Waukesha County Technical College for nursing program?

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Oct 27, 2009

A 50% drop out rate is not very encouraging. Any reason why this is? I have a friend who is looking into different schools in this area and is considering WCTC. I thought it sounded like a wonderful program until I read that tidbit of info. Does WCTC have a more difficult program than other schools in the area, or do they just recieve a disproportinate amount of new students who are unable or unwilling to put in the time and effort it takes to succeed in nursing school? This is a second degree for my friend (single mom), so taking out more student loans for a program where she only has a 50/50 chance of graduating could be disasterous for her.

PedsHopeful · Jul 18, 2010

My cousin-in-law is about to begin her last semester there, and she is seriously stressed out. She says they give you a max of 5 years to complete the program, if you dont complete it within that time you are out. If you take 2 years off for whatever reason, that counts toward your time. For one of the exams you only get three chances to pass. If you get more than 1 question wrong, you fail. They use to allow four chances to pass it and recently reduced it to three. They have shortened the semesters from 18 weeks to 16 weeks meaning you have 2 less weeks to work on the material. She said she has seen people flunk out their very last semester for things as simple has only having the head elevated 35 degrees when it is suppose to be 45 degrees. And she says they HATE transfer students which is evidenced on their website this year because out of district applicants can no longer apply to the nursing program for fall of next year. If you don't live in Waukesha county, you can no longer apply, period. They have a 98% pass rate for the NCLEX and they take it very seriously.

I've never been one to back away from a fight. I plan to attend fall of next year. :smokin:

MilwaukeeRNstu · Aug 13, 2010

Nursing schools in the area are becoming harder to finish period. You have to be TOTALLY dedicated and REALLY want to be a nurse. If not, I hate to say it, but you won't make it. MATC- Milwaukee only had 20% of their students make it through the RN program last year (from start to finish). If you fail more than 1 class you're out and if you get lower than an 80% in a class you have to repeat it. I know to someone not in the nursing program this sounds simple and you may have passed all your pre-req's with A's but Nursing school is VERY different, VERY different. It almost feels like they are trying to weed you out. It's truly the survival of the fittest and if you have too much going on in your life besides school, you won't make it.

Honestly, it's not even the studying... It's the way they ask questions on tests. Always more than 1 answer right, but which one is MORE right.

It is a big let down for many who think they want to be a nurse but for others who can endure the stress and agony, I guess it's worth it.

I hate to sound so negative but nursing school REALLY sucked for me and most others who I got close to in school.

PedsHopeful · Aug 14, 2010

Did you finish your program? I recently got a CNA job at a Hospital. Two girls who I work with who go to MATC for nursing have advised me to transfer somewhere else because it is not a good school. One gitl has petitioned 3 times and still hasn't gotten in. Ive applied to Cardinal Stritch as well.

MilwaukeeRNstu · Aug 14, 2010

Yes, I'm in the program going into the 3rd semester. It took petitioning twice for me to get in. Some of the nursing instructors are great, it's just a really hard program for the majority of us. Of course there are a few who just do really well but for most of us it's a daily stressful battle.

tallchica54 · Nov 12, 2010

Hi all,

I must say WCTC-ADN is not a good program at all. The first year was great. The instructors were great and everything was peachy. When you get into your last year they target certain people and I happened to be one of them. They wouldn't let me go to clinical because I didn't have health care experience. I tried fighting it with the Dean but she doesn't care about the students and pretty much didn't care, she even answered her blackberry during my meeting and was late. The only reason their board rates are so high is that the majority of people they weed out so only 20 some students take the boards. It is not a good program and I would never recommend it to anyone. Even my friends who are still in the clinical rotation I was in would not recommend it. DON"T GO THERE!

PedsHopeful · Nov 12, 2010

I have never heard of a student being kept out of clinicals for not having health care experience. There has to be something more to it than that because the whole point of being in the programs is to get that experience. I have heard of students being kept out for poor grades, poor attendence, poor performance, but never for simply not having health care experience. That doesnt even make sense. :confused:

tallchica54 · Nov 12, 2010

Yeah it sounds crazy, right? I never thought that would happen but it did. I have good grades...GPA is a 3.1. The real kicker is that in order to come back into the program I had to take this other class and get a job in the health care field, which is completely wrong. I was not the only student in the same situation which is unfortunate. I am still bitter about it but I love my current school and I guess everything happens for a reason. When I pass my boards I am going to rub it in their faces.