Ontario Nurse (to be hopefully)

Mom&Wifetoo · Feb 25, 2010

If you are really serious about going on I would talk to the nursing counselor at the colleges you plan to attend. I cannot say for Canada (heck not even for the rest of the US) but here is California a ADN or a BSN don't really matter at the entry level. Of course there are other opportunities that the BSN allows, but if you are looking to simply become a floor RN then an ADN will suffice.

I also know that her your overall GPA is considered as well as your prereq GPA.

Again I would definitely suggest talking with the counselors for the specific programs you hope to attend. When I was applying to programs last spring I learned that each and every school is different with different likes and wants. SOme don't care so much about GPA while others that is all that matters. One school I applied to would only accept bilingual students first and others didn't even ask. After 13 applications and all the crazy requirements for each program I learned that they all want something different and the trick is to give it to them Good luck on your goal!

jrsmrs · Feb 25, 2010

I am also in Ontario and suggest you check the websites of the universities you would be considering. They will let you know the current admission requirements.

I was a mature student when I applied at my university, thus my requirements were slightly different, but I did require university level chemistry. The usual cut-off level for high school averages for acceptance is around 75% (meaning lots of people with averages of 75%+ apply and as they are given first priority, people with less than that basically don't get in).

My best recommendation? Take the university level courses and bring up your grades. Easier said than done, I know, but if you're struggling now you won't exactly be flying through university.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Feb 25, 2010

Moved to the Canadian Forum.

linzz · Feb 25, 2010

Go on the website of the College of Nurses of Ontario and it will direct to where nursing programs are located in Ontario.

If you want to be an RN, it is now a four year degree program. You will need to take University level courses in order to apply. I would also aim for as high a mark as you can. It can be competitive but that said, keep working and apply anyway as long as you meet the minimum requirements.

I can't stress strongly enough that if you want to be an RN, you must complete University level courses. If you want to be an RPN, college level courses are fine.

Work hard and good luck to you.

ajaxgirl · Feb 25, 2010

I am also in Ontario and suggest you check the websites of the universities you would be considering. They will let you know the current admission requirements.
I was a mature student when I applied at my university, thus my requirements were slightly different, but I did require university level chemistry. The usual cut-off level for high school averages for acceptance is around 75% (meaning lots of people with averages of 75%+ apply and as they are given first priority, people with less than that basically don't get in).
My best recommendation? Take the university level courses and bring up your grades. Easier said than done, I know, but if you're struggling now you won't exactly be flying through university.

That's not true. I did not do well in highschool. I have 60's (some 70's) in my advanced courses. I got straight A's in nursing.

loriangel14, RN · Feb 25, 2010

If you want to go for your RN you will need all university courses so you can take the 4 year BSN which the only route available in Ontario. RPN is two years of college.

linzz · Feb 26, 2010

Oh I forgot to mention a few things, even if you don't meet the minimum mark posted on the websites, apply anyway as you may get in on a wait list, people drop out all the time.

Also I didn't do that well in high school because I wasn't focused and had a very tough home life. These are not excuses, just the way it was. There really are no good reasons for not working hard. I did well in nursing school as an adult because I worked a lot harder so that I could end up as a safe nurse.

In addition, if you are in Ontario, you could look into the high school skills major for health. Ask the guidance office about it.

I know this response is long but I noted that you are still young and it will really help your future to make good choices right now.

Keep working hard and good luck.

RPN_2012 · Mar 5, 2010

SheGotAway, it's so great that you know what you want to do at 16! :up: It's amazing, you can get on the right route now. Ok so what you need to do is:

-Check all the admission requirements for all the Universities you could (potentially) attend idk where you live, so idk which university you wanna go to.

-Work your way back. e.i. if they say you need to have at least 6 U level grade 12 course, then obviously you need to take U level grade 11 courses, and "Academic" ("D") course in grades 9 and 10 (I believe you should be in grade 10 by now? and you've been taking the right levels like "Academic" (D) and U, right? Keep doing that!

-Make sure so talk to the guidance office about having the right number of credits in the different categories.

If I were in your shoes right now I would take gr11 Bio, Chem, Math, all U level, and same for gr 12, make sure to take all the needed sciences (idk if you need physics, i don't think so, but you should check)

-make sure you take the right math to get in, because I remember we had like 4 or 5 different types of math in Gr 12, some people took more than 1 type.

-Make sure you work as hard as possible, get 70's-80's, and even if you don't make it in right away, get on the waiting list, and you might be in the next year. I know all universities have different average requirements, and I don't know which one's you wanna apply to.

I graduated hs in 2004 in Toronto, I have a sis and a bro in hs right now, so I'm familiar with the Ontario hs system and course. If you want more help I can help if give me a list off all the courses you took, since the beginning of gr.9 until now, and I can help you figure out what else you need to take to both have all the required credits for graduation, and the right number of U course in Gr12.

Best of luck to you!!! And no offense to your aunt, she went to highs school a while back, things have changed, there was a new curriculum that started in 1999, so she might not know all the details, and requirements! What ever you do, make sure to talk to your guidance chancellor, and don't get of his back until he answers all your questions! It's their job!

*gosh, I wish I knew I wanted to be a RN when I was 16, I would have done so many things differently!* :uhoh3:

linzz · Mar 6, 2010

Yes, mia13, high school has changed. I just finished helping my son choose his courses for next year. It is somewhat different than when I went.

Fiona59 · Mar 6, 2010

That's not true. I did not do well in highschool. I have 60's (some 70's) in my advanced courses. I got straight A's in nursing.

How long ago did you apply to nursing school? Even the year you applied can make a huge difference in what marks are good enough.

When I finished high school in the 1970s, I was guaranteed a seat in the fledgling UBC BScN programme but chose another route.

Flash forward to the 1990s, I was accepted into the diploma RN programme but because of family issues I couldn't attend. A year later, the same marks weren't good enough.

Getting into nursing schools is extremely competitive with more attention being paid to high marks rather than suitability to the job. Because face it, in the end that's what it is, a job.

It's not unusual to have 10-15 applicants for each seat these days. The sad thing is, at university, I've been meeting nursing programme drop outs. They got into first year, then realized it wasn't for them and are now in the BA programme.

There is something wrong with nursing education in this country and it needs to be looked at.

linzz · Mar 7, 2010

I did graduate with my grade 13 back in the 80's but my marks were only 60's and 70's. I did not get into nursing because it was very competitive at the time.