Re: 2009 Rush Gem Summer Applicants

No, DePaul doesn't make you pick your specialty up front which, I agree, is pretty dumb. I am having a very hard time deciding between schools. I am nervous about Rush simnply because of the newness of the program.

Re: 2009 Rush Gem Summer Applicants

dear chicagochicklett,

you dont know how much hope I got from your message. I really appreciate it. so does DePaul have same program as GEM???

Re: 2009 Rush Gem Summer Applicants

I am not sure myself what the differences are between Rush and DePaul. With Rush you can become certified to be a clinical nurse leader upon graduation and with DePaul they have an optional clinical nurse leader internship at the end of the program, but I do not know too much about the internship. Both programs are for people with bachelor's degrees in another field that want to enter nursing.

Re: 2009 Rush Gem Summer Applicants

Thanks Krindy,

do you know which one is less competitive?

Re: 2009 Rush Gem Summer Applicants

Yes, by the end of Rush's program, you can take the new exam to be a certified Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL). I'm assuming you could do the same after DePaul's Program.

I was looking at DePaul's program of study http://las.depaul.edu/nursing/Progra...index.asp#MENP and if you click on "sample program of study" you can see the courses you would take.

It looks like they have a lot of non-grad classes, mainly those "intro to the art and science of nursing I, II and III" -- those kind of sound lame to me!! All of Rush's classes are now graduate level - like 500 level, no 300 level like DePaul. I also think Rush has a bigger variety of classes that you take. DePaul's program doesn't list a lot of specific things you take.

The good thing about Rush is that the 7th quarter is a full time residency in a unit (someone of your choice) at the hospital. So instead of classes, you are in the unit "working" (ie - paying for it, instead of being paid!) full time while working on a final capstone project. That's one thing that was really appealing to me. Plus you have 200 more clinical hours at Rush.

They give a detailed description of the program of study, here: http://www.rushu.rush.edu/servlet/Sa...entBlockDetail

Keep in mind, some classes might be switched around for the June 2009 cohort, but those are likely to be GOOD changes after hearing input from us!

I don't think DePaul's program has been around much longer -- maybe since 2007. The Generalist Master programs are very new nationwide and only recently (ie, the past couple years) have nursing schools started developing. I believe only a couple programs have had their first graduating classes in the past year - Vanderbuilt and UVA? A handful of schools have had their first generalist groups graduate because it's very new.

Re: 2009 Rush Gem Summer Applicants

You sound like you are happy with your choice?? Have you worked at all while in the program? I know the school tells you not to, but only a student of the program would really know if it's feasible.

Re: 2009 Rush Gem Summer Applicants

I've been babysitting on Fridays and every other Thursday this quarter. Next quarter I probably won't be able to because we are in class 5 days, though we have a half-day on Monday.

Most people are not working. next quarter it really wouldn't be too feasible to work. I'm sure it's the same with DePaul. But again, they will likely be swapping a class from 2nd quarter to first quarter for the June group to ease the load.

Re: 2009 Rush Gem Summer Applicants

What kind of hours each day are you in class? How many hours each day do you study/do homework?

Re: 2009 Rush Gem Summer Applicants

Hi Chicagochicklett,

How well does RUSH do with financial aid packages, I really do not want to take out a GRADPLUS loan, seeing as I would probably need a co-signer.

Re: 2009 Rush Gem Summer Applicants

hereandnowiamu --

Most of the financial aid is in loan form -- most of mine were Stafford subsidized and unsubsidized loans, which a pinch of Perkins (like $1000) and a nursing loan of a small amount and a small nursing student grant.

I'm not sure who gets GRADPLUS loans and who doesn't. I have a friend who did get GradPLUS loans but she had been out of school and working for a couple years. I had just graduated from undergrad before going to Rush so I'm not sure if that's why I didn't get GradPLUS loans.

Just about everyone in our program is paying for it with loans! :-( You're in good company.

Also - sorry about the apartment! My friend and i are both girls and looking for another gal -- sorry!! But when searching for apts - on craigslist look for Little Italy, Rush, UIC, Medical District, taylor.

And the "unsafe" areas are: West of Damen, South of Roosevelt and north of Harrison and East of Racine. So if you want to be in walking distance, be somewhere within those border streets and you'll be safe!