RN school wait lists in BC

[TNDoherty]

First off, hello everyone. I'm new to the forum and stumbled on it while spending hours trying to research my alternatives.

I'm in Vancouver, BC (permanent resident) planning to go for my RN. I'm a mature student with 19 credit hours from a US university, but most of those credits are liberal arts, so I'm not sure what will really count except for the math and English. I know I'll have to take the A&Ps and Psychs- biology was much more than 5 years ago, but I did make an A! lol

When I first started looking, I found that VCC has a relatively new RN BSN program and I spoke to the academic advisers who told me that there was no wait list. I got approved for my student loan, requested all my transcripts and registered as a student. Today (only a week later) I spoke with a different adviser who informed me that not only is there a wait list, but that there are 49 students on it and that they will only be taking 24. VCC only has a fall intake so she told me that if I'm "lucky" I could get in the class of 2012 but likely 2013! ack. I suppose the only positive there is that they are a first come, first serve school so I will eventually move up the list for sure.

In the meantime, the adviser suggested I apply to multiple schools in the Lower Mainland, and choose one to attend for prerequisites while biding my time, hoping for one of them to eventually send me an acceptance. I'm sure many of you are in the same boat. I applied to Douglas and will probably actually attend there because it is much closer to home than VCC, plus they do two intakes per year so that's a plus. Will anyone be attending the Douglas psych or A&P for summer 2011? Would be nice to know someone going in.

So I guess the purpose of my post is to first make contact with anyone else currently waiting out their time, and also to compare any up-to-date info you have on wait lists. As far as Douglas' preferential placement goes, with a max number of points at 14, what is a "good" number of points to have to be competitive? I'm thinking I will have around 8. >

Thanks for reading!

[kaylee88]

I've applied for the January 2012 intake for psych nursing at Douglas. I emailed the admissions assistant last week in regards to when I might hear something and the answer was sooooo vague. They haven't started the ranking process yet and they send out letters right up until December because not everybody accepts, and should I be on a waitlist I still have a chance to start in January. So basically very unhelpful, I assume it would be the same for the RN program. I'm interested to hear about when others hear about the winter 2012 intake.

[babywhisperer333, BSN]

I know for BCIT they say we will here something regarding the status of our application in 2-8 weeks from the date we apply (depending on volume). That might just mean that people will be notified if they are shortlisted....then more paperwork and more waiting :) My application was received on June 24, and my status still reads "not yet reviewed"...but they are accepting applications until tomorrow, so I suppose no one will hear anything until all applications have been submitted....hang in there, hopefully you'll hear sooner than later. :)

[holakarly]

My application statues for BCIT, Douglas and UFV now say ready for preferential review which I think just means I've met the minimum requirements and now they're going to review the application? I don't really know. All I know is I would really like to find out sooner than later...

[babywhisperer333, BSN]

when did your status change with BCIT? I know they were still accepting applications up until Friday, when did you apply?....and I think you are right that "ready for review" just means they have received the application and will be reviewing it. Good luck!!

[kaylee88]

Mine has said "Ready for Preferential Review" since May, I just want to see something updated, the wait is painful

[babywhisperer333, BSN]

wow, so you must have applied as soon as it opened. i agree the wait is painful....and I have only been waiting since june 23:uhoh3: I don't think they can accept or deny anyone until they know what the pool is. Application deadline was Friday so I bet we will hear something this week or next week. I know you have applied to a few schools, is BCIT your first choice?

[kaylee88]

wow, so you must have applied as soon as it opened. i agree the wait is painful....and I have only been waiting since june 23:uhoh3: I don't think they can accept or deny anyone until they know what the pool is. Application deadline was Friday so I bet we will hear something this week or next week. I know you have applied to a few schools, is BCIT your first choice?

I think you're talking about Karlyac - I've applied at Douglas not BCIT, I applied on January 30 and got all my info in by the end of March which was my cutoff (maybe to be considered for early admission? I'm not sure why it was needed so early)

[babywhisperer333, BSN]

I think you're talking about Karlyac - I've applied at Douglas not BCIT, I applied on January 30 and got all my info in by the end of March which was my cutoff (maybe to be considered for early admission? I'm not sure why it was needed so early)

oh yes....sorry about that

[holakarly]

I applied to the programs on June 1st. I think BCIT is my first choice but I don't know for sure yet, each school has something that I like. BCIT is only 3 years so that's a plus (although I heard it's extra intense because of the shortened degree time), UFV has recently began the option of a 3 week nursing study tour in Belize which appeals to me big time lol, and Douglas is where a few of my friends went for nursing so I've gotten some positive reviews on it. Either way, if only one place accepts me i'll defiantly go.

[babywhisperer333, BSN]

Cool. When did you application status change at BCIT? it's just that I check my email 100 times a day ...what are your marks like? Post secondary? volunteer experience?

[holakarly]

It changed on Thursday, so not too long ago. My marks are pretty good but nothing special! I got A's in the support courses for Douglas & UFV that I sent to BCIT but as for highschool Math, Chem and Bio I just have B's. I don't have any volunteer experience but I work at a retirement community so I used those hours for experience instead! What about you??? I check my e-mail crazy too, haha. I have a feeling they aren't going to let us know for a while. Even still, we need to do the interviews.

[babywhisperer333, BSN]

That's almost 6 weeks from when you applied....ugh.:smackingf.. I'm a mature student (almost 29), and I have spent this past year and a half getting the requirements. I did chem 11 (84%), and Math 11 (85%) through distance ed...that was brutal but I made it. I also took Libs 7001 (85%) online through BCIT. I went to Cap for Psych 100 and 101, 2 philosophy courses that transfer as my lib electives, and Engl 100. I got a 4.07 GPA from Cap. I am registered for Libs 7002 online and also Human Biology. My Bio 12 is within the required recency, but it has been quite a while so that will be a refresher for me. I have heard that the instructors don't really go over the anatomy stuff in class and that you should come with a solid foundation in body systems...anyways, I have a film school diploma (109 credits) which they are accepting as 45 post secondary and with the cap stuff that puts me at 63 post secondary credits when I applied (69 by Jan) and all the recommended part time classes (except Health care management which we can't take unless we are accepted) I also spent 6 months at BC Children's Hospital volunteering.....which I loved!!

You are probably right, and it is a lengthy process. Shortlisted, interview, etc. The thread for the Jan 2011 intake on the CNSA website really confirms that we have a bit of a wait ahead of us!! Anyways, it will be good to keep each other updated on here as time goes on :)