Dcccd 2006

Fun2, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2005

I got my letter today. It's official, I didn't get in

Same here, but did you see only 100 students were accepted? WTF? (that's fudge....lol)

What happened to the 110? (Hey I could have been one of those 10, maybe, maybe not...lol)

I'm sorry to all of you who didn't make it. Don't give up!!!! :)

Finallyat40 · Oct 19, 2005

A couple of comments from an El Centro grad...first off....as for the 100 admissions to the program, keep in mind....they can only open as many spaces as they have clinical instructors to teach. There are 10 students per instructor, so that means there are either 10 instructors for first semester or maybe some of the instructors are managing more than one clinical group. It would be unsafe on a hospital floor for an instructor to be responsible for and manage more than 10 students.....I honestly don't know how they do it, invariably, their pagers go off at the same times with 5 students wanting the instructor to come verify a med pass with them. This is for your benefit! I promise.

As for the question about clinicals, I graduated from EC in 12/04. My first semester, we had two full days of clinical, usually 6:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., one day of skills lab and one day of lecture a week...but wait, before you get all giddy thinking you'll get a day off....no such luck, you will have to go to your clinical site the day before clinicals to pick your patients and then do copious amounts of paperwork, research and care plans before the next days clinical. There are weekend clinicals offered at time, however, I don't think there were any available until 3rd semester, same for evenings. The other two days of the week, you will likely spend with your nose in a book studying for the next test. I'm not trying to discourage you, just being realistic and honest.

There will be many days that you will ask yourself if you've made the right choice.....I had many of those, however, I can assure you that I love what I'm doing and it was worth it! I became a NNICU nurse directly out of school, and love it!

Hope this helps you ladies.

Jamie

Fun2, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2005

Yes, it does explain it. Thanks! :)

A couple of comments from an El Centro grad...first off....as for the 100 admissions to the program, keep in mind....they can only open as many spaces as they have clinical instructors to teach. There are 10 students per instructor, so that means there are either 10 instructors for first semester or maybe some of the instructors are managing more than one clinical group. It would be unsafe on a hospital floor for an instructor to be responsible for and manage more than 10 students.....I honestly don't know how they do it, invariably, their pagers go off at the same times with 5 students wanting the instructor to come verify a med pass with them. This is for your benefit! I promise.

a_clay · Oct 19, 2005

Thank you so much for explaining the way things are really going to be. I would rather know the reality than not know. One more question if you don't mind...did you work at all while in RN school? I will need to work (no hubby) but I am going to try to get myself a weekend only job (16 hours per week). I am fully prepared to eat, sleep, and breathe nursing school - I have been setting myself up for this already.

A couple of comments from an El Centro grad...first off....as for the 100 admissions to the program, keep in mind....they can only open as many spaces as they have clinical instructors to teach. There are 10 students per instructor, so that means there are either 10 instructors for first semester or maybe some of the instructors are managing more than one clinical group. It would be unsafe on a hospital floor for an instructor to be responsible for and manage more than 10 students.....I honestly don't know how they do it, invariably, their pagers go off at the same times with 5 students wanting the instructor to come verify a med pass with them. This is for your benefit! I promise.
As for the question about clinicals, I graduated from EC in 12/04. My first semester, we had two full days of clinical, usually 6:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., one day of skills lab and one day of lecture a week...but wait, before you get all giddy thinking you'll get a day off....no such luck, you will have to go to your clinical site the day before clinicals to pick your patients and then do copious amounts of paperwork, research and care plans before the next days clinical. There are weekend clinicals offered at time, however, I don't think there were any available until 3rd semester, same for evenings. The other two days of the week, you will likely spend with your nose in a book studying for the next test. I'm not trying to discourage you, just being realistic and honest.
There will be many days that you will ask yourself if you've made the right choice.....I had many of those, however, I can assure you that I love what I'm doing and it was worth it! I became a NNICU nurse directly out of school, and love it!
Hope this helps you ladies.
Jamie

Finallyat40 · Oct 19, 2005

No, I was very lucky to not HAVE to work during school. I did pick up a few odd jobs here and there, but nothing permanent. There were many who did work though and they still did well. I think the weekend option would be good for the first couple of semesters at least....Once you've finished the first semester, most of the hospitals around here will hire you as a nurse extern/Patient care tech....these positions are good because they allow you to flex up to full time during school breaks, then back to just a few hours during school, and they usually don't penalize you if you need to call in for a few shifts due to a heavy study schedule.

Jamie

TXMOM · Oct 25, 2005

Any plans for those of us who didn't get in?

My plan is to re-apply for the Fall at dcccd. I"m also going to apply to Navarro as well. In the mean time, I'm going to re-take English (the class I have a B in) and take Micro (it's been over 5 years). I WILL get an A in these classes, so if I don't get in for Fall, I'll try again for Spring and for sure I'll get in.

I'm kinda irritated at my previous English teacher. I took the class online, and I worked my rear off. She counted off points for me using first person on a Cover letter of a resume! and other assignments. I'm just so irritated that I was a few points away from having an A.

L&D4ME · Oct 25, 2005

Hey TXMOM...

