This WA forum is so idle

suppose I can begin a topic about applying to WA(Seattle, King County etc) Schools and dealing with the pre-reqs that tend to be different (by one class – of course) FOR EACH PROGRAM!!!

I will begin working on my Pre- req’s at BCC and was wondering how one can navigate through the differing requirements so that hopefully a applicant is not ‘stuck’ applying for 1 or 2 only. I want to cast a large fishing net because the competition is SOOOO high and I don’t want to sell myself short. OCDChick… What has been your experience in the whole application” craziness? Should I concentrate on becoming a CNA first and then working on Pre-reqs so that I can gain experience while I mutter through Micro etc?

Here is a little snippet about my situation. I currently have a in psychology and I would like to enter the nursing field specifically for Psych nursing. I have been a medical biller for many years. I am also currently pursing my CDP license. (Chemical Dependency Professional)

I will begin the science pre- reqs spring quarter, but am having doubts about rushing and stacking Mico/A&P etc in order to finish by fall 2008 so that I could apply for 2009. I feel the ‘slow and steady’ method might be the best thing. I am wondering if I should take the time this semester to complete my CNA and then begin my hard sciences in the fall and apply for 2010. My fear is that I will do the slow and steady thing and then have to wait YEARS to be accepted into a WA program... Geez my sciences may expire by then!

How long did it take for you to get accepted into a program? Is it true that it could take years in the WA area? Will a CAN open more doors for me? Is it worth the extra expense and time to pursue it first?

Any input you have would be appreciated!!!:bowingpur

Dazed and confused in Issaquah:cry:

Hi!!

Sorry it's taken me a little bit to get back to you on this!!

My exp with the nursing programs and applying is not very exciting. Sorry. I came into this whole ordeal (school in general) wide eyed and overwhelemed, especially after meeting with an advisor. She explained that there are all these pre-reqs and described how hard it might be for me being a mom of 2, working a full time + job, and taking night classes. But, I got p*ssed (pardon my french), which made me all that much more determined. I came up with a POA. Start taking classes, 2 per quarter until I'm done. Then apply madly to every program I could find. Well, I have good news and bad news about that...

Bad news- you're right, each school has different requirements. So getting to the point where you meet them all might kill you.

Good news- I busted my you-know-what and applied at the same school I took all my pre-reqs at. I completed every prereq with a 4.0GPA and got involved in as much school related stuff I could. I figured the more they saw my name, the better my chances might be come application time. I don't know if that theory worked or not, but I can say that I turned in 1 application at 1 school and got in- first round. I was told that they took less that half of the applicants (there were 57, and they took 24).

I cried when I got the acceptance letter!!

My advice to you is similar to what someone else said... decide what exactly you want to do, then go after that. If you don't make a decission between the 2, you're going to drive yourself mad... and waste a lot of time. It sounds to me like you have a good start already with all the exp you have... keep it up!

Best of luck!!

I'm so glad to find some other people on this site who are in the same boat as I am. :yeah:I have been poking around for awhile on this site, and was getting bummed that there was no other BCC students.

A little about me: I am a SAHM who recently decided to persue a life long dream of nursing. My kids are young (9.5,7,3.5,2,8 mo) but I am determined. I just started taking Pre-reqs at BCC (it's close by and I went there for 2 years after HS). I felt since I am just getting back into schooling that I would take 1 class at a time. I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew and end up with bad grades.

I ultimately plan to apply to BCC's Nursing program but I understand it's very hard to get in. (I believe they accept 57 students and about 200 apply). I am worried that I will go through all the pre reqs and then wait for years. I have a friend that just applied and was waitlisted. Now she has to wait another year to apply. They do their acceptance based on a LOTTERY. And the waitlist is a LOTTERY as well. I have the same concerns...what if my sciences expire waiting to get in to the school??

Is there anyone else out there doing pre-reqs to get into BCC's nursing school? Is there any order you recommend taking Micro,A&PI/II? I also plan to go to summer school and take SPEECH 230. Do you think I could take Spc 230 and Micro with the kids? And then Dev Psych and A& PI or would it be too much? My DH is supportive, but I just can't gage how much studying that would take out of my day. (Baby still gets up at night at least once..yawnnn!):heartbeat

Also, I know BCC requires you to be a CNA before you start the program. Should I do that AFTER I'm accepted ? Or do you think I should do it this summer? I've looked online for jobs as CNA's but all of them are full time. I can't justify working full time making $10 an hour when it would cost me that much or more for a babysitter...but I would love the experience. Anyone know if there are part time CNA positions out there around this area?

Sorry in advance for all the questions, I'm just eager to get on the right track and I don't want to make mistakes that cost time and money. Thanks!

Hi MoyCoy,

a few days ago I came across this news on My BCC's student website. The article says they are planning to use part of the grant $ to expand their nursing program to accept 16 additional students and start accepting students twice a year. That's really exciting, so maybe by the time you are done with your pre-reqs it'll be a little bit easier to get in...we can hope!:yeahthat:

April 3rd, 2008

U.S. Labor Dept. awards BCC $1.8 million

to expand health-care training, attract

new students to the field

BELLEVUE, WASH. -- Bellevue Community College (BCC) has received a three-year, $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to address severe shortages of health-care workers locally and statewide..........

Here is the link to the article:

http://eastsidebusinessjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1438&Itemid=1&mosmsg=Thanks+for+your+vote%21

Sorry about not adding it before...I'm a newbie:dncgbby:

Thanks for that link (I didn't really check it out. I'm just trying to get the stupid 15 posts to enable the private messaging.)

Here's my two cents for what it's worth for the previous posters. I would definitely get your CNA license, but do that after or while you are getting your prerequisites done. Every college wants the prerequisites, not every college wants a CNA, but it will greatly improve your resume and give you experience. Finding a CNA class might be tricky, but my advice is to find one that a local nursing home offers for FREE. Don't pay to get your CNA training out of the way!! It will set you back about $1000. That's what I did. The only thing I paid for was the licensing exam. Just call some local nursing homes. I know in Montesano, Aberdeen, and Hoquiam there are classes offered at those nursing homes if you are from a smaller town/area. I did not have to sign anything that committed me to work there either at the place I did it at. The CNA training is physically hard, but the class is a piece of cake, so little if any studying will be required. It will just be fitting it into your schedule as it's like a full time job for two months (M-F 8-3 or so). Hope that is helpful to anyone that is interested!