Health Sciences Online Information Session Transcript
Slide 1:
On behalf of the Division of Student Services and Student Learning, we thank you for choosing Central
Carolina Community College. We invite you to participate in this online information session where you
will learn the admissions process and criteria necessary for successful entry into one of our many Health
Science programs.
Slide 2:
And now a message from our Administration.
Slide 3:
Before reviewing the particular requirements for admission into a Health Science program, we in
Admissions believe it is important to define the different types of programs that CCCC has to offer so
that we can guarantee you are making the right decision moving forward.
CCCC’s programs can be divided into three separate categories: University Transfer, Career or Technical,
and Competitive Entry.
University Transfer programs guarantee a student’s ability to transfer all 60 semester hours of credit to
senior institutions enabling students to enter the university with a junior status. These degrees are
protected under a Comprehensive Articulation Agreement governed by the NC Community College
System and the state university system.
Career or Technical programs range from short-term certificate programs to Associate in Applied
Science degrees. While credits earned may transfer to senior institutions, these programs are primarily
designed to prepare students for entry into specific fields by enrolling them in highly-skilled vocational
or technical courses.
Competitive Entry programs are career/technical programs with a limited number of seats available for
admission and applicants compete for admission into these programs. They are selected using a pointbased ranking system during application periods known as considerations.
It is important for you to know that after you complete your general admissions application to CCCC,
you are immediately classified as a Pre-Health Science Major enabling you to complete necessary
courses and other admissions requirements specific to your program.
I should also point out that some career or technical programs have a limited number of seats available
for admission and admit their students on a first-qualified, first-accepted basis.
Slide 4:
If a program is classified as “First Qualified, First Accepted,” applicants are required to complete Phases
1-3 mentioned on the following slides, however, a point system is not used. This means that once an
applicant completes their program’s requirements, they are admitted into their program as long as a
seat is available. There is no “Consideration Period” for these programs. Instead, applications are
accepted annually until all available seats are filled and a waitlist is created for additional qualified
applicants. Examples of this type of program are Health & Fitness Science, Motorcycle Mechanics,
Esthetics Instructor, and Cosmetology Instructor.
Slide 5:
The majority of health science programs at CCCC are considered competitive entry programs. If the
Health Science program you’ve selected is a first-qualified, first-admitted program, this information will
be provided on your program’s packet during this information session.
Despite which program you’ve selected, all health science applicants must complete Phases 1-3 to
successfully gain entry into their respective programs. Phase 1 covers universal guidelines that all health
science students are held to unless noted otherwise, Phase 2 reveals program-specific requirements,
and Phase 3 discusses additional requirements should you be selected for admission.
It is important to note that points are not earned for the completion of Phase 1. Points are awarded for
Phase 2 requirements only.
Slide 6:
During phase 1, you should complete and submit the following requirements:
First, every student must complete a general admissions application and submit it to CCCC. The
application may be completed online or on campus. Next, all students must submit an official high
school or high school equivalency transcript. Please note that a transcript is only deemed “official”
when it arrives to us from the original institution in a sealed envelope. If you’ve attended any
institutions of higher education prior to CCCC, you must submit official transcripts from them as well.
Failure to do so will null your eligibility for a Health Science program at CCCC.
Your next step will be to take a placement test, if necessary. Your admissions counselor will help you
determine whether a need for placement testing is present. If you’ve taken an Advanced Placement
exam, you should submit official copies of your scores to Admissions beforehand. Furthermore, all
prospective applicants must have a cumulative 2.5 grade point average and a most recent semester
grade point average of a 2.0 in order to be eligible for acceptance into the Health Science program of
their choosing.
If you’re a naturalized or non-US citizen, you are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (commonly referred to as the TOEFL). If you’ve already taken the TOEFL within the last five
years, you may submit those scores to Admissions.
If you’ve previously gained entry into a Health Science program and were withdrawn or dismissed from
said program, you must submit a verification letter from that program’s Department Chair stating that
you’re in good standing.
Lastly, you must complete this information session, the associated quiz, and meet with your program’s
Admissions Counselor to finish Phase 1’s requirements. During the meeting with your Admissions
Counselor, you will develop an academic plan, review progress of admissions requirements, and address
any concerns you may have.
