Saint Louis Community College Wait List

I'm not sure what's up with FLo. It is strange that they start with a class of 60 and only graduate 18-20 students. This semester at Forest Park we have about 15 students who transfered in from FloValley. Almost all their comments echo some of the things this poster has said.(Didnt know anything about a lawsuit though).(Whoever the person suing must have an idiot for an attorney because the first thing you are told in any lawsuit is not to talk to anyone about it....Oh well just my two cents!) I did notice in the latest NCLEX results posted on the MO BON website they dropped from their 100%(still above 95% though). Forest Park finally went up to 96 or 97%!HURRAY! I love Forest Park and am glad I chose to go there from the begining!

We had a lot of Flo Transfers last semester at FP as well. They seem to fail out a whole lot of students that do just fine at FP. They also go on to pass NCLEX. Flo seems to think they are the 'gold standard' of the STLCC schools, and I do not agree. The stories I have heard indicate that they are authoritarian and just plain rude to their students. I am sure everyone that went to Flo did not have this experience, but I personally know 8 people that finished at FP after starting at Flo, and they all have the same complaints.

Just my

I also am trying to get information on Community Colleges, I was thinking Meramec or Wildwood who is better? Since I will be moving to Pacific MO I don't know who is closer. And as far as the accelerated Nursing Program is it really hard and don't you have to have a Bachelors Degree already?

I also am trying to get information on Community Colleges, I was thinking Meramec or Wildwood who is better? Since I will be moving to Pacific MO I don't know who is closer. And as far as the accelerated Nursing Program is it really hard and don't you have to have a Bachelors Degree already?

Wildwood is actually the new campus of the old West County location of Meramec's campus. I don't know if they're considered their own division of STLCC's campuses such as Forest Park and Flo Valley, but regardless, at this time, to my knowledge, they do not have a nursing program on that campus. I'm sure you can take many of your prereqs there, however. And if the staff is similar to what's on the other campuses, you should find them as good as any of the other locations.

The only nursing programs I am aware of are Meramec, Forest Park, or Flo Valley. Meramec would be a fairly short drive east on Hwy. 44 to the campus in Kirkwood. Forest Park or Flo Valley would be considerably farther.

I just checked online and yes, Wildwood is considered it's own campus now....but in checking the Nursing programs, they are still only located as I listed them above.

Check this out:

http://www.stlcc.edu/Programs/Nursing/

Best wishes!!

I'm sorry you had a bad experience at Flo Valley, but the fact of the matter is that they do graduate students who do pass the NCLEX and they do have a high pass rate to show for that. Read around on allnurses; that pass rate IS primarily what school is about these days. If you can't graduate students who can pass the boards, then what's the point?!?!

Flo Valley is notorious for being difficult. I do not mean academically difficult, I mean emotionally wrenching and ridiculous. I went to FP, and I can honestly say that anything I thought was terrible about my own school paled in comparison with the stories that came from Flo students.

As for passing the boards being the entire point....

Lots of really crappy nurses have passed boards. I feel that nursing schools have a responsibilty to give their students an education that will enable them to function in a healthcare setting. "Teaching to the boards" has gotten absolutely ridiculous.

Some of the best stuff I ever heard a nursing professor say in school began with something like, "Well, on NCLEX the answer would be to raise the head of the bed" ....... They usually ended with...."but I am telling you right now that you had better press the damn code button or grab the first doctor you see and drag them in the room if you see this". "Notify the physician" does not even begin to describe the urgency that is sometimes necessary

The Ivory Tower of NCLEX does not prepare nurses for practice. I do not feel that it is an accurate measuring stick for allowing nurses to enter practice. Of course, I have no idea how to improve upon it either. I personally know several people who had a heck of a time passing NCLEX, and wound up being excellent nurses. I also know several people who passed NCLEX on the first try, who I would not allow to treat a cocker spaniel if I could help it.

Having said all that, WDW...you are absolutely right! They have to maintain an 80% pass rate in MO to stay accredited. The NCLEX is the measuring stick that the BON uses. I just personally believe Flo Valley goes about it the wrong way. FP and Meramec graduate way more nurses than Flo Valley, even when you allow for the fact that they only start one class a year. I think the instructors at Meramec and FP are caring, concerned professionals that want to 'grow new nurses'. I purposely leave Flo out of that statement.

Peace

SS

Well, I will just defer at this point by saying that I don't personally know any students from Flo, so it's hard for me to address.

I think my response came from wondering how much of the issue was a matter of perception -- case in point:

I ran in to a student who dropped from our first semester class....I didn't have any firsthand knowledge of why she left, but had heard "stories". When I ran in to her as I was approaching my 3rd semester, she told me she was going to be starting @ FP. It was "easier" than Meramec and their instructors were better. She was looking forward to starting NS again. I found her statements rather interesting as the majority of our class had stayed intact and still is....there's always varied personalities no matter what you do, but I LIKE our staff and found them supportive and helpful.

We lost about 9 folks that first semester. Did many of them feel the same? Will that "word" get out on the street about Meramec? I don't know, but I'd bet if you polled our class, you won't hear those same sentiments.

Again, just a matter of perspective.

I appreciate your input and thoughts; the sharing and exchange of thoughts is certainly the strength of a forum like this!!

Best wishes!!

And as far as the accelerated Nursing Program is it really hard and don't you have to have a Bachelors Degree already?

Well, I haven't started the accelerated program yet at UMSL, but our first day of class is on May 12th, and we graduate by next August (in 2009) and no, you do not have to have a bachelor's degree already to apply..you just need to have their required 62 specific credit hours of pre-requisites finished and a competitive GPA to get in (which was my case, actually...I am currently a sophomore in college). They accepted 40 students for this years program...there were about double that number who applied for the spots. The accelerated program at UMSL only starts up once a year every May....applications are due by February 1st....I'll let you know how the program is once I start it! May 12th is just around the corner :)

wdwpixie:

I think that is rather funny,...mainly because I ran into someone from our first semester class who didnt make it...said she tells everyone how hard and unreasonable the faculty and classes are at FP, she was really excited because she is on the waiting list now to start again...this time at Meramec!("Because their program is so much better & they arent as hard on you as they are at Forest Park!"). It's all a matter of perspective. I knew this girl & based on the study habits she had 4 semesters ago she wouldnt have passed anywhere she had gone! WHAT A HOOT!

It's all a matter of perspective. I knew this girl & based on the study habits she had 4 semesters ago she wouldnt have passed anywhere she had gone! WHAT A HOOT!

Eggsactly!!! :igtsyt:

Happy Easter all!!

I applied to Forest Park last December right after finishing my final prereq. I just got a letter a couple weeks ago saying I'm #40 on the wait list for this fall, so I think that means I'm in for Jan '09. Does anyone know how large each new class is? I hope it's at least 40! Anyhow, that's just a year's wait - not too bad.

Forest Park has 48 spots per semester.