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. >
I am wondering if you could give us some information on first year books! I want to buy them early but I find a lot of the time I never use them. Any suggestions as to what text books we will definitely use or you found you used a lot....or if even the older editions are still okay?
Thanks :)
I can't remember the exact list that you have to buy...but the Jarvis Fundamentals textbook you will need for pre-reading, patho textbook is useful, drug handbook (this one doesn't matter which one you get - mosby's, pdr, etc.). Med/surg is very useful, but you won't use it until level 2, so you could put off buying that one. Tabers is hit or miss - some people love it, others don't use it at all. I would recommend the nursing care plan book too. It's optional, but super useful for the first few levels. Oh also the skills + techniques book is needed. It's very costly for level one, but you will use these textbooks for the duration of the program.
The ones I would recommend NOT getting are, sadly, the cheaper ones. Don't buy miniature guide to critical thinking, math for nurses (unless you aren't strong in math, but the math is pretty straightforward). Canadian fundamentals is useless; it pretty much sums up techniques + med/surg content, but isn't as detailed.
As for older editions - use with caution. I find the content is the same, but the page numbers never are. And unfortunately they never tell you to read "ch.12" or something. They tell you to read pg. 58 until "x heading" and then pg.72 until the picture. So it all depends how patient you are with finding out what to read! Hope that helps! :)
Hey Guys! Congrats to everyone who got into BCIT! Does anyone know anything about how the U of C program is though? I got into both for this Jan, and I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO! lol
Hey TanFran. Congrats to you too on your double acceptance. Is U of C University of Calgary? I guess it depends where you live...I am originally from Alberta and for me, it's too freakin cold. Perhaps if you are more specific about your details, goals, location etc, we can help with decision? :)
Hey Smiley! Thank you so much - I was soo stoked to get into both, but now its hard! I haven't recieved my U of C package yet (so I do not know a whole lot about it)..so I was wondering if anyone here has been or has applied or been accepted into that program! I've heard so many great things about BCIT on this thread and others, I do not want to make a wrong choice! The U of C program is 2 years, so i'm basically thinking 2 years of really really intense work or 3 years of intense work? haha...I'm from Victoria, so If I go to Calgary, I might just freeze to death!
"The Bachelor of Nursing Accelerated Track Program (BNAT) (Calgary Campus) is currently being phased out. Students who were admitted to the program prior to Fall 2010 should consult an earlier Calendar."-from the website, so...?
I am assuming that you already have a degree and the required 90 transferrable courses if you got into the accelerated program. Direct entry is 4 years.
I dont know anything about this program except that it is in Calgary. If that is somewhere you would like to stay, I recommend going there, if u plan to move back to BC after, I would save yourself the hassle of moving etc...
If you punch in "University of Calgary" a few threads come up on this site discussing the program.
you're in! congrats :) Provisional in the sense that you have a spot reserved for you AS LONG AS you provide the outstanding documents. I went to BCIT to pay my 200 because I also had to apply for a fee deferral.....If you are not requesting fee deferral, the full tuition is due Nov 9. You can pay online through your mybcit account. On the right where it says pay tuition, you can click on it and follow instructions. I believe you can also pay over the phone..
Yes. whatever it says in those letters that were sent to "my communications". I think birth certificate or passport as well :) most of it is due Jan 9 and alot of the info we will get at orientation
babywhisperer333, BSN
279 Posts
I bought scrubs today. Yeeaaay :) I found Uniform Central on Broadway had much more selection and was more comfortable to shop in than Image care