Wait list and advance program

racquetmom · Jul 17, 2010

If you are wanting an ADN from Maricopa colleges then you take the necessary pre-reqs and some can be taken while you are in the nursing program as co-requisites, but check the list to see which ones. The timeframe for this varies whether you take a full load of credits, classes during summer, etc. You also have to take a nurse entrance exam to go along with your grades and application. Get on the list asap because it is two year wait and that has been the consistent for some time. You can be on the list and still taking pre-reqs. Then the core nursing program is 4 semesters so two years. You have summers off that is the traditional route. There is accelerated, part time etc. depending on the school of choice.

If you are wanting to transfer to University-ASU or UofA then basically same thing you take your pre-reqs which is cheaper at community college and then can transfer to the university. They require more classes so you will have to take more classes to meet their requirements for entry into program. The core nursing program is 2 years for the BSN. There is also competitive wait at the universities. If you go to the community college you have to be careful as the university will only accept or transfer so many credits. You will not be able to take all the pre-reqs at the CC as they will have you repeat them at the University. You really need to talk to an advisor and pay close attention to that. Even if you get your RN at CC, you will still need those extra classes later on for your RN-BSN bridge. You can go online to the schools and compare the class requirements which might be easier to understand then what I am typing.

As far as LPN route, they get to go into Block 3 of the nursing program, but they have to test into it. Regular program after pre-reqs is 4 semesters. They have LPN so they only need the last two semesters for their RN. So you are correct it is the second year but it is of the core nursing program.

Hope this makes sense and helps out.

HIGHWHEY · Jul 17, 2010

If you are wanting an ADN from Maricopa colleges then you take the necessary pre-reqs and some can be taken while you are in the nursing program as co-requisites, but check the list to see which ones. The timeframe for this varies whether you take a full load of credits, classes during summer, etc. You also have to take a nurse entrance exam to go along with your grades and application. Get on the list asap because it is two year wait and that has been the consistent for some time. You can be on the list and still taking pre-reqs. Then the core nursing program is 4 semesters so two years. You have summers off that is the traditional route. There is accelerated, part time etc. depending on the school of choice.
If you are wanting to transfer to University-ASU or UofA then basically same thing you take your pre-reqs which is cheaper at community college and then can transfer to the university. They require more classes so you will have to take more classes to meet their requirements for entry into program. The core nursing program is 2 years for the BSN. There is also competitive wait at the universities. If you go to the community college you have to be careful as the university will only accept or transfer so many credits. You will not be able to take all the pre-reqs at the CC as they will have you repeat them at the University. You really need to talk to an advisor and pay close attention to that. Even if you get your RN at CC, you will still need those extra classes later on for your RN-BSN bridge. You can go online to the schools and compare the class requirements which might be easier to understand then what I am typing.
As far as LPN route, they get to go into Block 3 of the nursing program, but they have to test into it. Regular program after pre-reqs is 4 semesters. They have LPN so they only need the last two semesters for their RN. So you are correct it is the second year but it is of the core nursing program.
Hope this makes sense and helps out.

Yeah most of it made sense, thanks for the help. Do you know of any RN programs in or around the Phoenix area, other than ones being offered by Maricopa Community Colleges? Personally, do you think the LPN to RN route is a good idea? I know I should be patient and wait but I just graduated high school and do not want to wait 1 or 2 years simply because I know it will be more difficult to enter college 2 years removed from school. Also, I plan to work on a BSN and get a masters later on, so acquiring my ADN is not my last stop. I do plan to go full time, even through summer. I really, really enjoy studying and the quicker I can get my ADN the better since I'm in it for the long run. In addition, it would ease the financial stress I impose upon my wonderful(10% sarcasm) parents.

I am planning on attending ASU, they have the online RN-BSN bridge program which is very enticing since it seems flexible and I'll make sure to get on their wait list(if any exists) once I am on my way to getting an ADN. I know I should have applied for the RN program while I was still in high school but my original plan involved attending ASU for pre-med and becoming a PA. Thank you and I truly appreciate your help.

racquetmom · Jul 17, 2010

Hi,

You can't apply until you have the certain amount of pre-reqs done and same goes for ASU. There isn't a waitlist at ASU like MCC, what I meant is it is a very grade competitive program so it can take awhile to get accepted is what I heard. MCC is you complete the necessary pre-reqs apply and get on the list and you will get in as long as you have 2.5 or maybe it's 2.7 gpa I just know it wasn't very high and then you just have to wait for your turn.

As far as your question on waiting, you need to complete pre-reqs. They change it frequently it seems. I think due to the long waitlist they started to make more classes as co-reqs so you can get on the list sooner. I would check what is required for sure but when I turned in my application it was Chemistry/lab, A/P I/lab, Psych 101, Math 120 or higher. The rest are now co-reqs that you can be completing while on the waitlist. I had all the pre-reqs done as when I started they required micro and A/P I and II to be done then changed it while I was doing them...UGH. Biology is a pre-req prior to one of the sciences but you may have a credit from that from HS.

Because you are coming from HS, you may be able to skip a few. I was exempted from critical and evaluative reading, you may already have that level of math and test out or if you test lower then you need another math prior to the 120, you need English 101/102 and you may be able to use your HS english, if you had chemistry you may get that credit then the only thing left is A/P II and microbiology, humanities. If you haven't already- go to the MCC college near you and take the admission tests of English/math and get your transcript there for review so you can see where you stand. Everyone has to take the entrance tests it is to place you at the right level and necessary before any class is taken even if you were just taking pottery they require this prior to signing up.

This way you know where you are at and can decide from there if you want to attend or go another route. I would meet with nuring advisor and you can discuss the bridge program as well.

