Need some advice - Mt. San Antonio College nursing program

Pzhu3 · May 3, 2012

Hi,barcode 120x,

I have the similar situation as you. I applied Mt Sac nursing program almost the same time as you. I took all my prerequsite classes in PCC. I got English1 B, Anatomy B, Microbiology B, and Physiology A, then I went to another college to retake the Anatomy and Microbiology, I got both of them A. I did not update my score to Mt Sac yet. I passed my Hesi test last December 2n, and passed the test. This March, I got a let from school, told me that my current lottery list is position 84. I called the nursing department and asked them about my situation. they told me that I should not be accepted by the program for fall 2012 but they need to choose 60 students in the program. But I should be in the program in spring 2013 because at that time, my lottery list is at 24.

I dont know what is the situation of your lottery position. Why dont you call the office and ask them. I dont know if my situation will change next spring. I passed the Hesi test, but score is not so compititive. I dont know if I should prepare for the teas test applying for other schools or just wait for Mt Sac nursing program.

I feel appreciate if anyone who know more about the system can share suggestions.

nadaro2288 · Apr 8, 2013

Did you calculate how many points you would have on the point system? I am also thinking of applying for their program for 2013. My points would most likely be anything btw 79.5 and 82 and idk if that would even be competitive enough..

barcode120x, RN, NP · Apr 10, 2013

Wow, this thread I made is old! I actually ended up getting in, well I'm currently in the program I should say.

Did you calculate how many points you would have on the point system? I am also thinking of applying for their program for 2013. My points would most likely be anything btw 79.5 and 82 and idk if that would even be competitive enough..

I actually score REALLY low on their new "multi-criteria screening." If I remember correctly I WOULD HAVE scored around 65s and that's definitely non-competitive haha. What sucks is how most of your points come from your pre-requisite GPA. Well, it makes sense why but at the same time it doesn't since not all people are textbook smart.

I got in because of the lottery system and how they're going through everyone on that list entirely first, before opening up the new screen method.

Anyways, I HEARD they are reopening applications for acceptance in Spring 2014, but don't quote me on that. Give the ND a call, I'm sure they'd know and they're totally friendly. Might as well apply, doesn't hurt, but you might as well as apply to as many community colleges as you can. If you live closer to Rancho Cucamonga, I believe Chaffey makes you "more likely" to get into the program based on location (the closer the higher your chance), but I duno if that's entirely true.

clairesmommy · Apr 10, 2013

Hey barcodex, how is the RN program going? How does the arranged hours work? I just got my number and I am at 97..The secretary said I might be an alternate for Fall 2013 but will for sure be starting in Spring of 2014, yay! Waiting so long has been crazy! Well hopefully all is well.

barcode120x, RN, NP · Apr 16, 2013

Hey barcodex, how is the RN program going? How does the arranged hours work? I just got my number and I am at 97..The secretary said I might be an alternate for Fall 2013 but will for sure be starting in Spring of 2014, yay! Waiting so long has been crazy! Well hopefully all is well.

Awesome, fun, but intense. We JUST took our final for N1A today. Sad to say, but were gonna lose a few people but at the same gain some new ones for the retakes for N1B.

Monday: 7-11 and then 1-2:45 is N1A theory/lecture/quiz/test. You have a choice to have picked T/W or Fri/Sat clinicals both from 6:30-3:00. Thursday you have a choice for 9:00 or 1:00 class.

Yeah, you'll most likely be an alternate for fall since they accept no less than 60 due to budget.You will for sure get in Spring though. Then again, despite being #97, you can possibly get in. One of my classmates was altnernate #20 I think? Somewhere around there and he got in (which basically means there were some no shows during orientation or people called in saying to take them off the list).

Dbohr1012 · Apr 17, 2013

Sounds fun! Cant Wait!! I was an alternate for this past spring but they only used i believe 8 alternates but Fall is for sure! How much study time do you think you put in outside of class? I know everyones different but I like hearing about everyones situations :)

barcode120x, RN, NP · Apr 18, 2013

How much study time do you think you put in outside of class? I know everyones different but I like hearing about everyones situations :)

Oh man, a TON. I was NEVER, EVER a textbook reader and before the program I decided to try to get into it, or at least force myself. I'm so glad I read the first weeks reading (5 chapters) prior to starting. It gave me a little head start into what I was going to run in to.

