UD MERCY - Just got my acceptance letter!!

U.S.A. Michigan

Published

Hey All!

I just got an acceptance letter from UD Mercy for the ABSN. SO EXCITED. Does anyone have info/tips? I live in California, so what part of the city should I live in when I move there? Anyone else just get accepted?

Thanks! ANy info is so appreciated!

Everyone,

I'm trying to save as many people as I can. UDM is a scam. That is why you see very little written about them here, or on any other website. Their tuition is more than NYU, and slightly less than Harvard and Yale. I tried for months to find out about financial aid, and when I finally went there to speak with admissions about financial aid, they acted as though no one knew what to do for me. I talked to a woman who ironically, is no longer with the university, but was the admission advisor for the accelerated program. She was rude and told me "We don't discuss financial aid with students until they're admitted." Well, of course you don't. Because you want to SCAM us for our money first, and then tell us we can't get enough aid to go there, and we have to come up with the rest of it out of pocket or take out these private loans that are going to ruin our lives!!

I was accepted, and then found out the school only gives out $11,000 tops in scholarships for a $45,000 program!!!

I fought for my deposit back. They said "this happens all the time" to students who can't afford it. Oh, I can afford it, but NO WAY am I paying that kind of money for Catholic propaganda in the heart of Detroit. I got accepted to NYU and MSU, and am still waiting on some other options. My advice: SAVE YOUR MONEY, TAKE YOUR TIME, and make an educated decision. Don't be scammed by nursing schools.:devil:

Specializes in Neuro ICU.
Everyone,

I'm trying to save as many people as I can. UDM is a scam. That is why you see very little written about them here, or on any other website. Their tuition is more than NYU, and slightly less than Harvard and Yale. I tried for months to find out about financial aid, and when I finally went there to speak with admissions about financial aid, they acted as though no one knew what to do for me. I talked to a woman who ironically, is no longer with the university, but was the admission advisor for the accelerated program. She was rude and told me "We don't discuss financial aid with students until they're admitted." Well, of course you don't. Because you want to SCAM us for our money first, and then tell us we can't get enough aid to go there, and we have to come up with the rest of it out of pocket or take out these private loans that are going to ruin our lives!!

I was accepted, and then found out the school only gives out $11,000 tops in scholarships for a $45,000 program!!!

I fought for my deposit back. They said "this happens all the time" to students who can't afford it. Oh, I can afford it, but NO WAY am I paying that kind of money for Catholic propaganda in the heart of Detroit. I got accepted to NYU and MSU, and am still waiting on some other options. My advice: SAVE YOUR MONEY, TAKE YOUR TIME, and make an educated decision. Don't be scammed by nursing schools.:devil:

Sorry to hear about your experience with UDM.

I'm a graduate of the SDO program and I am pretty sure I know who the "rude" woman was. Don't take it personally. The only thing I can say about her and still remain professional is that she did not impress me. Most of my classmates said thesame thing.

Yes, UDM only comes up with a certain amount of tuition grants. But the truth is they don't care if you take loans, get outside scholarships or win the lottery. There's no "scam" involved. The SDO is an important part of their revenue stream and they have a business to run.

As far as "Catholic Propaganda" goes I can tell you first hand there's one of it. The instructors are all nurses, nurse practitioners, PhDs or are working on their PhD. Other than discussing the need to address patients spirituality in whatever way is important to the patient, religion is a non-issue.

And just as a thought, NYU is a fine school and I'm sure they turn out good nurses. You'll do well with a degree from NYU. But when you're thinking about cost, it's a heck of a lot less expensive to live in the Detroit area than in New York or New Jersey.

Good Luck.

Congratulations on your acceptance to U of D Mercy. You might like staying in Oak Park, Royal Oak, or Southfield which are pretty close to U of D Mercy I am working on my requirements now.

My goal is to get accepted to the Jan 2011 Class. I went to the orientation for the SDO everything sounded great to me. The school does have a high ranking. Although the cost is up there. We must remember you will be a RN nurse in 12 months. As an RN you will surely make the money back. Being an RN opens so many doors.

313RN could you please send me an email on what advice you would give on successfully completing the SDO program at U of D Merch.

thanks.

Specializes in Neuro ICU.

313RN could you please send me an email on what advice you would give on successfully completing the SDO program at U of D Merch.

WOW- This turned into a book. This is my advance apology for the length.

I'm new enough on here that I can't PM yet, so I'll just post publicly if you don't mind.

First, some background-

It's an intense program and at times can be pretty stressfull. You're in class three days a week your first semester and clinicals two days a week. You may end up doing clinicals on weekends or afternoons or both. You aren't given a choice or option to select a facility either. You go where they tell you, when they tell you.

Second semester is two days in class, three in clincals. The worst part about it is a combined MedSurg/Peds/OB class. There are three different instructors, usually teaching over the course of two days and the tests are combined. It just makes it a little tougher to study all three at once.

Third semseter is shortened to 8 weeks with two days of classes and three clinical. The last 5 or so weeks is a preceptorship where you'll be working with one nurse at a hospital on his or her shift. It's probably the best 180 hours of nursing school.

At all times there is reading/studying to be done. Clinical Journals are due each week (there may be more than one each week at times) along with papers and projects from your other classes.

On to the adivce portion:

To get through it you just have to make the commitment, be organized and focused, and do the work really.

