Misled by Academic Coordinator/Advisor

[nnicolee]

I know the decision to complete pre-requisites is a very important one for all of us due to time constraints and prior engagements with our lives. My intent when applying to (nameless college- you can look in my previous posts to see the college) was to complete my pre-reqs as quickly as possible and when I had my meeting with my advisor today I completely felt mislead in a direction I did not want to be pushed in. A little background on me is that I am an early high school graduate (I recently graduated a year earlier than my graduating class) and wanted to kick start my butt into gear and get as many pre-reqs completed as I could to get into nursing school (for my BSN) and complete my BSN within 3-4 years. I am a very goal oriented person, and from my previous track record in high school this is obviously evident. What it seems like to me is that whenever I speak to college advisors the only thing going through their head is dollar signs b/c of my high GPA and early graduation. It is not about me, Nicole, the future nursing student, it is all about FAFSA/ government CHA-CHING they're going to be rolling in. I think what iritates me the most is that when I researched this whole nursing thing I really had a goal in place (what pre-reqs i wanted to complete this summer and upcoming fall) and during the meeting she just shifted those aside and basically TOLD me what to take (mind you my intent was to take courses ASU - my local 4 yr university requires for their BSN program). Having left after my meeting with the advisor I completely felt she jerked me right and left and never really listened to the needs I have. I know I really have nothing to complain about, but what are my rights as a student???? I guess the worst part is I feel they were very unprofessional in the fact that they had me, an underage 16 year old minor solely sign my summer/fall registration papers without any parental regard or consent. I do not feel that I recieved the best option for what my pre-reqs to be completed and she wouldn't even talk it over and somewhat scooted me out of her office in a sense that "NEXT, I HAVE OTHER STUDENTS TO ADVISE LATER" (when there WERE NONE in her office or waiting in the lobby for advisement. I know the pathway I want to take and if she's not working with me what should I do??? Would you back away from this school and basically wait it out until fall and just go to another school or just suck it up and get an education? Sorry for my long rant but it seems like I'm reading and wanting one thing but being pushed to another due to what she believes is lack of "college smartness" /whatever it may be. Responses are welcome, thanks for reading.

[nnicolee]

The college I'm attending now just doesn't have a nursing adviser AT all. They're really more about just signing you up for their "required ADN courses" and could really care less about if you're transferring out what courses you need for a state U. My state university does have nursing advisers, but they won't even talk to me until I attend one of their "nursing informational sessions". So if you have not attended you're really limited to what's available online (as pre-reqs are concerned)

Icompletely understand that. As waitlists are concerned they seem like all of our worst enemies as time is concerned. As do competitive programs (like ASU) only taking in 100 or so applicants a year! Basically I want to complete my degree before I turn 21. I'm 16 (turning 17 soon)... so if I get a jump start on my pre-reqs now I can get a good start and hopefully complete my goal!!!!

[Stephanie K]

Going to one of ASU's informational meetings is THE best idea! It will give you a whole overview of the program, what's expected of you, what will and will not transfer (trust me on this one... You might think you're saving a lot of time and money but before you register for the class at a CC make absolutely sure it's going to transfer) also, at those sessions they usually give you a "plan of attack" it basically lays out exactly what classes you should take and when to make sure you're on the right track!! Going to that will lay everything out for you. It should save you a lot of time and headache!!!

[nnicolee]

Going to one of ASU's informational meetings is THE best idea! It will give you a whole overview of the program, what's expected of you, what will and will not transfer (trust me on this one... You might think you're saving a lot of time and money but before you register for the class at a CC make absolutely sure it's going to transfer) also, at those sessions they usually give you a "plan of attack" it basically lays out exactly what classes you should take and when to make sure you're on the right track!! Going to that will lay everything out for you. It should save you a lot of time and headache!!!

I've been meaning to make it to one of their meetings but right now it is really a transportation issue seeing as I haven't gotten my license yet so I really rely on my mom (who's really busy) to take me everywhere. (sadly, I'm a really dependent daughter and I just don't want to stress my mom out who's stressed enough since all i ever talk about lately is pre-reqs and schools I'm looking into!) I will be sure to attend a meeting really as soon as I can though. Also, what school do you attend? Are you from Arizona too?

