Sarey32

Everything takes a while with the program. I'm a second year student in the traditional ADN program and you will soon learn to not expect any type of schedule until the very last minute:banghead:. Be patient and it will come. Relax and try to enjoy the rest of your summer, because once school starts you will be counting down the days until your summer vacation next year! Good luck!

OCC accepts over 200 students/year to their nursing program. They also just started their second year of having an accelerated program which has around 60-70 of the students with the highest GPA from the selected 200+ . They send out letters to those 60-70 people with the top GPAs with the option to accept or decline the accelerated program and then 60-70 more spots open up for the people that are next on the list to get accepted to the Traditional program. The traditional program is tough and stressful, but I work 20-25 hours/week and I'm just finishing my first year next week. I don't think that I would feel comfortable working and being in the accelerated program, at least not for the first 4 or 5 classes because of the lab component with them. I had heard many negative things about some of the instructors at OCC and now with my first year almost out of the way, I can honestly say that for the most part all of the instructors are nice, patient, and helpful. I hope this helps...it sounds like there was some confusion.:nuke:

"Sarey and a damsel....were you guys just as anxious and paranoid at the same time as us? I feel like I'm expecting a child and this time I'm misssing the "what to expect when expecting" book." I can't even believe that my first year is one class away from being over! It went by so fast! I remember feeling so excited, nervous, and scared about starting nursing school! I still get like that at the beginning of every new class. Many of your questions will be answered when you get your info. packet in the mail and go to orientation. Just remember to be patient because there's a lot of information that they need to get to a lot of people and you can really stress yourself out waiting for them for what seems like forever. Also, getting in some type of a study group has really worked for me this last year. You won't be able to stick with the same one because you get a whole new group of classmates when your classes switch, but just make sure that you introduce yourself if you don't know a lot of people and get a group going pretty fast. I would also recommend getting some type of recorder for lecture b/c they are usually 3-4 hours long and you miss a lot of stuff that the instructor says when your trying to fill in your own notes. I hope this helps somewhat and I'm really excited for all of you!

Last year we signed up for the NET test at orientation which was in June and the testing dates were spread out on different days and times the two or three weeks after orientation. I wouldn't stress out about it because it doesn't really matter, but you do have to keep a copy of your scores in a portfolio that you update as you go through the program. I would also HIGHLY suggest taking Pharm this spring/summer because foundations in the fall is hard and can be very overwhelming. Pharm is a quick 7 week class if you take it in the spring and it's only one day a week for 3 hours. It was very nice to get it done and out of the way. Good luck to all of you and if you have any other questions feel free to ask me! :)

Just to let you know..I was in the Nursing Office this morning, I heard the secretary say to multiple people on the phone that the letters were sent out Monday and Tuesday as certified mail. Hopefully you start getting them tomorrow and Friday!

Unfortunately things like this happen consistently once you are accepted into the program. This last rotation I didn't find out my placement for clinical (day, time, and facility) or my lab day and time until literally 6 days before they started. It's all a big waiting game and all you can do is try not to let it stress you out. I can't wait until you guys find out b/c I'm anxious to see what the GPA cutoff is! Good luck again to all of you!:)

I am a first year student in OCC's ADN program and I just started my OB rotation this last Monday! I'm really excited for all of you and I hope that you all get in! The program is very challenging and it will consume your life, but it is very fun and interesting, most of the faculty are very helpful, and you will make a lot of really good friends that will become your everyday support system. Don't get too stressed out right now and FULLY enjoy your time before you start your classes! If any of you have any questions about anything don't hesitate to ask me! I would love to help anyone, as I was in your shoes 1 year ago and I didn't really have anyone to talk to that had gone through it before. Good luck to everyone!!

Math classes aren't calculated into the GPA to get into the program. You just need to pass the math test for the program before you can apply (which I'm sure you know). It's a very basic test, but you can't use a calculator, so if math is a little bit of a struggle for you I would print off the practice test off of the OCC website. There are also tutors available at the Highland Lakes campus that help a lot as well. Just to let you know there are math tests in the program that you have to take and pass with a 90% in your Pharm class, and then once you get into clinicals. They are drug calculation tests and you can use a calculator so don't worry! :) I am a first year student in the program at OCC and LOVE IT! It's a lot of hard work and dedication, but my instructors have been great(I had heard some negative things b4 starting the program), and I find that I get a lot of support and love from my classmates. Good luck and I hope that you get in!!

I started off at Grand Valley State University my freshman year in college because I wanted to go away to a 4 year program. GVSU has a great nursing program, but while I was there, their nursing program accepted somewhere around 120 students a year(60 in fall/60 in winter). It was highly competitive and would've taken me at least 5 years to get my degree because of waiting. I decided to come home after my first year and finished my pre-reqs at OCC and applied in May of 07 for the fall of 07 and didn't get in (this was before they switched acceptance criteria to GPA). I waited until December, applied again, recieved my acceptance letter in March and I'm now in my first semester of nursing school! I agree with what cowgirlie said about them not just handing your degree to you. It's a lot of hard work and I'm only 1 month in, but I absolutely love it and I'm so thankful that I got in! The program is awesome, and the largest in the state. I love my instructors and I've already started forming great friendships with many of my classmates. I plan on finishing at OCC and then getting my BSN through Oakland University. Look into all of your options and pick what's best for you, but know that I'm saving A TON of money and getting a great education at OCC. I have a part time job and get to visit my friends at Michigan and MSU occasionally so I feel like I'm getting the best of both worlds. Good luck!!:wink2:

Wow it sounds like you are going to be really busy with all of those classes! Good Luck! I'm sure that since you have all of that experience that you will be okay. I just wanted to let you know that while the official cut off for the program was a GPA of a 3.612 for this falls program, make sure that you apply no matter what your GPA is because they do let students in who might fall below that range if people decided to decline their offer. I recieved a letter telling me that I was not in for this fall in March and was crushed because my GPA was not too much lower then the cut off and it was my second year applying for the program. I started to come up with a plan to retake some of the classes that I got B's in so that I could apply again in December. However, in April I recieved a letter telling me that a spot for this fall was available and I just finished my Pharm class with an A-. The bottom line is to definitly do your best (which is obvious) but never give up hope! Good luck and if you have any questions about applying or any of your classes just PM me and i'll try to help!!!

Where did you find that information? I'm still waiting for my letter! Where is it?!