Need some help please!!!

blkdbz · May 3, 2007

Veronica17....Hi and welcome to ALLNURSES :welcome:

All nursing programs in Connecticut are hard to get into because there are so few spots open. My A&P professor said Gateway had over 1000 applicants this year and only 120 or so spots. I applied (and was accepted-thank goodness) to BHSN for this Fall. They said they had a little over 700 applicants and took about 150.

I do not know your transportation situation or where you live, but I would definately try to apply to more than one school. For 2 year programs there is Capital Community College in Hartford, Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing in Bridgeport, Gateway, Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury/Naugatuck area, St. Vincents College in Bridgeport. These are the ones closer to me (Meriden). Bridgeport is not really close, but a 45-50 minute ride is worth it to get to where I want to be in life.

I thought of the LPN route and actually was denied for the state program at Vinal Tech. This is my personal opinion......I would go RN if you can (if that is what your goal is). There are not many LPN programs in CT and those that we do have are like 25-30K (except the state programs which are only like 5k). New England Tech (now Lincoln Tech) to me is a waste of money. It does get you to the LPN level, if you can make it through, but why pay that much $$ when you can get an RN for less.

You must get advice from alot of people, but make your own decisions on what you want. Those I got advice from told me to go the RN route since that was my goal, but I tried for LPN first. I'm thankful that I got turned down for the LPN.

I love this quote "If you dream it, you can become it".

Leeann337 · May 10, 2007

hi, i was wondering if anyone could help me out. i am currently attending gateway and heard that it's really hard to get into the program. i have already taken the majority of my core classes, but i was wondering where else i could apply in case i don't make it there? i was also wondering if it would be better to go to an lpn program and then bridge over to an rn program. i am really confused on where to go from here. thanks for all your help.

i applied to gateway, bhson and norwalk for fall 2007. i got in all 3, seems bhson is the easiest to get in to and that is where i will start this fall. my gpa was around 3.9 and i took all of my co/pre-requisites at gateway. most people that did not get into gateway but applied elsewhere got into one of the programs. good luck!

cuteshoes · May 11, 2007

I was accepted to Gateway for Fall 2007. They accepted 80 students. I've already had my first orientation, and can give you some insight. Obviously, GPA is important but so is the number of non-nursing courses you have taken that are required for the program. For this years canidates they formulated a rank GPA using these criterias:

Overall GPA for past 5 years, plus previous courses required for nursing program (50%).

Grade point average for chemistry (20%).

Grade point average for intermediate algebra or higher math (10%).

Grade point average for highest English completed (10%).

The number of college credits completed in past 5 years plus previous courses required for nursing program (10%).

I know that for next year's applicants all the CT schools will be making the application process very similar. Also Gateway will be requiring the TEAS test next year.

I'm very impressed with Gateway so far. They have scheduled workshops for us throughout the summer to help us. The first one in June is two days and will teach us techniques for reading and extracting important information from our gigantic text books. They will also focus on time management, study skills, and test taking strategies. Then later in the summer we will have math workshops to freshen up our skills. We, like most schools have to pass our pharmocology math tests with a 100% every semester. Then we will all be assigned a day of shadowing with an acute care nurse.

If you want to be a nurse, dedicate yourself to making it happen. Getting in to nursing school is not easy, but it is possible. I'd say if you can, apply to as many programs as you can. I have heard that BHSN diploma program is the easiest to get into, but it is also a great and well respected programs. I wish I had some more profound words of wisdom, but what you need to do is to take the appropriate classes and get good grades! I wish you the very best on your journey towards nursing school. Let me know if I can answer any specific questions.

corjen1226 · Aug 3, 2008

If you are feeling adventerous you can go to school in Puerto Rico. The "Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico" has an English Trimester program at its metro campus and you can get your BSN in about 2 1/2 years. It is accredited, but it is up for review in 2010 so I would check if they are still accredited of you plan to enroll after that because the program is in transition and it may not be able to keep its accreditation. They prepare you for the NCLEX like any CT school and it is super cheap compared to schools in CT. The price per trimester is apporx. $3,000. Check it out online at www.metro.inter.edu.