University of Calgary

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Does anyone have any experiences or insight on the University of Calgary? I'm specifically looking at their BNAT program since I already have a bachelors degree. It would also be useful to get a feel for nursing in Alberta in general or what it's like to live in Calgary. I've been living in Montreal for the past 5 years and although I love this city I'm really keen to go west, I just want to make sure it's a good choice school. It makes me a little nervous that they just switched over to guaranteed acceptance at 3.0, but as long as it's sufficiently rigorous and a good educational experience I won't worry about it.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

TanFran,

WOOT! BC girl. =D Yeah, I have very poor scam radar so I figured my best bet would be try and get a room on campus at least until I'm a bit more Calgary-savy. I am also not terribly cold tolerant but I figure with enough pairs of Long Johns I can do anything. HAHA.

Would you be willing to email with me? I can send you my email address via messaging. Once I figure out how that works! Hopefully, we can help each other out with the whole moving to a new city business.

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Yaaaa BC! We can freeze our butts off together! Yea I need to invest in some good long johns for sure!

If you can somehow figure out how to message me, we can totally exchange our emails!

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Hey TanFran and glim06 =)! Ahh it's so nice to meet the both of you! I'm so excited to start in January and meet everyone! It's going to be a crazy and COLD adventure haha! I'm actually from ONTARIO, and I've lived here my entire life! So that freezing your butt off experience - BEEN there, DONE that! haha.

Seems like we're all kind of in the same boat for housing eh? I keep finding 'scammy' adds on craigslist, kijiji and the like! SO, I think Glim06's idea of residence for a while is the way to go! Hey, would you guys be interested in meeting up in Calgary before the program starts? It would be a great way to explore together and get to know each other =D! I hear we have to go down there in the first week of Jan anyway? Ahh, time's going to FLY by!

SO, since facebook practically rules the world now, I figured I'd go ahead and start a facebook group for our class =)! TanFran, I got your friend request and I'm adding you now. Glim06, I'm going to send you an email so that we can add each other as well. I've been on this forum for quite some time now, so I kind of figured out the emailing system haha.

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VeeBee!

You are lucky you have been in cold weather already haha, I have literally only been very cold once when I flew into Edmonton in October haha. Do you know if we can live in res for only a few months? My fiance is flying out in March, so I don't want to commit to a semester or year there.

We could meet up before for sure to get to know one another! We are going to have to kill 6 days there before school starts anyways! Do you know where exactly we need to drop off our Criminal Record Checks? I am most likely getting there on the 3rd and will need to rush around and find the appropriate person! lol

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Specializes in Cardiology.

Hey guys, congrats on getting into the U. I wish they had the new 2 yr program up and running when I started. :)

re: Looking for housing, check out the U's off campus housing website http://www.su.ucalgary.ca/ooch/listing.php

Public transit in Calgary isn't the best so I would suggest if you are going to live off campus, try and stick to the NW.

re: Criminal records check. You may get more information about this at your orientation but submitting them to the nursing advisors office (PF2297) is probably a good bet. You can't miss the Professional Faculty building. Large salmon/pink coloured building near the library tower.

Weather here is absolutely spectacular right now. One of the nicest Novembers in recent memory but yeah the weather can be a real pita which is why living in the NW is best. Much easier to get around then coming from the SE or SW.

Best of luck on your new journey!

cheers

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Hey!

I will be starting the transfer program at U of C in January 2012, and I'm currently a fourth year Kinesiology student at U of C. So if you'd like someone to show you around campus etc let me know!

:)

Looking forward to meeting all these new faces!

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Hey Mtee =)! That sound's GREAT! Will you actually be in Calgary on November 21st? I'm planning to fly down then to check out the campus etc. I'm also in the transfer program at UofC for January 2012! I am soooo excited. Also, would you be interested in finding a roommate in the same program? I'm trying to see if a few of us can possibly rent out a place off campus =)? Or do you think living on residence is better?

P.S I'll email you my name so we can add each other on facebook =)!

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I will indeed be in Calgary on November 21st. I have a 4 hour break in between classes on the 21st, and Ill already be on campus so I can definitely give you a tour and show you where our classes will be :)

I would definitely recommend finding some room mates if you can, check out Rentfaster.ca, or the off-campus housing website. I live with my boyfriend, so I'm not really looking for a place, even though rooming with classmates would be fun!

Living on campus isn't a bad choice either, its SUPER convenient to live right on campus.. especially when you have 8 am classes! If you can, try to get into the Cascade building, or the new Yamnuska building. Avoid the buildings that have rooms without kitchens (they usually stick first-year students here).. because the campus food options aren't the greatest, and you'll definitely want the option to cook your own meals!!!

I'm still not quite sure how this website works.. how do I email you?

