readergirl

What does everyone else think of today?

Harris88_ Yes, of course I meant orientation. I suppose I am overly tired. Did you get anything in the mail? Or an email? I haven't gotten anything. Regarding the VA paperwork, I plan on making a copy and doing the best I can, but retaining the original in case I have messed it up.

Has anyone heard anything about registration? I haven't gotten a letter or an email. Has anyone else?

Jelly Bean, I am heartbroken to hear that. Didn't you get financial aid? I assumed you were young, don't you get pell grants and stuff?

Has anyone ordered the study guide....the "success strategies" book at the bottom of the page? If so, I wanted to know if it had any worksheets. I want to , and want to get one this weekend, but want to get a kindle version if there aren't worksheets. Also, is the book helpful? Thanks!

I thought she said no clogs. Don't they have pants in petite sizes? I'm 5'2", and don't look forward to hemming two pair of pants?

Jellybean... What exactly does she mean by "professional" dress? I wear jeans or khaki to work everyday, and am beginning to assume that this will not be good enough. Sigh.........

Harris 88, Not helpful at all. Really disgusted we have to take off work again..... They can be my #1 priority after school starts, but now my employer must come first. If you have 90+ hours of college credit, then every class not directly needed for the ASN will need to be stricken from your transcript so you can get financial aid. You can't continue to get financial aid for more than 90 hours of work at a community college. Frustrating thing is, you have to go to school, go to records office, they will print transcript, take it to the nursing department, then pick it up a week later, and walk it over to the financial aid office. Didn't these people ever hear of campus mail? When I was at MTSU, all staff and faculty had access to your transcript, with your permission, of course. Your advisor needed a copy, no problem, he printed one out. Is that so hard?

Nashville State - I am really excited. It's been a long road. Rejected by Cumberland, Motlow State, Columbia State (twice), didn't even get selected for an interview at Nashville State the first time, was on the waiting list for Aquinas last spring, and turned them down for the fall, and now it's Nashville State. I'm thrilled. They are disorganized and treat students like 5th year high school students, but I'm going to be a nurse in 2 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think if you are in say, skills group 1, then you might be in clinical greoup 3, 4, or 5. Don't know for sure, but the schedule does work that way. Is anyone else having trouble getting the skills bag before the 27th? I can get it next payday, on the 29th, but not before. I wonder if two days would make a difference, or if it matters. Is it just me? Also, I would like to have my second year mentor assigned now, and not the first day of school. I need to know what I need to do to get started. Has anyone gotten the study guide?

I also saw alot of the negative comments, but gave the school the benefit of the doubt. I heard the nuns and staff bullly the students, expecially the men and anyone they deem different. I let that slide, and was accepted in May for fall 2010. First trouble I had was the financial aid office never sent me my award letter. They kept promising, but never did. Then, I had to be present for a full day registration. They don't even have online registration or, well really anything online at all. I had to be physically present from 8-4:30. This meant I had to take a vacation day from work. My financial aid letter was in someone's filing cabinet, but it didn't even cover the cost of tution and books. I asked about other aid to cover living expenses, and was told I could get a private student loan. The financial aid person didn't even know the "cost of attendance" for her school. I needed thhis for the loan forms. It took her at least an hour to arrive at a figure. It was clear that they didn't want me in their class. They didn't even try. Then they expected me to register for classes, and required that I sign a form that I would be personally liable for the semester tuition of almost $10,000 if my financial aid didn't come through, and they weren't even offering me the cost of tuition in aid. The day was a disaster. I was expected to take a test - a critical thinking test. We were then expected to write a 1,000 word essay on some stupid subject like violence on tv. How does that relate to nursing? If you choose Aquinas you'll end up $40,000 or more in debt for just an associates degree. Also, you'll have to take moral theology and ethics. I just can't imaging paying $1,800 each to take a class like that...and they require papers as well, not just memorization. Also google Blizzard and Aquinas, and there are articles about a male student who was run out of the program, and at the end of two years, is $40,000+ in debt, has no degree, and Aquinas won't let him take his boards. He is suing the school.