The time amount varied for each chapter but since I do notes while reading. For me it seriously averaged out to at LEAST 2 hours and up to 6 hours for EACH chapter. I believe there were 2 chapters that were 100 pages, roughly, and doing notes while reading did take me about 6 hours to do it all, and that was in one sitting (with food and small breaks of course). Keep in mind, I'm one of those people that only has to read the chapter once, maybe go through it again a second time but that's more like a skim-read, looking for clarification, or reading up on the charrts/tables/figures.

Don't worry, I intend to attend the orientation this summer for all you upcoming acceptees to give my advice :)

clairesmommy · Apr 24, 2013

Barcode120x- thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I don't know anyone currently in the program so its very helpful that you are sharing all this information. With that said, how many chapters did you have to read per week? Is the first semester the only one with the 4th day for pharmacology?

I did my best work in anatomy and physiology with study groups so I was wondering how it works in the program now?

DBhor1012- Hopefully you might be able to share with me even more details after your orientation this summer, yay! since I for sure will be following you in Spring. I am so excited it almost feels like a dream- that was never going to happen. Maybe if they don't change the text books I can buy your 1st semester ones off you? :)..I guess we will just have to see.

barcode120x, RN, NP · Apr 25, 2013

Barcode120x- thank you so much for taking the time to respond. I don't know anyone currently in the program so its very helpful that you are sharing all this information. With that said, how many chapters did you have to read per week? Is the first semester the only one with the 4th day for pharmacology?
I did my best work in anatomy and physiology with study groups so I was wondering how it works in the program now?

5 chapters each week for the first 3 weeks, midterm 4th week, then I believe it was like 2 chapters for the 5th and 6th week, and then 7th week we had off and the final the 8th week. Keep in mind that was just initial reading. As stated earlier, I'm one of those that just needs to read the chapter once.

To answer your question about Pharmacology, I believe so it. It's only for 12 weeks so you have the last 4 weeks of 1B (the last 4 weeks of 1st semester) to focus strictly on 1B which is a great thing.

Anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and to be honest/blunt/frank, all GE classes at Mt. SAC are no where near being "tough" or "hard" as the nursing program. The thought process is entirely different; the focus literally is on critical thinking.

So far from what I've seen, it's pretty much split in terms of study groups. I would say half of our class are good solo-learners while the other half are study group learners. I'm a study group learner so I pretty much study with my "family" study group at least 3 times a week outside of class/clinical. They seriously did mean it when they said you will see your classmates more than your family...

If you want some early advice I would say get the Fundamentals book early and read as much as you can, even if you don't understand it. Also, get a hospital experience via a job or volunteer! You will have an advantage in clinicals because you will know what you are doing to some extent and at least have some knowledge/experience of how things work and how to work with clients/patients. Hmm, that's pretty much it. Read early and get hospital experience if you can is my top advice as of now.

Edit: I lied, one more advice, quit your job when you start if you can! You will burn out...they told everyone many times at orientation; unfortunately, I found out the hard way and I burned out pretty bad, but I managed to pick myself back up and make it to 1B.

Dbohr1012 · Jun 13, 2013

Thanks Barcode, yeah looking forward to getting a head start and seeing if Im gonna sink or swim kind of thing. Luckily I just went down to per diem so I only have to work 1 day a week.

CLairesmommy- See you in orientation and ill keep my fingers crossed they absorb all the alternates and you get in!!

See you guys in orientation :)

Chaffey Student · Oct 4, 2013

The faculty at Chaffey makes Mt Sac the butt of their jokes and I find that rather arrogant when you consider that we all have to take the same N-CLEX to get licensed. Because of their attitudes I'm considering dropping the Chaffey program and going to Sac. So can you give me more information so that I can get a better handle on Mt Sac ?