Unhappy with CSCC...are there any alternatives?

U.S.A. Ohio

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I submitted my application to CSCC at 9:00 am this morning. Later today, I found out that dozens of other people had the same idea. They camped out in the computer lab and all waited to hit the 'enter' key at 9:00 am. The application was supposedly for Spring '11, but only a few people will get in due to the overwhelming number of applicants from the Fall '10 crowd. I'm fairly certain that I will not start until almost a year and a half from now. I find this frustrating, considering I have the same chance of getting in as someone who has much lower grades than mine (I have a 3.9 GPA). Are there any good alternatives to Columbus State out there?

There are many many alternatives to CSCC in the Central Ohio area. You have everything from OSU and Mt. Carmel to Hondros and Chamberlain - with about a dozen in between.

I looked into a couple of those schools and it is important to figure out which will meet your needs. Weigh the quality of the program, their clinical sites and local reputations with the costs of the programs versus the lost income in waiting for CSCC.

foreverLaur

1,319 Posts

CSCC is so popular because they are, hands down, the best community college program in the area. They have a great reputation and the tuition is low. I don't think as many students applied as you think right at 9:00am. In January I looked at applying but couldn't even get into the system until 9:15am because it kept crashing from the large volume of students (same thing happens when you try to register for classes at midnight). I had no problems getting in and I also spoke with CSCC who said immediately applications were down from January's numbers.

Chamberlain is extremely expensive with poor clinical sites (you often have to travel 2 hours to sites), OSU/Capital/Otterbein/Mt Carmel are BSN programs which are longer and with much higher tuition, Hondros is iffy and expensive...

I'm hoping for March 2011 but will wait if I have to (although not happy about it). I feel you with the grades thing. I got As the first time around in all my prerequisites. Half my NURC 102 class was taking it for the 2nd or 3rd time because they keep failing - that close is a joke compared to nursing school. If you can't pass NURC 102 the first time, you shouldn't be allowed to apply. It is so frustrating to potentially lose my March 2011 seat to the 40% of students that drop out or fail out of the program.:mad:

HurricaneMan

14 Posts

i totally understand. i too am going for the nursing program at CSCC but i know that the waitlist is too long. i cant imagine waiting 2 years for a 2 year degree. i plan on transferring. the BSN over the ADN is certainly more valuable considering the time factor.

msteeleart

231 Posts

Specializes in Psych/med surg.

If I were you I would just wait to see what happens. I was all discouraged when I applied to the online program at Columbus State. People said it was hard to get in and everyone gets turned away. I got in on the first try and I start in September. Don't be discouraged and please don't go spend a boatload on another school because of the rumors that you hear. You don't want to walk out of nursing school with $45k of student loans. I bet you will get in, yes the waiting is the hard part but it will be over before you know it.

kidsnstudyn

56 Posts

I agree with the above posters. Wait and see what happens, but I would certainly start checking your options. Personally the only other programs in the area I would consider are Mt. Carmel, Otterbein, and Capital. In that order. Chamberlain is ridiculously expensive. :confused: And a lot of the others are treading water on the accreditation front and you want to make sure that the school you go to is respected and hospitals will hire from it. Don't ask recruiters for the 'for-profit' schools and don't ask the current students.... ask the ones that have been out of school for 6 months without placement. Anyway... there are some good ones further afield. Hocking College I've heard good things about, but their clinical sites are the little country hospitals - not bad, just not what everyone is looking for in the way of experience. :)

I believe Good Housekeeping? had an article in June about the importance of choosing a good school and not getting in over your head in debt at a school that won't really stand the test in the job market. - Sorry to be vague, but if I find the magazine/article I'll post again with a firm location on where to find it. :idea:

Good Luck, and just breathe and remember you don't know until you get the letter...there is always so much this and that, wait list this, and scary that... You'll find out soon enough, and if you want a good adviser on where to go from here go to ----. She's the best pre-nursing adviser at CSCC.:D

foreverLaur

1,319 Posts

i totally understand. i too am going for the nursing program at CSCC but i know that the waitlist is too long. i cant imagine waiting 2 years for a 2 year degree. i plan on transferring. the BSN over the ADN is certainly more valuable considering the time factor.