[mom35]

This experience is from my cc and I dont know about others. The counselors that I have encountered new pretty much nothing about the nursing program! The first one I saw told me to enroll in history, I didnt even need that class. So from then on I started doing it all myself. I went to the nursing program and found out exactly what I needed to take and I basically read all of my information from packets that the nursing department puts out. Others have said that they received no help from the counselors regarding our nursing program. Heck, the nursing dept. said not to depend on the counselors to know what to do. I think the only way is to do it yourself with some research-good luck!

[%63theend]

I've had a lot of bad luck with advisors not knowing what they were supposed to. Study the school handbook, or whatever it is called at your school, and memorize it!! Make sure you know absolutely everything about every class and everything abotu your intended major. Don't rely on an advisor to get you where you need to go. Do seek their advice but if you find it lacking do your own research and make your own way. GL

[tothepointeLVN, LVN]

Is this your first college semester? If so that may be why they signed you up for less than the maximum # of credits so you can have a good experience.

When I first started uni many years ago they let me take 24 semester units in one semester. The class schedule was fine but the workload was not.

10 semester credits over summer is hard even for a experience student.

TTP

[Stephanie K]

I've been meaning to make it to one of their meetings but right now it is really a transportation issue seeing as I haven't gotten my license yet so I really rely on my mom (who's really busy) to take me everywhere. (sadly, I'm a really dependent daughter and I just don't want to stress my mom out who's stressed enough since all i ever talk about lately is pre-reqs and schools I'm looking into!) I will be sure to attend a meeting really as soon as I can though. Also, what school do you attend? Are you from Arizona too?

I'm currently at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan for the nursing program. I got my first degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI and I also went to Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and also the CC for a minute. So, I'm not in Arizona, I'm in Michigan. However, since I've seen how many universities (My little sister has also been to a number of different schools) setup their curriculum I know most of them will give you a really good 4 year layout of what classes you should take and when! If ASU is really where you're interested in going and you can't get there you can give them a call and ask them to send you a sample plan for a traditional BSN! Good luck!!!

[maggie24]

I too have been mislead by many advisers: take certain classes when I really did not need them; telling me something did not transfer and having to retake it, when it really did transfer; saying I should not even try to apply to N.S. b/c I would not get in and I didn't seem motivated, (I did get in), and many other things.

The best advice I can give you is to do your own research beforehand, and remember you do not have to do anything they tell you to do (except if you need a prereq for a class)

Take in what they have to say and then go home and look at it for yourself.

Get a course catalog, schedule of classes, and info packets for A.S.U N.S., Call the N.S. department and ask if they can advise you. They will be BEST able to tell what you need.

As OP stated, you have to stand up for yourself. It will definitely help if you look things up for yourself b/c then you will know what you need, and you won't feel influenced/pressured by an adviser. If you are not happy with one adviser, go and see another.

Sometimes advisers can be of help, but now days when I go see one, I listen to what they have to say, and then ask questions based on the info that I have. If they disagree, that is ok. You can still do whatever you want-remember YOU are paying for your education, you should get what you want out of it!

Advising sometimes mandatory for freshman, but you still have some control over classes, esp. if you are at a C.C. and looking to transfer to a 4-yr. You may have to take some gen. ed. in order to take your Nursing req's, but look these up in your school catalog, and take only the classes you need as req's to your nursing classes.

Good luck!:redpinkhe

[nurse12b]

I do know how you feel, when I started at a community college I seen an advisor and I told her that I wanted to get the pre reqs for a 4 yr college out of the way. She told me that I had to take their pre reqs first. Well that was the last time I seen her and I went to the nursing advisor at the school where I wanted to go and she told me what to sign up for at the other school. And with that info. I did just that without the other advisors help. I commend you for starting early I wish I did Im 31:nurse:

[Krystin]

See a different advisor. I go to AWC in Yuma and I haven't had any such problems.

