[NSFA08]

Are any of you starting to get anxious about the forthcoming decisions? We have another month or so yet to know, but I still want to know NOW! ... Wanna share in the waiting process? Have you heard anything about the # of people they are accepting? Anything?

[megonia]

Hey NSFA08-

I also applied to the MECN program at UCLA. Other than an email to let me know my application is complete, I haven't heard anything else! And yes, the waiting is awful!

[kathliz]

Hi!

I also applied to UCLA's MECN program. I asked the program coordinator how many applications they received for this fall's class. Much to my chagrin she said 365 and they expect to enroll around 55. That is only the top 15%. I really got my hopes up to returning to UCLA where I went to school after many years. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed very tightly.

Kathy

[NSFA08]

according to the posts by people who applied last year, decision notifications went out at the beginning of march last year. have you heard whether or not that will be the case this year?

[kathliz]

Originally Posted by NSFA08

according to the posts by people who applied last year, decision notifications went out at the beginning of march last year. have you heard whether or not that will be the case this year?

The program coordinator said March 1 (not around then, or early-March, etc.). I am feeling very nervous right now. I have just received rejections from two MSN programs already. They were private schools and because of their high costs I really don't want to go there if I don't have to. I just hope that this isn't a sign of what the results of the rest of my applications will be. UCLA is my alma mater and I am dying to return there.

Kathy

[pretzelpug]

I'm waiting on admission, too. I heard that they notify on March 1st, but I'm not sure if this is via e-mail or snail mail? I got my admission notification by e-mail for graduate school for the program I am currently enrolled in, with a hard-copy that followed.

I heard the same thing - they take 55 students, but it's good to hear only 365 applications! Even though it sounds like a lot, they projected there'd be about 700 applications for this year's program.

Does anyone know anything about the structure of their program, specific to when they do clinicals in relation to classwork? I forgot what was said in Orientation...do they begin right away or after the first couple of quarters?

[Asherah]

Originally Posted by chsbruin

I'm waiting on admission, too. I heard that they notify on March 1st, but I'm not sure if this is via e-mail or snail mail? I got my admission notification by e-mail for graduate school for the program I am currently enrolled in, with a hard-copy that followed.

I heard the same thing - they take 55 students, but it's good to hear only 365 applications! Even though it sounds like a lot, they projected there'd be about 700 applications for this year's program.

Does anyone know anything about the structure of their program, specific to when they do clinicals in relation to classwork? I forgot what was said in Orientation...do they begin right away or after the first couple of quarters?

I applied for Fall 2007 admission and those who were accepted were notified by email the first week of March. Unfortunately those who were not accepted (myself included), had to wait to receive a hard copy of the bad news. (Pretty horrible way to do that IMO, as the word spread pretty quickly here about the emails and it drove you nuts if you didn't get one.)

Also, they calculate your GPA on the last 60 semester/90 quarter units of your degree GPA (pre-req courses are not included in that calc.). The last time I spoke to someone who is wrapping up the program in one more quarter, she had stated that the last accepted cohort had an average GPA of 3.8-3.9 and significant volunteer experience.

Also, if you are a Bruin alum, it will not make a difference in the admissions decision.

Good luck!

[pretzelpug]

Originally Posted by Asherah

I applied for Fall 2007 admission and those who were accepted were notified by email the first week of March. Unfortunately those who were not accepted (myself included), had to wait to receive a hard copy of the bad news. (Pretty horrible way to do that IMO, as the word spread pretty quickly here about the emails and it drove you nuts if you didn't get one.)

Also, they calculate your GPA on the last 60 semester/90 quarter units of your degree GPA (pre-req courses are not included in that calc.). The last time I spoke to someone who is wrapping up the program in one more quarter, she had stated that the last accepted cohort had an average GPA of 3.8-3.9 and significant volunteer experience.


Good luck!

Thanks for your response - may I ask (if applicable) where you ended up going to for your nursing program? I am a little hesitant about UCLA re: the response I read from "noa" in the MECN Cohort, who mentioned how her friends in similar programs are better trained vs. UCLA MECN students who just learn business routes. I remember in the open house, they did mention patho, pharmacology, and some disease management courses.

That average GPA is pretty high, and significant volunteer experience may make it so my mere 80 hours weren't enough!

I wasn't expecting that being a Bruin alum would help TOO much, I just wondered if it would have helped a little with regards to what I am getting my Master's in.

Wow I agree with it being poor to send a hard copy to the "No's" and e-mails to the "Yes's" - way to up the anxiety factor! Do you mind my asking what your GPA was and what type of work experiences you've had?

Thanks for your response, it really helps gain some insight!

[Asherah]

Well last time around I had only applied to UCLA so I had to wait for another round of applications and will be attending Johns Hopkins beginning late August.

UCLA began the MECN program with their first cohort in Fall 2006 and the word has spread so fast that it became ultra-competitive even in its second year accepting apps. I believe there were 350+ apps for Fall 2007. I tried to make myself a more competitive applicant by obtaining a 4.0 in my pre-reqs and taking the Epidemiology course they required in advance, but it didn't shake the fact that I had two not-so-great quarters when I completed my undergrad at UCLA in 2004. Nor did they make it clear prior to applying how they would be calculating the GPA that the applicant was evaluated on. When I had applied I had 2+ years experience at a community clinic and I was in the middle of the COPE/CCE internship at St. Mary's in Long Beach.

I realize now that UCLA was not the right choice for me and my timing was also a bit off, I still love the school itself, however please realize that the program itself is still in its formative years and I believe they still have a few kinks to work out. I don't know much about those who are mid-program and their level of satisfaction, but from my last conversation with one of them, some have already been recruited by local hospitals, including Cedars-Sinai.

[pretzelpug]

Originally Posted by Asherah

Well last time around I had only applied to UCLA so I had to wait for another round of applications and will be attending Johns Hopkins beginning late August.

I realize now that UCLA was not the right choice for me and my timing was also a bit off, I still love the school itself, however please realize that the program itself is still in its formative years and I believe they still have a few kinks to work out. I don't know much about those who are mid-program and their level of satisfaction, but from my last conversation with one of them, some have already been recruited by local hospitals, including Cedars-Sinai.

Congrats on JHU's acceptance! It's the 0-NP program, right? I know someone who'll be attending that program in the Fall of 08, too. I can't believe you went back and re-did your pre-reqs to get a 4.0 and they still didn't accept you? hm.

I definitely agree that drawbacks are that it's in its formative stage, as well as the fact that the program is so business-based (from other threaders) rather than disease process-oriented? I'm not even that sure myself what the program is like since they don't let you see a sim lab, meet instructors, look at a sequence of clinicals/courses, etc. Did you get the same impression? I was shocked when I saw a threader choose CSULA over UCLA, since UCLA has the "big name." what about the MECN program at ucla was unappealing to you?

I love USD's program and the people who run it, as they seem - not like they hand-hold you through the program but - that they are really passionate and concerned about the success of each of their students. The tuition costs are just a huge concern.