I have this really good English Professor at NL,do you go there? If so, I can give you her name.=]

Fun2, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2005

I'm going to retake my Algebra class during the winter-mester. I'm "skeered!" I was proud of that B, dang it! lol I was working at the time, and just wanted to pass. I took it in 2001, before I came back to go back into nursing. (if that makes any sense lol)

So, hopefully I have my mind set right now.

Anyway, when I first took English 1, in 1991, I had the man with last name initial of C. He was a very nice instructor, BUT....

With one paper I wrote he decided to make a copy of it on transparency and put it up on the overhead. He said, "This is what a paper should look like!" Well, when I actually got my paper back, he wrote on it, "This is not believable." I got a B! UGGGGH

If any of you has read my stories on my website, you know that I 'can' write. (I was impressed with myself! LOL) The second time around I had a lady instructor who also read my papers out loud and was just "in awe" over them. I thought to myself, "Don't get excited, this happened the last time." However, I made a high A the second time around. So, it really all boils down to the instructor.

By the way, my story was about when I went to Florida as a child and we drove through hurricane rains to get to my cousin's funeral in time. A green snake slithered across the highway and when we arrived in Florida, the snake was had intertwined itself in the tire spokes and was still there. (Half way from TX to Florida...that snake died from dizziness! LOL)

Anyway, it was a TRUE story, and he told the class it was an EXCELLENT paper, but gave me a B because it was "unbelievable!" :eek:

I don't really remember what I made on the other papers, but I do remember him putting at least one other paper on the overhead. I'm sure it was the same "male chauvinistic" thoughts behind the grading because I think I made a B on that one too!

Good luck with your English class! You can do it!

I thought about applying for Navarro too.

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Oct 26, 2005

I'm going to retake my Algebra class during the winter-mester. I'm "skeered!" I was proud of that B, dang it! lol I was working at the time, and just wanted to pass. I took it in 2001, before I came back to go back into nursing. (if that makes any sense lol)
So, hopefully I have my mind set right now.
Anyway, when I first took English 1, in 1991, I had the man with last name initial of C. He was a very nice instructor, BUT....
With one paper I wrote he decided to make a copy of it on transparency and put it up on the overhead. He said, "This is what a paper should look like!" Well, when I actually got my paper back, he wrote on it, "This is not believable." I got a B! UGGGGH
If any of you has read my stories on my website, you know that I 'can' write. (I was impressed with myself! LOL) The second time around I had a lady instructor who also read my papers out loud and was just "in awe" over them. I thought to myself, "Don't get excited, this happened the last time." However, I made a high A the second time around. So, it really all boils down to the instructor.
By the way, my story was about when I went to Florida as a child and we drove through hurricane rains to get to my cousin's funeral in time. A green snake slithered across the highway and when we arrived in Florida, the snake was had intertwined itself in the tire spokes and was still there. (Half way from TX to Florida...that snake died from dizziness! LOL)
Anyway, it was a TRUE story, and he told the class it was an EXCELLENT paper, but gave me a B because it was "unbelievable!"
I don't really remember what I made on the other papers, but I do remember him putting at least one other paper on the overhead. I'm sure it was the same "male chauvinistic" thoughts behind the grading because I think I made a B on that one too!
Good luck with your English class! You can do it!
I thought about applying for Navarro too.

I would have fought that. How could he give you a B just because it was unbelievable? Was it a non-fiction requirement? If you wrote it grammatically correct, it flowed smoothly, and had varied sentencing then he can't do that. I complained about my grade on a paper I got once. I went to the writing lab to have it looked over and the guy kept saying how good it was, but when I gave it to my professor she gave me a D-. Now she only marked 14 things wrong on a 5 page paper. they were such small things too. Her main complaint was that is was "choppy". I didn't know what she meant, so I asked and I revised and still only got a C-! Yeah, that's a letter grade, but I was told it was so good by so many other people, including someone who was qualified to critique papers. The second time I took English I got a 90 average and in this woman's class that's a B, but anywhere else it was an A. Oh, well.

Fun2, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2005

I would have fought that. How could he give you a B just because it was unbelievable?

Well, I was only 17 and it was my first semester of college. Of course I was disappointed, but never thought about fighting it. I just laughed it off like it didn't bother me and told the classmates around me that it WAS a true story.

jhr911 · Oct 26, 2005

For those of you who got the letter non-placement letter from El Centro it might be a good idea to ask them if you might be eligble to enter the THR/EL Centro class. I am going to graduate from this program in december and there are people who have gotten in and not worked for THR. They accept 40 people and dont make there desicion until late. Got my letter on xmas eve 2003. Give it a try anyway...........all they can say is no.

P.S. They provide all books, scantrons, etc. They will make you sign a contract to work for THR if you dont already and you get tuition assistance immediately.

L&D4ME · Oct 26, 2005

Congrats, Fun2Care-

I think you'll do great in algebra-especially since you did so well in Chem. Good Luck! :specs:

PS Does anyone know why I have like a warning sign under my user name? :confused:

I'm going to retake my Algebra class during the winter-mester. I'm "skeered!" I was proud of that B, dang it! lol I was working at the time, and just wanted to pass. I took it in 2001, before I came back to go back into nursing. (if that makes any sense lol)