*Vent*- Waitlist frustration

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Specializes in CNA at Nursing Home.

Just wanted to vent. I applied to 2 nursing program. I have been on the waitlist for the first one for a year and a half and I was supposed to be able to attend in fall. That is, until the program directors decided to add three classes as prereq's to getting in the nursing program starting this fall. Only one of the three classes are available as a summer class and the fall sections of the classes are already full so that means IF I took the classes in spring, I couldn't even get into the program until next fall at the earliest because not having the classes already means I am again bumped to the back of the waiting list.

The second program I have been waitlisted on until spring. That would be no big deal, except for the fact that I have all prereq's done, with good grades, AND the fall sections aren't even full! :down: I asked about it and they said they are saving it for POTENTIAL (read: one's who haven't even applied for retaking class) students who have failed LPN classes and want to retake it. I can understand wanting the chance to retake the class right away but they saved 18 spots (in a 50 spot program) for such students. Shouldn't they save less to give other students a chance? It was just frustrating!

The thing that compounds my frustration the most though? About two weeks ago (at the end of April), I decided to apply to a non-nursing health program for a fallback plan. So on a whim, I decided to apply to a med lab tech program at one of the schools that waitlisted me on their nursing program. AND...(keep in mind, all of my classes I have taken up till now have been pre-nursing classes) I got accepted to their FALL program! I applied only TWO WEEKS ago!!!!

I am BEYOND frustrated. I actually want to go into nursing to help people, aka: the money and job security are NOT the biggest draws to me, and have been a CNA for 4 years and love what I do and what I could do if I was a nurse, but other people who are only in it for the money (and yes people in those school's programs have admitted that the money is the biggest draw to the PROGRAM DIRECTORS) get into the programs before those who actually give a darn about patients.

And we wonder why we have nurses that are beyond awful.

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Wow. That's absurd. Have you looked around at taking those 3 pre-reqs at another school this summer?

Maybe those 18 slots won't be filled and you can get bumped up the waitlist.

I'm sorry you're getting jerked around.

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Specializes in CNA at Nursing Home.

Two of the three new prereq classes I need to take are only offered at that school. I like to think I would be able to get into one of those 18 slots, but from what I heard from a nursing graduate there, they notify you only two weeks in advance if you can fill in for one of the spots, so focusing on that would cause a lot of stress for me.

Thank you for the empathy.

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Hi hawkeyeginger,

Hang in there! Sorry about your situation. I've been feeling the same frustration about a wait list which I'm on. Really thinking dropout rates for the program I'm looking at wouldn't be so high if they were pickier about who they let in. Ah well, I've finally just pushed it off my shoulders and will let God handle and choose when I go for me... ;) It still stays in the back of my mind though!

Here is to hoping we get in soon!

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There should be some sort of grandfathering in for those of you already on the waitlist. I know at various universities if they add some random requirement for graduation but you have already been accepted or are a continuing student your grad requirements only apply to the catalog year in which you started. It seems unfair that they could just add on extra classes when you have already fulfilled the courses required of you when you applied. I would check with the program director forget about secretaries. Also, if they make you take it I would talk to a counselor and raise hell about how this has messed up your acceptance time line and make them clear you for those courses. Good luck!

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Specializes in ED.

I would write a letter asking about grandfathering of those students who have remained on the waiting list and were not given adequate time to full fill those requirements in order to enroll when it is in fact your turn on the waiting list. Then I would do as others said and look elsewhere. There are plenty of schools (not necessarily nearby) that offer lots of online courses.

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Specializes in CNA at Nursing Home.

I asked about grandfathering in and they said they couldn't do it because I would be starting the actual clinical part of the program during the school year that the requirements kicked in.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Just wanted to vent. I applied to 2 nursing program. I have been on the waitlist for the first one for a year and a half and I was supposed to be able to attend in fall. That is, until the program directors decided to add three classes as prereq's to getting in the nursing program starting this fall. Only one of the three classes are available as a summer class and the fall sections of the classes are already full so that means IF I took the classes in spring, I couldn't even get into the program until next fall at the earliest because not having the classes already means I am again bumped to the back of the waiting list.

The second program I have been waitlisted on until spring. That would be no big deal, except for the fact that I have all prereq's done, with good grades, AND the fall sections aren't even full! :down: I asked about it and they said they are saving it for POTENTIAL (read: one's who haven't even applied for retaking class) students who have failed LPN classes and want to retake it. I can understand wanting the chance to retake the class right away but they saved 18 spots (in a 50 spot program) for such students. Shouldn't they save less to give other students a chance? It was just frustrating!

The thing that compounds my frustration the most though? About two weeks ago (at the end of April), I decided to apply to a non-nursing health program for a fallback plan. So on a whim, I decided to apply to a med lab tech program at one of the schools that waitlisted me on their nursing program. AND...(keep in mind, all of my classes I have taken up till now have been pre-nursing classes) I got accepted to their FALL program! I applied only TWO WEEKS ago!!!!

I am BEYOND frustrated. I actually want to go into nursing to help people, aka: the money and job security are NOT the biggest draws to me, and have been a CNA for 4 years and love what I do and what I could do if I was a nurse, but other people who are only in it for the money (and yes people in those school's programs have admitted that the money is the biggest draw to the PROGRAM DIRECTORS) get into the programs before those who actually give a darn about patients.

And we wonder why we have nurses that are beyond awful.

It sucks and it is frustrating, but don't lose sight of your goal. I was on the WL for 3.5 years, I was aware it was that long of a wait. They made changes to the WL but it didn't effect me since I was already on. Still, I started Pre Reqs in 2004, got on the Waitlist in March 2006 (hadn't even moved to the state yet where I got on the WL). I started Nursing School August 2009. I just graduated. You will get here, utilize the wait time. Get any Co-Reqs out of the way you can so you have less to do during the program, start working on classes you might need for a BSN if you ever go to RN-BSN (assuming it's an associates you are doing) enjoy the time with friends and family or start getting ahead and utilizing this site to prepare for what will happen.

Still doesn't make it easier to deal with, but try to find a positive in it and keep going and don't lose sight. (easier said than done, I know, from personal experience)

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I am in the same boat as you. Hang in there!

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Specializes in NONE.

I hated WL, but at same time I also love it too. For me only, it give me time to think who I really wanted to be. I am also on the WL for a while now, though I feel like it been forever. I actually had forgotten all my science classes materials. Which is bad.

Anyway, I wish you the best of luck that you will get in soon.

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