I'm SOOOO excited for January!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Those of you planning to meet are taking a very significant risk. This website is a publicly-accessible site that hosts thousands of unregistered "guests" a day. Anyone with Internet access can read anything and everything that has been posted here. No one from the site verifies identities of anyone, members included. You have no way of knowing if the people you're meeting are who they say they are, and you have no guarantee that you won't be mugged (or worse) outside your meeting place by someone who has read about your plans here. Please be aware that you're all involved in this at your own risk and allnurses.com will not be liable in any way for anything untoward that occurs.

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@ Grace

Yeah the 20 month program was a meat grinder. For instance, we just finished up our senior 4th year course: Advanced Concepts in Nursing Practice (42 hour block course), in only 7 days.

I really hope the new revamped 2 year program is a success and the students aren't as bitter or burnt out like many of my colleagues.

Far as other criteria the U may look at besides GPA, you could try submitting your application under the Diverse Qualifications Admissions Policy. Diverse Qualifications | Undergraduate Admission Guide | University of Calgary

I was accepted within a few weeks after applying (applied in January 2009, accepted a few weeks later for Sept 2009 entry) but I have friends who didn't find out until a few weeks before classes started.

@ RNstudent Congrats on your acceptance! The transfer route will be a much more manageable (and enjoyable) journey for you. You'll probably be getting a lot of SIM labs as the faculty is fully embracing that teaching tool. They are quite fun and a great learning experience.

Good luck guys!

cheers :)

Hi Peter,

I'm thinking to apply for UofC Bachelor of Nursing Program - Application Route for Degree Holders. I have some questions. If you would like to give some answers, that would be great.

I read some comments and the program seems good and is a lecture-teaching format. How are the clinical practice experience and the job reputation of UofC graduates?

The program says "Admission GPAs are calculated based on the most recent 10 half university transferable course equivalents calculated as of the end of Summer Session (August 31). " For myself, I had my undergraduate study in China, and MSc at UVic (3 courses) and I took 4 undergrad courses to meet up the nursing school pre-requisites. The 10 courses will be choose from my undergrad study only, or they will calculate back from my most recent taken courses. What do you think?

You said you got your acceptance only a few weeks after your applied in January 2009. Do you think whether it was because you had a high enough admission GPA, you were offered so soon? For me, mine from the undergrad last 10 courses was about 77%, about between 3.7~3.3. I saw the data of final admission averages for 2011 and 2010 are 3.25 and 3.00 respectively. It seems an increase trend to me.

One English Course is required. I wonder whether my MSc degree and published academic papers can be counted.

The application includes the transcript and the online application form. Are there other documents required? I haven't seen any other information yet from the website.

Thank you very much,

Yiersan

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I don't know what to provide for spoken English requirement. So tough for ESL student to be a Canadian nurse.

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Specializes in Cardiology.
hi peter,

i'm thinking to apply for uofc bachelor of nursing program - application route for degree holders. i have some questions. if you would like to give some answers, that would be great.

i read some comments and the program seems good and is a lecture-teaching format. how are the clinical practice experience and the job reputation of uofc graduates?

[color=#ee82ee]

i can't speak to the new revised after degree program but the old bnat program placed a high emphasis on nursing theory. it almost seems like the u of c nursing faculty is pushing students to pursue their masters.

clinical (for the most part) was ok. i had great clinical experiences but i know some that didn't. a lot depends on your placement and instructors/preceptor.

i would say u of c grads have a good rep, although mount royal grads seem to be better prepared skills wise. if mru had an after degree program i would have gone there.

all my friends in the bnat program that graduated last june and oct are all working and i had 3 job offers before i finished my final practicum[color=#ee82ee].

the program says "admission gpas are calculated based on the most recent 10 half university transferable course equivalents calculated as of the end of summer session (august 31). " for myself, i had my undergraduate study in china, and msc at uvic (3 courses) and i took 4 undergrad courses to meet up the nursing school pre-requisites. the 10 courses will be choose from my undergrad study only, or they will calculate back from my most recent taken courses. what do you think?

i would contact a faculty of nursing student advisor

http://nursing.ucalgary.ca/undergradprogram

you said you got your acceptance only a few weeks after your applied in january 2009. do you think whether it was because you had a high enough admission gpa, you were offered so soon? for me, mine from the undergrad last 10 courses was about 77%, about between 3.7~3.3. i saw the data of final admission averages for 2011 and 2010 are 3.25 and 3.00 respectively. it seems an increase trend to me.

i had a competitive gpa but every year is different. again, a student advisor will be able to answer your questions.

one english course is required. i wonder whether my msc degree and published academic papers can be counted.

the application includes the transcript and the online application form. are there other documents required? i haven't seen any other information yet from the website.

the u is pretty good with the online app process, again the student advisor should have lots of info to help you.

thank you very much,

yiersan

good luck!

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