Category Archives: MEC Admissions

Information on MEC Program Admissions

MEC Admissions

Fall 2020 Applications- Health Science and Nursing

The last of the 2019 school year programs have been seated and we are now shifting our focus to Fall 2020/Spring 2021 admissions.

First, we wanted to congratulate all those that applied for and were accepted into their program of choice. For all those that met the requirements but were not offered a seat, we ask that you review our competitive admissions post to learn how you can strengthen your next application.

 

Most Common Reasons Applications were not moved forward for Ranking, things to avoid

We wanted to address those applicants that applied without having met the stated entry requirements, or that failed to provide required documentation. It is important that you only apply if you have met those requirements. Unless you have in writing prior to applying an exemption to some requirement, your application will automatically be rejected. In the interest of fairness to your fellow students, who took the time to meet the entry requirements waivers are not granted to any entry requirement. Applicants are weighed against one another at the time of application. Often the very thing you are asking to be waived is one of the ranked items for a program.

We follow the mantra that you should not assume you have met any requirement. Verify that you have met the requirements by reviewing your own record to see that items have been correctly posted, that all test results are available and that transfer credit is posted to your account. In addition, you should provide documents when requested i.e. high school transcripts, ATI TEAS results, etc.  It is good practice to over provide documents than under provide.  You can always email MECCOUNSELOR@NVCC.edu from your student email and confirm that a document is on file. When doing so include your NOVA ID number, and the specific document or requirement you have questions about.

Avoid questions such as” have I met the entry requirements? can I apply now?”. Generally when we get an email that only asks that it almost always means a student has not reviewed their account, the entry requirements, information session or application page.

A better question would be: “Is my high school transcript from (school name) on file and have I met all the high school level requirements”. It is in your best interest to ask pointed specific questions that demonstrate you have done your due diligence in sourcing information from the information session or application page.

Student Failed to regularly check the student email addresses and respond in a timely manner to request from application processing staff.

Application Team emails requesting documents ignored until after the student’s application was marked not eligible.

Missing high school transcript

(nursing and dental assisting)

The student assumed that their high school transcripts were either on file or not needed because they had submitted college transcripts

International High School Transcripts not evaluated or not evaluated course by course.

(nursing and dental assisting)

Students assumed that a translation was sufficient and didn’t have either www.ece.org or www.ierf.org to evaluate their high school transcripts course by course.

Missing a high school level Chemistry

(nursing)

      • Students assumed they aged out of the high school level requirement
      • Students assumed a C- would suffice
      • Students assumed their GED would waive the requirement

ATI TEAS Scores below the threshold

        • Students assumed that scores would be rounded up
        • Students assumed that scores taken after the deadline would count
        • Students assumed passing one or two sections with 100’s would exempt them from passing other sections

The student did not attach the correct ATI TEAS Test Report

The student did not follow the steps outlined in the Health Science and nursing TEAS information document, https://www.nvcc.edu/medical/apply/ and failed to provide the correct format

The student was missing an entry course

The student assumed they could apply if an entry course was in progress

Career, MEC Admissions, MEC Health Science

A Snapshot of a Career In Health Information Management/Clinical Data Coding

  • Ensure the data quality integrity and compliance
  • Protect the security of medical records to ensure that Privacy and confidentiality is maintained.
  • Review records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with regulations.
  • Manage and audit user access of patient medical records.
  • Assign the patient to diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), using appropriate computer software.
  • Process patient admission or discharge documents.
  • The certificate may be international
  • Informational interviews: https://www.ahima.org/careers/healthinfo

Credentials: www.AHIMA.org

  • Health Information credentials:
    • RHIT (associate degree) RHIA (bachelor’s degree) encompass all of coding plus…management, legal compliance, informatics, analysis, EHR, and reimbursement.
  • Coding Credentials:
    • CCA (entry-level credential both out and inpatient)

Mastery Levels (specialized) CCA plus one (1) year of coding experience

  • CCS (inpatient, long term: Acute Care, residential, assisted living)
  • CCS-P (outpatient: higher-level codes)

Career Direction: https://my.ahima.org/careermap

Coding and Revenue

  • Auditor, clinical documentation specialist, HIM revenue cycle auditor, and Benefits coordinator
  • HIM Supervisor

Information Governance: Who sees the information and how

Data Analytics: Data Quality Assurance roles

Informatics:  Getting the information: Data analyst, clinical coordinator, and research and development

Salary: AHIMA Salary snapshot: http://www.ahima.org/downloads/2016_Salary_Snapshot_FINAL_2.pdf

Career Resources

NOVA’s Program: https://www.nvcc.edu/medical/divisions/allied/him.html 

FAQ, MEC Admissions, MEC Student Success

Do I Need SDV 101?

