San Diego City College- Any info on the new requirements and no waitlist?

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Mar 8, 2010

Oh wow I currently attend the San Diego City College Nursing program and didn't know this! I'm looking at their website now

DaleenMarine · Mar 9, 2010

Once I get my ore-requisites my plan is to shotgun all the local nursing schools. Any idea if City allows students to apply as a work in progress?

rosebud123 · Mar 9, 2010

Hey everyone!

Thanks for replying... I don't think they allow work in progress. I'm done with all my pre-requisites and I'm "gunning" for all the nursing schools as well! I heard some schools in the area are closing their waitlist and will be accepting students in this fashion: a percentage of new applicants by a point system (for example, 75%) and a percentage from their old wait list (like 25%). By 2012, they'll be accepting 100% of their students by their point system.

I need to double check on the deadline date since it's all off on their website.

Faeriewand:You're in the nursing school?? Wow?!?! I'm so jealous! It's been such hard work trying to find a school... waiting... etc. So many applicants, yet so little space available! How long did you have to wait? And how do you like it?

Daleenmarine: What other schools are you applying to?

DaleenMarine · Mar 9, 2010

I don't think they allow work in progress.

When I first started on this journey, some schools were allowing work in progress application submissions. I don't think anyone does anymore. :crying2:

I'm done with all my pre-requisites and I'm "gunning" for all the nursing schools as well! I heard some schools in the area are closing their waitlist and will be accepting students in this fashion: a percentage of new applicants by a point system (for example, 75%) and a percentage from their old wait list (like 25%). By 2012, they'll be accepting 100% of their students by their point system.
Daleenmarine: What other schools are you applying to?

Since it sounds like you are determined to get into a program, and if you have reliable transportation, I'd recommend looking at the approved schools on the BRN's site and see if you'd be willing to make the drive to any schools in neighboring counties. Commuting can be brutal and un-fun, but might be worth it to you when it comes to realizing your dreams. You might also get lucky like I did with my Anatomy & Physiology class (1.5 hour drive, ugh!) and find a carpool/study buddy.

I'm taking my Anatomy & Physiology and Micro at National University and will be completed by the end of August so I'm hoping to apply for Spring 2011 admission. I'll be applying for National's BSN (since they have less pre-req's than the other Entry Level BSN programs around here) as well as the ADN programs in the CCs throughout San Diego, Orange and Riverside Counties.

I figure while I'm waiting to hear back, I can knock out some of the courses I'll need to apply to most other BSN programs and maybe do a volunteer CCE position (not only would it be super interesting, but some schools will count this volunteer work and add points to your application). I'm a mom, though, so time can sometimes get tight...especially when you consider that I'm knocking out ALL my science pre-req's in such a short time. I still need to find some time to study so I can sit the TEAS this summer, too. It's a lot but so exciting to finally be working toward my dream again.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Mar 11, 2010

Hey everyone!
Faeriewand:You're in the nursing school?? Wow?!?! I'm so jealous! It's been such hard work trying to find a school... waiting... etc. So many applicants, yet so little space available! How long did you have to wait? And how do you like it?

I am doing LVN-RN so the wait was less. I applied in August and got a letter in February to invite me to the transitions course. Did that from March thru May and at the end of May was invited to join the 2nd year students in the fall. The LVN's just take the place of those first year students who wash out of the program. If more than enough LVN's have applied then they wait until the next year.

I agree that the best way is to apply to every program you can think of. I only applied to two programs and when I didn't get in the first one, Grossmont College, I was quite apprehensive about not getting in the second one and really thought myself foolish for only applying to those two (Grossmont and City)

Now that we have so many new schools opening up, the wait list is actually shorter than what they tell you. So while students who were admitted in the fall did have to wait three years, future students would not have that long of a wait.

dberg · Mar 12, 2010

I have read with interest the postings about nursing admission, waitlists, etc. All community colleges in San Diego County have decided to use the same application and the same point system as admission criteria. Yes, we all got together and hammered out the current process you see on the City College website. The other community colleges will begin to use it for Spring and Fall 2011 admissions. We are hopeful that this process will encourage students to apply to the school they want to attend, rather than apply to all schools.

Our waitlists now are full of prospective students who are already attending another program but have not bothered to let us know. Last year, when I tried to admit 60 students for fall, I went thru the first 200 on the list, sent over 100 admission letters, oriented 80 students and still only started with 58 on the first day of class. What this means is that of the first 200 on the waitlist there were 142 people who were unprepared to enter the program in August.

The directors are all hoping that we will only get applications from prospective students who are prepared and anxious to begin a rigorous nursing education program when they are notified of their admission. We realize it is going to take a couple years before students trust that they only have to apply to the school they WANT TO ATTEND because the points will be the same no matter where they apply. We are hoping that this process will make the admission procedure easier and and the attrition from all of our programs decrease to almost zero! Which is the reason we have gone to assigning points to the admission criteria. Of the eventually 60 who started in the fall, 14 have already left the program for a variety of reasons (academic, financial ...). Again, we want students who are prepared for the rigors of a full time nursing education program.

Thank you all ... for your interest in our profession of Nursing and in San Diego City College. I hope to see you in the program one day soon. By the way, the application period is March 15th to April 30th because the admissions office is not open on Saturday, May 1st.

Debbie Berg, MSN, RN

Associate Dean/Director, Nursing Education

San Diego City College

rosebud123 · Mar 15, 2010

Daleenmarine: I was just looking at National University today. Is that a pretty pricey school? And how does that compare to other private schools in the san diego area?

DaleenMarine · Mar 15, 2010

Daleenmarine: I was just looking at National University today. Is that a pretty pricey school? And how does that compare to other private schools in the san diego area?

I think it is pretty pricey. I'm not sure of the exact cost because I am currently using a program for military spouses to pay for my Anat&Phys 1&2 and Micro (don't quote me but I think each class is upwards of $1600). Then I'm planning to use my GI Bill for a nursing program, tuition is covered up to the state max as are some of the program fees, so the price I was quoted by National is my out of pocket cost (again don't quote me but I want to say it was something like $45/unit or class).

Even without the financial assistance, I would probably still be looking to National for a degree. As a former Marine and a current Marine spouse, I have transcripts from all over the place and they are part of a network of schools that have a special agreement to make matriculation less painful for military and their families.

Also, having taken so many semesters off due to family issues, the opportunity to complete my core sciences in 6 months (I don't work so the pace is suitable) vs. 3 traditional semesters was one that I could not pass up. We'll see how that decision affects me when I start applying for ADN programs...I've heard that people have issues transferring quarter units (which National uses) to semester schools even among WASC accredited schools (which National is).

As for other private schools, I haven't looked into them since I don't yet have the pre-req's completed (organic chemistry sounds scary!).

lmarites · Mar 16, 2010

Question for Dberg

Is there another person in the administration besides ----- that can help me with my application? She is not nice and not helpful at all. I have been on the waitlist for over 2 years now and i just turned in my new application to her. She just crossed out lines on my app saying that this is not acceptable without explanations. She did tell my current number on the list.

Thank you!

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Mar 16, 2010

Imarites don't give up hope. If you've been on the wait list for two years now then you are really close to getting accepted. :) Be prepared for a really tough program with lots of tests and the ATI as well.

Thank you to the DON of City College for posting information. You are always available to answer questions and it is much appreciated. :)

lmarites · Mar 17, 2010

thanks faeriewand, i really needed that uplifting comment! i will keep my hopes up :)