MacBaba

Everyone who got into County did not have a high GPA like I did. I know that for a fact. County goes on a point system. Do you know about that? I think you did mention it??? The more classes you have with the highest grades ... the more points ... the better you do on the entrance exam ... the more points ... I believe you can get points for working in a hospital or volunteering .... They are very straight forward at County. Call them and ask them what to do. I hope this was helpful. Mac

Wow ... you are way ahead of the game. Yeh ... well, I heard the same story from the counselor and then the 'real deal' from the admissions office. Admissions ended up being correct. Anyway ... keep on! Mac

Jag - Sounds so disappointing. So, of course you are going to apply anyway ... right? Just keep on with your prereq's and when you are done take classes that will work towards your Bachelors ... (Chemistry, Philos 6, etc.more math the better - you'll have to take Stat if you want a BA) and stay up on your Physio because nursing has alot of Physio in it. Apply everywhere you can. Just keep going and don't give up. You'll get in somewhere. If the time REALLY gets drawn out - perhaps train as a CNA or EMT. There are alot of people who are already in the field who transfer to RN and they have experience and a comfort level in the hospital that I did not have. Maybe you already have that training??? Stay in the mix and take whatever classes you can in the mean time. There are lots of people in your shoes ... and they get in. Hang in there. Anyone else on the thread have suggestions???? Mac

Physio in 5 weeks ... wow ... you are brave ... but it pays off to just get going with your application process. Keep your notes handy ... RN theory classes have alot of Physio in them. BTW - County doesn't require Chemistry so you can apply as soon as you finish Physio. More Later, Da Mac

Hi Jagsterr, I was very disappointed when someone made a mistake in the office @ ECC about my being to start last Fall '08. Oh well ... mistakes happen. Eventually they did notify me in writing that I could start in the Spring of 09' (as opposed to my guaranteed start date of Fall '09). However by that time I was over half way thru my first semester at County. So I now am in my 2nd semester @ County and overall I'm very happy their. Yes the commute is longer ... but in the early morning there is little traffic 1/2 for me from LAX area. They say the County clinicals are the best and though I have nothing to compare it to ... I am learning alot ... quite the variety of pt's. The new County hospital is very modern and rivals any others ... I got right in to County. Applied in January - took test, got accepted by Spring and started in the Fall. Yes , they do have a high NCLEX pass rate and the cost is approx. $2400 a semester but if you agree to work for them for two years it's $700 a semester. Good luck. Look forward to hearing from you. BTW- Did you take Dosing Calculation and/or Pharm yet? If you have some time while waiting to be admitted to a program ... I highly recommend you take those two classes. I took them last Summer @ Southwest College at the recommendation of a RN student and it was some of the BEST advise I've ever received.

As you may have read in my post I am going to go to LA County. I applied to El Camino in Oct 2007 and County in January of 2008. County was based upon primarily grades ... (points) and El Camino also points ... but in my imagination I think it may be more than that. I have a 4.0 ... great letters of recommendation ... I don't know ... they are very impacted and everyone wants to go there ... I'm just a bit miffed at my application status after working SO HARD at my prereq's. PLUS they didn't even give me credit for all of my classes that were listed in my official transcripts. I had to challenge my application ... they reluctantly agreed to review it with me in person and said I hadn't taken certain classes ... I said that I did take those classes ... and she flipped a couple of pages and there they were! So ... that increased my status on the Spring wait list ... but what carelessness ... So that's why I was shocked when they accepted me for this fall and then within 24hours told me "NO" ... but not entirely surprised. Okay ... so the majority of people do not have this experience in applying to El Camino. I guess it was the "luck of the draw" for me ... (and Danelia!) ... Perhaps I could just say County was meant to be. Thanks for your reply. Good Luck to you! Best, Mac Baba

Hello Dienne, Uhem ... I was THERE at El Camino that day! I was the only male there. Who were you? (That is if you want to share.) Same thing happened to me. I was just pulling up to the family orientation with my wife when I got the call. "We made a mistake with the count and you cannot start this Fall!" I too was so disappointed and shocked ... I had to laugh ... because this was not the first time Martha Smith and her office has made a major mistake with me. So ... I am very fortunate to have been excepted into County and it has been a very straight ahead process. Not one problem. The pass rate (2006-2007) for LA County is 94% and El Camino College 82% ... Those numbers do mean something. What other programs have you applied for? Have you been accepted to any other programs? When was your acceptance date for ECC? Mine was Fall of 2009 ... and on the wait list for Spring 2009. In spite of my feelings being crushed ... being accepted one day and then told I am NOT in the program the next ... ECC is a very good program ... and ALOT closer to where I live. So ... I'll not going to entirely rule it out ... and may transfer to ECC after a semester or two at County. Who knows? I have to see how it goes. I'm leaving my options open. However ... I start at County in this month. Thank you for your feedback. Please send me a reply. Good luck to you! Best, MacBaba

Hello everyone! I too have a question about which school to go to. I have been accepted to Los Angeles County School of Nursing for Fall enrollment. El Camino just notified me and wants me to attend their school in the Fall as well. It seems as if they are both good schools ... however the main consideration for me ... is that El Camino is 15 minutes from my home ... and County is 45 minutes ... I know that County has great clinicals ... however El Camino is very highly respected ... My gut says go to the place that is the closest and reduce commute time ... I could spend that time doing some self-care or studying ... What do you think? Help! I have to make a decision ASAP. What's the word on ECC vs LAC? Thanks,

Hello everyone! I have a question about LA County AND El Camino College. I have been accepted to Los Angeles County School of Nursing for Fall enrollment. El Camino just notified me and wants me to attend their school in the Fall as well. It seems as if they are both good schools ... however the main consideration for me ... is that El Camino is 15 minutes from my home ... and County is 45 minutes ... I know that County has great clinicals ... however El Camino is very highly respected ... My gut says go to the place that is the closest and reduce commute time ... I could spend that time doing some self-care or studying ... What do you think? Help! I have to make a decision ASAP. What's the word on ECC vs LAC? Any suggestions? Since they are both good schools should proximity win out? Thanks,

Hello everyone! I too have a question about which school to go to. I have been accepted to Los Angeles County School of Nursing for Fall enrollment. El Camino just notified me and wants me to attend their school in the Fall as well. It seems as if they are both good schools ... however the main consideration for me ... is that El Camino is 15 minutes from my home ... and County is 45 minutes ... I know that County has great clinicals ... however El Camino is very highly respected ... My gut says go to the place that is the closest and reduce commute time ... I could spend that time doing some self-care or studying ... What do you think? Help! I have to make a decision ASAP. What's the word on ECC vs LAC? Thanks, Mac