Some of the people in my class who didn't make it were married and had families who were not able to fully support them for whatever reason. If you have a family let them know up front that they aren't going to see you much for the next 12 months.

Get to know the people in your class and buddy up. Form study groups. Share whatever you can wih anyone who asks (not just within your group) as long as you're not cheating (people were kicked out for that). Don't compete with anyone in your class. No one will care if you graduated with a 4.0 or with a C+, and it won't show on your diploma. The people around you are going be like sisters and brothers by the time you're done. Remember, you're all sharing a lifeboat.

If you know anyone in classes ahead of yours ask to see any clnical journals they might have kept. The first ones are the hardest becuase you don't know what your instructors really want. Having a few to look over makes and use as templates makes life easier. Don't copy directly from them, that's cheating and could get you in deep.

A friend in the class ahead of yours can also tell you about the instructors you'll have. Listen to them but know that every class has it's own personality and the faculty might like some groups (those with good internal chemistry) better than others (groups who tend to be negative all the time) and vice versa. Ultimately you shoul make up your own mind. And no matter what you think of them, you still have to take and pass their class. There aren't options. YOu might just have to suck it up.

Turst the instructors. Some are better than others but they are usually willing to talk with you. They know the stress you're under. Many will tell you they don't think they could handle the program (I think they're underestimating themselves, but it's meant to show you some empathy). They want to turn out good nurses, but they will help you if you ask. Be professional and polite with them at all times. They will be with you. Anything else isn't worth it.

There are some parts of the program that are actually easier than the 4 year program. Lab check offs for one thing. In the traditional program (and in most other nursing schools from what I hear) lab check offs are deadly serious. Do the steps in the right order the right way or you fail. I did see traditional students leave crying because they failed a check off and were out of the program. SDO check offs are pretty casual.

This is a double edged sword though. It's casual becuase you are expected to pick things up fast, understand them and master them quickly. There are not many (if any) second chances in the program. When you get into clinicals you will have an instructor to back you up but you still need to have it together.

Be prepared to take things as they come. There are times when it may feel like no one (even the school) knows what's going on. It may even be true. But it will work out in the end. Try and stay patient.

Break down and cry once in a while if you have to. Most people (even some of the guys) do at one point or another. Just don't do it on the floor. Remember, it happens to just about everyone.

A few people failed in the classroom and a few in clinicals. They just couldn't keep up. But the truth is that most people make it through. They're often wrecks of their former selves (just kidding), but they make it.

That's about all I can tell you. I hope I didn't freak you out.

Remember, they don't let you in the program if they don't think you'll make it. They're right most of the time. Just hang on, do what you need to do and you'll graduate.

I did, and so have a lot of others. If we can, you can too.

Good Luck.

Thank You so much 313 Rn for taking the time to give the background info and advice. I have been wanting to hear from someone whom had graduated from the program. Hopefully I will meet someone that graduates this year so I can see how to do my journals. No it wasn't to long. Just what I needed to hear.

God Bless you. May you have Great success in your RN career.

:tku::)

Thank you 313--that was very helpful and I appreciate the time to fill us in on the program. I have already told my family and my husband realizes that he will be both Mom and Dad for this short while. I also have my mother and stepdad who live nextdoor and who will help with our children.

I am excited to start in May---when should we expect to have our first meeting??? as it seems like it should be pretty soon since May will be here before we know it!

Again thank you!

Specializes in Neuro ICU.
I have already told my family and my husband realizes that he will be both Mom and Dad for this short while. I also have my mother and stepdad who live nextdoor and who will help with our children.

I am excited to start in May---when should we expect to have our first meeting??? as it seems like it should be pretty soon since May will be here before we know it!

It's great you have the support. When you're in the program your whole family is too. They won't really understand it like you will, but having someone to lean on is a help you can't imagine.

Best guess there'll be an orientation in mid-march. You'll get your lists of books, fill out a registration form, get your SDO ID picture taken, meet some of the faculty and staff and then be able to go get your school ID and parking permit (have your registration with you to get the permit) and your UDM patches from the bookstore.

I was so excited after orientation that I ran right out and bought my scrubs and lab coat that afternoon. :rolleyes: I only wore the lab coat once, for the "White Coat Ceremony". So buy a cheap one. And by the end of the program all I wanted was to never ever wear white scrubs again. That's another upside of the SDO program. The traditional students wear their scrubs to some of their classes on campus. SDO's wear street clothes when you're not in a clincial setting. It's so much better to be in jeans and a fleece when it's 15 degrees out instead of thin white scrubs.

One final tip, I highly recommend buying your book from Amazon or some other on line service. The savings is incredible.

Good luck.

313RN,

Thank you so much for all the great info, its helping me pass the time until I actually get to start!

I have lived in Ferndale which is south of Royal Oak for 21 years. I think it a nice city and close to UD Mercy. Let me know if you have other questions.

Has anyone heard as when are orientation meeting is as my calendar is so packed--I need to know soon as I heard it would be in March??

March 26th. Letters went out this week.

Question: How do you get the Grant for your previous GPA??? When I talked to someone at U of D earlier they said it was automatic but now it sounds like you fill out the FAFSA even if you aren't going to qualify for financial aid?????????????????

How many of us here are in the May 2010 cohort?? Look forward to meeting everyone on the 26th!! I just did the on-line background check and set up my drug testing. I need to call now for the CPR course needed as I found one closes by. Also need to set up Dr appt for physical and such.

Janene

+ Add a Comment