2 questions; would appreciate anyone's opinion :-)

MySimplePlan · Mar 7, 2008

My first question is, do any of you have experience w/wait lists? Not wait lists where they give you points or judge who gets in based on GPA, etc, but just straight up wait list - first come, first serve? if so, do you think the wait time predicted by the school is always right or sometimes shorter, and if shorter- how much so? Also, if you could avoid a wait list and start a program pretty much right away, but it was 45 mins. from home- would you make the drive? even in MI winter? ;-) I am really struggling w/what to do right now in regards to doing an LPN program right away or trying to wait out a 2.5 - 3 year wait list for RN and hope it is MUCH shorter or possibly drive to a school where I could get into the RN program quickly? keeping in mind I am going to have a child to take care of (but lots of help from my husband/family). any opinions would be much appreciated :-)

Hmmmm.....lots of good questions.

I find wait lists to be shorter. I was told 1.5 years, it was a year. The students after me were told the same, it was less than a year for them. (I believe it will be back to a year plus some; the shorter wait was due to an extra program our college added on for two years, but I hear that program will not be continued, so there will not be a faster pull on the wait list as there was the last 1.5 years.)

I would hate to calculate all the GPA stuff and extra points and all that....like you, just put me on a straight waiting list, please. Thanks.

The number of times you will be stuck in a snowstorm due to Michigan winters is only a handful. However, the price of gas could be a deal breaker for you. Can you afford that for 2 years? In addition, the hospitals where you may be assigned for clinicals could be 45 minutes PAST your school, the other way!

I'm all about getting into a program ASAP to get it over with so you can start earning some serious money as a nurse. However, the time and transportation costs for your scenario might cause me to rethink this. Plus if you DID go through with the LPN program, then bridge to an RN degree, that's even more time away from your young family PLUS you'll have a job by then where they will EXPECT you to put in some time, time away from your studying and your family. Once you start nursing school, you'll want as many barriers out of your way so you can focus on school and your family, and that's it. Who needs the other headaches?

I'd also consider the better school, too.

BTW, good to hear you'll have lots of support with this. Good luck with your decision and your future career. Don't let anybody or anything get in the way of your goal.

hair_tie · Mar 7, 2008

what are some of the schools with wait list?

tonyal · Mar 8, 2008

I know Henry Ford Community College has one, since I am on it now

caliotter3 · Mar 9, 2008

I am glad to hear that you have the support of your family. Unfortunately, I have to recommend that you wait for the programs that are closer to you. Unless you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle and are well prepared for winter driving and want to put up with all the extra driving time, this would not be a good option, considering that other problems might arise along the way. The point made about your clinicals being so far in the direction opposite of your school also is a consideration. One of my clinicals was 95 miles away from my home. I had to get up two hours early to make the commute as I was competing with the work traffic. All this takes a toll on you whether you realize it or not. I would wait out the nearby schools if I were you. Good luck.

thyme39 · Mar 10, 2008

if so, do you think the wait time predicted by the school is always right or sometimes shorter, and if shorter- how much so?

I have never been on a wait list but I have talked to others. They seem to always be shorter than what they were originally told.

Also, if you could avoid a wait list and start a program pretty much right away, but it was 45 mins. from home- would you make the drive? even in MI winter? ;-)

I would drive the 45 min. We don't really have that many days of truly horrible weather. I drive 45 min now and I did it in the last snow storm when you couldn't see the lines on the road because they were covered with snow. I have a Saturn Ion so no 4 wheel drive. i just went slower but got there no problems.

As far as clinicals being maybe even farther. Keep in mind your clinicals are no where near as long as your regular classes. We have people in our class now who drive an hour and a half to class. It really depends on what you want to do and how 'quickly' you can get into the RN pgm. Great that you have the help. We had a person drop out because she had no one to help and her daughter got sick and she missed 3 clinical days.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

angstudentnurse · Mar 10, 2008

I waited on the wait list at my school for about 1.5 years. They will tell you that it is a 2 to 3 year wait though.

As for the other questions, it's all really up to you. What are you doing in the meantime? Are you still working?

I was still working and decided the best thing for me was to just wait on the darn waitlist so I could be at a school close to home and that was affordable.