[porterrj]

Hello,

I am currently a senior graduating in May and I've decided this year that I want to pursue a different path than my current major.

I'm a mass communication major at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and I want to pursue nursing.

Needless to say, my family is all in health care/medicine....and after some on-hands experience I've had within the marketing/communication world...I've decided the field doesn't appeal to me any more...and there are many aspects of nursing that seem very desirable and the job itself would challenge and excite me! I didn't want to be 40 and wishing I had ended up going into something a little more altruistic.

I'm interested in applying next year for admission into Duke's accelerated BSN and a few other accelerated programs (Emory, Michigan Ann Arbor...)

I want to get into a good school!

Unfortunately, I still have to take prerequisite courses---chemistry, statistics, etc. ....so even though I'm graduating I'll be taking classes next year.

I plan on taking these at a branch campus of Ohio State University or a community college to save money since I'm already coming out of my undergrad with some loan debt.

My questions are:

If you've completed this program (Duke or any other) or if you've been accepted, what did your application reflect?

My current GPA is a 3.49. Nothing unbelieveable for a communication major, but pretty good considering Miami isn't a walk-in the park.
- do you think community college classes would be sufficient for prerequisites at Duke?

I've also studied abroad and I've worked hard within the communication department. (I'm part of a very selective advertising program).

Also, what were your GRE scores??

This is something I'm looking at into the future and I'd really like to focus and aim for DUKE, however, I do not know if I'm setting myself too high.

I mean it's got to be pretty difficult to be accepted!

Are there supplemental actions I should take to increase my chances???

Do I look competitive against other middle-aged individuals who are looking at career changes and at this same path???

Thanks,
Rachel

[carolinapooh]

I am starting at Duke in the fall. I have a 3.62 overall GPA (graduated cum laude by the seat of my pants!) and a 3.9 prereq GPA. My GRE score overall was a 1530 and was a 1090 in the quantitative/grammar sections (I took it just before they did away with the analytical portion and replaced it with the essay; I hadn’t taken a math course in 11 years when I took the test so I wasn’t looking for miracles!). The Duke minimum is a 1000; I was worried about my chances and when I called the admissions office before I applied, the impression I got was the GRE score is just one tiny factor (15 hours of the ABSN at Duke is graduate level classes, so I think they have a minimum so they know if you can handle the work or not – this also means that 15 hours of your NP degree will be completed when you graduate – it’s all the core MSN level stuff; check out their website). I took most of my prereqs (I had already taken statistics) at a local community college (I live in Durham) as have three other people who have also been accepted, and we’re all just fine.

178 applications were received this year, and they interviewed 75 people for 56 slots. So the odds really weren’t that bad after the first cut. I thought a lot more people would have applied, but I guess the sheer size of the impending bill scares a lot of people off. Duke is VERY VERY well endowed and generous with financial aid; private schools usually hand out more money anyway because they have the money to hand out.

I’ll be honest with you: I didn’t think I had a snowball’s chance in Hades of getting in either – if my DH hadn’t pushed the issue, I don’t know if I would have applied. But now I’m SOOOOO glad I did! The really appealing part for me was the graduate level work, since I’m planning on Duke for my PNP. When you factor the time saved and the cost into their somewhat alarming tuition bill, it sort of takes some of the fear away! I posted on another thread that I tell people I’m going to Duke in the fall, and I still can’t believe I’m actually talking about me!

Based on the people that I know that were accepted, you sound pretty competitive. Give Shaunda Fennell in the admissions office a call; she’s VERY helpful. Of course, there is the possibility that what’s competitive this year won’t be competitive when it’s time for you to apply; I suggest you really work in your prereqs and do everything in your power to make all As. If you do that, you should remain competitive.

I’m sure my time will be at a premium, but feel free to PM me anytime when I’m in the program if you’re still interested. I’d be happy to let you know what it’s like.

[Megsd]

I kind of did the same thing as you. I decided my senior year in my Spanish BA I wanted to go into nursing, received my degree in May 2005 and then started taking prereqs. I am entering Wright State University's accelerated BSN program this fall. My GPA from my previous degree was a 3.83.

As far as if classes will transfer from a CC, I would definitely contact Duke and explain to them which courses (and where) you are planning to take for the prereqs and be prepared to show them a copy of the course catalog that describes the curriculum to make sure it matches up with what Duke wants you to know. Good luck to you!

[porterrj]

Wow, i had no idea Wright State had an accelerated program. They should definitely make an effort to get the word out better online.

Where did you go for undergrad?

How long is the accelerated program there?

[Raymond CA]

Hi Rachel! I'll be starting at Rush University's ABSN program in Jan. 2007. I applied Early Decision and got accepted a few weeks ago! Here's my story:

http://allnurses.com/forums/f198/got...go-148631.html

[Raymond CA]

Deleted.

[Megsd]

Originally Posted by porterrj

Wow, i had no idea Wright State had an accelerated program. They should definitely make an effort to get the word out better online.

Where did you go for undergrad?

How long is the accelerated program there?

I think the program is kinda new... only about 3 years old or so. I actually found out about it through my boyfriend's coworker, who also works for Miami Valley's HR department (Miami Valley works really closely with Wright State). They do have a FAQ on the WSU nursing website, and you can always call the BEACON office. The program is 15 months long (5 quarters), so about a year shorter than their traditional program. I will finish in November 2007. Wright State was also very good about me transferring courses from Kansas. I went into my advising appointment prepared to fight, armed with my transcript and undergrad catalog showing all the course curriculums. The advisor basically said "As long as the course has Biology (or whatever courses) in the title, we'll take it."

I went to the University of Kansas for my undergrad. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

Meghan