WallyWallington

I had a 3.8 GPA for the four nursing pre-req classes. But having a good score for the Pre-Req classes gives you some leeway when it comes to the TEAS and also doing well on the TEAS give you some leeway with the GPA. If you have to retake any class to get a 4.0 I would retake English since it is the easiest of the four classes and the TEAS Test is about 45% English problems. The only score that really matters is your final index score that is computed from your completion score, your GPA for the pre-reqs and your TEAS score. *It doesn't matter how you get that index score but all that matters (via strong TEAS or GPA) is that you get a decent index score. The folks at CBC have not said officially where the cut off was for my class but by networking with people I found out it is around 26.0-26.2. But this cut off point for my class and future classes might be a little higher or a little lower. *But I keep telling people how important practicing for the TEAS is since just by getting a handful or questions on the TEAS test correct will improve your chances than changing a 3.5 to a 4.0. *On the CBC nursing page there is "Self Assessment Tool" that is a Microsoft Excel sheet that you can use to calculate your current possible index score.*CBC is a unique school in that they don't look any affirmative action, letters of reccomendation or interviews. All they look at is your Index score. As a Jewish man going into nursing I am a minority of a minority of a minortiy but that was not a slight factor in applying to the CBC nursing program. All that matters is your index score compared to the index scores of the other applicants. They don't cut you slack about your kids, work, what doctor or nurse likes you, gender or race. It is ALL about the score and just the score. It is brutal but fair.Personally I love Tony Z. as a Math and Chem tutor but his attitude can put some people off. So I would suggest the Students Solution Manual for the Algebra book, seeing step by step how to do the problems got me through 98. *The CBC application process is almost designed to favor the folks that put the most effort into it.*Good luck and keep at it, and if there is anything I can do to help let me know.*

I am finally done with my pre-reqs and will be starting my RN program this fall. I should have my RN in two years and then I am planning on an RN-to-BSN program. I am 34, male and nursing is a second career for me after a career in computers.I am trying to remain open to all possible fields but I am drawn to oncology. I have a peer from a sports club (rollerderby) who is an oncology nurse.All the men and many of the women in my family have fought some kind of cancer and many have died from it. I've seen colon cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, prostate cancer and such and I've never seen any men go into oncology nursing but most of the men in my family have faced cancer. *I was just wondering if there were any one who has any input and advice for someone considering oncology nursing.

The books that helped me are "McGraw-Hills 5 TEAS Practice Tests", "All the Math you will Ever Need" and "Kaplan Nursing School Entrance Exams". This was in addition to the official TEAS study guide. The test that I took in December of 11 was a lot harder than the official study guide so I am quite glad that I studied several other guides that were on a higher difficulty level. I studied for the TEAS for 9 months and took 13 practice tests. I just did every practice test I could get my hands on and learned as much about the TEAS test as I could and I tested into the top 1% of the program and the top 2% of the nation. Standardized tests only show how much prep-work you put in to getting ready for the test. If you don't spent at least 6 months of serious prep work getting ready for the TEAS it is going to shock you on test day. Don't be shocked. Be ready.

When I took it my test was just as hard as the online practice exams. I don't regret any of the studying I did. But that is just me. Being prepared helps me deal with the stress of competition. Once you are happy with your TEAS grade, you get to apply to the program and then the competition is over. I would just say that each person that wants to get into the program should look at how bad they want to get in and put in a level of effort to get a good grade on the TEAS and bring it about. If getting in is not that important to you or you are not to worried then that is your prerogative. But for me I would rather be over prepared than under prepared. I know a lot of people that didn't make it this time around and they are going to have to wait an entire year to try again. The TEAS is a "Do not pass GO, Do not collect $200" situation and you can't get into CBC until you get a decent score of over 75 or so combined with good grades in the 4 prereq classes (English 101, Chem 110, AnP 1, and now Statistics 146). I used to live in Bremerton and there are these ferry boats that go across the Puget Sound that leave once every 2 hours and I learned the hard way that it is better to plan to be five minutes too early than five minutes too late. The two books that helped me are McGraw-Hills 5 TEAS Practice Tests and Kaplan Nursing School Entrance Exams. Also "English as a Second Language Students" should be take a lot of practice tests to get used to the testing environment. I know four ESL student friends of mine that took the TEAS test this past testing season and only one of them made it into the program. Actually I am taking Statistics and Nutrition right now so I can go on to WSU's RN to BSN program when I am done with CBC. But man, I can't wait until class starts in September. Kate I think I actually had Brady's AnP 1 with you! I had big sideburns then.

Not every batch of the TEAS tests are the same, they have a bonus and grade adjustment for test difficulty. The one that I took in December of 11 was a lot harder than the official study guide so I am quite glad that I studied several other guides that were on a higher difficulty level. Personally I would rather be prepared than surprised, especially when it is worth one third of your chances of getting in and they don't look at any other factors.

The lowest cut off point for 2012 was 26 points. I had a 27.5 point total, with a 88.9 on the TEAS and a 3.8 GPA when I applied so I slept well. They didn't mail out the letters until the middle of MAY so I had five months of waiting. I would say about 90% of the time it is the TEAS test that makes or breaks people. I studied for the TEAS for 9 months and took 13 practice tests. I just did every practice test I could get my hands on and learned as much about the TEAS test as I could and I tested into the top 1% of the program and the top 2% of the nation. Standardized tests only show how much prep-work you put in to getting ready for the test. There was over 240 applicants and there was 45 slots open so it really comes down to the TEAS. That means 4 out of 5 applicants didn't score high enough. It is not who you know, it is not where you work, it is not who wrote you a letter, CBC only cares about the grades and your TEAS score. If you don't spent at least 6 months of serious prep work getting ready for the TEAS it is going to shock you on test day. Don't be shocked. Be ready. I can't wait for the program to start!