prenursing student

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Hi,

I've been on a waiting list for the RN program at my community college for over a year now. Last year after applying, I called the nursing offices to inquire about my application status to which a couple of people actually told me I'll definitely get in (one woman even told me that she thought she rememberred seeing my name on an entry list). Turns out I was put on a priority list. I've applied to only one other college to which I've barely met the minimum requirements. I've reapplied to the community college, and will hear back from them by this July. I've been so discouraged b/c I've met people who have been on the wait list for 2 and 3 years. I called the nursing offices again to inquire about my application but this time they wouldn't tell me anything except that it's first come first serve (I guess even more people have applied this time). This is the only profession I've entered so far and I'm in my mid 20's so that makes me old. I know other people have been far more patient than I have, but I feel time is bogging me down as I had planned to have a family by now, but the fact that I'm not out of school has made me put off those things for later. I wanted to be able to help my husband financially, but he's been paying for my schooling for over the last three years and still I have no guarantee of entrance into a program. I know I'm not the only one in this situation and would like to hear from other nursing students or RN's who have been put on a waitlist and actually got into their programs. I am looking into other programs in the area, but am also wondering if I should look into another profession altogether.

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

There are lots of different careeers in medical to consider too! X-ray or MRI tech, ER tech, Respiratory therapy, physical therapy, CNA, LPN, EMT/Paramedic, speach therapy...the list goes on :).

I have told my CNA's trying to get into the LOTTERY based entry at my Community College to keep their eyes open for other areas in healthcare that appeal to them! Or even to keep in school and take classes you wish to pursue while waiting...like a language (which is a big bonus as a medic believe me!), debate and speech, computers, or other things that help with daily life and enjoyment too (I took some fun art classes and loved it!).

Do set a time limit on waiting though. I had a CNA on year 5 waiting...and I told her TOO LONG to hold your life in a flying pattern! Make plans for if you are not accepted in a certain time realistically!

Good luck to you :)

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Hemodialysis.

if you are passionate about nursing then become a nurse. have you ever considered becoming a paramedic first and then taking excelsior online to get your RN. it may not be ideal, but it may be a way to reach your dream (if that is what becoming an RN is to you). other than that i say focus on what you believe you want in life. i truly believe that people that enter nursing just for the money quickly realize the "money is not adequate for what all nurses do." this makes for a very unhappy life. however, if you really want to be a nurse to care for others then i wish you all the best and i hope that you never give up on this dream.

as far as being in your 20's...i started college at 29 doing prereq's and i am now 31 and i have completed my first year of nursing school...one more year to go! the average age for a nursing student is something like 35, so don't get hung up on age.

wishing you the best,

jay

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Specializes in ED.

Are there any other nursing programs near you? My program was a GPA based entry where the highest on the list of applicants got in.

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Thank you all for your suggestions. And Jay thank you especially. That very day that I was so bummed out about not being sure whether or not I was going to get in, but got an acceptance letter. God really works wonders. I'm just praying that my gpa is upto standards because the board is going to evaluate us before registering for fall quarter. All the best to you on your Nursing program.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, Hemodialysis.
Thank you all for your suggestions. And Jay thank you especially. That very day that I was so bummed out about not being sure whether or not I was going to get in, but got an acceptance letter. God really works wonders. I'm just praying that my gpa is upto standards because the board is going to evaluate us before registering for fall quarter. All the best to you on your Nursing program.

you are very welcome. good luck with everything and keep us posted.

jay

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My situation was a little like yours. When I moved from PA to FL, many of my classes were accepted as electives down here, so I didn't meet the requirements for the BSN program that I wanted to get into. I thought that surely I would be able to get into the local ADN program with no problem. I was one class short of the requirements for that, but applied anyway. I was put on the "stand-by" list. This crushed me, because like you, my husband has been helping pay for school & I was anxious to get my own career started. Plus, I am 26 & don't want to wait too much longer to start a family. Still trying, I finished my last pre-req & applied to the ADN program again- I got in! I start this August. After I finish that ADN program, I will be able to get my BSN after taking 10 classes at local university (since moving to FL, I have earned my AA, which is equivilent to completing all gen.eds. at the university, which is why I will only need 10 more classes for my BSN after attaining my ADN). Anyway... it is possible to get in-if you are motivated & patient.

