pdperez77

Hi there, Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut has a great program, they run a lottery system and it takes on average 1-2 years before starting. They have great instructors and support as well as high pass rates. Good luck with your decision.

hi there...i will be starting this fall 2010 and from the time i applied nov 2008 to when we start it will be about 2 years. i also heard they were thinking about cutting the program down from 60 students to 50 students which may increase the wait time for some students, but i would check with the nursing counselors or the nursing department. good luck and hang in there!

I agree! It is a heck of a long time...I want to become a nurse and I am not letting other obstacles in life stop me...no matter how long it takes I will one day become and RN!!!

from my experience, there are a lot of factors that determine the time it will take you. Where will you be applying?, do they have a wait list?, what type of program do you want to enter? Personally, I started my prereqs in 2003, only taking one class a semester and working full time. I finished up sometime in early 2008 and applied in fall 2008. Because of the california budget crisis and shortage of faculty, I will have waited 2 years by the time I start in fall 2010...then another 2 years to complete my ADN...so by 2012 I will be graduating (totalling 9 years!)

Thanks for the advice. You can get them in all leather now, I'm not sure if they are available in the store or just online, but I saw them online-and they come in all white. I'm definately going to look into getting a pair!

I am just wondering if anyone has Reebok EasyTones they use for work/school? I need to buy shoes as I will be starting school in August, please let me know your opinion if you wear them....Thanks!

we don't need to take the TEAS for admission to the program, just the HESI. So as long as you passed the HESI in January, you will be fine.

I called the nursing department when I received my letter and they said if we have already passed it, then we don't need to retake the hesi.

It took a couple of months for me to receive my first letter. I applied in October 2008, received my first letter in January 2009, then another in August 2009 with an updated lottery number, same thing again in January 2010. Then this past May I received my letter to start this fall. From what I understand, they send the letters out during those months because the classes are already selected for the upcoming term and they can give you a more accurate number of your position. Also, from what I've noticed, the nursing department does always seem to run behind...

Just wanted to let the people starting Fall 2010 know that I spoke with the nursing department this morning and the orientation packets are going out today or tomorrow...so we should have them this weekend. EXCITING!!!

Just wanted to let the people starting Fall 2010 know that I spoke with the nursing department this morning and the orientation packets are going out today or tomorrow...so we should have them this weekend. EXCITING!!!

I completely understand your concern and confusion when it comes to these lottery numbers. I say if you are number 45 when the fall letters are generated, then you start the following spring. The letter I received in May said I was number 33 and I will be starting this coming fall. I hope this clears up some things...

Personally, I don't think they really hand pick based on gpa. My reason for this is just based on this forum though since there were a few people that posted their numbers and stated they had 4.0 gpa but had higher lottery numbers than I did and I don't have a solid 4.0 gpa. If it was based on gpa I would think they would have already been in and not had a greater number. jewelspassion: no orientation packet, but maybe this week! I've been checking my mail everyday and am so anxious!

I agree, the numbers can be hard to figure out. I guess what makes things difficult is that we really don't know how many people that previously got letters to start in spring 2010 needed to defer or didn't pass the hesi or changed their mind and didn't want to start the program at all. The way I look at it is like this: I was number 73 in January, which was when they also sent out letters of intent for us to return. Out of the 72 before me at that time, 39 people either didn't return their letter or started a program elsewhere, making me number 33 for the Fall 2010 lottery. Now who knows how many people out of the 32 before me now are actually going to start next semester? It seems like its half and half....half of the people on the waiting list decide to start and half don't. When they accepted 90 into the program a couple of semesters back, my anticipated start date was spring 2010, so I would have waited 1.5 years after applying. With the 60 they accept now, it pushed me back one semester to fall 2010 and increased my wait to 2 years total. So I would think that you can estimate between 1.5-2 year wait before starting. Let me know if you have any more questions or if what I explained doesn't make sense because I needed to keep reading it to make sure it made some sort of sense, but these lottery numbers are tricky!

Sure thing! I was accepted into the Fall 2010 class and will be starting in August...so excited! My number is 33 for this last drawing and was 73 as of the January one. I don't know how much that helps, but I hope it can give you a better idea... Good luck to you!

