Orlando School Admissions

Renee4christ · Apr 2, 2007

Hey Micaela! Great to see you are doing nursing. I think you are going to find that just about anywhere you go right now unless they put you on an accepted waitlist. I know that's how Valencia is, which is another college here in Orlando. Last I heard the wait list is for 2009 and that's with having all your pre-reqs complete. i think it's guaranteed acceptance there, but you gotta wait! Not too sure about SCC. Last I heard they have no waiting list, you're just in or out. It's pretty sad that nursing is coming to that where you have hundreds of qualified applicants and can't even accept 20% of them. I don't know what's going to happen. That's why a lot of people are resorting to private schools because they are easier to get in, but super expensive. I did my AA at Valencia and did not want to do my nursing there, because the wait list kept getting longer and longer. so i just finished up my general ed's and am waiting on university acceptances for this fall. i have a 3.04 gpa and was waitlisted for FGCU in Fort Myers, denied entry into Nova in Fort Lauderdale and waiting to hear word from UM in Miami. I know my gpa is not the best, but it's not that bad either. one that shocked me was when i was considering USF in Tampa and i asked how many students apply to the generic BSN program each semester vs those accepted and she told me between 500-800 apply each term and approx 40 are accepted!! that is so discouraging. i didn't even bother applying, because in cases like that, it's all about the gpa. best of luck to you!!! any school that you are really considering?

micaelaNBO · Apr 3, 2007

Thanks very much for repying. I don't live in the states so I'm still learning about the route into nursing!! I'm visiting Orlando at the end of April to tour around a few colleges and see what the situation is. The only ones I've found that do ADN's which foreign students can enroll on are SCC and HerzingCC (Central florida hospital college seemed quite difficult to get into and Valencia was open to USA citizens and permanent residents only). Those are the two that I'm going to see however if the wait list is 2009 at the moment even with pre-req's done then I'm in trouble!!! You mentioned something about private colleges? Are there any in Orlando or Miami that I may be able to research. I'm more concerned about getting on a course quickly as opposed to the cost - although don't get me wrong I'm not wanting to throw money away on this!!! I'm 36 so I've saved up some cash for my studies, however I assumed that I could start in 2008 somewhere. I haven't studied for 18 years so I may need to do some prep courses to get me back into the swing of things before I sit any NET exams etc. (especially for the Maths!)

Renee4christ · Apr 3, 2007

hey, the only private school in close proximity to Orlando is Americare School of Nursing. they are located in Fern Park, Fl which is about 35mins from Orlando. A few years ago i was checkin out their LPN program and it was priced at about $16k. I know they were in the process of being accredited and certified for the ADN program and i'm pretty sure that is set and i heard it would run around $40k, but then again that's just by word of mouth. best of luck to you and keep in touch.

micaelaNBO · Apr 4, 2007

Renee thanks for the info. I think $40k is about 10 times my budget!! Never mind, looks as though the community college programmes are the only way forward. Best of luck with your applications and I'll email you with any news. Cheers, Micaela

lacedmm1 · Apr 6, 2007

To the OP -

What the others said about Valencia is very true....long waitlist.

I attend Seminole Community College, and from personal experience, I can tell you that they have an in or out policy....no waiting list. Their requirements are that all pre-reqs are finished above and beyond all else. Second, is that your GPA be at least 2.5. The NET is a small part of being accepted, it was never even something I worried about. This school has an amazing pass rate for the NCLEX, and they have a great program with the University of Central Florida, where you can take your RN at SCC and take your BSN credits through UCF at SCC (concurrently). Sounds complicated, but all that means is that by the time I finish my ASN, I will only have one semester left and I'll have my BSN. UCF also, will make sure that their classes never interfere with SCC's classes

Hope this helps in making a decision

luv4nursing · Apr 8, 2007

This goes out to those who are having to wait two or 3 years to get into an ADN program: Why not get your LPN, take your RN pre reqs before or during the LPN program, and then take the LPN to RN bridge (1 yr long)? That is what I did and its the best decision I ever made. I went to Orlando tech from Fall 2004 to fall 2005, finished up my pre reqs for the transition, and now Im at Valencia (started in January of this year) in their ONLINE Advanced Standing RN program. It takes one year and its online except for clinicals and exams. I love it. Im able to work full time and make a decent living as an LPN, and finish my RN in another year. Its a great option, please consider it. I got accepted the first time I applied, and I had just finished my pre reqs in the summer and applied in the fall. I know the word is getting out about the program now so it will probably become more and more competetive, but its really a great way to get your RN. And dont knock being an LPN, Ill only get about $2 raise as a new grad RN from what I make now in pediatric home healthcare.

Cococure · Apr 8, 2007

hey micaelaNBO

I live in orlando and SCC is a great school...a good friend of mine graduated recently and she was a foreigner.. All the schools in orlando/central florida has some sort of wait list...if you do all the pre reqs and have a good GPA you should get into SCC without a problem...but for students with ok GPA's they have to be be wait listed...most programs the wait is 1yr or 3 semesters...I attend VCC and i will probably get in for May 2008 or earlier if i get called - the wait list is not that extreme....you also have to remember that students apply to all the colleges, VCC, SCC, UCF, DBCC, polk county comm college, bethune cookman college etc...and they only accept one spot - basically the excess nursing applications makes the list seem longer because students want to keep their options open.

I would be a bit weary about herzing college - they just got provisionally approved - all their clinicals are in the nursing homes and they are probably expensive.

LPN route is a good option and Orlando tech has a very good program and it is becoming competitive to get spots...

good luck :lol2:

coco

BlanckOne · Apr 13, 2007

Hey, I too went LPN and am finishing my RN! Many people who want there RN in Florida and don't want the 2 year lag go this route. Many of the local community colleges are taking their LPN-RN courses online now as well!

I would be very leary of newly approved colleges. It is very difficult to get clinical times now within the hospital systems in town. Even though I was in SCC, they still had difficulty scheduling some rotations, so you would end up with evening and weekend rotations for clinicals even though you were considered a Day program!

muscat4u · Apr 18, 2007

Herzing is a private college, that being said it can afford to be very particular about who it allows into the program. They did their acceptance based on NET scores..so if that is an option for you study your basics and score high. I am in the program right now..and it is tough, because it is an accelerated program....YIKES. None of the clinicals are in a nursing home. Some of the students in the program were on waiting lists for other colleges for the LPN school, but scored high enough to be accepted....so on to ADN. I have talked with a few of the students about their NET scores and I think the lowest score I am aware of right now is a 76%. This college is student friendly. My instructors so far have been very clear about being available to us for any questions we have...correspondance is good via e-mail... and currently don't feel like I am being thrown in to the wolves. Not only that, but our uniforms are not all white....we get to wear blue scrub bottoms... YEAH!!!!! BTW..was called from SCC for the LPN program, but had to decline because was already in the program at Herzing College :) Also Herzing College has the ADN program in several of their colleges..it just is new to Orlando..and the college itself is regionally accredited..lots of luck to you in your decision and hope this helps..

LateBloomingRN2B · Nov 26, 2007

According to VCC, they do not accept applications from anyone who is not a citizen of the US. For more info check out their website at www.valenciacc.edu/nursing. I am unsure of the policy at SCC or BCC, but I'm sure you can google for their websites. :)

As for VCC's NET, they require a 65% on reading and a 65% on math to apply, as well as a 2.5 overall gpa and a "C" on all pre-reqs.

jsafrica · Oct 15, 2008

Hi, Im new to the site, and was wodering if u have graduatted from Herzing and did most hospitals accept your degree from Herzing? Also is it really expensive?