Slide 7:
An initial question students tend to ask is “Can placement testing be waived?” The answer is yes! There
are a number of ways students may be exempt from placement testing and they are listed below. If you
think you’ve met one of these requirements you should discuss it with your admissions counselor.
Never assume you’re exempt from placement testing.
Slide 8:
If you are required to take a placement test, you’re welcome to do so with CCCC at no cost to you. In
order to be exempt from developmental courses, you must meet the minimum scores listed on the next
slide. Each student is allowed to take the placement test two times every five years. If you’re unable to
meet the minimum score requirement after two attempts, you will be enrolled in developmental
courses to strengthen your foundational knowledge in that subject area. It is important to note that
health science applicants must complete developmental requirements before they can be eligible to
apply to a health science program.
Slide 9:
Some students watching this informational session may have started their coursework with CCCC prior
to the summer of 2015. If you’re one of these students, you should reference the information listed on
this slide when determining a need for placement testing.
Slide 10:
If you plan to apply to CCCC or applied after the summer of 2015, you should reference the information
on this slide when determining a need for placement testing. Again, this information is provided to you
as a precursor to your actual meeting with your admissions counselor. Even if you think you’re exempt
from placement testing, you should confirm your assumption with them before checking this
requirement off your list.
Slide 11:
At this point in the presentation, you will need to print out an informational packet specific to your
program before moving forward. While CCCC uses universal standards for admittance into health
science programs, there are slight differences in each program’s admissions criteria and this packet will
explain those in more detail. The link to your informational packet will appear beneath your program’s
name on the next slide.
Slide 12:
Find and Print your informational packet now. Once you have printed your packet you may proceed to
the next slide.
Slide 13:
During phase 2, you may be asked to complete prerequisite courses specific to your program. Grades
earned in prerequisite courses must be a C or higher.
A lot of students ask why that is? At CCCC, if a student has a semester GPA beneath a 2.0 they are put on
academic probation. Students on academic probation may not be admitted to health science programs
with CCCC.
Depending on your program, you may be asked to complete an entrance exam as well as additional
experience in your field prior to being eligible for admission. We will go over these two requirements in
more detail on the upcoming slides.
While it’s not required, applicants are also encouraged to complete the general education courses for
their program prior to entry. Past data has shown that students who complete their general education
requirements prior to entering a Health Science program are more likely to succeed and ultimately
graduate. Given this fact, all competitive entry programs reward applicants for each general education
course completed prior to the consideration.
Slide 14:
If your program requires prerequisite courses, there are a few rules you need to know. First,
prerequisite courses are not optional and must be taken prior to being eligible for acceptance into your
respective program. Some programs will accept high school credit when meeting prerequisite
requirements. You should review your program’s packet for specific course requirements.
Regardless of whether or not your program accepts high school credit, your prerequisite courses must
have been completed within the last 5 years with a C or higher. (If you currently attend or attended an
institution with a plus and minus scale, C-‘s do not count!)
Remember, students must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA as well as a 2.0 GPA in the most recent
semester of enrollment. These GPA thresholds guarantee that a student would not be placed on
academic probation. Students on academic probation may not be admitted to a Health Science program
at CCCC.
Lastly, it’s important for you to note that your admissions counselor will assign the most recent course
taken in a subject area as your prerequisite course. For example, if you completed high school biology 2
years ago with a B and then took General Biology at the college-level and made a D, you’re D in General
Biology would be used when processing your application and you would be marked ineligible for your
program.
Keep this in mind when completing your general education requirements should you choose to do so!
Slide 15:
If your program requires prerequisite courses, points will be awarded for your performance in those
classes. The following point assignments are used when processing your application.
Slide 16:
If your program is competitive entry, you will be required to take the ATI TEAS exam. The ATI TEAS exam
is a multiple-choice assessment of your basic academic knowledge in the areas of Reading, Math,
Science, and English. Each student is allotted 209 minutes to complete the entire exam.
You’re allowed to take the ATI TEAS exam up to 3 times in a three year period. Your scores from your
two most recent attempts will be used when processing your application.
Specific details about each section of the exam are listed below.
Slide 17:
If your program requires the ATI TEAS exam, you should not take this requirement lightly. While each
program has its own method of interpreting your scores, they typically play a significant role in whether
or not you gain admittance into your program. Given this information, we encourage every student to
prepare for the ATI TEAS exam. Study materials are available for check out in our library or on the
library’s website. If you want a personal copy of the study manual, they’re available for purchase in
CCCC’s bookstore.