I love how you asked so many questions-now I can rest assured that I was not the only one. About math, I am taking 71 right now so I am glad it will be over in just a few weeks. Whew...finally! I think there are only about 15 people left in the class. It's a short term class so the last day to drop is this Friday so I know there are more people bound to drop. The instructor is just so difficult and it always seems like we are bothering him when we need further explanation. I don't like the class one bit, but I want to get it over with so I am sticking with it. Have you thought about taking your math over summer? That way you will be all done and won't have to think about taking anything else? Or are you planning on just soaking up the pham book and relaxing? I asked the nursing department when we should be receiving our orientation packets and they told me they should go out the last week of May, but we'll see....I waited forever for my letter to come. First I was told mid April, then late April, then first week of May, and then finally it came. I already knew that my number was low enough for me to start during the fall semester, but I needed to see it in writing and have the confirmation. I think I only felt that way because I was originally told that I would start Spring 2010, but was pushed back due to the budget and program cuts. I was so devastated when that happened...oh well, the time has come and now I need to work for what I have been waiting for! Let me know if you hear any more news or get your orientation packet, I am looking forward to it! See you in June!

Hey there! I don't know anyone else who will be starting this fall either! Nice to meet you! To answer your question about when I was done with prereqs, I've been done since early 2008. I completed my sciences at ELAC and then took other classes at Rio Hondo and Mt. SAC. I have been waiting so long to start that I can't even believe I will be starting this fall. I am just thrilled. I can't wait for orientation so that I can get more info. Thanks for the info about the clinicals by the way. What math course did you withdraw from this Spring? I am taking 71 right now just so I am done with my math and don't have to worry about it while I am in the program. Are there any other classes that you still need to take in order to graduate or are you all set? I took a look at the Spring schedule last night before I went into class and was thinking to myself...wow, I can't believe the first semester we already get to go to the hospital. That is awesome! I have absolutely no clinical experience so this will be a first for me, but I am so ready for it! Do you have any clinical experience? I am a little nervous since I know that a lot of CNAs and others with experience will be a part of our classes and they already have a head start, but I know I can work hard to learn and know what they learn, but it still makes me a little nervous. Of course the unknown is always a little hard-and exciting! Wooooo we are starting in FALL! Only a couple more months are we are officially Mt. SAC nursing students! Just wondering, if you completed all your prereqs at Chaffey, why did you decide on SAC? I went to an info session a long time ago at Chaffey but after I thought about it, it was just going to be too far for me to drive every day so I didn't even bother to apply. The only other schools I applied at are ELAC and LA County. Did you apply to different places too? As fo our CPR, I was thinking the same thing, we should just get it out of the way, right? Maybe I can get some more information. I don't know what they require since some places want American Heart Assoc or some Red Cross....hummm.... Will you be working while we are in the program? Some people say that you shouldn't and some say it's not a problem and they worked full time throughout. What do you think? Well, that's it for now. CONGRATS on starting this fall!!!!!

Hey there...I will definately reply, but I have to head to Mt. SAC right now....class is at 7, but you know how parking can be.... talk to you soon, thanks for replying.

hey current mt. sac students! i just received my letter last week and will be starting the rn program this fall. i am so excited and nervous at the same time, but am sure glad the wait is over. i am wondering if some of you can give me some info on what to expect during orientation and if there is anything i should do to prepare for it. i have already taken the hesi and passed so i won't need to take it during orientation, but that leaves me wondering what else is going to happen during the 4 days. can you also let me know if you think there is anything i should do before the fall semester begins to be more prepared? or should i just enjoy my time off and relax since i most likey won't get to when i start? oh, one more thing. do clinicals start your first semester, or later? thanks so much!

Congrats BillyM_XT!!! I know EXACTLY how you feel! And our work has paid off and we are FINALLY starting. You would think I won the CA Super Lotto the way this letter and affirmation of starting in fall makes me feel. haha....See you in Fall!!!

From the time that I applied (Nov2008) to when we start in Fall-it will be 2 years. I waited 3 full semesters, since I guess I can't count the semester that was already in progress when I applied...it was a long time, but I worked hard to get here so I know it will pay off! Kim05-be patient and just take any classes that you need to graduate or that will help you transfer (if that's your goal) so that once you get your letter-you are ready and nothing will get in your way! Good luck!

I was number 200 something this time last year, so hopefully you won't have to wait that long. Good luck!

hey everyone! i wanted to share the fabulous news with you! i got my letter today and will be starting the rn program this fall!!! i am just thrilled and hope to hear some good news from you guys as well... the letter i received said that i was number 33, not sure if that helps anyone judge their own position of when they will start since my last letter said i was number 73.

:w00t: hey everyone! check your mail! i just received my letter from mt. sac and will be starting this fall. i am so, so excited and happy. what a difference one letter can make-it really put me at ease since i have been anxiously waiting for this day. i got a little nervous because the letter says that there will be an assessment test administered at orientation, and i thought geeze, another test? but i spoke with the nursing department and they said that is only if you need to retake the hesi. i am so glad i took it in january and passed. whew....finally on my way to becoming an rn! did anyone else get their letter today? share the news!