craigm

If you're going to MATC, I would take all your theory classes online. The instructors read from the powerpoints for 3 hours and then test you on the material in the powerpoints, readings from the text books or random things that you will have NO idea where they got them from. My suggestion is to learn how to take their tests! You can review, memorize and really think you know a concept but because so many of the exams are poorly written by nurses and not people who have education or teaching degrees, you can do really poorly. Also, you REALLY have to know who to take otherwise you will get screwed!

Nursing 106 at MATC is such a pain in the *s#! I don't understand why need almost an entire semester of L/D, post par, and pregnancy. It looks more and more like I'm going to have to take this class over again. Sucks because, I hear how HARD 3rd semester is and If I fail another class after 106 it's all over for me. All I can say is nursing school is such a self esteem killer and really unhealthy mentally.

You didn't pass either? I don't think i'm going to either but i'm going to keep trying. I have 2 tests left and i'm already 3% behind and really struggling. In our program, if you fail two classes you're out of the program. So I'm a little worried that if I fail this class in my 2nd semester, i'm doomed. Most in the program say the 3rd semester is the toughest because of the med surg rotation and a lot of people drop out or fail out then. I'm really considering just cutting my loses and take the LPN exam (if I have to take this class over again) and then being done with it. Sorry you had to take it over again. Hope you've recovered and moved on.

I KNOW! What a moron she is for saying that.

I know what you mean about quiting! I'm at a 77% in my RN, L&D, postpartum, women's health class with only 2 more exams to make it up otherwise I have to take it over again. I have never felt low self esteem like I have in nursing school. IT'S AWFUL! I keep telling myself that maybe i'm doing so bad because i'm a guy in a women's class?? I also think I should just take the LPN exam after this is over and be done with it instead of going through for my RN. I just don't think I can deal with the torture of this anymore.

I'm in the 2nd semester of my RN program and we have to take an entire semester of L&D, postpartum and women's health. I need an 80% to pass and have a 77%. We have 2 more tests left so I could still possibly pass but it's going to be REAL tough. Did any of you guys have a hard time with these classes? Any thing you did to get you through it would be so helpful. For me, this is like learning a foreign language and a whole semester of this seems like overkill. Thanks guys!

i would definitely get your prerequisites done first, or at least as many as you can before going into or applying to a university bsn program. your science classes are soo much cheaper at a community college like matc or wctc. and, if you have a descent gpa when you apply to carroll, mount mary or uwm, you will be eligible for a scholarship or two. i had all my prerequisites and electives done when i applied to carroll and i can finish the program in 3 years and only have nursing classes to worry about. in addition, because i have a 3.5 gpa from all my pre req’s, i automatically got a $7000 scholarship. i really think that if you’re intentions are to get a bsn, it is so beneficial to get all your electives and science classes out of the way first, nursing is going to be hard enough. i say, figure out what school you want attend, find out all their required electives and pre requisites, talk to the nursing advisor to make sure all the classes transfer in and get as many done as you can.

i'm going to the information session on april 1st. i have all my pre-reqs and electives done, i am hoping they will allow me to enter as a sophomore. i was also wondering if they have an accelerated program, 2 years would be even better. i'm suppose to start carroll in the fall and they are allowing me to graduate in 3 years. how do you like the program so far?

Thanks for all the info guys! I guess I just have to lick this fear of public speaking. This has been something I've avoided all my life and iit really is time to face it. I'm not sure where it comes from?? Maybe my childhood, or just really low self esteem. Whatever It is, I'm going to face it. Cause DAMN it, I want to be a Nurse!

For those RN students who have already finished their program or nearing the end of their program, did you have to do many class presentations? I start Nursing school in the fall and I'm totally petrified of class presentations. I know every school is different and I totally need to conquer this fear, but I was just wondering if class presentations are a big part of the Registered Nursing curriculum. Thanks!

Hi, I was accepted into Carroll's BSN program starting in Aug 2009. So you think its a good school? Craig

oh wow! i’m sorry. i know what you mean about the lack of support from the counselors. i completely gave up on them awhile back. the last time i went up there was in november to see if i could talk to someone higher up in the department because i kept getting different answers from everyone about how they determined eligibility into the program after petitioning. so finally, i got a chance to talk to one of the head yahoo’s and she was no better, even worse. she told me it was a lottery and not to give up and to keep taking classes and to keep re petitioning until i got it. i said, keep taking classes?? i’m done with all the classes i need to petition and many more from a previous degree. she said it will look good if you keep taking classes and better your chances. i was so furious; i told her you said it was a lottery system so why would my chances be any better?? and why would i keep giving my money to this school for classes i don’t need?? that makes no sense. oh yeah, then she said, you probably should work for a while as a cna and make sure you want to be a nurse, you may change your mind. i couldn’t do anything but laugh. i said really, i’m 38 years old, have a ba and worked on and off in my life as a cna and obviously you she knows that because i can’t petition unless i’ve been through a cna certification program but i should just go work as a cna??? so, i’m done with matc. it’s offensive they way they talk to students. recently, i was accepted into carroll universities bsn program starting in january. i’m so excited! it should only take me 3 years because i have all my sciences and electives done. just a lot more money but that’s ok, i’ll handle it. at least you’re almost finished at matc and you can start working! when it’s all said and done, we’ll both be nurses. j craig

yeah, it’s great for finishing a&p’s and micro. it certainly is cheaper. honestly, that’s the only reason i wanted to go to matc’s rn program, because it’s cheap. but, i guess that’s what you get is a cheap education. i’ve moved on now and was accepted into carroll universities program starting in january. it will take me 3-years because i have all the electives and science classes done. i’ll be spending a lot more money but i’ll have a bsn and from what i hear, a really good education. i’m hoping i will come across some scholarships along the way. you should consider bachelors. i went to cardinal stritch’s open house a while back and it seems like a good program but really expensive for an associate’s degree. hey, if you need any help with pre-req’s let me know. j i took lifespan psych online and found it to be frustrating but i loved that i didn’t have to sit in a class room. good luck! craig

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all the advice and experience and think i'm going to take patho and pharm this semester for my BSN but still apply to the 2 year program. If I don't get in again, well I'll be going into the BSN program. And, If I do get in, at least I'll have a few less classes to take when I'm doing my BSN one day. Thanks again everyone! Craig

I recently finished all the pre requisites (Science's and Gen Ed classes) at a local community college that also has a 2-year RN program. I applied to the program for January 2009 and was not accepted into the program. After talking to my advisor, she said 180 students applied and the program can only accommodate 75 and acceptance was a lottery. Of course, I was and still am very disappointed and a little unsure of what to do. Recently, I was accepted into a 4-year program at a University with a great reputation and I'm tempted to just forget about the community college. However, I'm 38 and was hoping I could pay for my education out of pocket instead of having to pay back $30,000 in student loans. My questions are, has anyone gone through a 2-year program and wished they had gone through a 4 year? Or, went through a 4 year and wish they went through a 2-year and not owed a bunch of money? Also, I really don't want to work in a hospital, I want to do public health nursing, home health or geriatric nursing. Would a 2 or 4 year be better suited for the kind of nursing I want to do? Thanks for any suggestions! Craig