There are other programs that are quite hefty in cost such as PIMA medical institute. They base entrance on point system. Your grades, your entrance test they give you, interview I think. There were like 4 criteria but I don't recall. They really won't disclose cost as you need to go to orientation and jump through hoops to find out price so I eliminated them. I recall a few years ago someone informing me it was around 35,000, but don't quote me on that.

Chamberlain college in Phx I believe has multiple programs. I never looked closely at it as it is 690.00/per credit hour opposed to 75.00 or so at MCC. Personally, I would do ASU before some of these other programs. Read the reports on them as well and make sure accredited and that will transfer since you later want to further your education.

There is Maricopa skills center for LPN program. Their price is based on hours. I think it is the NET entrance exam you have to take. They also have you come to an orientation, but their fees are listed on the website. I do remember it costing more than the "RN" portion of MCC. I believe this LPN program is 14 months and you may need a CNA prior. So, in other words, you would get your LPN and then have to do some pre-reqs and still do two blocks core nursing classes at MCC. The LPN program costs more than the 4 blocks core nursing at MCC.

There is the Pinal community colleges like Casa Grande and they require CNA but apparently there isn't a waitlist as long as you have CNA and pre-reqs done. Again, would need to verify that as things change all the time.

Gateway community college has an LPN program (maybe that is where you need the CNA prior) and that would be at the lower cost but not sure of waitlist for that. There are also acelerated programs. That is all I can think of at this moment.

HIGHWHEY · Jul 19, 2010

Hi,
You can't apply until you have the certain amount of pre-reqs done and same goes for ASU. There isn't a waitlist at ASU like MCC, what I meant is it is a very grade competitive program so it can take awhile to get accepted is what I heard. MCC is you complete the necessary pre-reqs apply and get on the list and you will get in as long as you have 2.5 or maybe it's 2.7 gpa I just know it wasn't very high and then you just have to wait for your turn.
As far as your question on waiting, you need to complete pre-reqs. They change it frequently it seems. I think due to the long waitlist they started to make more classes as co-reqs so you can get on the list sooner. I would check what is required for sure but when I turned in my application it was Chemistry/lab, A/P I/lab, Psych 101, Math 120 or higher. The rest are now co-reqs that you can be completing while on the waitlist. I had all the pre-reqs done as when I started they required micro and A/P I and II to be done then changed it while I was doing them...UGH. Biology is a pre-req prior to one of the sciences but you may have a credit from that from HS.
Because you are coming from HS, you may be able to skip a few. I was exempted from critical and evaluative reading, you may already have that level of math and test out or if you test lower then you need another math prior to the 120, you need English 101/102 and you may be able to use your HS english, if you had chemistry you may get that credit then the only thing left is A/P II and microbiology, humanities. If you haven't already- go to the MCC college near you and take the admission tests of English/math and get your transcript there for review so you can see where you stand. Everyone has to take the entrance tests it is to place you at the right level and necessary before any class is taken even if you were just taking pottery they require this prior to signing up.
This way you know where you are at and can decide from there if you want to attend or go another route. I would meet with nuring advisor and you can discuss the bridge program as well.
There are other programs that are quite hefty in cost such as PIMA medical institute. They base entrance on point system. Your grades, your entrance test they give you, interview I think. There were like 4 criteria but I don't recall. They really won't disclose cost as you need to go to orientation and jump through hoops to find out price so I eliminated them. I recall a few years ago someone informing me it was around 35,000, but don't quote me on that.
Chamberlain college in Phx I believe has multiple programs. I never looked closely at it as it is 690.00/per credit hour opposed to 75.00 or so at MCC. Personally, I would do ASU before some of these other programs. Read the reports on them as well and make sure accredited and that will transfer since you later want to further your education.
There is Maricopa skills center for LPN program. Their price is based on hours. I think it is the NET entrance exam you have to take. They also have you come to an orientation, but their fees are listed on the website. I do remember it costing more than the "RN" portion of MCC. I believe this LPN program is 14 months and you may need a CNA prior. So, in other words, you would get your LPN and then have to do some pre-reqs and still do two blocks core nursing classes at MCC. The LPN program costs more than the 4 blocks core nursing at MCC.
There is the Pinal community colleges like Casa Grande and they require CNA but apparently there isn't a waitlist as long as you have CNA and pre-reqs done. Again, would need to verify that as things change all the time.
Gateway community college has an LPN program (maybe that is where you need the CNA prior) and that would be at the lower cost but not sure of waitlist for that. There are also acelerated programs. That is all I can think of at this moment.

I'll check out that PIMA Medical institute. One of my buddies attends that school for the Respiratory Therapist program, his program was about 30k, although lucky for him he got some grants. I'm guessing it's not associated with MCC. I'll be making a lot of calls and I'll have to go take that entrance exam. Once I take the entrance exam, let's say at Phoenix College, can I take the results to any other college part of the MCC nursing program? Like Gateway or Mesa. Thx!

racquetmom · Jul 19, 2010

Yes, it would be for any of the CC. Pima is separate and private. The only thing you need to check that PIMA will transfer if you were going to continue on for BSN.

HIGHWHEY · Jul 21, 2010

Yes, it would be for any of the CC. Pima is separate and private. The only thing you need to check that PIMA will transfer if you were going to continue on for BSN.

i am scheduled to go for an information session at pima in august. my buddy that goes there said it costs 40k, but there are no waitlists. i honestly do not mind paying 40k(school loans+fasfa+job) since i'll be ahead by 2 years but it does bug me that credits will more than likely not transfer (from what ive been told). maybe i can complete a bsn at gcu or uofp but i really wanted to complete my bsn at asu or another state university. since i'm hoping that down the road i may apply for crna school or pa. in a perfect world. even with a bsn from asu, it's no guarantee i'll get accepted in midwestern crna or any other crna programs