Waitlists at community colleges (to buy, school, live)

[bentstrider]

Seems as though you don't jump on the ball soon enough, most classes will be filled beyond capacity in a matter of hours.
What I'm wanting to know is there any place here where this enrollment policy isn't as heavily prevalent, or will I just have to follow my "grass is greener"(aka.,move) mantra?

Essentially I'm just looking into taking nursing or respiratory therapy pre-reqs should I still be blackballed from truck-driving in November.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

The waitlist can be a problem but should not be a deterant. Many times you can get on the waitlist and still get into the class. With the summer semester approaching you may want to see about enrolling soon. I am also working on Nursing prereqs. Lots of fun isn't it? For me I am a hospital employee and love what I do.

[bhcompy]

Nursing related classes have been packed as long as I can remember(past 10 years or so) at local community colleges. You gotta be quick and lucky to get in those classes sometimes. Just get on the waitlist and wish, is all I can say, or perhaps enroll at multiple colleges(which theoretically should be possible) as there are a bunch of community colleges around

[bentstrider]

Not in the area I live, and unless I want to buy a car again, then moving to an area with more educational opportunities.
Not to mention this nursing goal is more of an interim, fill in goal until I'm grinding ten gears again.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Originally Posted by bentstrider

Not in the area I live, and unless I want to buy a car again, then moving to an area with more educational opportunities.
Not to mention this nursing goal is more of an interim, fill in goal until I'm grinding ten gears again.

Why do you want to change careers and go into nursing, with the pre reqs classes, the CNA program, and the two year program commitment, before you start working as a nurse, just to leave it when you can start driving trucks again? Seems like a big commitment and expense to do something that you don't want to do. On top of that to get the Associates degree in Nursing will also take your Summer time away from you to complete classes that you may not be able to complete while in the program. (If you don't get the Associates your Nursing degree is not portable to other states.)

Just another note, here in Ventura to get into the CNA program which is a pre requisite to the nursing program and takes a semester to complete, people show up at 2 and 3 in the morning to get in line to sign up for the program. They only offer the CNA program in Fall and Spring semester and once it fills up that is it.

[whydoucare?]

and THEN you have to worry about getting INTO a nursing program..they are so competitive everywhere. I have seen many people change there minds after being denied entry with excellent GPA's. Community Colleges right now are very popular due to the economy and plus with the budget cuts, there are fewer classes being offered.

[bentstrider]

Originally Posted by SOON2BNSURPRISE

Why do you want to change careers and go into nursing, with the pre reqs classes, the CNA program, and the two year program commitment, before you start working as a nurse, just to leave it when you can start driving trucks again? Seems like a big commitment and expense to do something that you don't want to do. On top of that to get the Associates degree in Nursing will also take your Summer time away from you to complete classes that you may not be able to complete while in the program. (If you don't get the Associates your Nursing degree is not portable to other states.)

Just another note, here in Ventura to get into the CNA program which is a pre requisite to the nursing program and takes a semester to complete, people show up at 2 and 3 in the morning to get in line to sign up for the program. They only offer the CNA program in Fall and Spring semester and once it fills up that is it.

In 2007 I was involved in a rollover accident in Utah where another truck caused it, but took off and left me holding the bag.
I was subsequently fired for this, then blackballed when it came to getting on with other trucking companies.
I spoke with other ones nonetheless and the most promising ones still required me to have at least "3 years of zero-accidents since the date of the rollover accident" before I could be hired on.

With the obvious shape of the economy and the severity of the accident I was involved in, things are looking like a 50/50 chance of me getting back in once the rollover turns three-years old in October of this year.
All I'm trying to do is make something of myself in the interim so that my mind doesn't go flat.

Believe me, if truck-driving with a major carrier was optioned to me without problem, I would've dropped the thought of school and got on with trucking for good.
I also tried college out right after high-school and picked at it for a few years afterwards.
It just didn't suit me and that was the reason I went for my commercial-CDL in the first place.

[CA central coast]

Get on A list somewhere now. Cuesta College near me has a highly impacted nursing program. They quit taking apps. for years. Find a college with a low enrollment offering whta you want and go there. I'd look into somewhere like College of the Desert.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Here in the Ventura County area Ventura College has people on the wait list for up to 6 semesters, meaning 3 years because the nursing program doesn't count the Summer Semester. That is after you have completed the pre-reqs which can take a year or two to do including going to school in the summer time. For someone starting out that is at least a 6 to 7 year start to completion time frame. For those that work in a Hospital setting the time is reduced. The state has a point system to speed up the process. If your grades in the core science and math classes is at or above the 3.0 area you can get points for that. If you take classes that are nursing based you get points for that. Work in a hospital and get a lot of points. If you have a Bachelors or advanced degree get even more points. The point system is run by the state as all Nursing programs are more or less administered by the state. No college or college has a choice in how the rules are administered but only can follow what the state has to say.

The point system gets you to the head of the line. For example I work full time in a hospital and have an Advanced degree. For someone like me I end up bumping most people and go to the front of the line. Lucky me. After you complete your pre-reqs, you get a number and based on your number is where you fit on when you will be chosen to enter the program. Even then some guy like myself can enter jump in and bump you.

If you are interested in the program then I would get into a CNA program and complete that and start working for a hospital now. The pay is not the best but you will make a lot more than minumum wage. I know some that are making between $12 and $18 an hour as CNA's. That gets you into the hospital environment as an employee. That gets you into the bump someone range as well helping you get into the program quicker.