Saddleback students - a few questions about your program...

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Hi everyone,

I have applied to several nursing programs in Orange County, among them Saddleback College's, and I'm wondering how students who are currently enrolled there like the program.

I have a few questions, and I'd really appreciate if you could take the time and let me know what you think of the program.

Please feel free to write as much as you can think of. I'm really interested in anything that comes to your mind. Just skip any question that you don't feel like answering.

1. What semester are you in?

2. What do you like about the program?

3. What do you dislike about the program? / What do you think should be changed?

4. When comparing Saddleback to what you've heard of other programs, are there things that you believe Saddleback does better than other programs? (aside from producing high NCLEX pass rates)

5. To the A-hunters among you who entered the program with A's in all classes: Do you think you'll manage to graduate with A's in all your nursing classes as well?

6. Do you work? How much?

7. Is there anything you wish you had known before you entered the program?

Many thanks to all of you in advance!

Jessie

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I'm also curious to hear what people think of Saddleback's program. They've got a great NCLEX pass rate.

Jessie88, when you applied did you have to submit the application in person? I live in northern California so this would mean 12+ hours in the car for me and I'm not really sure what the point is. Do they talk to you about your application when you turn it in? Thanks!

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Hey, thanks for writing! I had already assumed nobody would ever reply to this post.

Yes, you do have to apply in person. I don't know what the point is either. They didn't really talk to me about my application, just opened my sealed transcripts and filed them. Maybe they have you come in to get an idea of how serious you are about attending the school?

Anyway, I'm applying again in June and am still curious about the questions of my starting post. Any Saddleback students out there?

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Thanks for the quick and helpful response! Good luck in June!

Please help us out Saddleback students, I'm curious too! : )

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I'm taking pharmacology right now at Saddleback. I'm starting their nursing program in August. I HIGHLY recommend taking the pharm class before starting the program. Even though it's only 2.5 units, I'm not going to lie...it's harder than some 4/5 unit classes I've taken. I almost cried after Tuesday's quiz. In the summer, we have a quiz every day we have class. During the regular semester, you have a weekly quiz. It's rough, but at the same time, it doesn't allow you to get behind.

I talked to the nursing department and they said that after Fall 2009, they might be only accepting Saddleback's pharmacology class, so you'll definitely want to check into that before taking the class somewhere else.

Oh, I do have to say that one of my friends is a L&D nurse at Hoag and said that she has heard nothing but great things about Saddleback (she also said the same about GWC.) Yesterday, a respiratory therapist (she trains RTs in a several area hospitals) told me that Saddleback & GWC's programs are the best in Southern California. She said that she loves getting Saddleback students, because they know what they're doing.

I'll try to update you on the program as I go. I'm really, really excited. It's been a long haul for me. I took my anatomy class there back in 2003. If I can do this, anyone can!!

PS: 2lroberts, do you know anyone in the area? They didn't check an ID or anything when I dropped off my application packet. It took all of 5 minutes. They just had me sign a form. Maybe you could talk to someone in the nursing department & just see if you can have someone else turn in your application for you. (It's just an idea...)

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AAnderson,

Congrats on getting in to the program! I can't wait to hear how it goes!

It's nice to know that experienced nurses think it's a great school.

I've tried calling to ask them about having someone drop off the application for me but I still haven't heard back- I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

I totally feel your pain with pharmacology. It was WAY harder than any of the classes I had to take for my B.S. which definitely surprised me. Yikes, I hope I don't have to take it again if they start only accepting Saddleback's course.

Thanks for the info and good luck!

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Does Saddleback NP accept applications twice a year?

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Yup, fall and spring: http://www.saddleback.edu/hs/rn/

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Specializes in Critical Care.

2lroberts:

Thank you!

I have my BS as well...and as much as I hate to say it, my 4 units statistics class was easier than this pharm class! But, I'm learning a lot and my medical background is really helping out a lot with some of the common medications.

Why are you trying to apply to Saddleback, if you don't mind me asking?

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AAnderson:

To be totally honest I'm applying to Saddleback because at this point I'm desperate. I'm on a ton of waitlists but they're all at least 2 years long and I'm anxious to get started. I also really like that Saddleback takes into account how well you do in classes instead of just putting you at the back of the line as soon as you finish your prereqs. I looked into ABSN programs but I really want to have a soild foundation so I'm totally okay with putting in an extra year of school. How about you? Are you considering an ABSN at all? If you don't mind sharing, what kind of medical background do you have?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

2lroberts:

I graduated with my BS in Health Care Administration last August. I've been working in the medical field (doctor's office and an alternative medical office) since I was a senior in high school. I also received my phlebotomy license while I was waiting to get into physiology (the class was full and I was unable to crash it.

I did all of my pre-reqs right out of high school. Then, I got stuck in the dreaded waiting list group. I applied to Saddleback's program for the first time in 2005. It was the last semester that they had a waiting list, so instead of sitting around and applying to various ADN programs over and over again, I transferred to Long Beach State.

Long story short, I was unhappy at my current job and new that I really wanted to be a nurse and that it would be one of my life's biggest regrets. I decided to give it one more shot (mostly because my pre-reqs were going to expire and I really wasn't about to start from scratch.) So, I applied to CSUN's Accelerated BSN program (they accepted 18 out of 350 applicants.) I didn't get in. I also applied at College of the Canyons & GoldenWest College and didn't get into either of their ADN programs. I opened Saddleback's letter a month ago and started bawling my eyes out. I was pretty hysterical. I just happened to be on the phone with my mom at the time and she was like "WHAT?!?! What does it say???" My response: "I don't know. All I read was Congratulations!"

I was going to move home to my parents' house if I got into College of the Canyons or CSUN. I just started dating this really great guy & I would have been 2 hours away from all of my friends. It would have been a total life-changer, but I'm glad that things worked out the way that they did. I get to keep my independence...and my friends (oh, and that really great boyfriend.) :)

So, long story short, I definitely know what desperation feels like. Don't give up, just keep applying & applying.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

PS: Jessie, sorry that I totally hijacked your post! I promise to let you know how it goes in the next few months! :)

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