[missnida]

anyone going to UCA or graduated from there? i`m looking to tranfer in fall `08 from California, and was wondering how competitive it is. also wondering about out of state acceptance and GPA? any info helps!!

[CAMeadors]

Hi
I don't go to UCA but I am also interested in transfering to their nursing program. I have exchanged emails with one of the administrators there though and she told me I needed a 3.5 to be competitive as a transfer student. Evidently they give preference to students doing their nursing pre-reqs there. I heard (this is only a rumor-don't know if it is true) that in the class for this fall only 4 students were transfers and the rest were already UCA students.
Hopefully someone will respond who is currently a student there and we will get more info.

[missnida]

WOW, JUST 4 TRANSFER STUDENTS!? I hope that's a rumor! lol but I heard this fall the school had the highest erollment in it's history, so maybe it is true. I'll should be done with my pre-req's in Spring, and I'm predicting my GPA to be around 3.4. Hopefully I'll still be competitive! When are you planning on transfering?

[CAMeadors]

I'll be finished with my pre-reqs this spring but I think I am going to wait a year before I start. I am older (47) and I like the idea that UCA's program is 3 years instead of 2. I have a lot going on in my life and I'm hoping that by spreading it out over three years it will work better for me and my family.
Are you set on UCA? If you want a BSN UAMS also has a very good program in Little Rock that is only 30 minutes away from Conway. UAMS's program starts in May every year which seems a little unusual. I have also heard good things about UALR also in Little Rock, although is in an associates program if that matters to you.

[missnida]

Yea, I'm also considering UAMS but the only problem is since they start in may, I won't have very much time to move from California to Arkansas because our spring semester ends about a week before they start. So I wouldn't have much time to settle in and everything while with UCA I would have the whole summer. Also UAMS is a lot more expensive when it comes to out-of-state tuition. My fiance is stationed at LRAFB so I'm trying to get out there as soon as I can, but I want it to be convienient. Do you know if it's easier to get into UAMS? Is it less competitive?

[CAMeadors]

I have heard that UAMS is easier to get into than from UCA. From what I've heard most every program is easier to get in than UCA. I think (maybe someone on the board you has gone there will tell us for sure), but I think the GPA UAMS wants is at least around 3.0 or 3.2. I've also heard that their program is not filling as fast (because UALR has really expanded their program). I know that last year the original deadline for UAMS was Feb 1 and they ended up extending it to Mar 15. I don't know for sure what that means but it sounds like they had to hold it open longer to get the applicants they wanted.
It would be hard to only have a week between moving and starting school but it might be worth it. Do you have any preference on the length of the program? UCA is 3 years -no summers and UAMS is 2 years, including the first summer.

[missnida]

I like the fact that UCA is a 3 year program with no summers because that would give me time to relax a little and visit family in CA over the summers but at the same time I like the UAMS 2 year program because I could get it done faster. So I guess I could go either way. But if UAMS is easier I'll probably try to get in there. I have to decide before spring because the schools have different pre-req's so I'll have to decide which school to take the final classes towards. Are you set on UCA or are you leaning towards UAMS?

[CAMeadors]

I'll apply to both but at least right now I am leaning toward UCA. I like the idea that it is spread out over three years and I'm hoping that will make it less intensive. I already have a degree so I would pretty much just be taking the nursing courses and not having to take any of the general ed courses that they have spread out over the three years. I'm hoping my GPA will get me in. I've got about a 3.7 overall.

[maxamillion]

UCA is harder to get into because of the higher GPA requirements and lower allotment. UAMS is a quicker way to get BSN. UALR is 2 years associates, but next fall is going to offer BSN degree. Right now i'm at UALR and will get my BSN through UAMS' 1 year online fast track. Just some info for ya.

[missnida]

do you know what UALR's pre-reqs will be? and will they be accepting transfer students?