SFSU/Cañada/Sequoia 2011 admitted students

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Specializes in CVICU.

Hi all,

There is a discussion group that has seemed to lump both main campus and Cañada students together--why not start our own? Our program uses different texts (we'll have to buy them through the Cañada bookstore), costs more, and has a strong preference towards Cañada/CSM/Skyline students and Sequoia hospital volunteers...so we might know each other already!

I was absolutely ecstatic when I got my acceptance letter on 3/25. On Monday, 3/28, I went straight down to Cañada to turn in my form...only to realize they are all away on Spring break. First lesson learned...the program follows SFSU's academic calendar, not Cañada's. Following that logic, we start school on Tuesday, 8/23/11!!!!

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Specializes in nurse anesthesia 6-10 yrs from now.

Wow, thanks for all the info. I got into the Canada-SFSU prog for Aug. too. I got my letter Mar. 24th. Boy, I've been wondering when the start date was for fall so thanks for the clarification.

How did you get all this info? You're very knowledgeable and you've been a great help. I didn't know our books were different and more expensive. Sure glad I maxed out the loans I was offered from SFSU--will need every penny of it.

Do you happen to know if only 40 are accepted annually or 40 for fall and 40 for spring, similar to the campus program? Any other info you can offer about what to expect from the program? All I know is it's going to be very intense according to past bloggers.

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Specializes in CVICU.

Hi Candice!

I don't know that the books cost more, but the tuition certainly is more because we're classified as "SFSU extension." For the Canada program, it's $300/unit. So, the first semester, with 14 units will be $4,200. Compare that to the main campus which pays a flat rate tuition for 6 or more units, at $2,200. I'm not sure what additional campus fees (Health Center, Student Body, etc.) we will be paying as Canada/Sequoia students. Go here for a break down of main campus fees: http://www.sfsu.edu/~bursar/student/fees/undergrad_fees.html

Where did I get this info? Mostly from sfsu.edu and the orientation meeting held back in September (?) for prospective Canada/Sequoia applicants. I also graduated from SFSU in 2005 so I'm familiar with a lot of their policies. Have a look at the SoN Student Handbook. It's loaded with interesting tidbits like clinical attendance policies (p.46), med. calculation exams (p.44), etc. http://www.nursing.sfsu.edu/pdfs/SoN_Student_Handbook.pdf

I get the impression that everyone in nursing school (no matter what program they're in) complains about the intensity. I've been warned that adding up class time, lab time, clinicals, and studying is the equivalent of a 50-60 hour commitment each week. Don't get discouraged, but take this time to get prepared/relax. Last summer I took "Success Strategies in Nursing School" and "Med. Dosage Calculation" courses offered by the nursing department at College of San Mateo and found them to be incredibly helpful.

I look forward to meeting you in person at the orientation. :)

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Specializes in nurse anesthesia 6-10 yrs from now.

omg! you are so prepared. I've heard of the med dosage calc. exam they have us take right from the start and people say it's hard. Do you think there are any online courses available on that subject? I can only take online courses this summer since I'll be working full time to make a quick few extra bucks for nursing school. Do you think medical terminology is worth taking before the program starts as well or is there some other subject you think I may be better off taking in order to be prepared?

Hearing how well prepared you are, I already feel behind if that's even possible LOL.

Thanks a bunch for your response. Hopefully, we'll be able to pick each other out at the orientation :)

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Hi there,

Congratulations to you both!

I too am an admitted student to this program for Fall 2011 and am beyond excited to begin. I've just found this website, so I haven't made it through ALL of the SFSU/ Canada posts, but from those I have looked through there seems to be important logistical differences between the two programs, main and satellite.

I know that the SFSU/Canada program is more expensive, but wow I did not know the texts were different. What I understood was that the curriculum and faculty are from SFSU, so I assumed we would have the same texts, and that the classroom space/facilities and clinical sites would be at Canada College and around the Redwood City area. Am I right in thinking this? Will we be in San Francisco at all?

Figuring out where we will be spending most of our time (in class and at clinicals) is my biggest concern right now, because that will impact the living situation. Since I will be relocating to attend this program, I'm a little uncertain about how to plan for living near a large city. Definitely a suburban girl. Planning a trip to the Canada campus/SFSU/ both? next Friday to see what there is to see.

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Specializes in CVICU.

The med dosage class, Nursing 610, is only two days and is offered on a weekend at the end of July--that might be doable with your work schedule. The optional textbook for that class, Dimensional Analysis for Meds, is available in the CSM library if you'd rather look at the book than take the class.

I've thought about taking a medical terminology...but from the textbooks I've seen...they don't seem particularly useful as we've already taken anatomy. A better person to ask would be someone in nursing school or a recent graduate who took medical terminology right before nursing school.