Slide 18:
While you’re not required to do so, we encourage every applicant to take the ATI TEAS exam with CCCC.
There is a fee to take the exam and reservations can be made with your Admissions Counselor. Should
you decide to take the ATI TEAS exam with another PSI testing center, additional fees will be required to
transfer your scores to CCCC.
Slide 19:
There may be a minimum level of experience required for entry into your program. You should take a
moment to review your packet for specific information regarding this requirement. If experience is
required, it must be completed prior to being eligible for acceptance into your respective program.
Slide 20:
A lot of applicants ask if there’s a way to make themselves more competitive. In fact, there are quite a
few ways an applicant can make themselves more competitive prior to submitting an application for
consideration.
As we mentioned earlier, points are awarded for the completion of general education courses specific to
your program. Remember, your grade must be a “C” or better in order for you to receive additional
points.
We also award additional points for higher cumulative GPAs, so study hard and make every class count.
If you have previous experience in the health field, we may be able to award points for that as well. If
you think you’re qualified, speak with your admissions counselor before the next consideration. There’s
some paperwork that must be filled out in order to receive these points.
Legal residents of the three counties that CCCC serves are awarded incentive points on their application.
This is CCCC’s way of giving back to its residents as it wouldn’t be possible to offer programs like these
without their assistance.
Lastly, if your program requires the American Heart Association CPR for the Healthcare Provider
Certification and your certification is valid at the deadline for applications, you will be awarded
additional points.
Slide 21:
Each program has a designated period during the year when it accepts applications for official entry. We
call this timeframe a Consideration.
If a program doesn’t fill all available seats during its initial consideration, additional considerations will
be held throughout the year until all seats are occupied.
Slide 22:
Below are the initial consideration periods for each program.
Note that Health and Fitness Science is a “First Qualified, First Accepted Program” and does not hold a
Consideration.
Slide 23:
Applicants should expect to receive an acceptance or denial letter within 4 weeks of their program’s
application deadline.
A short list of alternates will be selected in case an admitted candidate is unable to accept their seat. If
you are selected as an alternate, you will be notified by mail during the initial application period.
Alternate lists are not to be confused with waitlists. If an alternate does not gain admission in the same
year they initially applied, they will be required to apply again during the next admissions cycle.
If you are unable to gain entry into the program of your choosing, your Admissions Counselor will be
happy to discuss the results of your application and develop a new academic plan for success during the
next application period.
Slide 24:
If you are selected for admittance, you must complete one final phase in order to finalize your
acceptance. Phase 3 consists of the following requirements:
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An orientation hosted by your program will be held during the summer semester. Attendance is
non-negotiable.
You must complete a physical examination, a criminal background check, a drug screening, and
all of your required immunizations must be up-to-date.
If your program requires the American Heart Association CPR for the Healthcare Provider
Certification, it must be valid and submitted 30 days prior to the start of clinical rotations.
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Health Science students are responsible for their own transportation to off-campus clinical and
learning sites as well as for the purchase of additional course materials other than their
textbooks.
Health Science programs are physically demanding. Students will be expected to perform lifting,
pushing, pulling, and carrying tasks to successfully practice in a lab setting, complete clinical
affiliations, and safely treat patients. The college has a legal obligation to provide appropriate
accommodations for students with documented disabilities. If you have a documented disability
and are seeking accommodations, you should contact the Special Populations Department. It is
your responsibility to initiate this process as soon as possible.
Health Science students are required to maintain the GPA requirements necessary for admission
between the time they are accepted and the first day of classes. This means you cannot be
placed on academic probation or suspension during this timeframe nor can your cumulative GPA
fall below a 2.5.
There’s also a “C” policy for Health Science students. All program-specific courses must be
successfully completed with a C or better. This does not mean that you can withdraw from a
course due to poor performance in order to avoid penalty. A withdrawal counts as an
unsuccessful completion of a course. Failure to successfully complete a course will result in you
being withdrawn from the program. You should speak with your Admissions Counselor for more
details on this matter.
Slide 25:
Now that you’ve reviewed the admissions requirements for your program, please take a moment and
listen to a message from your program’s faculty.
Select the link that corresponds to your program below.