You're welcome jelly bean...... I think of it this way....a full day, a 3-hour day, and, after six weeks, a 5-hour day. I really don't understand why we can't work. I know that the 5 hours of clinicals will be exhausting because we'll be on our feet all day - I for one am used to sitting behind a desk. Still, I don't understand the prohibition against working even part time.

It was my understanding that classroom lecture was 8-3:30 Monday, and a 3 hour skills lab for the first six weeks. After fall break, 5 hours of clinicals would be added. The sheet we were given was confusing because if looks like it is skills lab for six weeks, then clinicals for sex weeks. But I remember it being said that the skills labs were for the entire semester. So, it looks like an almost 8 hour day on Monday, a three hour lab, and, after six weeks, a five hour clinical. I really don't see why why we are so strongly discouraged from working. Why is all the lecture on the same day?? Also, what is the deal with the pharmacology??????????? One hour a week will net a one credit hour class. Do we have to take this every semester? Why does she do it live this? I am beginning to doubt the program.

Has anyone's student loans shown up on mynscc? I check everyday. I really don't want to invest alot in titers, background checks, nurse bags, books, etc, etc....the endless list of things we are expected to do before we are even registered for class. I really don't want to spend any money until my financial aid posts. It would just be a waste if the student loans don't come through. Also, I feel I can't give my notice at work until my registration and financial aid are a sure thing.

Spoke to Bryan Rogers, who identified himself as the bookstore manager stated that the nursing department has begun to submit the booklist, and that books WILL be in stock by the start of school.

Oh, and yes, the bookstore thing bothers me, but it is really too late to do anything about it, I would think. Even if the books were ordered on Monday, it would be less than seven weeks until school starts, and I know that is probably not enough time for the bookstore to get the books. That boat has sailed. We need now to get the proper ISBN numbers so that we can get the books elsewhere, but the next class should not have to deal with this. Yes, the accreditation thing bothers me, but it is down on the frustration list now. I am worried about the $1,200 I need for books, uniforms, bags, background checks, and a physical including titers. I am worried about giving notice to my employer then having a financial or other snag, and having school fall through. I am also worried about things like pharmacology - how is that going to work?? At MTSU, Aquinas, and others, it is a one semester class for 3 hours. If we spend one hour a week in class, what kind of credit will we get - 1 hour? Really??? If we do this for 2 years, will we have 4 credit hours total? This worries me. If they don't get on the ball and get accredited, they will have 100 VERY, VERY angry people on their hands. I don't think this will happen. A legislator, the head of the TBR, or the govener will step in. As the year ends, the pressure will increase from the third semester folks. I am confident this will be handled. There will probably be drama, but I feel confident we will be able to take the board. That is what is important. That's all I care about. Taking that test and passing first time.

Yes, I second the unprofessionalism. It is important to note that there are no summer classes in nursing, and that the director and staff are full time, and have all summer for administrative stuff. There is no excuse for all the disorganization. If a business was run like this comm college, then it would be bankrupt!!! The mindset of the administrative staff is not that they are there to help students, but that students are an annoyance. Anyway, with the entire summer at their disposal, you would think that they would have us all registered in a timely manner. The staff has 36-40 hours a week to get organized and get things done. They haven't changed the message on the voice mail since February, and the website is outdated too. Also, with regard to the last meeting, it was planned and scheduled by the director, at her convenience, and it was mandatory that we be there. If she had to be in another state to register her son for college, she should have planned and choosen another date. We were all there at her insistance!!. Also, would an evening meeting have been too much to ask? Yes, nursing school is important, but at the moment my employer comes first - they put food on the table. Luckily the next meeting is on a day I already have scheduled off for vacation, because there isn't a single hour of leave to be taken for the entire month. If I had not had this vacation scheduled, it would be a point against my attendance and no pay for the time out. They need to get going and get things done!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jellybean, If you really want to be a nurse and have worked really hard to get here, you are making the right decision. The choices in Nashville are very limited. Belmont, Aquinas, and Cumberland cost a fortune. Aquinas and Belmont have religion course requirements. At Aquinas you can get an associates and the cost is over $40,000, just for tuition alone, not even books or living expenses. Vandy does not have a BSN program anymore. MTSU is an affordable 4 year option, but is so selective, and they get six or more apps for every slot. Then there is TSU. I won't even comment. They were never a choice. We all know what NSCC is like. It's like being in the 5th year of high school. They treat students like errant children. They are disorganized, condesending, and dismissive of student needs. All the rules are in force for the benefit of staff and faculty, not for us. That being said, I really, really want to be here. This is a chance at nursing school, fulfilling and dream, making life better for my family in the long run, and doing a job I love. For this I will put up with all the petty inconveniences. Think of it this way. It is a seller's market. There are many, many more applicants in nursing school. That puts them in control for now, but if we can only get through the two years, we will be the winners.

