javachick78

No, I never got into Porterville College. I ended up getting into Merced College. Thanks for asking though:)

Hello, I just got accepted into Merced's Spring 2016 program on my first try. I didn't apply to Modesto but this was after a year of applying to 5 other colleges and not getting selected. I think the odds are greater of getting into Merced because of their unique application procedure. They seem to be the only college that requires you to hand deliver your application during a 3 day window. This eliminates a lot of people because not everyone can drive the distance to turn in an application. They had 180 applicants and 60 got accepted (30 for Fall and 30 for Spring). About 3 alternates got in during the orientation. My points were not the highest that's for sure. I think my overall score was somewhere around 64 (cannot remember exactly). 10% goes to the highest points, and the remaining are thrown into a random lottery.

Congrats on your acceptance into the program. I was just accepted into Merced College's Spring of 2016 program! Please let me know about your experience with the instructors, and anything else you'd like to share. I've heard a few negative comments about Merced's program, and I'm hoping to hear a few positive ones now.

Hello all, Is anyone applying to Porterville College for the Fall 2015? I just did and now I'm waiting:nailbiting: I'm willing to relocate and move there. I did read that the campus is kind of out in the middle of nowhere and the commutes would be pretty long to hospitals for clinicals. Can anyone tell me what's near the campus and if Porterville is a decent city as far as crime goes? Doesn't seem like a popular program on here. Times are tough and this is getting too competitive. I'm desperate and willing to go to any accredited program that will take me at this point!

Sorry, just got this! Still waiting...applied to FCC twice now and a few others. I've read on here that others have applied up to 6 times to FCC and finally got in:dead: Going on my second year applying with no luck yet. FCC is now requiring an official copy of your TEAS by the way. You're clearly not alone. There are many of us that have been applying for a several years. We just picked a time when a large number of people want to become nurses which makes it frustratingly competitive. Doesn't mean that you are not good enough to become a nurse. Don't give up if you truly want this career. Butte and LMC are also pure lottery based and don't have that point system yet. Shasta and College of the Redwoods have two year wait list among a few others. At least you'll know you'll get in for sure after two years with the programs that have a wait list. Sometimes people drop their names from those wait lists because they change their mind or ended up getting in somewhere else, which could mean a shorter than a two year wait.

I applied for Spring of 2015. My overall score is not that great (59). I was surprised that I even got invited to submit documentation. 59 is pretty low compared to the others. It looks like they are accepting high 50s for the cut off. I'm not holding my breath with my score. Good luck to you. I know how you feel about submitting applications (time consuming and expensive)

I think the ATI book is a good investment. You can get it used on Amazon for under $20 if you shop around. Also try Ebay. The practice problems with the explanations are very informative. The Mcgraw is also great, but it doesn't have nearly as many explanations for solutions to the problems as the ATI book does. If you get easily distracted like I do, wear earplugs to the exam. I don't think wearing them is prohibited. Also, wear a watch. I found that the timer can be hidden in the upper right corner as you scroll down to answer questions, which can make you lose track of time. I don't know what schools you are applying to, or what state you're in? Some schools don't care how many times you take the TEAS as long as you pass. Try not to stress. If it's meant to be, it'll happen. Best of luck to you on your nursing journey:)

Thanks. You are so right about relaxing. I think the only thing helping me relax is knowing that I can take it again if I don't do well. It's not like I'll get a death sentence if I score poorly.

Thanks for your encouraging words. It's funny, I actually find the McGraws-Hill's practice book to be easier than the online practice tests! So if you say that is more similar to the actual test, I think I might stand a fair chance after all. On another positive note...my brain is getting the best work out ever! Best of luck to you on your nursing journey:) Sincerely, R

Hello Everyone, Okay, so I'm scheduled to take the TEAS V on the 19th. I've purchased ATI's entire TEAS V study package, and the McGraw-Hill's book. My scores aren't too shabby when I take the book version practice tests. The online practice exams are a different story. I keep getting 56-60% The science questions on the online practice exams are ridiculous. My self esteem has tanked after taking the online practice tests. I have done all of the practice problems in the ATI book and understand how to get the answers. I still cannot get a higher score on the online practice exams no matter what I do. Can anyone tell me if the book practice test version is more similar to the actual exam? If the online practice exams are closer to the real deal, I'm in trouble!

There are 3 California ADN programs that I know for sure are purely lottery based with no point criterion: Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, Butte College in Oroville, and Ohlone College in Newark. ADN programs are tougher to get into because most have a Chancellor's Office Multi Criteria point system you have to get through first. If you meet the minimum score with combined points for your, G.P.A, work experience, volunteering, TEAS test score, etc., you will then qualify to be placed into their lottery. They usually select 90% of the top higher scores, and 10% random for the lower qualifying scores. Seems like my 3.3 GPA might hurt me as well. Yeah, I meet the minimum GPA requirement, but that just isn't good enough. I like you would love to get my BSN done and over with. I have directly spoke over the phone with the nursing program advisors for the BSN programs (Sac State and Cal State East Bay). They have told me that the majority of their applicants have a 3.7 or above:nailbiting: There are a few pros to going to a community college vs. university for your RN...much cheaper, more options, better odds with a lower GPA. Once you get your RN, you can take online courses for your BSN. Usually BSN programs place a higher priority with those who have their RN license over regular applicants! Also, notice that when doing an RN to BSN, the GPA minimum requirements are much lower versus applying for the traditional route.

Merritt and Chabot use lottery systems. Unfortunately, the only way you can be placed in the random lottery is if you meet the minimum chancellor point criteria. In other words, GPA means a lot with those two colleges as well. Los Medanos is completely a lottery system. The only negative with LMC is that their NCLEX passing rates are really low! They keep getting worse as the years go by. But, beggars can't be choosers right. I just wish more colleges offered random lotteries without the point system. Not all of us have stellar GPAs, or are able to volunteer for extra points because we have to work full time while taking our prerequisites. A's may look good, but they really shouldn't mean much. What you retain from the course is what should matter. I've gotten some As and don't remember much in those classes I got As in!

I'm in the same boat. I'll be applying to nursing programs with a 3.3 GPA. Got Bs in all of my main sciences courses. Yeah, I meet the minimum requirements, but that's just not good enough given the competition out there. Most community colleges are using the point criterion system. GPA makes a huge difference. I'm finding out that I won't even reach the minimum points needed to even be eligible to apply to more than half the programs I'd like to apply to. My only hope is applying to random lottery programs. Ohlone College in Newark, Ca, Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, Ca and Butte College in Oroville seem to be the only schools that don't do the point system that I can find. If you end up finding any others please let me know!