Intel on Nursing Programs

The other day, one of my mom friends told me that she was in contact with one of her friends...who just happens to be a current first year nursing student at PCC (one of the colleges I applied to - I'm # 20 on their waitlist). They had a conversation, and, she felt compelled to message me on Facebook about it. In a nutshell, her friend said that # 20 on PCC's waitlist (or any waitlist, for that matter) is actually a pretty good thing. Apparently, PCC offered seats to waitlisted applicants all the way to # 41 last year, and, went ALL THE WAY THROUGH their waitlist the prior year. Although I don't want to get my hopes up...that is pretty encouraging. It at least gives me a sliver of hope, and I guess that's all you need to get in. At the end of our message exchanges on FB, M said that it was okay for me to contact her friend about any questions I might have - so I did. I sent her a message with my info (where I applied, where I was waitlisted, any specifics I know about the process with each program. etc.) and asked her a few questions about her program. Basically, I asked her to tell me the pros and cons about the program at PCC from her vantage point. Valuable information, because, should I get offered a spot at both PCC and CCC, I could potentially use this information to make a decision on which program to chose. I sent that message Thursday, and, today I finally heard back from her. Well, sort of. She didn't answer all the questions I asked because she's studying for a midterm she has tomorrow. But, what she did do is provide me the link to a thread on a website written by applicants to Portland area schools. I immediately opened the link on my browser and got to reading. I couldn't STOP reading it. There is SO MUCH information on there. People share everything...their point totals, past experience, where they applied, if they got accepted, waitlisted, what their number is if they were waitlisted. I mean...it's all there. It's almost like you go through the entire process (from turning in applications up through all the notifications) with these people! It's incredibly addicting, and, it's making me feel like I have a fighting chance. Like maybe, just maybe, I might actually get to go to nursing school this fall. Since reading this thread, I've come away with a few conclusions that I think are pretty important:

1. Although I wasn't sure I wanted to go to nursing school this fall (because I have been feeling like I need to give Isla a sibling...which, I still feel), I know now that I DO want to go to nursing school.

2. PCC has been my number 1 choice for a nursing program since day one. However, after going through the application process (essay at PCC and essay/interview at CCC), CCC grew on me and after reading this thread (and hearing some things from current students), CCC just might be my # 1 choice now.

3. The waitlist doesn't mean "accepted", but, it doesn't mean "denied" either - I do have a chance at this still.

4. This process is brutal, and, I am just at the beginning of it. I could literally be waiting for a call into the final weeks of the summer

5. Even though this process is extremely competitive, the applicants are supportive, caring, and compassionate.

6. Getting my pre-reqs done and potentially getting accepted is the easy part. Nursing school is going to be DIFFICULT and DAUNTING. 

7. I CAN and WILL do this


Clackamas' deadline to respond (either accepting or declining a seat) was Friday, 5/16. That means that I could potentially hear about getting accepted into the program off the waitlist TOMORROW. Fingers crossed that I hear something sooner rather than later.