i recently found out that i did not make it into clinicals at LSUE and i am now scurrying to try and make the August 31st deadline for the Fall '06 class @ charity.

i've received the application packet and pretty much know the basics about what i need to turn in but i'm sure there are things i could be doing in the meantime that might help me to get selected such as a certain GPA, volunteer work, getting recommendation letters, etc. could any of you kind souls please help a stressed & desperate but determined single mom out???

i currently have a 3.2 gpa (cumulative). i also have a bachelor's degree in a non nursing field. i only have 1 D on my entire academic record which i later retook and received a C in, (college algebra). never failed a class. i have all of the pre-reqs that charity requires. if i think of anything else i'll post it. based on your knowledge of who seems to make the cut, do i appear to have a good chance or not?

while i'm waiting to hear from charity, i will also be attending and applying to OLOLC, (i need 3 pre-reqs over there). always good to have a plan B, lol.

-Sue

i recently found out that i did not make it into clinicals at LSUE and i am now scurrying to try and make the August 31st deadline for the Fall '06 class @ charity.

i've received the application packet and pretty much know the basics about what i need to turn in but i'm sure there are things i could be doing in the meantime that might help me to get selected such as a certain GPA, volunteer work, getting recommendation letters, etc. could any of you kind souls please help a stressed & desperate but determined single mom out???

i currently have a 3.2 gpa (cumulative). i also have a bachelor's degree in a non nursing field. i only have 1 D on my entire academic record which i later retook and received a C in, (college algebra). never failed a class. i have all of the pre-reqs that charity requires. if i think of anything else i'll post it. based on your knowledge of who seems to make the cut, do i appear to have a good chance or not?

while i'm waiting to hear from charity, i will also be attending and applying to OLOLC, (i need 3 pre-reqs over there). always good to have a plan B, lol.

-Sue

I think your application sounds good. I have heard already having a degree can help your application.

Have you thought about LSU in New Orleans nursing program? Or is that the one you already applied too?

I was just accepted to Charity Spring 06 class. I have a BS degree and my gpa is a 3.4. I am also half-way finished with my MBA/HCM so I guess that played a part in getting in. OLOLC turned me down for the accelerated program in New Orleans, but I heard some things about the program that made me happy that they did turn me down. Charity is a great program that, if completed properly, leaves you as a well rounded nurse. OLOLC in New Orleans is breeding Med-surg Nurses for Tulane. I need more than med-surg experience.

If you pass the pax, complete your prereqs, and wait your year, chances are you will get in...but...have a second and third choice waiting. One of my psyc classmates had a degree also and was turned down for Charity's fall class.

ooh thanks for responding! and congratulations!!! you must be so excited!

just curious, what is your MBA in? if not nursing, did you pursue it in order to get more money? i've heard of others doing that so they could get grant/loan money. i'm a single mom but i have a BS so i cant get a grant (which i think is poo, but whatever.) so i was trying to figure out a way around that.

I was just accepted to Charity Spring 06 class. I have a BS degree and my gpa is a 3.4. I am also half-way finished with my MBA/HCM so I guess that played a part in getting in. OLOLC turned me down for the accelerated program in New Orleans, but I heard some things about the program that made me happy that they did turn me down. Charity is a great program that, if completed properly, leaves you as a well rounded nurse. OLOLC in New Orleans is breeding Med-surg Nurses for Tulane. I need more than med-surg experience.

If you pass the pax, complete your prereqs, and wait your year, chances are you will get in...but...have a second and third choice waiting. One of my psyc classmates had a degree also and was turned down for Charity's fall class.

yes i am considering LSU's program too. i have several pre-req's to take for that one and i am in Lafayette; plus i have a one year old baby so i'm trying to figure out how to move down there and do this while being a single mom. i really want to do this. i miss nola so much and i know would be a kickass nurse. i just gotta figure out a way.

I think your application sounds good. I have heard already having a degree can help your application.

Have you thought about LSU in New Orleans nursing program? Or is that the one you already applied too?

ooh thanks for responding! and congratulations!!! you must be so excited!

just curious, what is your MBA in? if not nursing, did you pursue it in order to get more money? i've heard of others doing that so they could get grant/loan money. i'm a single mom but i have a BS so i cant get a grant (which i think is poo, but whatever.) so i was trying to figure out a way around that.

My MBA is in health care management and my bs is in Management (Information Systems minor). I couldn't get any financial assistance so that is one of the reasons to get the MBA. So I take out student loans to pay for nursing school. I will finish the MBA by April 06, but should have enough money for nursing school. I wish there was a better way like grants or even scholarships, but I have researched and the scholarships are just not out there. I never meet all of the gualifications. I am at the University of Phoenix doing a program that they call Flexnet. Your classes are six weeks long. You go to campus for the first and last classes. Between this, your classes are on the internet. It's expensive, about $1100 per class, but I have enough fin aid left for nursing prereqs and my first 2 semesters of nursing school. By the end of the year I should have enough for the whole nursing program. When I start nursing school in January 06 I am going to the all online program to complete my MBA. I will finish by April 06 so it shouldn't distract from nursing school.

If you knew me you would know that I am determined. I have three young children and some other challenging issues (weight, money, etc). Believe me when I say that if I can do this, anyone can...and I still have a head full of hair!!!

thank you so much for you input and motivation! after reading what you have to say, i know i can do this. (at least i think i can? haha.) my parents are very much against it and i hate doing anything without nod of approval. (god i sound like such a baby, but its really not like that. they just know how hard its going to be to be a single mom plus clinicals.)

how do you plan on doing clinicals with kids? i have somebody to keep my baby during the day for free, but what about at night when we've got studying/projects/etc.???

