am i crazy?

[bigmona]

I am hoping to enter a nursing program fall 2004 and will be applying to some accelerated BSN programs this coming fall. I have some pre-reqs done, but will be taking a&p I and micro in the fall semester and a&p2 in the spring. I have the minimum GPA necessary from my BA in Psych (3.0), but my last 2.5 years in terms of grades were MUCH better than my first 2 in school.

I volunteered a whole lot in school, but since I've graduated haven't done much.. Just working as a research assistant. All my recommendations, both work-wise and school-wise, would be excellent.

Am I crazy to think I will easily be accepted into a nursing program? Especially Johns Hopkins- I want to apply because it's so close and it has an excellent rep, but after reading these boards I realize I'm probably dreaming. I won't have my pre-reqs done at the time of application and have no experience at all in a health setting, except my 1.5 year stint as a crisis hotline volunteer.

Any thoughts or suggestions on how to make my application competitive would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

[iliel]

Welcome to the BB! I don't think you're crazy to want to attend John Hopkins, if you want it bad enough you'll get it.

I would recommend going to see an advisor there, they will look at your transcripts and classes to see if you have a real chance. that is your best bet IMHO.

Good luck!

[nurse2be in ny]

I'm applying to an accelerated program, too, and will be starting my four pre-reqs this fall (including A&P I). None of my pre-reqs will be on my transcripts, but it doesn't matter to the school I'm applying to (it's a good school, too). I would definitely contact someone at JH and talk to them about the things you've posted here, and get an idea of what their program is like and whether you think it would be a good fit.

I think a strong personal statement would count for a lot; I know I'm planning on putting time & energy into writing a good one.

Best of luck!

[bigmona]

thank you! i definitely will contact them. they have pre-admissions counseling, so i'll definitely take advantage of that.

about how many schools do you apply to at one time?

[nurse2be in ny]

Only one. I got into this school's nursing program a few years ago, but couldn't swing going then, so I'm pretty confident of getting in now. It's also the only program in the area w/a combined accelerated bachelor's/master's program (you do everything in three years). Moving's not an option for me right now.

[nurse2be in ny]

What I meant to say was, I'M only applying to one! If I could move to go to school, I'd probably apply to at least one more.

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

You will just have to go talk to someone, or better yet, talk to some students there since they can tell you what it is *really* like to get in there.

Most (but not all) places will want all your pre-reqs done, focus highly on GPA, and any health care experience you may already have. I can only imagine Johns Hopkins would be *very* competite to get in to.

Most places you will want far beyond the minimum GPA and do to well in your sciences classes.

Good luck and stick around here cause you will learn a lot!

Marilyn

[bluesky, BSN, RN]

You definitely need to talk to Hopkins. I go to Maryland which is in the same town and most of my classmates had a 3.5 or above however many were from community colleges (i.e. good way to pad the GPA). I went to a really competitive Ivy league for my 1st degree and regretted it because it attracted really competitive people that I just didn't have much in common with in the end.

Many schools just look at certain classes and not so much your overall GPA, especially if the bad ones (say your 1st 2 years) don't really apply to nursing at all.

Lastly, I have one thing to say: CONNECTIONS, connections, connections. Work the system woman! Get to know the people in the admissions office personally and show them your commitment. Another way to get a foot in the door is to contact one of the professors in the school and volunteer to assist with research for a semester. There's nothing like a shining letter of recommendation (or at least a well placed phone call) from a faculty member to compensate for a not so stellar GPA.

Hope this helps-

Lexie

P.S. I was thinking about Hopkins too but I went into sticker shock when I saw the estimated tuition!

[essarge]

Do they have a cut off date for applications? That would be the first place to start. Then do a lot of networking, including getting to know the nursing staff etc. Find out how many students are admitted into the program versus the amount that apply.

Good luck!!

[bigmona]

wow, thank you! you all are so much help. I now have a whole list of questions written down that I can ask when I talk to the admissions people.

I am really hoping schools I apply to take into consideration that I did much much better my last two years of school. Also, I don't know if this would look bad or good on an application, but I took chemistry as an undergrad my first year and flunked it. I took it again after I graduated and got an A. Chemistry was always incredibly difficult for me but I worked my butt off the second time, and I hope that comes across well.

I thought about the BS/MSN entry route, and even though I am dreaming of being a midwife now, I think I'd like to get a BSN first and work a bit before I get my master's if I decide to get one.

Lexie, I wanted to apply to UMD too, but they have too many pre-reqs for me. I called to see if there was any way to be flexible about that or work around it and the woman acted as if I insulted her personally. So- unless I somehow get everything done they need me too, Maryland probably isn't an option. The tuition aspect of hopkins really does frighten me, though!

thanks again everyone :) I'm learning sooo much by reading through these boards.