Health Admissions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

                                                                                                               Health Admissions Procedures
                                                                                                               Health Programs General Information
      
1. How do I apply for a health program?

  • For new students: You must go through the regular admissions process first; after being admitted to the college, the application and transcripts are sent to the Health Admissions Office for evaluation.
  • For current and returning students: You must submit something in writing via fax (616.234.4317), postal mail or a plan code change form to the Health Admissions Office.

2. I attended GRCC before, why do I have to submit new transcripts?

  • In most cases, the transcripts are no longer available. High Schools transcripts do not need to be official; so your school may fax them to the Health Admissions Office (616.234.4317)

3. How long is the wait list for.....?                                    This information is current as of Winter 2008

  • Associate Degree Nursing - currently there is a three year wait
  • Advanced Standing Associate Degree Nursing (for Practical Nurses going for their ADN degree) - currently there is a 1.5 to 2 year wait
  • Dental Assisting - currently there is a one year wait
  • Dental Hygiene - currently there is a one or two year wait
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant - currently there is a one year wait
  • Full Time Practical Nursing - currently there is a one year wait
  • Part Time Practical Nursing - currently there is a one year wait
  • Radiologic Technology - currently there is a three or four year wait

4.  Why are there wait lists in the first place?

  • The programs are restricted in the number of students that can enter them at a time due to the student-teacher ratio that must be maintained.  Additionally there is limited classroom and clinical space, to expand the programs.

5. What are the prerequisites for …?

  • Students who want to enroll in the Associate Degree Nursing Program must be high school graduates or GED holders and must:
  1. Submit a copy of your high school transcripts or GED
  2. Have a high school or college GPA of 2.5 or higher
  3. Have completed one year of high school algebra, biology and chemistry with a grade of C- or better or one semester of college algebra, biology and chemistry with a grade of C- or better
  4. Score at least 75% on the HESI admissions assessment math test
  5. Score at least 75% on the HESI admissions assessment reading comprehension test
  6. Score at least 75% on the HESI admissions assessment vocabulary and general knowledge test 
  7. Score at least 75% on the HESI admissions assessment grammer test

  • Students who want to enroll in the Advanced Standing Associate Degree Nursing program must be high school graduates or GED holders, and have a PN license, and must:
  1. Submit a copy of your high school transcripts or GED
  2. Submit a copy of your PN license
  3. Have a high school or college GPA of 2.5 or higher
  4. Have completed one year of high school chemistry and algebra with a grade of C- or better or one semester of college chemistry and algebra with a grade of C- or better
  5. Score at least 75% on the HESI admissions assessment math test
  6. Score at least 75% on the HESI admissions assessment reading comprehension test
  7. Score at least 75% on the HESI admissions assessment vocabulary and general knowledge test 
  8. Score at least 75% on the HESI admissions assessment grammer test

  • Students who want to enroll in the Dental Assisting program must be high school graduates or GED holders, and must:
  1. Submit a copy of your high school transcripts or GED
  2. Have a high school or college GPA of 2.0 or higher
  3. Score at least 50% on the GRCC mathematics assessment test
  4. Score at least at the 10th grade level on the GRCC reading assessment test
  • Students who want to enroll in the Dental Hygiene program must be high school graduates or GED holders, and must:
  1. Submit a copy of your high school transcripts or GED
  2. Have a high school or college GPA of 2.0 or higher
  3. Have completed the 4 pre-dental hygiene science courses, BI121, BI122, BI127 and CM210 with a C- or better. 
  • Students who want to enroll in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program must be high school graduates or GED holders, and must:
  1. Submit a copy of your high school transcripts or GED
  2. Have a high school or college GPA of 2.0 or higher
  3. Have completed one year of high school biology with a grade of C or better or one semester of college biology with a grade of C or better
  4. Score at least 80% on the GRCC mathematics assessment test
  5. Score at least at the 12th grade level on the GRCC reading assessment test
  • The Practical Nursing program at GRCC is offered both full time and part time. Students who want to enroll in the Practical Nursing program must be high school graduates or GED holders, and must:
  1. Submit a copy of your high school transcripts or GED
  2. Have a high school or college GPA of 2.5 or higher
  3. Score at least 70% on the HESI admissions assessment math test
  4. Score at least 70% on the HESI admissions assessment reading comprehension test
    Score at least 70% on the HESI admissions assessment vocabulary and general knowledge test
  5. Score at least 70% on the HESI admissions assessment grammer test

  • Students who want to enroll in the Radiological Technology program must be high school graduates or GED holders, and must:
  1. Be high school graduates or have passed the high school equivalency GED (General Educational Development) Test.
  2. Have a high school GPA of at least 2.0
  3. Have completed one year of high school algebra with a grade of C- or better or one semester of college algebra with a grade of C- or better (Suitable equivalent courses are available at GRCC for college credit)
  4. Score at least 80% on the GRCC mathematics assessment test
  5. Score at least at the 12th grade level on the GRCC English reading assessment test
  6. Earn a grade of C- or higher in BI 121 and BI 122 
  7. Students with felony convictions may be prevented from taking the national registry examination. This may impact employment options following completion of the RT program.

6. Why do I have to take the health math and/or reading tests?

  • The tests are not meant to exclude anyone from any program. They are required to assure the health division that students will be successful in their respective programs. The reading test is to assure that students are able to read at the level which the textbooks are written and the math tests are to assure that the student has the essential skills required by the program.
  • Students are given three chances to take the test, just to ensure that there is no data or outside influence error. If unsuccessful after three attempts, the students are required to take a class to bring their skill levels up to the required math/reading level.
  • Each file is evaluated on an individual basis. For non-Nursing programs, the tests may be waived on the basis of past coursework, or recent (within the last five years) ACT or SAT scores.
  • Nursing students are required to take the HESI test instead of the health math and/or reading tests. The HESI test can not be waived.

7. What do I do while waiting for a position in my program?

  • You do not have to be attending college while on the wait list. However, many of our students take their general education classes such as English, psychology, human anatomy, etc. while waiting in order to make their actual clinical time less hectic.

8. Who will counsel me while I am on the wait list?

  • Since there is no counselor in the health division itself, our regular counseling office will be able to provide assistance in this area. All of our counselors are familiar with our health programs and have great expertise in the area of health.

9. How will I know when there is a position for me in my program?

  • You will be sent a certified letter, which requires a signature, when your position is available. Failure to sign the postal card, refusal of the certified letter, or no response to the letter will cause your removal from the wait list. To get back on the list you may have to reapply and you will be placed at the bottom of the list.
  • The certified letter will require you to contact the respective health office and make an appointment for an EDP (Educational Development Plan). If you do not respond, as mentioned above, you will be removed from the list. If you make an appointment and do not keep the appointment, you will be removed from the list.

10. What certificate or degree will I receive when I finish my program? And how long will it take?

  • The Associate Degree Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant and Radiologic Technology are two year associate degree programs; the Dental Assisting and Practical Nursing are one year certificate programs. The Dental Hygiene is a three year associate degree program.
  • The Dental Assisting program can also be done as an associate degree program at the student's option with the student taking the general education courses necessary to obtain the associate degree.
  • The Dental Hygiene program has a third, prerequisite year during which the student takes all the sciences (BI 121, 122, 127 and CM 210) necessary for the program. If the sciences are not complete, the student will not be allowed into clinicals.
  • The Licensed Practical Nursing program can be done part time which would take two years, or full time which would take ten months (January through November).

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Updated on 29-JUL-08
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