P before you can even apply to the program. I have not heard of RN prgorams in which there are no prereqs beyond medical terminology and basic math/english....so yeah if the program you are talking about is in fact an RN prgogram then yes it is quite different, at least from what my experience has been.

You may want to check whether the program is accredited (sp) or not. I would never apply for a program that is not accredited. I have heard many stories of people that graduated from unaccredited (ADN) programs and had a very difficult time getting into a BSN bridge program.

Also the NLN is the National League of Nursing. You can type that into your search engine and read all about them. Good luck!!!

WannaBeNrse · Jan 21, 2007

Yes, it is an RN program, and it is accredited.

They call it "nursing pathway"- after the first two semesters, you can choose to exit and take the nclex-pn, or you can continue on for your adn and take the nclex-rn.

We live kind of in the country side here- maybe that's why? i guess i'll have to wait and see...

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2007

I am in the process of attempting to gain entry into an LVN-to-RN program. Here are the different prerequisites for 4 different schools.

SCHOOL #1: A&P I, A&P II, Micro, English Comp I, General Psychology, and Human Growth and Development.

SCHOOL # 2: A&P I, A&P II, English Comp I, English Comp II, General Psychology, Human Growth and Development, and an elective.

SCHOOL # 3: A&P I, A&P II, Nutrition, English Comp I, General Psychology, and Human Growth and Development

SCHOOL # 4: A&P I, A&P II, Micro, English Comp I, General Psychology, Human Growth and Development, Computer Science, and an elective

nurse4theplanet, RN · Jan 21, 2007

I graduated this December and the entrance requirements into my program were changed after our class started. They are now more in line with other programs; taking an Nursing entrance exam, having a certain amount of pre-req's complete, and accepting the highest scores (along with GPA) into the program.

However, when I started the requirements were very lax in comparison. You had to meet the colleges admission requirements only and then you were added to a waiting list (which was about 2-2 1/2 yrs at any given time). In that time, most students CHOSE to complete "pre-req's" but nothing was required. I was only on the wait list for a semester so I took almost all my courses plus BSN pre-req's (I was in an ADN program) along with the nursing courses.

We started with 72 students and 12 of those original graduated without having to repeat any nursing classes, 40 grads in all.

Since they have instituted their new policy, and the entrance requirements are so much more competitive, they are seeing a much smaller drop out rate and less students that have to repeat any nursing classes.

Valasca · Jan 21, 2007

Very interesting. Maybe your hypothesis is correct, that b/c you are out in the country they may are lax with regards to the prereqs. Well, in any case I wish you the best of luck!

DesertRain · Jan 21, 2007

Many schools are different as far as what they require. At my CC, they only require Biology (which is introduction to Biology, cell life, photosynthesis, etc) English, Math, Psychology and A&P I. Now, having just the core requirements alone at my CC will definitely not get you in because of the large amount of applicants vs. spaces available. Therefore having all the other subjects like A&P II, Microbiology etc...will give you an edge--or in my school "points" to get in. They are required to be taken prior to graduation of nursing school, but there are many loopholes. Sure you don't need A&P II until you are in the nursing program, but in the second semester, the subjects suggested to take to follow the track require A&P II as a pre-req...so there you have it. One thing I noticed about acceptance is that it is really unclear when based on the written requirements that potential students look at. I think it takes a lot of research, networking, corresponding with faculty, staff and fellow pre-nursing students to really get a good idea as to how it works. It is very confusing. The nursing info session that your school has will be very beneficial for finding out the correct and most up to date info regarding the nursing program.....and I would definately get signed up and into that CNA program as it will really prepare you for the RN program. A lot of schools require the CNA program as a pre-req and I know that in my CC, if you can't get in academically, they give you an alternative CNA-LPN-RN bridge system, where the classes that you noticed were missing that others like myself are constantly talking about lol, are included in the LPN program so there is no need to have them as pre-req's and it seems to me that perhaps your CC probably has those subjects either incorporated in the same way (via LPN first) or even within the actual RN program. I know it seems like forever but honestly, that one year will go by fast and once you get going in your school with the CNA classes etc, you will have a much better idea as to how to go abouts getting in. Good Luck!

Valasca · Jan 21, 2007

DesertRain makes a good point. Are those the minimum requirements? Are there other classes that you could take? B/c if those are the minimum requirements then you can bet you won't get in, b/c there are others who will take the "extra" prereqs to give themselves an "edge".

I was looking into another CC in my state and considered applying there (until I did my research) b/c they only required inorganic chem, intro to biology, english 101, A&P 1, and intermediate algebra. However many others had all of those plus A&P 2, micro, a college level math class, developmental psych, and work experience. So although the schools prereqs seemed easier there was no way I would have gotten in to the program with just the minimum prereqs (it was advantageous for me to stay in my area and go to my local CC). Maybe that is how it is at your school, they have minimum prereqs....your best bet is to attend an information session and ask them to spell out exactly what you need to do to be a competitive applicant. Also set up a nursing advisor at your school, this is usually someone who is familiar with the program's prereqs and understands the competitveness involved. They will guide you in your class selections each quarter/semester.

If those are all the prereqs there really are then kudos to you!!!! I have been working on my prereqs for 2 years..........part-time. I will finally be applying in 2 months!

catzy5 · Jan 21, 2007

Hi,
i am a little confused ;-)
I read here all the time that you guys take anatomy, microbio and all that as "prereq's".... do you really have to do all of those generals before starting nursing school? Here, admission requirements are:
High school diploma/GED
accepted college student
CNA- current registry
medical terminology- take class or pass test
pass assessment test for english reading/writing and math opr take respective classes
attend a nursing info session
I am assuming your school is a university?
Most CC have you finish your pre reqs before even applying to the Nursing program. There are some exceptions there is a CC near me that will let you apply before you are finished, they go on first come first serve basis too and the waiting list right now is about 5 semesters long, if you are not done with your pre reqs you go in one pool those finished go in another. Like I said you can apply before you are done but you can not start until you are.

catzy5 · Jan 21, 2007

Hi,
i am a little confused ;-)
I read here all the time that you guys take anatomy, microbio and all that as "prereq's".... do you really have to do all of those generals before starting nursing school? Here, admission requirements are:
High school diploma/GED
accepted college student
CNA- current registry
medical terminology- take class or pass test
pass assessment test for english reading/writing and math opr take respective classes
attend a nursing info session
thats it- then they take applications for the following year sometime in january (08 is filled already)
all the other generals you can take anytime- maybe thats because once youre admitted, you still have two to three semesters before starting nursing school
I think thats the key right there, this is for university right? I am thinking its because during those 3-4 semesters you are meant to be doing the core or pre req classes. I know here the university's will accept you into the program but you don't start nursing school portion until about your jr year.

WannaBeNrse · Jan 21, 2007

No- it is a Community and Technical College.

You guys are starting to scare me off *lol* I didnt plan on taking too many generals this year already, because, i will have to take Chemistry 101 and Psychology 131 (they are prereqs for microbio+ developmental psych, which are part of the nursing curriculum) and i will most likely have to take at least one math class (dont think i'll pass the assessment)

However, i already have my sociology done- better than nothing, i guess ;-)

i guess i will make an appt with the student advisor and try to find out more...