1 Comment

Current Application page: http://www.nvcc.edu/medical/apply

FAQ

I am reading some of the evaluations of my SDV 101 faculty and some students will make the comment that they have already taken SDV 100-College Success Skills.

The following students are exempt from taking SDV 101 for program admission:

  • You have already taken SDV 100 or another SDV course at NOVA
  • You have transferred in an SDV elective from another college (verified by NOVA transcript evaluation)
  • You have a transferrable associates degree or higher from a U.S. college or university (verified by NOVA transcript evaluation)
  • You have passed the NOVA SDV ABLE Examination

All first-time college students interested in MEC are encouraged to take SDV 101 within their first 16 credits at NOVA.  You can take the course on MEC campus or online through NOVA Online.

The SDV course is centered on college success skills.  Often students misinterpret the 101 courses to be Health Science 101 or Nursing 101.  The discipline is STUDENT DEVELOPMENT.  The learning outcomes are the same as SDV 100 courses but we adjust our instruction, textbook, and assignments to students who are interested in healthcare careers.

You have the opportunity to learn more about MEC admissions if you take the SDV 101 course.  You can also experience the campus environment and some facilities if you take the in-person courses in Springfield.

FAQ, MEC Admissions, MEC Nursing

Not Sure you meet the Fall 2020 Nursing entry requirements? Click to learn more

Link

Use our tool to see if you qualify to apply. This tool is for informational purposes only, please follow up with MECCounselor@nvcc.edu if you have any questions. You will need to log into the form via your NOVA student email. Make sure to either log out of your other Gmail accounts or open the link in the incognito mode in chrome or InPrivate mode for IE.

2020 Spring Nursing Eligibility Checker

 

 

FAQ, MEC Admissions

Getting Into your Program of Choice

Over the coming weeks, programs will begin ranking students and making their final admissions decisions.  Given the competitive nature of each of our programs, some will fall short of their goal.  We understand the pressures and demands that face many of our students.  Admission into a program can often be life-changing for a person seeking a better life for themselves and their family.

RANKING

Students are ranked based on a spectrum of indicators. Not surprisingly your performance on your prerequisite courses, specifically your science grades are the most critical factor for most programs at the Medical Education Campus. Other factors include your results on the ATI TEAS test.  Our post, “Am I a competitive applicant” delves into the competitive criteria for programs at the MEC.

Meeting Minimums

Having the minimum requirements for any program places a student on the margin. Meaning that if the applicant pool is competitive, they will be the first to be passed over.  Because our programs do not have wait-list, an applicant competes every year they apply.  If that student does not improve a grade, or a TEAS result or acquire more hours or complete co-requisite courses, they will not move themselves up on the rankings.

Applying without meeting the minimum requirements

Students who apply and do not satisfy the minimum entry requirements will be rejected automatically.  You may have an impressive GPA or TEAS results, but if you are missing a requirement or attachment, an application will be denied.

Visit our post on what might get your application rejected to learn more.

IMPROVE

If you were not accepted and are planning on applying again, ask yourself where was I weakest?

The categories that different programs look at can be distilled into the following list.

  • Grades
  • Test Scores
  • Co-requisite course completion
  • Clinical observation hours

Improving on one or all the above will increase your applications chance of acceptance in the next cycle.

 

FAQ, MEC Admissions

Why your application might get marked ineligible

Applications are compared to the criteria established by a program by Student Services staff. If an applicant does not meet the minimum standards, an advisor will mark that application ineligible. This excludes that applicant from the ranking and pool of applicants that will be considered for admission into a program.  It is essential that an applicant satisfies all minimum criteria before they proceed with any application.