Or, as another poster suggested, maybe you could see if there are any other areas in the medical field that interest you. One friend of mine was tired of trying to get into the nursing program, so she started the medical lab tech program & loves it.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Rachel

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Rachel and Jay thanks,

I got in thankfully. Now I'm sweating my gpa. Even though I have been admitted into the program, in order for me to be able to register for fall classes, I need to have a minimum gpa, but the thing is I don't know if they're talking about cumulative gpa or the most current quarter's gpa b/c it doesn't specify. I would hope that it's my cumulative, b/c last quarter I was supposed to have dropped two classes and ended up missing the deadlines to which really screwed my quarter's gpa, so now I'm really worried about that. Even though I'm retaking the classes over the summer I'm still afraid of my quarter grades. My cumulative is fine. I thought about calling someone at the Nursing dept to inquire about it, but my husband told me not to worry about it and that it will only add to my stress by pointing it out to them. I have a month to go before my orientation starts, so I guess I will only find out then. Any ideas anyone?

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Specializes in OB.

This is the only profession I've entered so far and I'm in my mid 20's so that makes me old.

old.. you?? no way. I didnt start till 38, wont graduate till 41. Out of the 50 in our class, there are only about 5 in their 20's, all the rest are... ancient like me

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Rachel and Jay thanks,

I got in thankfully. Now I'm sweating my gpa. Even though I have been admitted into the program, in order for me to be able to register for fall classes, I need to have a minimum gpa, but the thing is I don't know if they're talking about cumulative gpa or the most current quarter's gpa b/c it doesn't specify. I would hope that it's my cumulative, b/c last quarter I was supposed to have dropped two classes and ended up missing the deadlines to which really screwed my quarter's gpa, so now I'm really worried about that. Even though I'm retaking the classes over the summer I'm still afraid of my quarter grades. My cumulative is fine. I thought about calling someone at the Nursing dept to inquire about it, but my husband told me not to worry about it and that it will only add to my stress by pointing it out to them. I have a month to go before my orientation starts, so I guess I will only find out then. Any ideas anyone?

Shaiv82,

First of all-congratulations on your acceptance!!:balloons: :balloons:

You sound just like me-I stress about everything! If I were in your shoes, I would call the nursing dept. and ask, just for peace of mind. I wouldn't worry about pointing it out to them-I'm sure they'll look at it anyway. I would think they would go by your cumulative GPA, anyway...

Let us know:icon_hug:

Rachel

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Don't be discouraged, I had been doing my pre-requisites and core requisites for 3 years. I heard so many horror stories about your GPA this and GPA that and how competitive everything is. Well, even the Counselors Offices @ 3 different Community Colleges went on and on about how difficult it would be to get in once I finally applied. I had even met many people saying they had been waiting for years. This did not discourage me, as Nursing is not a job or a new career for me, even though I turned 41 yesterday. This is a calling that I have had on my life since I was about eighteen but unable to pursue as a direct result of some pretty tragic medical circumstances. I knew God would be the one to move me where I needed to be, just like he was the one to heal my body of so many things that were wrong. "According to your faith, be it unto you". What ever you are bold enough to believe God for he will give it you. I had just left the Counselors Office in tears, because she went on and on about 12 point system and my needing to take all of "B" classes over and get A's to be competitive. After crying for two days I realize, that was just one schools opinion, long story short, I went to another Community College, the day before I arrived un benounced to me, they had just extended their program for the first time in ten years ( the deadline that is). I had about 7 business days to pull everything in order to officially apply by their new May 31, deadline, I was just able to do it on that very day, received my ticket to take the entrance exam the following week on June 7, took it scored in the top ten percentile, received my exceptance letter today!!! June 14, 2006. The entire time, before I took the test, during and after, I believed God, that it would happen, I stood in faith. I never worried, I told everyone how well I would do on the test and that I was waiting to receive my letter of acceptance. Be confident!!! We need great, passionate, caring, concerned Nurses, there is no reason you can not be one of them. Perhaps you should move to another school, look around, this Nursin school will be my 4th Community College!!! If it's your dream, don't let it die! YOU CAN DO IT!!

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No longer a Pre-Nursing Student, Thank God I am now officially a NURSING STUDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will keep everyone interested up to date, I took my test last week and received my CONGRATULATIONS YOU'VE BEEN ACCEPTED TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Praise God! To be continued!!!

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