A lot of other factors to consider. A BSN is 4 years versus 2 years for the ADN and that is assuming you get accepted right away. The CSCC waitlist is not 2 years. Most people that applied January 2010 are starting September 2010. I applied July 2010 to start March 2011 (if it fills up with people that applied before me, I'll start September 2011) so worst case scenario is still 14 months which isn't near 24 months :). Plus, the ADN is around $3,000 a year for me versus the BSN being probably $12,000 a year so it saves me a lot of money too. Employers give steep discounts for RN-BSN while employed anyway.

HurricaneMan

14 Posts

ok there are a few things to clear up here.

1. the BSN program, for me, would be just easier to transfer into since im starting at the beginning of my nursing education. the difference would be my grades. if i am strong academically, which i am, then the BSN transfer option could suit me better because i wouldnt have to lose any momentum in my pursuit of my degree AND again, i would finish with a BSN before completing and ADN.

2. the wait list at CSCC IS two years because they arent accepting a spring class in 2011. the school will be switching from quarters to semesters in 2012 and they dont want anyone in the program and actively taking classes while that switch is happening. so, if i apply and January, which is the plan, and dont get in, i will have to wait until the NEXT January to be accepted into the following fall. how do i know this?? because i talked with the nursing advisor less than a week ago about what i posted here and these are the suggestions and ideas that she told me.

3. i know that money is an issue. right now, it is for everyone and im not exempt in any way. my thought on the matter would be the ability to get done and start working sooner with the BSN to pay off whatever loans i have to. i dont mind taking out loans for my education as i believe its an investment. would it be more expensive?? sure. am i willing to pay for it?? absolutely. my issue isnt with the money as much as it is the timing in which id be able to pay that stuff off.

with all that said, my friend who has been a nurse for 15 years suggests that its better to wait and do the ADN because the practical training is better. she also mentioned that if i have to wait, to just take the classes that i would need to complete my BSN in the meantime and not stop going to school. im not sure why but i hadnt thought of that before lol. since my eventual goal is to become a PA, getting a BSN has to happen, regardless. i just didnt want to lose any steam in my pursuit, you know??

CSCC has nothing but a stellar reputation and id love to be in the program, im just considering my odds. im still going to apply and everything, i just think that having a solid plan B wouldnt be a bad thing.

foreverLaur

1,319 Posts

2. the wait list at CSCC IS two years because they arent accepting a spring class in 2011. the school will be switching from quarters to semesters in 2012 and they dont want anyone in the program and actively taking classes while that switch is happening. so, if i apply and January, which is the plan, and dont get in, i will have to wait until the NEXT January to be accepted into the following fall. how do i know this?? because i talked with the nursing advisor less than a week ago about what i posted here and these are the suggestions and ideas that she told me.

Wow. That is news to me. I have personally spoken with people that got acceptance letters to start March 2011 in the mail from the January 2010 application and my NURC 102 professor (**************) and **** ******** (on July 1) told me they are accepting people to start March 2011. The website states that the July 2010 application is for those starting Spring 2011 and the January 2011 application is for those starting September 2011. Looks like some more digging needs to be done to find out what the deal is. Do you remember the name of the advisor that told you this? Was it a general advisor or a nursing advisor? I'm meeting with a nursing advisor later this month... I'll ask then.

HurricaneMan

14 Posts

i know exactly what youre saying. i think there is a lot to be cleared up and i plan on asking my NURC professor when i get back to class on Monday. i dont wanna tell her whole name in this particular medium lol; shes a nursing advisor. but youre right, there is a lot thats happening right now and i think the biggest thing is this upcoming switch from quarters to semesters that has all this up in the air. any new information you get concerning this, id love to hear it and ill certainly do the same.

foreverLaur

1,319 Posts

i know exactly what youre saying. i think there is a lot to be cleared up and i plan on asking my NURC professor when i get back to class on Monday. i dont wanna tell her whole name in this particular medium lol but her name is Mary and shes a nursing advisor. but youre right, there is a lot thats happening right now and i think the biggest thing is this upcoming switch from quarters to semesters that has all this up in the air. any new information you get concerning this, id love to hear it and ill certainly do the same.

Ugh I hope they have a March 2011 class. I cannot afford to wait until the switch to semesters is complete. Unlike you, I don't have another option. I can't get anymore Stafford loans, I'd have to quit my job, and I have no way to afford a 4 yr education... I already have two bachelors degrees. (health psych & neuroscience).

HurricaneMan

14 Posts

i hope im wrong. i really do. i cant imagine being in your situation. i think the people who have to wait and reapply have it tough but you... lol youre in a whole new category. again, i hope im wrong and we both get in and become nurses. im just not sure how the switch is going to play out for us.

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