My MBA is in health care management and my bs is in Management (Information Systems minor). I couldn't get any financial assistance so that is one of the reasons to get the MBA. So I take out student loans to pay for nursing school. I will finish the MBA by April 06, but should have enough money for nursing school. I wish there was a better way like grants or even scholarships, but I have researched and the scholarships are just not out there. I never meet all of the gualifications. I am at the University of Phoenix doing a program that they call Flexnet. Your classes are six weeks long. You go to campus for the first and last classes. Between this, your classes are on the internet. It's expensive, about $1100 per class, but I have enough fin aid left for nursing prereqs and my first 2 semesters of nursing school. By the end of the year I should have enough for the whole nursing program. When I start nursing school in January 06 I am going to the all online program to complete my MBA. I will finish by April 06 so it shouldn't distract from nursing school.

If you knew me you would know that I am determined. I have three young children and some other challenging issues (weight, money, etc). Believe me when I say that if I can do this, anyone can...and I still have a head full of hair!!!

thank you so much for you input and motivation! after reading what you have to say, i know i can do this. (at least i think i can? haha.) my parents are very much against it and i hate doing anything without nod of approval. (god i sound like such a baby, but its really not like that. they just know how hard its going to be to be a single mom plus clinicals.)

how do you plan on doing clinicals with kids? i have somebody to keep my baby during the day for free, but what about at night when we've got studying/projects/etc.???

OK I am currently doing prereqs at Delgado and going to University of Phoenix at the same time...my philosophy is to do as much in the daytime as possible. I like spending a couple of hours in the evening with my kids and I don't study well at night so I try to study during the days I don't have school. When nursing school starts and I have things to do in the evening I can ask my mom to sit with the kids maybe once each week. My husband works evenings so I can count him out. When he has off days I will go to the skills practice labs. I know it sounds hard, but if you manage your time it can work. I never thought I would get this far with my MBA, but I'm almost finished. I know nursing school will be a challange, especially as a single mother, but if you have at least one person you can depend on, even for one evening per week, you can do it.

Another thing is to seek out people in a similar situation as you. We would work great together because I understand that your time is precious. If we are working on a project together we would assign certain parts, complete the sections on a timely manner and compile and polish the project. If you manage your time you can squeeze anything in, anywhere. I study while cooking. I study all week and take Sundays off. I do nothing but veg out in front of the tv or computer. I go to the park with my kids or we just sit around with each other catching up. I don't open a book on Sundays. You have to make the time work for you.

I know I'm going on and on, but don't let me come across as being perfect. I get frustrated, My hair is a mess, I yell sometimes, and I get the urge to quit quite often. After I look at my kids I get back on track. Like me, you have to soul search and do what's best for you and your child.

OK I am currently doing prereqs at Delgado and going to University of Phoenix at the same time...my philosophy is to do as much in the daytime as possible. I like spending a couple of hours in the evening with my kids and I don't study well at night so I try to study during the days I don't have school. When nursing school starts and I have things to do in the evening I can ask my mom to sit with the kids maybe once each week. My husband works evenings so I can count him out. When he has off days I will go to the skills practice labs. I know it sounds hard, but if you manage your time it can work. I never thought I would get this far with my MBA, but I'm almost finished. I know nursing school will be a challange, especially as a single mother, but if you have at least one person you can depend on, even for one evening per week, you can do it.

Another thing is to seek out people in a similar situation as you. We would work great together because I understand that your time is precious. If we are working on a project together we would assign certain parts, complete the sections on a timely manner and compile and polish the project. If you manage your time you can squeeze anything in, anywhere. I study while cooking. I study all week and take Sundays off. I do nothing but veg out in front of the tv or computer. I go to the park with my kids or we just sit around with each other catching up. I don't open a book on Sundays. You have to make the time work for you.

I know I'm going on and on, but don't let me come across as being perfect. I get frustrated, My hair is a mess, I yell sometimes, and I get the urge to quit quite often. After I look at my kids I get back on track. Like me, you have to soul search and do what's best for you and your child.

oh my gosh! please continue to go on! this is exactly what i was looking for. someone who is in a similar situation as me to give me advice on what to do. seriously, thank you so much for your insight.

this is the plan i've come up with so far:

1. apply for charity fall '06 by august 31, 2005.

2. continue living in lafayette with parents and saving money until june '06.

3. continue taking pre-req's necessary for LSU at LSUE from fall '05-spring 06

4. also 21hrs from LSUE from fall 05-spring 06 to get certified in office info. systems (so i can get a better paying job to support me while in school)

5. find out around december '05/january '06 if i got into charity fall '06 nursing class. either way, continue taking pre-req's for LSU because no matter what, my ultimate goal is NP so i will need them.

6. apply to LSU for fall '06 (probably wont get in because i will be finishing up pre-req'a so i apply again for spring '07 which i probably will get into)

i figure this plan will insure that my time is spent wisely and with the least amount of waste. i wont be totally SOL(sh1t outta luck) if i dont get accepted right away because i will still have my OIS certification to make ends meet and support my baby girl.

please tell me what you think and feel free to add suggestions and by all means speak from experience. i know i may come across a little naive but i promise you i am not one of those headstrong dummies that wont listen to those who have been there/done that. i am trying my hardest to figure out the best way to go about this so i deeply appreciate any and all advice given.

thanks so much.

-Sue

It sounds like you have a plan. As long as you follow through you'll be ok. Just meet your deadlines for applying and stay on track. I'm starting/changing my career and I know that the wait to get into nursing school is worth it. Look at the choices we have.