What are the best ways to go about RN programs. SoCal area

SeaH20RN, BSN · Jul 11, 2013

Hi I would pick a school close to home or you will be driving more than studying. I went Long Beach CC. It had a great well respected Rn program 16 yrs ago. Cypress and Cerritos are also great choices. I would get on he wait list for all of them or pick who has the shortest wait list. In the end it's all an RN. Just get started. Good luck!

Surreroo · Jul 12, 2013

Thanks :) i actually plan on calling all schools and talking to whomever i must talk to and then sign up for all my choices. I am a little concerned of the wait, supposably at rio hondo the waitlist is 2-5 years that's a long time, and i have already wasited 3 years in community college taking whatever was general education. i am tired of wasting time i just want to focus on a career choice and head in that direction, any tips of rio hondo?

luv_o_so_much · Jul 14, 2013

I don't have info on those programs because I am further south, but my advice is to get the list of requiements and complete them. The schools in my area accept based on points not a waitlist. I did everything on the points list including working in a hospital and volunteering at a hospital. I studied my bottom off to get A's in all of my sciences too. It took me 3 years to get through all the classes etc (some of it was part time) and I was just accepted into a competitive BSN program for the fall. There are not any short cuts but you can find a school that fits your needs. I wasted a lot of time trying to fullfill requirements for several different schools. Just do some research :) Good Luck!

RN/Mom · Jul 20, 2013

Hello everyone,
I'm 21 years old my names Rueanne, I live in So Cal in whitter california. I took an interest in becoming an RN i currently go to community college, Rio Hondo, which offers a nursing program, however it doesnt mention RN just LVN but i want to go straight to an RN program. Any one reccomend the best steps to take to find a great school. I'm interested in doing a two year program, or at community colleges, i looked up a few schools in my area, some of my choices are Rio Hondo College, Cerritos College, MT. Sac, Pasadena City College, Cypress, East Los Angeles Community and a trade school known as LATTC located in LA.
Please feel free to tell me anything and everything like tips, reccomendations, anything please i want to get first hand information.
Please and thank you

I was in your shoes a few years ago (researching ADN programs in LA & Orange County) and found that just about every school has slightly different requirements and different methods for selecting students.

Every school will require you to complete general education courses in English, Communication, Math, History, Humanities, and P.E., so those are the courses you will want to do first. Although it depends on the program you apply to, most will want your science courses to be taken within five years of applying to the nursing program, so those are the ones to save for last (so they don't "expire.") Every ADN program I looked into requires Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology. On top of that, some of the community colleges also require you to take pre-reqs (such as Chemistry) before taking Physiology or Micro -- try to find a school that doesn't to lighten the load a bit! :)

When I first started doing my science pre-req's (5 years ago) I went to Cypress, but found that it was really hard to get into courses because they were all full and only took a few petitioners! Golden West, on the other hand, had a lot more course openings to begin with, admitted more petitioners and had instructors who would give priority to repeat petitioners who were turned away the semester prior. I ended up doing all of my science classes there.

Some ADN programs use a GPA point system to admit students, some schools use a lottery system, some schools use waitlists and some don't.

A few other schools you might want to look into that I did not see in your list are Harbor, El Camino, Glendale, LA County, Long Beach City, and Golden West.

Most of the schools post their pre-req's and information on the application process online. The BRN has links to the websites for approved programs here: Board of Registered Nursing - RN Programs

aleong29 · Jul 20, 2013

I applied to the nursing program at Rio Hondo earlier this year and it was for the RN program. I got accepted into the program and it was my first time applying. I don't ever recall that there was a waiting list there for the RN program. Rio Hondo also holds information sessions regarding the different types of nursing programs they offer. It's very informative and I highly recommend you attend it as well. They have the information on their website but it is a bit tricky to navigate

jeli42 · Aug 4, 2013

Hello everyone,
I'm 21 years old my names Rueanne, I live in So Cal in whitter california. I took an interest in becoming an RN i currently go to community college, Rio Hondo, which offers a nursing program, however it doesnt mention RN just LVN but i want to go straight to an RN program. Any one reccomend the best steps to take to find a great school. I'm interested in doing a two year program, or at community colleges, i looked up a few schools in my area, some of my choices are Rio Hondo College, Cerritos College, MT. Sac, Pasadena City College, Cypress, East Los Angeles Community and a trade school known as LATTC located in LA.
Please feel free to tell me anything and everything like tips, reccomendations, anything please i want to get first hand information.
Please and thank you

Have you been to the nursing department at Rio Hondo? That would be the first step since you already go there. There is definitely an RN program there. I attend there now. It is my first semester and I love it so far. I would suggest speaking with them so they get to know you. They could also tell you how to apply. Good luck.