Pre-Nursing Program @ Ontario Colleges?

RN2B123 · Jan 13, 2009

my friend took the pre health 1 year at an ontario - she said it was pretty easy. I think its really similar to high school chem, bio, etc so itll prepare you for entry into a health program.

If I were you, I would just go to adult education or back to high school and upgrade for FREE instead of paying 5000$ for this 1 year program...all it does it upgrade your education to that of a grade 12 student entering the nursing program from high school. I think they might throw in a med termininology course and that but really, you can learn that on your own time with a book you buy from a bookstore or Amazon. It would be alot cheaper...anyone can take adult education and I think its only 40$ a class and you can take bio, chem , etc

good luck with your studies!!!

Maleficent · Jan 13, 2009

rn2b123, hi! & thank you for your suggestion. one of the avenues i considered taking was that of academic upgrading with evening and weekend classes. when i met with the adviser he outlined the 5 classes i would need, i knew my sciences and math were shaky in high school simply because i was not interested and to go back now, i wanted to develop a solid foundation to ensure i would do well in my university studies. the other benefit that pushed me into pre-nursing is if i maintain a 3.0 gpa i'm guaranteed admission into the bsc. nursing program at ottawa u. all the courses in the program are college level and they include your math, bio, chem, organic chem, anatomy, & some other prep courses.

being out of school for several years i wanted to feel out the whole secondary education system of classes and projects... i want to be familiar before i dive right into university, and i want to have as many options as possible open if for some reason nursing school just isn't the right fit. i think it may have been easier for me to say i want to try school first, before i try nursing school? :)

i should also add, i did not complete high school in ontario, we did not have oac or any other accelerated/a.b classes, i'm from the east coast so it was get out of high school with 18 credits and do what you wish! there was not really a push for me to do anything other then get a job. :|

RN2B123 · Jan 14, 2009

I never graduated with OAC either. It's true that the advantage is that if you get a 3.0 your guaranteed admission, something that I think all the colleges do. I don't know how hard it is to get into nursing school now. When I applied for entry in Sept. 2005 people were being accepted to my university with a 75%...one of my friends got into a college based 4 year ontario nursing program with a grade 12 top six average of 62% - maybe they are more selective now?

It's up to you but I'd rather save tuition money and take all the classes you can possibly take through adult education / high school and then maybe supplement it with college course in medical terminology if possible for you to enroll...it would be wayyy cheaper. If you go into adult education with the mindset that its the same as pre health sciences certificate, then you should be motivated to succeed.

If you have the 5 grand or so to spend, then maybe it would be worthwhile to spend it on the year of school. All depends on your financial situation!

Don't forget that OSAP is your friend! lol and go to http://www.studentawards.com they are good too

Maleficent · Jan 14, 2009

so far i've picked up a second job working p/t to save for my year of school, it is closer to 3 grand then 5 and i've factored in my books. i've applied to my programs at algonquin & st. lawrence but outside of those schools tuition does seem to increase. i won't find out until march if i get in so in the mean time perhaps i will research the adult education route a little bit more.

part of taking a prep course through the college is because a school is still a business, i want to develop a good relationship with the instructors and administration. nursing is highly competitive in ottawa so i want the best chance of getting in. my fall back to nursing is dental.... and dental is more popular then nursing!! i hope to get osap for my university studies but that also gives me somewhat of a worry!

RN2B123 · Jan 14, 2009

3 grand isnt that bad actually. Yea Ive heard that dental is really hard to get into too...good luck let us know on allnurses if you get in :)

busybee0613 · Jan 15, 2009

I can relate. I am presently upgrading through co ed at night and am applying at st.clair and the u of windsor as a mature student. I talked to the pre nursing advisor at the college who said that yes the minimum requirment is a B to get into nursing (3.0), the cut off last year ended up being a 3.8 because as RN2B stated, its becoming a more popular program and the competition is getting tougher. I am so nervous, I have completed my fall semester with a 4.0 and begin my winter semester next week. My applications are all sent out and now the wait begins. Good luck to you!!

Maleficent · Jan 20, 2009

nervous! anxious! i hear you on the waiting bee! since 2 of the programs are highly competitive i have to wait until march before i find out if i was accepted or not, the only school which i think i will hear back from before march is loyalist which is my 3rd choice and they start mailing out in february. i wish you luck and pm me when you find out or post a thread! i'd love to know!

ruralgirl08 · Feb 1, 2009

Hi I just wanted to share my expereince. I decided to pursue an education in my early 20s. I did the Pre-Nursing program at Algonquin College and have since then completed my BScN. (I had all the prerequisite OACs except, I only had gr.12 general level math. If I were to do it over again, I may have done the adult academic upgrading, for the OSAP $$$ I spent and have to pay back. But, I think Pre-Nursing was a confidence booster for me. Anatomy & Physiology in the BScN program felt like a review since I had already taken it in Pre-Nursing. I also had an amazing prof. that was very inspiring. (I do think it gives you an advantage, to getting in, since you are now applying as a post-secondary student) I did really well in Pre-Nursing, I had 2 scholarship offers from it.

Looking back I could have got into another BScN program as a mature student, without the Pre-Nursing program. But Pre-Nursing got me into education mode, and I didn't have to work my 3 crappy part-time jobs for another year, I only had one. Also, one important thing that you should know is the Pre-Nursing at one school, may not be accepted by another BScN program. So which ever University you want to go to, take their collaborative college's Pre-Nursing program. I had that problem, and it was very frustrating. If the BScN program you are applying to is very competitve, it may be a good thing to do. With OSAP it cost me $7000 for (tuition/living expenses, rent) for that 1 year. But in the big picture, it's just a used car:) And I have my dream job!

Maleficent · Feb 1, 2009

ruralgirl08 thanks for your input!

i'm happy to hear the pre-nursing program helped get you into "education mode" being out of school so long and having terrible habits when i was in school are two of the major motivators to take this program. i would rather be prepared for first year bscn then struggle as a mature student and possibly flunk out. i want a route that will give me the best chance of being successful.

right now i am working 2 jobs in hopes of racking up enough for tuition and books and then work p/t while in the pre-nursing program to cover my living expenses. i'd rather avoid osap for the pre-nursing only because i know 4 years of university where i will not have the option to work will be a massive financial strain once i get out of school and any little bit less on a loan helps.

right now i am just anxious i will not get in, i sent my application back in november and offers don't go out until march! just over a month of waiting and i am so queasey just thinking i may not get in which will set me back a year.

are you working in ottawa now or have you moved out of the city since becoming an rn?

ruralgirl08 · Feb 1, 2009

I have settled down and am living in SW Ontario, closer to where I grew up. I moved to Ottawa for a few years right out of highschool with friends cause I wanted to see different places, was told there were alot of jobs in Ottawa, and I was not completely sure what I wanted to do with my life. I really liked Ottawa, but I found out I was definately a homebody, and moved back this way to be closer to my family:)

jerep · Feb 4, 2009

I'm applying as well for this program. I also applied for several other programs and have received offers of admission for them; but, I've yet to hear anything back on this program. You said you'd hear back in March? That long?? I'm so anxious. I hope that we both get in!