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!

[holakarly]

When I was ordering books to ship to my place here 9/10 books could not be shipped to Canada. I'm pretty sure that's because I was picking the cheapest books I could find, and the majority of those are from independent sellers, which for the most part do not ship internationally. When I searched on .ca I noticed that the independent sellers listings did not appear to canadian buyers.

[jasn]

Oh that must be it - I've never purchased from the independent sellers, only the warehouse. Definitely cheaper than the bookstore price :) but if you have alternative means to get them cheaper, that works too! I would also recommend the BCIT nursing facebook group, as you'll find a lot of the studnets from each level selling their books there (probably more listings there than craigslist!)

Patho is part of the nursing program, but taught by the Basic Health Sciences department (BHSC), so the textbook is listed separately. kinda strange, but it makes sense - the instructors for patho, micro, and immunology aren't nurses.

[MISSTEE]

Can someone please help clarify the immunization form, at the end of page 1 it asks for the name of the health care provider. Does that mean we have to go to our family doctor to sign this?

[babywhisperer333, BSN]

Mistee- I believe (and someone correct me if I am wrong) that if you do not have your immunization history, an actual document with dates on it, that you do have to either a) track it down from your family doc or parents, b) go to doc to get required shots, or c) bring it in to BCIT health services to decide what you need. If you have all documentation you don't need a doctor to sign...Just take whatever you have to health services

[MISSTEE]

Mistee- I believe (and someone correct me if I am wrong) that if you do not have your immunization history, an actual document with dates on it, that you do have to either a) track it down from your family doc or parents, b) go to doc to get required shots, or c) bring it in to BCIT health services to decide what you need. If you have all documentation you don't need a doctor to sign...Just take whatever you have to health services

Thanks smiley that's very helptful. I called Vabcouver Coastal health for my immunization records

[-martha-]

Hey everyone. I'm new to allnurses.com. I've read a lot of the threads & they all seem very helpful. I have recently received an email from BCIT saying that I am in a top position on the hold list for the January 2012 intake & I have been invited to orientation. Does anyone know what the chances of getting in for being in a 'top position' on the hold list are? & when is the latest date they offer seats. The wait is driving me crazy!

[holakarly]

I think the wait would depend whenever a student who has been held a seat withdraws, so could be anytime up until start date! Good luck!

I dropped my immunization sheets in the main building at the services area (I've only been in this building twice now, the area where you queue up to drop off documents) and she didn't charge me the $30 fee the form said they would. Did any of you pay yet?

[boyish]

I dropped my vaccination form off directly at Health Services. They didn't charge me anything either =)

[babywhisperer333, BSN]

I didn't get charged either :) I think if we need shots from them once the term starts, that's when we will be charged...I was told that they will be coming around and scheduling appointments for everyone who needs updates, in the first week

[boyish]

Yeah I think that's the case. I needed some shots and they told me they would handle it when the term starts.

Also, as admissions said in a previous letter, psych/libs/english credit will be done automatically right? Has anyone heard anything about their post-secondary credits being transferred?

[babywhisperer333, BSN]

Yes I re-read that letter. They will assess those courses after we start...I still keep checking my BCIT transcript though :)

[charis8]

Hello all! I was notified in early November that I was on the top of the hold list for this intake and have a guaranteed spot for the August intake. I know that a few other people got this message as well; has anyone heard from them yet?