Nursing School entry throughout the states

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I was just curious if other colleges were dealing with high amounts of pre nursing students trying to get accepted in the nursing program. I have gone to two schools now, have not yet applied, but will in the spring for the Fall of 06 Nursing program. My advisor at my university told me to apply to other schools to increase my chances of becoming a nurse. I have went into debt to attend this university, and had wanted to graduate there. She said all through the state there are high amounts of prospective nursing students. I am feeling like this is some clandestine, group of people that you must pass initiation to get in. Like a secret organization that is very difficult to gain access too. I just want to become a nurse and have done well in my pre req's. When I talk to the Nursing student staff at school, it seems like Mum is the word on anything, until you are accepted. If you have a question for them, it's like oh....your not one of us yet.....sorry go see the registrar for your answer. I don't even know what their program is like, it is kind of scary. Anyone else out there feeling anxious about the whole acceptance process? I am beginning to wonder if I should seek another career and be less stressed out. I have always wanted to be a nurse though and I am almost there. I was curious if others were going through similar experiences with their pre nursing also.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I only applied to one school. If I don't get in there, I may take other classes & apply somewhere else. I'm not sure, though.

As for the "you're not one of us". I know I had to go to the registrar's office and sign my degree plan. I could only put, associates of science because they don't put you're degree as a Associates of Science in Nursing until you're in the program.

Maybe you could manage to talk to some of the students in the program.

Good luck to you.

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I only applied to one school. If I don't get in there, I may take other classes & apply somewhere else. I'm not sure, though.

As for the "you're not one of us". I know I had to go to the registrar's office and sign my degree plan. I could only put, associates of science because they don't put you're degree as a Associates of Science in Nursing until you're in the program.

Maybe you could manage to talk to some of the students in the program.

Good luck to you.

Well much luck and success to you on your entry in to your school's program. I did walk in to the nursing department to see if they had any kind of mentor program, and they looked at me, like I was an alien. Then both women I spoke with told me they are new and know little. Seems everyone around there says that. However, they do not have any kind of mentor program, so I am unable to talk to anyone in the program. I don't even see any posts on here about my school. Oh well. This waiting game is stressful.

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I only applied to one school. If I don't get in there, I may take other classes & apply somewhere else. I'm not sure, though.

As for the "you're not one of us". I know I had to go to the registrar's office and sign my degree plan. I could only put, associates of science because they don't put you're degree as a Associates of Science in Nursing until you're in the program.

Maybe you could manage to talk to some of the students in the program.

Good luck to you.

Forgot to ask you, do you know if your school has high numbers of applicants with limited slots open for student nurses?

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I think all the colleges are pretty impacted.

I'm trying to get into an ADN program at a community college and I the program has 117 positions a year. From what I understand, depending on the year, there are 500 to 1000 applicants. I think they are opening a spring rotation, not sure yet. I'm not sure if the spring rotatin will have the same number of positions, a set number of positions, or will be in place to fill the seats of the fall drop-outs.

Do not let the "high number of applicants" thing intimidate you. It is intimidating. But you would not believe how many people do not get high gpa's, or do not read the rules for admittance and put in their applications without fulfilling the pre-req classes first or who decline acceptance for whatever reason. People's circumstances change- maybe they can't change their work schedule, or they have financial issues or daycare issues or they have decided to go elsewhere. I heard at our school, if you are in the top 50-75 on the wait list, you have a good chance of getting in by the time the program starts.

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Specializes in Operating Room.
Forgot to ask you, do you know if your school has high numbers of applicants with limited slots open for student nurses?

Thanks...I'll know soon! :)

My ADN program has 110 seats. 70 at one campus, 40 at their satellite campus. I am wanting in at the satellite campus, so it's even tougher. (I'll take either, but really one the other b/c it's closer & not in the downtown/high traffic area.)

I'm not sure about the number of applicants.

Maybe you could hang outside the door & see when a nursing class is over. Stop someone and ask if they mind you asking them questions about the program. ;)

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Specializes in medical, telemetry, IMC.

At my school (LVN program) they usually have about 200 applicants and 55 availabe slots. You have to take the PSB test as an entrance exam and they take your score (max is 18 points) and add that to points you get for your grades for some of the prereq courses. A&P I and then either nutrition or psychology (whichever is better). You get 4 points for an A, 3 for a B and 2 for a C. So that's a max. of 8 points that are added to the PSB test score. Then the best 55 scores are selected. If there are several people with the same scrore, they take the ones who applied first.

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Specializes in Home Health Care.

Our school had a record number of applicants for my class, so they accepted 120 of us (ADN1/PN) to start in June and opened a winter entrance for 60-100 (ADN1/PN) students to start in Nov. ( just for this year only). Parking will be a problem :(

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I only applied to one school. If I don't get in there, I may take other classes & apply somewhere else. I'm not sure, though.

As for the "you're not one of us". I know I had to go to the registrar's office and sign my degree plan. I could only put, associates of science because they don't put you're degree as a Associates of Science in Nursing until you're in the program.

Maybe you could manage to talk to some of the students in the program.

Good luck to you.

Our major's are written as "pending nursing". That word PENDING just hangs over your head until you get in. As to respond to the original post...all the schools I've called about seem secretive too. As far as class times, schedules, etc... you basically have to know someone to find out any information.

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Shauna,

I want to say to you that I think persistance is the key. I graduated in August/05 from the PN program and the persistance really worked for me. At my school you have to apply in April and you have to be a CNA at the time. They then out letters in Late June/early July and the program starts in August. They admit about 50 applicants (new and returning).

I had received my first letter saying I fulfilled the requirements but there was no space available,:madface: :bluecry1: But if a slot comes up they will send me a letter. Boy was I practically a wreck that I called just about everybody I knew to sob and I prayed that an opening would come up. One of my friends said that she felt I should go up to the school and talk with the coordinator, make my face known to them, and I did. I just expressed how I really wanted to be in the program and how much it meant to me. Then afterwards I was calling about every other day to see if an opening came up. Well lo and behold about a week and a half later I got my acceptance letter. I believe I that the coordinator got tired of me leaving messages on her voicemail and she saw my resiliance and said "I've got to get this girl in", lol.

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I feel your pain. Trying to get a STRAIGHT answer out of anyone at my school is like pulling teeth. I have talked to 4 people in the school and gotten 3 different answers...they almost screwed up my application because they gave me ( and many many others) misinformation. I was able to catch it in time ( like the day BEFORE deadline)....others didn't. We are called " nursing pre-clinical" until we are accepted. They said there were 700 applicants for 140 day slots + 60 evening slots. I have a 4.0 and scored in the 96% on my TEAS....I honestly don't know what else I could do to make my application any better...but if I don't get in ( will know in Nov/Dec) I am going to take Chemistry so I can apply to 4 other schools. *sigh* I totally feel your pain.

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

I too agree that is very competitive everywhere in the country. Some just have the wonderful opportunity and resource to apply to more programs than others.

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