Some of this probably has to do with being a first year student. I highly suggest talking to another advisor for sure. Maybe sign up for some of the classes online through AWC this fall, they won't give you such a hard time =)

[airforceguy]

the college i'm attending now just doesn't have a nursing adviser at all. they're really more about just signing you up for their "required adn courses" and could really care less about if you're transferring out what courses you need for a state u. my state university does have nursing advisers, but they won't even talk to me until i attend one of their "nursing informational sessions". so if you have not attended you're really limited to what's available online (as pre-reqs are concerned)

icompletely understand that. as waitlists are concerned they seem like all of our worst enemies as time is concerned. as do competitive programs (like asu) only taking in 100 or so applicants a year! basically i want to complete my degree before i turn 21. i'm 16 (turning 17 soon)... so if i get a jump start on my pre-reqs now i can get a good start and hopefully complete my goal!!!!

i'm in phoenix too, and i've been to asu's nursing information session. no, you cannot make an appointment with one of asu's nursing advisors until you've been to an information session. it's about an hour long and will answer just about every question you have. it's a lot more efficient for one advisor to spend an hour with 20 people, than to spend 20 hours individually answering the same questions. before you start your prerequisites, i highly recommend attending an information session. the advisor mentioned that the nursing program is changing, and students who took prerequisites at asu might be given higher priority over mcccd transfers. however, nothing has been changed (yet). for now though, as far as the prerequisites go, http://nursing.asu.edu/students/forms/mcc_prereq_equival.pdf is pretty straight forward. i'd caution you against taking too many classes each semester, as you'll need a's to get in. the class starting this coming fall had an average gpa of 3.94 (out of the 12 prereqs that are counted, and they'll explain that at the info session too).

good luck taking a&p i and ii in the same semester, i think you're crazy. i took these classes over the normal two semesters and got a's, but there was a lot of studying involved. i would strongly advise against the compressed format - you need a's in your sciences, don't make it harder to save a minimal amount of time. a few bad grades and asu won't be an option. also, do your english and psych teachers know how many classes you're taking, or did you just ask them to add you to their class? i watched someone try to register for 12 credits during summer i, and they pretty much laughed at him. you'd probably need permission from the dean for that, and without any prior classes they probably wouldn't agree to it. also realize you can't retake asu's prerequisites for a better grade, you can only replace them with higher classes (such as precalc for mat 142).

just a bit of advice...i'm pretty sure the pre/corequistes for the mcccd adn program are required for asu's bsn program. you may want to take those first and get your name on the adn waitlist as a backup plan in case asu doesn't work out. i've come to the conclusion that the nursing program at asu is one of the most competitive state schools in the country. one other thing - look into grand canyon university. you can take all but one of the prerequisites through the mcccd schools, and there isn't a waitlist. it's a bit pricier (i think between $15-20k/year) but it would only be 2 years at that cost. good luck.

[nnicolee]

hey airforceguy, you know at the point I'm at I've already out ruled ASU as one of my options because honestly don't feel like I have time to waste if I intend on being a CRNA! I want to get my career started ASAP and I have been looking into GCU more recently b/c I have a nursing adviser on my tail these past two weeks who's really hounding me to join their program and she's willing to work with my academic achievements and get me the most funding and least debt possible. I think I'm going to get my prereqs at the college I'm attending now (CAC) since they're 60/credit hour which beats GCU's 687.50/ credit hour! I've managed to set up a plan for myself (which is as follows) and I've estimated costs to a tee here's my plan below---

SUMMER 09 MAT 121 PSY 101 SOC 101

FALL 09 BIO 201 BIO 202 ENG 101 MAT 141

SPRING 10 BIO 205 CHM 101 ENG 102 NTR 104

SUMMER 10 UNI 101 NUR 207 BIO 268 HIS 107 PSY 363

FALL 10 PHI 329 UNV 200 PHI 101 NUR 206

SPRING 11 NUR 309 NUR 303 NUR 311

SUMMER 11 NUR 312 NUR 313

FALL 11 NUR 314 NUR 398 NUR 411

SPRING 12 NUR 412 NUR 413 NUR 443

SUMMER 12 NUR 456 NUR 498

CAC COST SUMMER 09- $180 FALL 09- $900 SPRING 10- $840 TOTAL- $1920

GCU COST SUMMER 10- $8250 FALL 10- $8250 SPRING 11- $8250 SUMMER 11- $8250 FALL 11- $8250 SPRING 12- $8250 SUMMER 12- $4125 TOTAL- $53625

TOTAL BOTH- $55545