Harris88 and Jellybean01, I agree with you both 100%. I am very frustrated, yet after all my hard work, feel very fortunate at being here, and don't want to be labelled a complainer. Like you, Harris88, I am prepared to make this my #1 priority. I am prepared to not work during the school year if that's what it takes, but the financial aid department does not see it this way. When I called the financial aid office to ask about private student loans, they seemed shocked, and said absolutely not. I stated that if I weren't working, and am single, I can't live on the loan limits set by the school. They were shocked again and told me I had to work, all nursing students were expected to work. I stated that the department had given us a two hour lecture about not working, and they said they had never heard of this, and that in fact many of the students worked and were successful in the program. It was stated again that I needed to work to pay my share of my education. Any other students with a BA or BS already who are frustrated by the lack of aid, and the low limits of the student loans? Also, the whole thing about waiting for October for disbursement of the student loans is ridiculous. I did take out a student loan in the past, but it was at another school and more than 10 years ago. Will this count? Does it have to be at NSCC? If I give my notice and quit my job before orientation, then can't receive a penny in aid until Oct., what will I do? I do the Dave Ramsey thing, and am not an advocate of debt, but if it will enable me to concentrate fully on the program and be a nurse, I will do it. Many hospitals have loan forgiveness programs, and so does state for those going into rural areas or those who want to get a masters and teach. It is my decision, and for the school to say that they will deny or disapprove any private student loan that they get is just wrong. I will be calling the bookstore this week, and encourage everyone to do the same. If the administration does not know the frustrations we are facing, they can't do anything about it. The school and financial aid office also needs to be aware that the nursing dept is STRONGLY encouraging students not to work.

Very frustrated. tried to find the books on the website last night and no luck. only one I could find was dosage calculations. Why weren't the books ordered so we could buy them at the bookstore? I, too, have never heard of a college that does not stock a required text and expects students to get them from a third party. What is the deal with the financial aid? I think some exceptions should be made for nursing students. It looks like we will have an outlay of about $ 1,200 before we even set foot in a classroom. I have worked and prayed so hard for this. Now I feel like I am being expected to go to fantastic lengths and jump through hoops just to prove that I really want to be here.

I am thrilled to have been accepted into the fall class, and was so excited at the meeting on the 15th. Like others, however, I do have some concernes about timing and finance. If schedules aren't loaded until mid-August, then financial aid award letters go out, we should get them just a day or two before we start orientation. I have a job and have to give at least two weeks notice. How do I give notice and leave a job if I don't even know how much aid I'll getor if I'll be able to afford it at all? That's a big risk. Also, I already have a degree, and am limited to only student loans. The financial aid office tells me that the loans are capped at $5,250 per semester. I asked for a list of lenders for private student loans, and they looked at me like I was crazy, and said that they will not approve a student loan from a private lender. If we are so strongly discouraged from working, how are we supposed to get by on $5,250 per semester for tuition, books, uniforms, fees, etc, and still have anything left over for food, rent, gas, or mandatory health insurance? Also, I understand the financial disbursements for student loan funds are not available to students until October. How do I pay for $600 worth of books, uniforms, a nursing kit, background and drug tests, a doctor's visit with half a dozen titers and shots, all four months before I have any of my loan money? I have worked so hard to get here, and was thrilled when Dr. ****** called me, and now I would hate to lose it all over logistics and finances.