Preparing

stressgal, RN · Sep 9, 2005

The best advice I can give you is to contact the advisors at the schools you're intrested in attending and receive all of the information from them. Ask them how students are selected into the program. Each school does it differently. My school, for example, goes strictly by GPA and compass score, and there is not a wait list. They admit 2x/year. Other schools in the area look at other factors and have wait lists. Many people in my program were on wait lists for a year elsewhere before they found our college and transfered. This has caused them to retake a couple of courses that would not transfer.

If you meet with the advisors and obtain ALL of the information (course of studies, addmission application price and requirements, selection process, # of students accepted annualy, required prereqs, etc.) you can look them over and decide what program you would like to aim for. After I did this, I created a word document that mapped out the entire process, step by step. This kept me on track and enabled me to get through the process as directly as possible.

Good luck, and congrats on taking the first step!

Fun2, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2005

I agree with the other poster. It all depends on how the particular school does it's entries.

My school is by GPA on the pre-reqs. There are certain things we have to do before we apply, though. For example, we have to pass the NET with at least 50 on the math & 50 on the reading. I passed with 88 & 73, and I am not a fast reader, and I also started just putting answers that came close to the answer I was getting on the math. (ex: If I seemed to be taking too long on a certain problem and got the eqation worked down to X=334/33, and the answers were A.2 B. 1004 C. 10.12, then I would go ahead and click on C.)

So, I'm sure I got some wrong by doing that, but I was worried about taking too long.

My advice for the NET is to practice simple algebra. Maybe go to Half-Price Books, or something around you, and pick up an algebra book. (Or a Algebra for Dummies, or Algebra Cliff-Notes) :) The NET Study Guide is sold on EriWorld.com. Use a timer to time yourself when doing the practice tests. Since you have plenty of time, do these practice tests every couple of months, then a couple of days before your NET test.

As far as the F. I hope you can get it removed, first of all. If not, is it a class that is required by the nursing program?

Retaking the class, and making a higher grade will help your GPA. The latest grade is what affects your GPA. If it's not a required course, and you do not retake it, it will affect your overall GPA, but not for nursing school. Most nursing schools look at the GPA for the pre-reqs required for that program only, along with the support classes that are required for that degree only.

Extra classes outside the degree will usually not help you get in. Now, depending on where you are, foreign language classes and/or sign language classes may help your future career.

Volunteering is always good, of course, but may or may not get you in any faster.

Some programs require volunteer hours, mine doesn't. Plus, if your school does require them, the hours you put in now may not count towards the requred amount for the program. (Not that you should wait to volunteer...lol) Volunteering in hospitals may help you learn stuff. Just tell them you are going into the nursing field, and you would like to volunteer on the floor.....ie, not in the lobby serving hot cocoa, tea, & coffee!

Good luck. :)

Fun2, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2005

I created a word document that mapped out the entire process, step by step. This kept me on track and enabled me to get through the process as directly as possible.
Good luck, and congrats on taking the first step!

I did this too!!! LOL Actually, several. I type it all out different ways to see which would be best for me. I chose doing all but one class from Nov - Aug as fast-tracks, mini-mesters, or summer semesters.

I also did this several times with, "Possible Grades" so I could keep track of my GPA, and/or grades I needed for a particular test in order to make the A's I made.

