Planning on attending GPC for nursing in fall of 2014, any advice appreciated

[ananonymous]

Hello everyone this is my first post.

I'm 22 years old and graduated high school in 2009. I have been working full time since then and will have saved up enough money to go to college in the fall of 2014. I plan on getting an apartment close to the clarkston campus and going to school full-time and studying. I took chem and bio in high school but I took those in 2005/2006 so I know I would have to take them over again. I didn't take the SATs/ACTs and in high school I had a 3.4gpa. I did apply to GPC a couple of years ago and got accepted, didn't take the COMPASS test, and then ultimately decided that I wasn't ready for college and didn't go. I looked on their website and it gives a list of pre-requisites to get accepted into the nursing program. If I took the pre-reqs and then took the nursing courses would I still graduate in 2 years, how long would it normally take? And are these pre-reqs for nursing offered online or during evenings? I know I still have a while before I go back to college in 2014 but is there anything I should be doing right now? And should I take the SATS/ACTS so I can exempt some parts of the compass test? And what/how is the whole process on applying for admission in the program? I would love to hear stories from current and past nursing students. Thank you very much!

[prettymica, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN, APRN, NP]

The first thing I would do is apply, take the compass,and meet with an advisor. How did you get by without taking the ACT/SAT? Yes you will have to take Bio/chem and everything over. Your high-school classes do not substitute for college. Pre reqs are offered at various times, you will be able to make a schedule that fits your needs for some classes. Other classes you have to fit their need, because they maybe be offer only once a year. How long it takes depends on how long you take to finish your pre reqs.. Also the nursing program is about 1.5 to 2 years long after your prereqs so think about 4 years or more total, depending on if you are accepted on the first try. Read some of the threads on this site and you will find out lots of info. Good Luck on your journey.

[meeep, BSN, RN]

If you are able to immediately enroll in College Algebra/Chem 1151, the sciences take 4 semesters to complete. I know at other schools it can be done in 2, but GPC has pre-reqs for their pre-reqs. I have heard of people taking Microbiology their first semester of Nursing classes though. I wouldn't recommend it, but you could bring it down to 3 semesters that way. This is IN ADDITION to the 2 year Nursing program. As far as exempting out of the COMPASS, the testing center would be able to tell you that.

Most classes are offered at all sorts of varying days and times, even on Saturdays. Additionally, pretty much all classes are available online, but you will have to take labs on campus. I prefer taking science and math on campus, but if you are disciplined and can teach yourself a great deal, it can afford you a lot of flexibility.

I'm not 100% familiar with the application process, as I am not planning to apply to their Nursing program (just taking my pre-reqs there). I do know you can apply as soon as you complete A&P I and take the TEAS.