nursing schools in arizona

JettaDP · Jun 30, 2008

It depends on what are you're. If you're in Maricopa County, (Phoenix area), the cc's are not competitive. You complete the pre-req's, apply, and sit on a wait list for at least two years. As long as you have to minimum GPA, you will get in. You just have to wait a few years. Because of this wait list, people also try to get into ASU and the other universities. And A LOT of people attempt this in order to avoid the wait list. And the universoties are competitive. Expect some fierce competition. You need to nail your pre-req's and score well on whatever standardized test the school uses. You'll also be going up against people who have prior work experience in the field and people who spend time volunteering.

AlishiaRN77 · Jul 1, 2008

Spring05 hit it right on the nose. I'm currently attending one of the maricopa community colleges and the gpa here is very low compared to schools anywhere else for acceptance. I was really surprised! Although the gpa is set low, the students that I have come across are very competitive for the highest grade in the class.

I'm currently in A&P1 and a few of the students in my summer class are all fighting for the highest test grades so that they set the curve for the class.....of course when them setting the curve, they end up with the 100%. (lol, i'm one of those competitive people).

The students who are achieving for the higher grades are the students who are looking to apply to other nursing programs, such as ASU, NAU, or U of A. The universities are VERY competitive.

I have a staff who is currently in the ASU nursing program and applied last Jan (07). She didn't get accepted into the program until Jan (08). She also has a 4.0gpa and honors. I've asked her questions regarding the program and she too has stated that it's very competitive. There were over 700 people who applied and only, I believe this is the right number but not too sure, 140 got in?

Although the wait list at the cc's are long being that it's 2 years, it's still doable. The have condensed the pre req's so that you can apply early and finish your other co req classes while you are on the waitlist.

Another option that the cc's have is that they have a program with ASU called the Alliance program. After you graduate with your ADN (RN) from a maricopa community college, the BSN program is 1 year thru ASU.

So if you graduate in June, then you start the BSN 1 year program in Aug of the same year.

vikichck · Jul 10, 2008

I'm attending NAU currently.. almost done thank goodness! I picked this Inferno because they didn't require any chemistry and because I had completed most of the pre reqs. Otherwise it would have taken me at least a yr more to complete the pre reqs @ ASU and UofA. I didn't think it was that competitive to get in compared to the other schools at all. I got in with a 3.33 GPA. That was 3 yrs ago when they were accepting only 40 students a semester compared to 80 now. So I think your chances of getting in are twice as good.

Honestly, NAU nursing program is just simply really really bad. DO NOT go here unless if you really cannot get into any other university or colleges. Coconino Community College has a better reputation than the NAU program. Their passing rate of HESI and NCLEX for students is much better. Like 30% compared to 95%. In my 3 yrs at NAU they made me travel to Gallup, New Mexico, Window Rock, Cottonwood, and currently Phoenix,AZ. That is actually LUCKY to get locations that close. Some students were even sent to Yuma, Lake Havasu City, Kingman, Showlow, Tucson.. basically any hospital in Arizona. Don't even get me started on all the other hoops we had to jump through. It really can make a person want to just give up and drop out.

Make sure you research all the schools and look at their reviews before signing your next 3 yrs of life or so away. I am counting down the days until December. :banghead: