CSUDH's MEPN Prereqs

U.S.A. California

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Hi All,

I’m transitioning into nursing and will be applying to Cal State Dominguez’s MEPN program for fall 2010 entry. I will attend the November workshop to get the portfolio process started. My question to all of you that have applied to this program or who are currently in it, how many of the prereqs can you have outstanding at the time you submit your application? I have completed many of the prereqs during undergrad; however, I still have the sciences to complete. I’m currently taking (fall ’09) anatomy and speech. I plan to take microbiology and pathophysiology in spring ’10, and lastly finish with physiology in summer ’10. So as you can see, I will be down to the wire in having my last needed prereq complete right before the fall 2010 cohort begins.

I have emailed and left the school messages asking if this is ok. However, I have yet to hear from them. I’m sure I will have all of my questions answered during the workshop; however, I want to know if I’m on the right path, because if it is the case that I have to have all of the prereqs complete by the time I submit my application, then I will clearly have to push back applying for another year, and the thought of that saddens me.

Any advice or answers to the above is greatly appreciated! Also, I know for many of the accelerated, entry to nursing/MSN programs, you can sit for the NCLEX after a year and then return to complete the remaining masters’ courses. Is this the case with Dominguez’s MEPN program, or do you have to wait to take the test until after you have completed the entire program?

Thanking you in advance for the insight!

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I'm sure you have already had your questions answered, but in case you haven't here goes... (I am also applying for Fall 2010 and have attended two info sessions at CSUDH.)

- You can have any pre-reqs in progress, or intend to complete them before the program start date. However, they said that they are able to judge most people's success in the program by their grades on the science pre-reqs, so if you haven't finished them when they evaluate your transcript, they may have a difficult time committing to whether you would be a good fit for their program. Plus, they also worry that something may happen to sidetrack you and you won't be able to complete your pre-reqs as planned.

- CSUDH will not allow you to take the NCLEX before finishing the MEPN program. They space the classes out so that you will not complete the requirements you will need to sit for it before the end of the program. This is because many other programs that allow students to sit early find that the students never return to complete their degrees.

If you end up applying for Fall 2010, let me know!

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Does anyone know where I can take pathophysiology? I know they have it thru the extended education at csudh but it is pretty expensive.

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Unfortunately, this does not seem to be a class you can find any cheaper - and I have looked. Community colleges offer a version of patho but you have to be accepted into their nursing programs first. The other schools that offer it also do so through extended education so the price is basically the same if not a little bit more. It is pretty lame. I am registering for the spring patho class. Luckily, extended ed doesn't begin taking payments until 1/24 so at least I don't have to part with the money before Christmas. Hope this helps...

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I am currently part of Cohort 4 of the CSUDH MEPN program. I took Patho online at Santa Barbara City College (I live in Los Angeles). It was definitely more affordable, and it was credited. So if you are looking for a cheaper alternative, look into SBCC.

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Hi blbbbyct,

The weird thing is that in my workshop, we were told that we can ONLY take patho at CSUDH. Not sure if this has changed since you applied, but I'm going to check again. Yeah, it is really expensive at CSUDH.

Since you're currently going through the program, can you share any insight on you're experience? Is it very rigourous? Is it possible to even hold a part-time job? Thanks!

Mya

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i received the following email last week (2/2010):

the sbcc patho class is a lower division class. our patho class is upper division.

also, the unit value needs to be equivalent to 3 units.

ugh, i guess that answers that. the gal from cohort 4 must have gotten lucky.

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when can i apply for the mepn program at csudh. I would like to attend the info session about the program, when is it, and how can i get more information about it. Im trying to apply for fall 2011 school year.

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Here is the link for information on the program: School of Nursing.

I believe that they don't usually start having info sessions until August, so you will probably need to check their website closer to August or email them for information. (I didn't see any dates on the site - they are usually at the bottom of the page linked above.)

Also, as a heads up, I heard they will be requiring all incoming MEPN students to have completed a CNA course, so you may want to work it into your schedule now.

Good luck!

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I got my CNA license already, currently looking for a cna job to get more experience.. I figured it might boost my chances of getting in that is why i took it.. may i have ur email address in case if i need more info.. thank you so much for the heads up.. are you currently in the program?

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do i have to take research method and pathophysiology before i get admitted to the program., or can i take those two classes after being admitted, but before the program starts.

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You should, of course, run all your important questions by the program admin. I can only tell you how it was for the current entering cohort. What I was told was that your pre-reqs could be in progress. However, if you have all of your important science pre-reqs in progress, without grades to submit, they may not be able to evaluate you properly. When I attended the info sessions, they told us that the grades you received in your science pre-reqs were a good indicator of how you would do in nursing school so I was led to believe that they would play an important role in admission decisions. I had my big science pre-reqs (chem, anatomy, physiology, micro...) completed before I applied and saved the non-science pre-reqs for the in-progress classes (like speech).

Good luck!

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