Which Community College ?

Does anybody have info regarding relative competitiveness of CC's in the Boston area (BHCC, Mass Bay, Roxbury, Northshore, Middlesex)?

Their cohorts seem to be around the same size (60-70 students). Are any of these "harder" or "easier" to get in to?

Thanks.

I believe they are all competitive..........I am 51 and graduated from Roxbury CC in June 2007 with ADN. Passed RN boards in July with 75 Quesions... RCC does not have a wait list like some of the others....however very competitive to get in....you need a near perfect GPA on the prereqs and high score on the TEAS and a prayer.

Just to add to your previous post.....I think it is now better to get your BSN as more Boston hospitals are now requiring it. However there are still many places that do not require it. I actually worked as a community health nurse in a Boston clinic right out of school.$26 per hour monday to friday 9-5...not physical at all...but you do get exhausted mentally......gave many shots and lots of teaching, telephone triage..etc..But I missed bedside and decided to change to a hospital setting position which I just accepted..start Jan 14th..I just felt I wanted to use and build on skills I learned in school......my pay will be 28.75 per hour on evening.s..and 30 per hour on weekends. not bad for having my ADN......

The thought of going to school for 4 years to accomplish what can be done in 2 years did not appeal to me, I have no desire to supervise or manage....to each his/her own......I feel because of our age the two year program will enable you to be working sooner as an RN...then like me you can eventually go for the BSN on line.......and your job will most likely help pay for that.

all the best in your decision......do what's right for you!

Thank you for your helpful reply. I am thinking that RCC is my best option, too actually!

(Yesterday, i just got the superb news that I received an A in

A & P 1 !)

Do you mind if I ask a couple of other questions?

* Does RCC require that you take all or most of your prereqs there?

I know some other CC's like Mass Bay have a "point system" whereby the competitiveness of one's application is determined, in part, by the number of credits you've completed at that institution.

* What is considered a "good" score on the TEAS?

* Did the School help you at all w/ finding your first job? How did you come upon the Health Center position?

Thank you again, information from nurses who've "been there before" is invaluable to newbies like me.

Erica

I do not mind at all...............to get into the program, RCC requires that you complete all of the prereqs......but the coreqs can be completed during program...NOT RECOMMENDED....program itself is very demanding. I will give you the website so that you can see what the prereqs and coreqs are.

Regarding the TEAS score......depends how well everyone else does for that test....When I got in 2 years ago...the average score was 80%....but I have heard that the following year...the average was in the 90's.

We did have an nursing/health care open house at RCC.......that was a joke...all the New grad nursing jobs were already filled in the Boston hospitals, but the Xray tech soon to be grads...all got hired at the major hospitals......... I did my OB rotation at the clinic that I now work at and liked it...I left my resume with the nurse manager....in hopes that she would call me if any openings became available....well one day she called me as promised......The nurse there highly recommended me...

That was my other tip for you....get a part-time job as a nursing tech in any of the hospitals you may want to end up in, .....or just for the experience...it will help you lots. Make sure you shine at your clinical sites.......

http://www.rcc.mass.edu/nursing/Programs/AS.html

Did RCC want you to take all the prereqs at RCC...or would they be OK if you had taken, say, A & P 1 & 2 at another of the Boston CC's?

Before I knew I really wanted to go to RCC, I enrolled in A & P 1 at Mass Bay. I really like my teacher and would just as soon take A & P 2 there, but not if doing so makes it more difficult to get into RCC!

If all the jobs in Boston hospitals were taken...did most of your classmates end up finding jobs? Did people have alot of difficulty?

Thanks for the suggestion about working as a Patient Care Tech, I definitely plan to do this. Do you think it's worth taking a CNA course (say like at the Red Cross) and trying to get one of these jobs before starting nursing school? (I've heard that even these tech jobs are difficult to get).

Thanks again!

I believe they are transferable.....I took micro at Quincy college....it was fine. Some of my class got jobs at the hospitals they were techs at.....some had a hard time finding the "perfect job".....One thing I learned that sometimes that perfect med-surg hospital job is not going to happen right away.......many of us have jobs "outside the box" and making a good living.......after one year experience then one can have the "perfect Job" if so choose. I actually will be working outside Boston in an acute teaching hospital 30 mins from my house .....I will be joining the new grad program and looking very much forward to it..is it my ideal location?? not really......But after a year I will be so marketable.....(hopefully) I will be able to land that "perfect nursing job". or I might just stay there as they took a chance with me and I am loyal that way. we will see.

Yes if you can fit it in.....take a CNA course....or you can wait until after you have done at least One clinical rotation med surg rotation.......then the hospitals hire you as a student nurse/Tech.

I wish you much career success; you are obviously off to a good start. You've give me valuable concrete advice and hope!

You are so welcome Erica.....one last tip (okay maybe not)....do not lay your eggs all in one basket.........apply everywhere you had listed in your first post....and then some....I heard Brockton hospital has a program too........................

again...all the best to you......as we were taught no question is a stupid one...I do check this site now and again......if I can be of any further help you can even PM me.

Desiree

ps: congrats on getting an A on your anatomy and physiology I

and remember....age is just a number........