Over the past year I took pathophysiology and pharmacology. Pharmacology was probably the most helpful simply because there is so much to memorize. If you want to get a head start without taking the class, google "top 200 most prescribed drugs." You might be better off memorizing those drugs (brand & generic name, type of drug, and normal dosage range) than taking a medical terminology class. We will be taking pharmacology in the Fall, so don't feel obligated to take the class online now, only to repeat it later this year.

Don't feel under prepared! I only took these classes because I was done with my pre-reqs and wanted to keep learning while I waited to get in to nursing school. Who knows how much of this stuff I will actually be able to remember over a year later.

I'd be happy to meet for coffee if you'd like to see the books I mentioned earlier--just drop me an email.

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Specializes in CVICU.

Hi Talkinghead,

Yay! Another future student! Yes, all the classes are taught at Canada in Redwood City, and many of the clinicals will be held at Sequoia hospital in Redwood City. It's doubtful you'll need to go to San Francisco very much...maybe once in a great while to visit the financial aid window at the One Stop Center.

Communities to check out when you go apartment hunting (aside from Redwood City): Belmont, San Mateo, and Mountain View are safe, suburban, have a lot of apartments, and are slightly less expensive than Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and San Carlos. Also, if you can find a place near 280 instead of 101, you'll be better off traffic wise.

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CharmantUn,

Thanks for the heads up. It seemed like such a basic question, but the consortium aspect of this program leaves a lot of room for "where/when is this going to happen? who do I talk to about xyz?"

I'm also having a lot of fun exploring this website. What a great resource! I look forward to talking further with you and other admitted students, anyone with questions, and the larger nursing community. Yay!

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Specializes in nurse anesthesia 6-10 yrs from now.
The med dosage class, Nursing 610, is only two days and is offered on a weekend at the end of July--that might be doable with your work schedule. The optional textbook for that class, Dimensional Analysis for Meds, is available in the CSM library if you'd rather look at the book than take the class.

I've thought about taking a medical terminology...but from the textbooks I've seen...they don't seem particularly useful as we've already taken anatomy. A better person to ask would be someone in nursing school or a recent graduate who took medical terminology right before nursing school.

Over the past year I took pathophysiology and pharmacology. Pharmacology was probably the most helpful simply because there is so much to memorize. If you want to get a head start without taking the class, google "top 200 most prescribed drugs." You might be better off memorizing those drugs (brand & generic name, type of drug, and normal dosage range) than taking a medical terminology class. We will be taking pharmacology in the Fall, so don't feel obligated to take the class online now, only to repeat it later this year.

Don't feel under prepared! I only took these classes because I was done with my pre-reqs and wanted to keep learning while I waited to get in to nursing school. Who knows how much of this stuff I will actually be able to remember over a year later.

I'd be happy to meet for coffee if you'd like to see the books I mentioned earlier--just drop me an email.

Yah, let's do lunch or coffee sometime. I would love to take a look at the books you are referring to (and pick your brains some more). You can too Talkinghead (but I know it may be inaccessible for you if you still live far away right now). I can't figure out a way to email you on this site. You two can email me if you like: [email protected] I actually work in San Carlos Tues. and Thurs. so any of those days should work perfectly for me.

Also, that's great the class was only 2 days. I will have to look into that. I'm so impressed you've already taken patho and pharm (I think I'm going to have to sit next to you in class and osmotically soak up your brain power LOL). I am so happy for all of us. I feel we're especially fortunate to be in this position because the Cohort program only accepts 40 students each year compared to 80 on campus. Also, Canada College is a good school with great facilities--I took Jett Chin for Anatomy here and we had cadaver access every lab. Supposedly, other anatomy students might only get to observe cadavers once or twice a semester at other schools. The pluses also include easy parking, less traffic, and word is that Cohort program maintains better graduation and NCLEX stats than the campus program. The down side for me is that only the 280 comes near campus and not 101 (a little inconvenient for me since I drop my son off to daycare each morning) and that it's slightly pricier than the campus program (still waaaay cheaper than Samuel Merritt--their price tag made me gag on my spit a little bit).

Can't wait to meet you all. Feel like we're friends already and we'll have to be since we'll be stuck with each other for the next 2 years LOL. Hope ya'lls don't mind putting up with me. :lol2:

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hi there!

Ive come across your thread and i am interested in taking the courses you took. i was wondering how much did you pay for each class?and how was the drug calculation class?I am not so good in math and I think this would really help me.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Congrats everyone!! I am graduating next month from the SFSU/Canada program :D Let me know if you have any questions.

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Hello NorCalRN2011... I'm interested in the nursing program at Canada. Can you tell me if it's been difficult for recent graduates to get jobs? Would you recommend the program?

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