Reasons your application may have been flagged ineligible include:

A required prerequisite course was

    • not taken

OR

    • if taken did not meet the minimum grade requirement

OR

    • if taken at another college not transferred

OR

  • if taken at another college than not transferred as the required course ( student assigned BIO EEE for example)

OR

  • College Science course is more than ten years old

Failure to provide required documentation along with your application

    • Attaching ATI TEAS results TO the application
    • Attaching wrong ATI result to the online application
    • Failure to attach requested high school documentation (Nursing and Dental Assisting)
      • International High School Documents not evaluated by an evaluation agency such as www.ece.org or www.ierf.org
      • Required high school courses grades below C ( nursing only)
    • Did not submit OTA observation hours via the online application
    • Did not Submit PTA observation form via certified mail

Did not meet the minimum number of observation hours

For programs that require observation hours failing to meet their minimum will result in an application being marked ineligible.

Did not attend a mandatory in-person information session or provided wrong information session code

For programs with mandatory in-person information sessions, not having gone or not having gone within the last year, is grounds for being marked ineligible.

Did not meet a minimum testing requirement

  • ATI TEAS minimum was not meet for a specific program
  • minimum math placement scores not met

GPA below the minimum established by a program

  • GPA at last school attended and/or NOVA GPA below the established minimum.

ATI TEAS taken outside of applicable period

For Fall 2019 Nursing applicants TEAS scores must be from the period December 3rd 2018 to March 20 2019. Any scores from outside of that period will not be considered.

Test Scores are older than allowed for your program. Please check our ATI TEAS post for the time frames.

 

If your application was marked ineligible, it will have been for one of the above reasons. Students are invited to correct any errors they may have made and apply during the subsequent application period for their desired program of study.

Please review our FAQ to learn how to avoid any pitfalls that will prevent your application from being considered in the future.

You can learn how to be a competitive applicant here.

FAQ, MEC Admissions, MEC Health Science

Physical Therapist Assistant Application

FAQ

The first priority period for the 2019 Fall Physical Therapist Assistant program opens March 15, 2019, and closes March 30, 2019.

Only submissions sent via the Online Health Science and Nursing Application will be processed.  Physical Applications mailed via certified mail will not be processed.

You can access the Health Sciences and Nursing application HERE

Prerequisite Course Requirements

  • BIO 141 and BIO 142- Anatomy and Physiology 1&2 OR NAS 150-Human Biology with a grade of B or better
  • HLT 141 or HIM 111- Medical Terminology with a B or better
  • ENG 111 College Composition or higher with a B or Better

Observation Hours

In addition, you must complete a minimum of FOUR clinical observation hours with a PT or PTA.

Clinical Observation hours must be mailed via certified mail in advance of the deadline for the period you are applying to.

DO NOT OPEN AND SCAN OBSERVATION HOUR FORMS. They must be mailed in via certified mail.  Only Hours received by the priority period deadline will be counted. 

Attn: Student Services Room 202
6699 Springfield Center Drive
Springfield, VA 22150

Testing Requirements

The program requires that you satisfy two different Testing requirements.

  1. Take and pass the VPT Math Placement test at the MT 154 level or higher OR complete developmental math to qualify you for MT 154 or higher OR transfer MT 154 or higher to the college.
  2. Take and pass the ATI TEAS exam with a minimum score of 50% in the English, Reading and Human Anatomy and Physiology subsection of the Science portion.
    1. It is important that a student submit their full results packet with their PTA application. Directions on how to download results can be found HERE. Failure to do so will result in a delay in the processing of an application.

Lastly, only students that have attended one of the mandatory in-person workshops within the last year will be considered for admission.

Attachments

The only attachment that should be included with your PTA Application is a PDF version of your ATI TEAS Results.  Please do not attach additional items unless specifically instructed to do so.

Competitive criteria can be found HERE

Academic Divisions, FAQ, MEC Admissions

Am I a competitive applicant?

FAQ

Updated 9/18/2019

One of the most common questions that come into the office is, “Am I a competitive applicant?” The answer is almost always it varies. Some programs might accept all eligible applicants one year, and the next only have room for 10% of the qualified applicant pool.