I think obsession is the word for it. LOL

lawc2315 · Sep 11, 2005

I agree with the other poster. It all depends on how the particular school does it's entries.
My school is by GPA on the pre-reqs. There are certain things we have to do before we apply, though. For example, we have to pass the NET with at least 50 on the math & 50 on the reading. I passed with 88 & 73, and I am not a fast reader, and I also started just putting answers that came close to the answer I was getting on the math. (ex: If I seemed to be taking too long on a certain problem and got the eqation worked down to X=334/33, and the answers were A.2 B. 1004 C. 10.12, then I would go ahead and click on C.)
So, I'm sure I got some wrong by doing that, but I was worried about taking too long.
My advice for the NET is to practice simple algebra. Maybe go to Half-Price Books, or something around you, and pick up an algebra book. (Or a Algebra for Dummies, or Algebra Cliff-Notes) :) The NET Study Guide is sold on EriWorld.com. Use a timer to time yourself when doing the practice tests. Since you have plenty of time, do these practice tests every couple of months, then a couple of days before your NET test.
As far as the F. I hope you can get it removed, first of all. If not, is it a class that is required by the nursing program?
Retaking the class, and making a higher grade will help your GPA. The latest grade is what affects your GPA. If it's not a required course, and you do not retake it, it will affect your overall GPA, but not for nursing school. Most nursing schools look at the GPA for the pre-reqs required for that program only, along with the support classes that are required for that degree only.
Extra classes outside the degree will usually not help you get in. Now, depending on where you are, foreign language classes and/or sign language classes may help your future career.
Volunteering is always good, of course, but may or may not get you in any faster.
Some programs require volunteer hours, mine doesn't. Plus, if your school does require them, the hours you put in now may not count towards the requred amount for the program. (Not that you should wait to volunteer...lol) Volunteering in hospitals may help you learn stuff. Just tell them you are going into the nursing field, and you would like to volunteer on the floor.....ie, not in the lobby serving hot cocoa, tea, & coffee!
Good luck. :)

Thank You Very Much Fun2,

Very insightful, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. It helps quite a lot. At this point I am just trying to make notes on any/all things I can do that will help my chances big or little. Knowing that the net test is a lot of algebra is a big help. I will really put a lot of focus on trying to get that backwards and forwards.

Fun2, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2005

You're welcome. :)

The NET is not mostly Algebra, so please don't get me wrong. The only algebra is basic algebra.

The hardest looking questions are not even solving for X, such as:

X(X2 +5X) + 6X +3

Here, all you are doing is balancing the equation, turning it into a more simple sentence. (X3 +5X2 + 6X + 3 would be your answer.)

Solving for X would be like this:

3X + 5 = 9X - 7

-3X + 7 -3X +7

--------------------------------

12 = 6X

---------

6

2 = X

To find out if this is correct, put the answer you came up with in place of all the X's in the original equation.

Just watch the time you are spending on each question, as it is a timed test. (It does not cut you off per question, so you have to make sure to not spend too much time on each question.)

The NET also has ratio questions, multipication, addition, subtraction, fractions, etc.

Remember your order of operations:

(PLEASE EXCUSE MY DEAR AUNT SALLY)

.....Parenthesis - Exponents - Muliplicaion - Division - Addition - Subtraction

I really think the reading part is the hardest. It is not simply finding the errors in punctuation, or spelling. It requires more in depth thinking which is what Nursing is all about......critical thinking.

I really think the NET Study Guide explained everything to me well enough, so I didn't go into the test not knowing what I was in for.

At the beginning there was a speed reading section. Then it went into the reading and math portions (separate portions), then there was what seemed like an endless section of off the wall questions to find out your learning style, stress level, etc.

Thank You Very Much Fun2,
Very insightful, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. It helps quite a lot. At this point I am just trying to make notes on any/all things I can do that will help my chances big or little. Knowing that the net test is a lot of algebra is a big help. I will really put a lot of focus on trying to get that backwards and forwards.

missninaRN · Sep 11, 2005

Clif's Review has a good algebra review book, so does Princeton Review (Math Smart and Math Smart II). Since I haven't had a math class in over 20 years, I bought all of them and have been doing a little lesson every day or two. I cannot believe how much I have learned in just a few weeks. I'm taking the ACT in October, and am already getting a 28 on the math sections doing practice tests. And math is my weakest subject!

The nursing school I hope to get into does admission based on GPA and ACT scores. If they do require a NET, I'll be ready thanks to my math books!

I got all of my math books at half.com.