Fretful

Nursing Students Male Students

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

So all I need to have my package together for application to the BSN program at Davenport is one more recommendation.

I asked my Biology instructor for it. I got an A in his class last semester and am currently getting a solid A with him in A&P I, both lecture and lab. I've been waiting a while for him to get it done.

I asked him yesterday for it and he said he'd have it for me on Thursday. After expressing my gratitude, he let something fly that kind of bothered me, he said "You kinda need more science."

I am not sure what to make of this. I'm scheduled to take A&P II with lab in the spring, I'll have my math requirement finished this semester (except stats, of course). The only other non-NURS science classes that are programmatic I need to take are Chem, Micro and Pathophys, all of which I can finish by spring '11.

I have a 4.0 GPA, I got 82.4 adjusted on the TEAS, I think my essay is strong. In addition, with hospitals requesting more male nurses, I believe I have a bit of a buffer there as well.

Also, this BSN pre-licensure program is an all-encompassing, entry level program with no necessary prerequisites. It is open to high school graduates as well as to second career people like myself. The selection criteria are GPA (with emphasis on math and science), TEAS score, strong recommendation and essay.

Pretty straightforward, right?

His remark stressed me out inordinately. I have been walking around fairly confident that I have an excellent chance of getting into this program. I am at the top of all my classes and seem to have all my ducks in a row. But with his comment, I am no longer so sure and I find that it has really deflated me.

I would really annoy me if he included a remark about "needing more science" in his recommendation, but I don't know why he would say something like that.

Just venting, I guess. I am considering asking him about it. In the past he has said that he knows very little about the program (it's new to my campus) or its requirements, so it may be that he's judging by the standard of the old ADN program which did have pre-req's.

Ugh

Mike

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as long as, he gives you the written recommendation (it's just a hoop to jump through), who cares.

some folks think their recommendation is something special (they spread them wide, waiting for you to kiss), no one that has a recommendation worth a hoot has to write one, they just make a call.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Thanks bro, I appreciate that, it's just got me looped a bit...this is a small school, there are 62 seats available for the BSN program with likely about 250 applicants anticipated.

As an older guy, I just don't have the time to be re-applying for the next few years (annual applications), after I've accumulated more science in my transcript. I realize that may sound a bit conceited; after all, why should I be exempt from the ordinary experience of people trying to get into nursing programs where they often have to try several times before getting accepted? I don't mean that I'm better than anyone at all. I just have people depending on me and I'm not getting any younger...lol

Anyhow, thanks again for the encouragement. Hopefully my A&P professor, who is really a good guy, just had an unguarded moment and was expressing a personal opinion without reference to the actual program requirements

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I may be jumping to conclusions ... but when you asked him for the letter ... you had or close to finishing BIO and AP1 ... and that's it ... you still have to finish AP2, Micro, Chem and Patho ... AND he's probably thinking previous nursing students already had those requirements done near finished before asking for letters ... So ... isn't he correct that you "need more science" at that point in time .. hell still do .. I know your program doesn't require pre-reqs but still ... as I'm reading it .. he had a point.

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he's just asking the guy for a written recommendation (so and so was a good student in my winter 2009 class, etc), not to be his academic advisor or any other nonsense.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Turned out okay, his recommendation is glowing...i feel better, thanks all for your input.

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