That question is also tied to its sister, “Why was I not accepted.” Due to the limited availability of clinical rotations, our programs can only accept but so many students.  This will mean that many well-qualified applicants will apply, but not all will be admitted.  Students meeting that just meets the minimum requirements are the most at risk of not being accepted. Likewise, if you were a well-qualified applicant, but applied to a high demand program it may be that your domicile status placed you behind other students.

So how do you get in?

Some programs outline the criteria that are used to rank and select their students. Where available we have included the criteria used by a program. In general science courses and/or prerequisite courses and ATI TEAS scores are used to rank students. That, however, is not the case for all programs. Where available we have indicated a programs competitive criteria and source of information for your review.

Letters of recommendation resumes and personal statements are not used in the admissions decision for any program.

Program Competitive Criteria Number Accepted source
Dental Hygiene
  • Grades received in science courses
  • completion of general education courses
  • TEAS Results
  • Dental Work Experience
 Approximately 32 2019 Information Session
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
  • The final grade in BIO 141, BIO 142, MTH 154 and PHY 101
  • Highest Scores of all attempts on the English, Reading, and Math sections of the TEAS
  • Additional points for current RT(r), RVT RDMS or RDCS licensure
  • 14 General
  • 6 Echocardiography
  • 6 Vascular
 DMS Brochure
Medical Lab Technology
  • TEAS score
  • Work Experience Certification
    • AAMA Certified Medical Assistant
    • ASCP BOC certified Phlebotomist
    • NAACLS Approved Clinical Assistant
    • Prerequisite course grades
    • Completion of corequisites
    • MDL 100 Grade
 Varies MLT Program Student Handbook
Nursing Applicants are ranked by prerequisite courses and test listed below

    • BIO 141
    • PSY 230
    • TEAS scores

In addition, they are assigned extra points for the  completion of their  general education co-requisite courses (not required for application) 

    • BIO 142
    • BIO 150
    • CST elective [229, 110, 115, 126]
    • Humanities elective
 Varies Nursing Brochure 
Occupational Therapy Assistant
  • Grades in BIO 141 and BIO 142
  • The number of observation hours and/or work hours with an OT or OTA based on signed and dated form(s). Points are awarded after completing 25 hours or more.
  • Earned a Health Science Career Studies Certificate
  • Video Statement
 Varies Information Session
Physical Therapist Assistant
  • Priority Period
  • Grades in anatomy and physiology
  • Grades in medical terminology
  • The Number of observation hours
  • Variety of Clinical settings for observation hours
 Varies Information Session
Radiography
  • The final grade in BIO 141, BIO 142 and RAD 105
  • Highest Scores of all attempts on the English, Reading, and Math sections of the TEAS
  • Completion of  humanities, social science and HLT 141( or HIM 111 or Medical Terminology ABLE exam)
 40 RAD Brochure
Respiratory Therapy
  • Grades in BIO 141, BIO 142
  • GPA
  • Completion of a college level math course
  • Completion of co-requisite courses
 25 Information Session

Admission Policy for Limited Enrollment Programs

Due to limited laboratory, classroom and/or clinical space, certain programs have restricted enrollment. As stated in the NOVA catalog,  students are accepted on either a competitive or a first-come/first-served basis.

Priority is given to:

  1. Legal residents domiciled in the cities and counties supporting the College
  2. Other Virginia legal residents
  3. Out-of-state applicants
  4. International students requiring form I-20.

Category 1 may include areas in which clinical affiliates have contractual agreements with NOVA or students from other VCCS service areas whose community college does not offer the specific program.

Residency and citizenship/visa status will be verified using the current information on file in the Student Information System (SIS). Level I and II domiciliary decisions and appeals are reviewed and determined by Campus Registrar and Dean of Students. Applicants may be asked to provide additional information or documentation before acceptance to the program is considered.

How your domicile relates to rankings

If a program received enough eligible applicants from the first priority group, no students from the subsequent groups will be accepted. Regardless of how competitive they are otherwise.  As a result, your likelihood of acceptance as an out of state or “F-1” student drops as the applicant pool grows. However, there have been students accepted from every priority group among the programs offered at the Medical Education Campus.