So I applied to CSULA and didn't get in. I understand that they have standardized tests like the SAT and TEAS or GED. They "need" them because they wouldn't be able to differentiate the gpa from one school to another school. Okay I get that, whatever.
I take the TEAS and I get a 76%. I'll admit, I'm horrible at English. But my gpa was close to a 4.0. A in Anatomy, Physio, Micro, Stats, Chem. The only "B" that I have gotten were in some random history class or something. My friend on the other hand had straight B's and C's in her science classes and she scored higher on the TEAS and got into the nursing program.
SHE GOES TO THE SAME SCHOOL AS ME. Like, WHAT?!
Oh and btw, she didn't even VOLUNTEER. I volunteered over 150 hours. So the TEAS test which tests you on a couple of science questions, 2+2, grammar, and reading counts more than hours upon hours upon hours of studying, labs, and lecture/lab exams in a 16 week class? I just can't grasp my mind around this. How could they weigh so much on the TEAS to determine whether or not you will succeed in nursing school?
Am I going to be taking a reading test and math test at the end of each nursing class that I take? How in the world does the TEAS tell you that I am less qualified? Am I giving grammar lessons to patients that come in? Am I teaching them math? Am I there to take care of them with my knowledge of medicine or teaching them basic Algebra? I just don't understand how they could put so much weight on a single test. Two years, I tried so so hard to keep my 4.0 for TWO years and this test stomps on my dreams. It boggles my mind.
There are more judgemental comments here than help... dear friend it's ok to express how you feel I would feel some type of way as well so a few words of encouragement: study the areas that you didn't do well in and aim for making over an 85... my school also accepts ppl with high teas test and a low gpa over someone with a low teas test and a high gpa and I know this from asking those who got in versus those who didn't make the cut I'm not here to tell you to change something about you but only to research what the school is looking for,.good luck and best wishes
Hey don't feel bad I was in the same boat as you were I've tried to get into RN programs for 4 years straight every year I made the score to get into the program but was never chosen I relocated moved to Dallas from Arkansas and I was going to try nursing again but I decided to step out on faith and so I did and I'm glad I did I was accepted into 2 nursing programs my first try applying so never give up on your dreams life is about failure without failure you never really know how strong you are keep trying you will get in soon don't look on what someone else did bc you'll find yourself jealous, malice and even hating them and saying how they aren't meant to be a nurse etc but just apply yourself focus and watch God move idk if you are Christian or not but Faith without Works is dead Give it to God he will work it out Anthony smith futurern2k15
English and grammar skills are important. Even in diploma school or associate degree, you have to write an ungodly amount of papers. It only gets worse when you go for the BSN that hospitals are requiring now. Nursing is a women's profession, and its instructor pool is dominated by women. I'm a woman, but I must say, in all honesty, that nursing has an unnecessary amount of verbiage to read and even more excessive amount to write. So you just have to suck it up and do what needs to be done to pull up your test scores. The grammar is all the same on all those TEAS, HESI, PAX, whatever. McGraw Hill nursing preentrance study guide is good, ATI HESI study guide, etc.
You can improve your English and math skills using the books designed for GED students. It had been a long time since I had to do any pencil-paper math, so I bought a GED math review book, worked through all the problems there. Then I looked up all the online freebie problems and worked them.
eta: I am an adult, and I think that the English and grammar instruction I received in public schools was "old-school" from WWII generation, involved a lot of drill, and was far superior to whatever the schools are teaching nowadays. You are not alone in having low English/grammar scores. That's why I suggested the old-school method of get a GED review book(s) and go through all of the exercises until you can pass that. The nursing pre-entrane exams (English/grammar) are essentially high school graduate level, imo.
So instead of having an emo reaction to the rejection, just git 'er done. :-)
Good point about the charting, whoever said that. I was just focusing on why the school portion needed skills. But you are absolutely correct about charting.
THANK YOU for addressing this. The poor English skills of some applicants is mind-boggling. I believe this is part of the reason my program required an essay with the application. I am amazed at what colleges produce now with regards to the writing skills of graduates. My exit essay from my university was actually on this exact topic, for which I am thankful, as it was VERY easy for me to write a persuasive essay on something about which I feel SO passionate. It seems like grade inflation is getting worse and worse with some professors. I know that I was HANDED my C in chemistry, and I was seriously shocked. I was certain I'd have to repeat the course (this was about 10 years ago, and my grades have significantly improved since then). As someone who works hard to get the grades I do now, it's frustrating to think of someone "earning" the same grade I am courtesy of grade inflation.
