May 2011 NAU accelerated nursing program hopefuls!

BeckNursingStudent · Jan 13, 2011

Hi guys,

I mailed my app in on Monday and took the HESI yesterday...what a long test!! I heard about NAU's program in December, so I made a rush to apply because it sounds so awesome. I really like the fact that you travel to different locations for the clinicals. Good luck to everyone! And does anyone know when in March applicants are notified? Thanks!

uofabalee · Jan 18, 2011

Hi I am planning on applying for NAUs Accelerated Nursing Program in 2012. I just had a quick question for all of you who recently applied. When you are reffering to your GPA are you talking about your pre req GPA, your GPA for your bachelor's degree, or the overall GPA of both?

RunMT · Jan 18, 2011

Hey again to all! Welcome medic, beck, and uofa :)

Medic-The HESI test seems to be super subjective...if you read back a few pages, you'll see ab and I had different experiences for the same test. That makes it really hard to give tips to strangers since I don't know you're learning style, but, I wish you the best of luck, and let us know how it goes!

Beck, I think we'll know the beginning of march? Don't quote me on that though. I really hope we know sooner than later, so if I get in, I can head down to Flagstaff on my spring break and check it out (since I've never been to flag, or AZ for that matter..don't know if that's good or bad...but I do know a ton of people down there...)

uofa, I'm referring to my pre-req GPA. Actually, I don't know if I ever said my GPA, but that's what I assume others are talking about since that's pretty much the only GPA they look at. My pre-req GPA was 3.7something (since I tested out of a lot of the pre-req's the ONE B I got in statistics pulled it down quite a bit...blech), but I have a 4.0 in the sciences, with 2 IP. I got a 94 on the HESI, with a 98 in reading comp, 100 in math, 91 in the science composite.

Now, it's the waiting process...yuck. I'm surprised not many other people have posted. Maybe that means not as many applied?? I would definitely be okay with that.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know why we were required to take the learning style/personality style test? Apparently I'm kinesthetic/analytical for my learning style, and creative/people as my personality style. Wouldn't really describe myself as a kinesthetic learner, more of a visual person, and not so sure where that whole "creative" part came from, haha, but interesting nonetheless...

BeckNursingStudent · Jan 19, 2011

Thanks Run,

I really hope we learn soon rather than later as well. I've been to Flagstaff once and it was when I was twelve years old, so needless to say I am going to need to visit as well!

I have similar stats to you, 95 on the HESI and 3.6 on the prereqs, and odd, but I got the exact same results for the personality tests. When I asked Gregg at NAU about the test he said those portions were included simply because they are short and they can see what learning styles students are partial too, but these results would not play a role in admissions.

RunMT · Jan 19, 2011

Beck, I hope we both get in!

Gregg is great! If I get in, I'll have to go meet him and give him a big "thank you!" for answering all my (annoying I'm sure) questions.

Interesting about the personality tests...although I really don't think mine's all that accurate...

abvincent1 · Jan 19, 2011

Just a waiting game. I hope we all get in too. I would be interested in knowing how many applicants they received this year. Any one know?

RunMT · Jan 19, 2011

No idea ab. I've been trying to get in touch with them about the microbiology requirement, but I have yet to hear back from them, which makes me think they're super busy right now, so I feel bad asking, haha. Although I really need to know if I can drop the full micro and just take the lab portion since I've already taken a micro withOUT a lab...I mostly just want to save the couple grand in tuition. Deadline for refunds is friday, so I hope they get back to me before then...

Wait. And wait. And wait.... seems to be the theme.

...and this AN is getting to be a fantastic distraction from studying...at least it's not facebook :)

abvincent1 · Jan 19, 2011

Run, that is interesting question. I took Micro last semester and really enjoyed it. I took a parasitology course in college as well and loved it too!

I think they will let each know by March. I think it will be here sooner than you think. If you contemplate the timeline, if we get in to the program we will be more than halfway finished by this point next year. As I have aged the one reality I accept is that time goes by very fast.

I have tried to not call the college much but communicate indirectly as I suspect they are busy. I'm interested in seeing what they say for your micro class.

RunMT · Jan 20, 2011

Here's the reply I got earlier:

"Hi, we still have a huge pile of application materials to file so we cannot tell if everything is here. We will contact you if anything is missing and give you a chance to submit those materials before scoring your application. If you do not hear from us, you are in good shape. The micro class will be counted as in progress when scoring your application, but this does not preclude admission. The microbiology class without a lab will not fulfill the micro requirement so you should stick with the lecture you are enrolled in."

So, that answers some questions! But then creates more, like...how big is this "huge pile" you speak of? 60 applicants? 100? 150? And when exactly will I hear from you about final decisions? And gosh, if they had to add that it doesn't preclude admission, then uh, how much does that really ding me?? I know, I'm driving myself nuts :)

Dang it, I really didn't want to take ANOTHER micro class. It's definitely one of my weaker sciences...I think it would be super interesting if I could actually get the hang of it, but for some reason it just hasn't clicked yet. I sure hope it does this semester. Blech.

abvincent1 · Jan 20, 2011

Well you should definitely stay enrolled. It appears as though they would not be through the paperwork necessary to decipher your question. It would not be good to drop in anticipation of not needing the class.

As for applicants and scoring them, NAU seems to be a more of a holistic education---it is more than numbers, grades, etc. That is admirable, as dictating a correlation between a number and success is trivial really. We shall see! Just a matter of a few weeks

BeckNursingStudent · Jan 20, 2011

Dang sorry you have to take another micro class Run, but hopefully it will all be worth it when you're sitting in nursing class in a few months:) I really hope they didn't get 150 applicants! And that we all get in:)!!

RunMT · Jan 20, 2011

ah yes, no intentions of dropping micro now. it'll be good for me!

and unfortunately ab, i'd like to think they don't base admission on scores, but in an email i recieved this summer, they said, "in rank order we look at: pre req gpa, hesi a2 admission test score, how many are in progress vs completed when you apply." so anyone who has ips will be dinged, but i was told it's "doable" with a solid gpa and hesi score.

i'd love it if they let us write an essay or come to an interview. i know that a solid academic background is crucial to success as an rn, but in addition, i think exceptional people skills and communication skills should be a requirement. patients don't know your undergrad gpa, your nclex score, or how many years experience you have, all they see is how you interact with them, and how you make them feel while under your care. i just don't see how some programs take in numbers, and expect to transform numbers into competent, caring, well-rounded, moral, ethical nurses. by no means should people skills compensate for a lacking science background, but i think it should definitely be looked at as a deciding factor.

can you tell i come from a psychology/communication studies background? haha!

off to microbiology. i'm pumped! (i'll just keep telling myself that, and maybe it'll come true :) )