UF Accelerated BSN - May 2010 Applicants

Shaunna · Jan 13, 2010

Also, you guys probably already know this, but just in case you don't-ABSN don't qualify for a lot of financial aid. Since it's a second bachelor degree, it's pretty much entirely loans: no grants, VERY few scholarships. I've borrowed more in less than a year in the program than my entire previous four years.

Shaunna · Jan 13, 2010

Hi everyone! I just discovered this forum and am excited to see other people in the same boat as me. I am a UF undergraduate student right now. I will be graduating in may. I was wondering if anyone could give me advise on the resume. Should it be concise to fit a page (like when you apply for a job) or is it supposed to be really detailed? I just recently stumbled upon this program, which is why I am applying so last minute!

I think a resume should generally be one page, highlighting important info. Try playing with fonts and formatting if it is just a little over. I think UF gives the option to submit a CV instead which is typically longer.

gatorgirl26 · Jan 13, 2010

Thank you for all your help. Working on my essay right now. Hope I get it all done in time!!!

africa.bound · Jan 13, 2010

Right now, the estimated cost of attendance (including tuition, living expenses estimates, etc.) is about 28-29k at UF..

What is the estimate for tuition and books alone?

ALSO, does anyone know when we should be finding out about acceptance??

UFprospect · Jan 13, 2010

Does anyone know if you can get in with a below 500 verbal score? I hope to not have to retake the GRE, I did well in math but scored below 500 in verbal.

Shaunna · Jan 13, 2010

What is the estimate for tuition and books alone?
ALSO, does anyone know when we should be finding out about acceptance??

Go to this site to see a breakdown of estimated costs:

http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/apply/coa.html

I imagine the costs will be slightly different for a fall start since they're changing curriculum. Our estimated total program cost was $5500 for the first Summer, then $23k-ish for Fall/Spring/Summer. For tuition, it depends on the course load. It's about $145 per undergrad course hour and twice that for grad level.

We had I think about 16 credits the first semester (~$2300 tuition), then fourteen during the fall, three of which were grad level, so it was about $2500. Spring we have 17 hours; I think three are grad level, I'd have to check.

The books are a whole 'nother ball game. You can be all over with those. In the summer they kind of intimidate you with information and panic you into buying the big box of books-about $600 for summer alone. These are all new books plus electronic copies. If you're smart and shop around, you can spend MUCH less. Also, for many classes you can buy an older edition, which may cost less than $5. Be honest with yourself-you probably won't have much time to read the books, especially if you haven't in other classes. And it also depends on the professor. Derrico's classes, you only need the books for reference if you want, but he's a great teacher, so you probably don't need them at all. Sutton-buy the book and don't bother with class-better yet, buy the test bank available online.

So basically, you could spend less than $100 on books or $2000 for the program-depends on your reading habits, your shopping habits, etc.

We got our letters around early March.

NP Sam · Jan 13, 2010

Shaunna,

Do you happen to know what they are changing about the curriculum? I knew they were starting in Fall but I didnt know that.

Shaunna · Jan 13, 2010

I'm not sure exactly what changes they're making. I think most of it will be switching up the order slightly. I think they'll be making psych and community two separate classes instead of one 4 credit class. They haven't told us much but occasionally mention in class something that is being discussed-either to be added as a separate class or incorporated into current curriculum e.g. culture sensitive care, geriatrics, genetics.

So as far as I know (and I know fairly little because it's not really something I've inquired about) the changes are probably going to be:

Breaking larger classes up into smaller classes: Patho to Patho I and Patho II; Psych/Community to Psych and Community

Incorporating new content: Increasing focus on genetics, etc.

and

Changing order slightly: Instead of Pharmacology 1st semester, there will probably be Pharm I first semester and Pharm II the next.

I don't think any of these changes are finalized and I don't know if they plan to implement them next year or not, so don't take my word on it! I imagine by the time you start getting acceptance letters there will be more info on the website.

twodollarbills · Jan 15, 2010

Shaunna, It is 28K for tuition alone at Drexel and they offer absolutely no scholarships. Plus, I own a house in Gainesville so I am hoping to get to stay here! We will see I guess. also - do you know how the scholarship thing works? do you apply for them as soon as you get accepted or did some people get offered money with their acceptance letters?

Gatorgirl, my CV was 1.5 pages too, so I second that you shouldn't worry about trying to get it down to 1 page.

Shaunna · Jan 16, 2010

also - do you know how the scholarship thing works? do you apply for them as soon as you get accepted or did some people get offered money with their acceptance letters?

Like I said, very few scholarships-we don't qualify for most because we already have bachelor's degrees. I'm financing entirely with loans and a part time job.

As far as I know, no one gets offered money with their letters. There are really not a whole lot to apply for-I think it depends primarily on donations. Occasionally (maybe once or twice a semester), our financial aid person will send out an application for a small scholarship. Many of them prefer Veterans or children of Veterans, single parents, that kind of thing. So there's really not a lot of money coming from the college. As far as other non-UF specific scholarships, I haven't spent much time looking them up. I'd check Fastweb, things like that, but most of them require you to not have a bachelor's degree already.

Do you have an idea where you want to work? If so, definitely ask at your local hospital-a lot of them will help finance your education in return for a commitment to work there for a few years. If you're already working as a tech or something for over a year, many hospitals will help pay for you to get your nursing degree. In Gainesville, I think North Florida Regional offers a pretty generous scholarship in exchange for a letter of commitment and the VA pays everything for nursing school if you've been there for a year as a CNA or something. I know at least two people who have done the commitment thing at NFRMC. I'm sort of a commitment-phobe, and I want to work at the VA, so I haven't done that.

But to sum up: There aren't a lot of financial aid opportunities for a second bachelor's degree. If you can't get a future or present employer to cover it, it's pretty much loans. After the first semester, you'll have a little free time to get a PCA (or other) job for a few hours a week.

Good luck!

NP Sam · Jan 18, 2010

Does anyone know how many applications they recieve each year? It is only Jan 18.. time seems to be going by slowly

Shaunna · Jan 18, 2010

Does anyone know how many applications they recieve each year? It is only Jan 18.. time seems to be going by slowly

One of my clinical instructors mentioned that they receive something like 600 applications a year. To me, that seems like a grossly inflated number, but I imagine that more people are trying to go back to school because of the economy.