I got A's in A&P by small margin with big curve. If no curve I would have been forced to study harder and improve my knowledge.
I know of one class where someone had a 94 but got a 117% because of bonuses. Using that spread, someone with a 69% could get an A with bonuses?
Slightly off topic, I know someone in Marines who finished combat training in Iraq during combat in Iraq. Something you want to weed out issues before jumping into frying pan because when you know what hits the fan, you want to possess the skills needed to do the task.
I want to add that the person with huge bonuses is a Victim also. Being setup for failure is more cruel than being denied quicker and easier advancement.
gpa was close to a 4.0. A in Anatomy, Physio, Micro, Stats, Chem. The only "B" that I have gotten were in some random history class or something
Not all RN schools / degree programs look at the same prereq classes. Or at all the college coursework. Some may only look at what 3-5 specific, so if she had Bs in geneds and As in the essential classes that the schools uses for admissions, then her GPA for admissions purposes could be a 4.0
There are more judgemental comments here than help... .../edit
The OP did not come here to get help. He/she only wished to complain about how wronged he was, how it was all so unfair. But the audience he chose to complain to is not easily accepting of whining...which is ultimately what this was: whining that he couldn't get into a program for which he failed to meet the basic admission requirements.
Additionally, the OP's ranting about a perfect 4.0 in pre-requs was found to be a lie, by his OWN postings on another thread. Sorry, have zero sympathy for liars. Cheats is about a minute behind.
It was kind of you to offer your sympathies, but since THAT doesn't help either, the OP is out of luck. Unless, of course, he recognizes that his weak academic areas are NOT fluff to be ignored, and a real problem when it comes to the realities of passing a nursing program.
The reason the TEAS test is necessary is because it is regarded as a good predictor of how likely you are to be successful in a nursing program. It's great that you can get As and volunteer and stuff, but how good are you at applying the knowledge you have? Can you assess someone and based on your knowledge of pathophysiology, can you decide on what priority interventions to implement?
This is something I took to heart from professors who have mentioned it: straight-A students make the worst nursing students. They don't know how to do anything but memorize facts and when it comes to real world application they tend to fall on their faces pretty hard. I take my grades seriously but I want to be a good nurse. Nursing school requires a balance of learning the books for the NCLEX and then learning how to function as a real nurse IRL. A pt doesn't care that I got As in A&P if I can't look at them or ask them to right questions to determine the basis to their medical issues. It's helpful to have all that stuff down but when it comes down to the nitty gritty, it takes a lot more than As to succeed in nursing school.
I agree with the above poster that they use the teas/ hesi to determine how well you will score on the NCLEX. The school must maintain a minimum amount of students a year that pass the NCLEX or they will lose their accreditation. Our school had a night program for nurses and they were all failing the NCLEX so they had to stop offering night courses or risk losing their accreditation. Study hard and you will get it next time! Good luck!
You will be taking a math test at the BEGINNING of each semester that you have a nursing class and if you don't pass it with 90%, you fail the class. 254 people took the teas exam the semester I was admitted and my school accepted the top 40. If your admitted, they'll be teaching you science from day one......not so much on the math, English, and reading so you have to have a good understanding of those subjects out of the gate. I actually BOMBED the science portion of the teas exam but scored in the top 91% in reading, English, and language. I was told not to worry about the science because they were going to teach me that. They explained that my scores in the other areas let them know that I was capable of comprehending the science.
@HeyYouNotYouYou, did you calculate your total points for the CSULA program? The program is based on a point system. If you look at their website there is a link to how the school calculates your points. The highest points gets in. This time, people with 24 points and above were accepted and people with 23-24 points were wait listed. There is another thread going on about this specific school if you click the "U.S." tab and then "California Nursing", you should be able to find the CSULA thread.
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FutureNurseK
130 Posts
There are more judgemental comments here than help... dear friend it's ok to express how you feel I would feel some type of way as well so a few words of encouragement: study the areas that you didn't do well in and aim for making over an 85... my school also accepts ppl with high teas test and a low gpa over someone with a low teas test and a high gpa and I know this from asking those who got in versus those who didn't make the cut I'm not here to tell you to change something about you but only to research what the school is looking for,.good luck and best wishes