OCC - 2010 applicants / 2011 ADN prospective students

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Hey everyone! Im back for my second application into the ADN program at OCC ::sigh:: As I did in the thread I created last year, I am creating a new one for all those applying to the nursing progam for next fall. Lets keep in touch and keep one another updated. Good luck guys!!! :)

we can all agree that the system is in no way perfect but it is what it is. i honetly think as long as you know ahead of time what the schools criteria is and how they go about their selection then you have agreed to their process. i think we can also agree that high gpa does not equal good nurse, but it sets you up for being able to handle this program. its a really hard program, and no one will understad until they are in 1/2 way through fundamentals. Really OCC needs to change the process to eliminate how long you can take to take your prereqs. if you are use to taking one class at a time to ensure you get an A then your going to be in real trouble in this program. the amount of work and stress will pretty much take out those who leisurely strolled through their prereqs over a 2 yr period.

for those of you coming in to the program, be aware that this program is not fair, you will see some of the closest friends you've made fall along the wayside. you will see people who you thought for sure would make it fail. you can acctually see the stress of this program on your friends face as they walk into the final exam with only 5 or 10 points to spare. It's not fair, you will know your right about things and still get them wrong even when you provide proof you were right, you may get a clinical instructor who hates you. you may fail a class by 1 point and watch the instructor literally shrug and say see you next year, because if you fail you have to wait until the class is offered again and that will be 9 months later. this program eats the weak. get a study group! they will help you pass the tough times. you will probably not make it through the course if your a loner.

anyway now that all the newbies are terrified i wish you the best of luck. if you pass a guy crying in the hallway next year that could be me.

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Really OCC needs to change the process to eliminate how long you can take to take your prereqs. if you are use to taking one class at a time to ensure you get an A then your going to be in real trouble in this program. the amount of work and stress will pretty much take out those who leisurely strolled through their prereqs over a 2 yr period.

YOu've made a distinction that I failed to do previously. Yes it is a tough program and some will fail regardless of the acceptance criteria. Perhaps spots would be better alloted to those that can manage multiple classes and still get a B or better than to be wasted on those that strolled through prereqs one at a time to get their 4.0 (or take it over and over) if the criteria were similar to other schools and GPA cut offs were lower...just a thought.

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I really think the policy should be changed like everyone else says to a much more reasonable gpa. Even with the 3.9-4.0 acceptance criteria folks are still dropping out like flies. I can understand if this helped but it doesn't. I just cannot muster enough strength in myself to retake Micro over for an "A" when I worked so hard to get a "B".

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the good thing addison is that you know the material, so it should come easier to you.

if nursing is something you are sure you want to do then do whatever it takes.

I see that you are still young. so you have time. Don't go into this field if its something someone else is telling you you should do. already had a couple people drop because this was a field their parents wanted them to pursue.

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I understand what everyone is saying. While I agree that it isn't fair for someone who repeated courses vs someone who didn't, I hope they do NOT change their admission criteria for fall of 2012 atleast! Because the way things are now, I have a shot. If they change it I may not anymore....

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My feeling is that if changes are made it will be a gradual change...over 3-4 years.Not something abrupt from one year to the next. Either way, Good Luck!

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You think? I don't know, I have a meeting with a counselor at highland 2morrow so I'll be asking.

The last time OCC made a switch over from waitlist to gpa what happenned? Did they 'ease' into that or was it automatic?

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Specializes in Geriatrics, dementia, hospice.

While I personally didn't retake any classes to gain acceptance into the nursing program, I don't think it's a bad thing for OCC to allow students to do so.

Retaking classes to better one's grade is testament to one's perseverance. Just the thought of having to retake a class is disheartening for most, even when the financial expense is of no consequence. Time is money and there is an opportunity cost for having to wait.

Yet the reality is that for many (if not most) of us, money is an issue, especially in this economy. Students who retake classes to improve their grades aren't necessarily more affluent; they are, perhaps, more determined. No one wants to have to redo a lot of work and study harder, especially for just a few points (which can be the difference between acceptance or denial in this competitive program).

On the other hand, as has also been mentioned, having straight A's doesn't necessarily mean that a person will do well in nursing school. Nursing is not for everyone and those who are going into the field strictly for the arguable promise of financial/job security will likely find any nursing program especially difficult, despite a 4.0 in prerequisites. Other reasons people don't finish nursing school include personal and financial issues. So, tenacity may well be the most important predictor of success in nursing or other demanding academic programs.

Nevertheless, everyone getting into this program has a great GPA. Is there really that much of a difference between a 3.8 and a 4.0? In some cases, the difference could be a matter of luck, such as a couple extra questions answered correctly on a final exam.

So, my hat's off to anyone with the determination to retake classes to achieve a better grade. Your diligence will likely serve you well in nursing school and beyond!

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Well said, wendyvonne. You are absolutely correct! Nothing is black and white. I do think that needing to retake a class to go from A- to A is asking a little too much though. Most schools to my understanding allow students to retake a class once, twice at most...Occ's current policy allows one to retake as many times as needed and then the highest grade is weighed in to gpa...completely discounting all other attempts...I think those other attempts should be weighed in as well.

Perseverence is a good quality in a nurse, no doubt...though Id argue that needing 2 and 3 chances to get something right..hmmm not so sure...getting it right the first time is ideal for a nurse, no? We're all human and imperfect, but we are dealing with life and death at most and patient comfort at least. BUT I suppose that's what the rigorous nature of the program is for...weeding out.

Anyway, not trying to be argumentative, just adding more food for thought.

cheers!

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Want2benursesooon:

I also didn't make it this cut for OCC. I wasn't too surprised as my GPA is a 3.77. However, I can't believe how high the cut off was. I have a B.A and am debating if I should just look for a job and give up on nursing, or retake classes and try again for OCC. Have you given any thought to becoming an LPN? I was under the impression that it takes just as long to become an LPN then complete the LPN to ADN program.

What did the counselor say? Will the admissions process be the same for the 2012 applicant cycle?

It's really too bad they didn't have an accelerated program this year, I think then you would of gotten in. Last year they made the cut off around a 3.8 I heard then after they were offered the extra accelerated spots they GPA cut off came down to 3.72.

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You think? I don't know, I have a meeting with a counselor at highland 2morrow so I'll be asking.

The last time OCC made a switch over from waitlist to gpa what happenned? Did they 'ease' into that or was it automatic?

I think that if they change anything that you will get 2-3 years notice before the changes go into affect...that's what a counselor told me last year when I didnt get in.

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Uh oh! Whosurdaddy has me so nervous. I'm ready to form my study group RIGHT NOW! Lol. Seriously though, whose taking the Wednesday pharmacology this summer????

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