New grad jobs: When to apply?

[Jules A]

aren't schools encouraging upcoming grads to start applying for jobs in their last year of school? while i know last june was different than this june based on the economy but almost everyone in my class had a position secured before the start of our last semester. maybe i'm mistaken but it seems to me that many of the "there are no new grad jobs" threads sound like they didn't start applying until after they passed nclex. in my area, which is still excellent for nursing opportunities, by that time many different schools have graduated students and the majority of positions are filled. not criticizing after the fact but hoping this will help other soon to graduate students.

[kargirl]

To New Grad Nurse 75 & Jules A, I'm new here so I still can't send private messages, otherwise I would...thanks for your encouragement and I have interviewed for an RN position at the hospital where I work and they told me they have only a few positions for new grads, but there were about 50 NAs applying for about 5 positions, also I didn't work there as long as others(some have been there for years) who they paid to go to nursing school for, which means they already invested $$$ in them. I only worked there since June of 2008.