university of detroit mercy second degree program

U.S.A. Michigan

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I am thinking about going to Mercy's accelerated second degree program but I hear they lose many people during the year due to grades. Is that true? Is it too fast and should I consider a 2 year program? I am a good student but I'd hate to spend all that money then not make it as they don't allow anyone to retake a class so I hear as other schools do. I am open to all feedback. Thank you.

Hi Lo-be! I was accepted to the Jan 2011 cohort too! I was wondering how you know what the exam schedule is? Other than the letter asking for a deposit, I haven't received anything else in the mail. Have you started receiving other letters?

Hi! I am very excited that I was accepted to start the Acc BSN in Jan 2011.

I am interested in hearing what the 2nd semester is like (for me, it will be in the summer) A friend of mine has asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. I am wondering if I will be able to participate (seeing as her date is the weekend before exams).

Thanks for the input!

Hi Lo-be! I was accepted to the Jan 2011 cohort too! I was wondering how you know what the exam schedule is? Other than the letter asking for a deposit, I haven't received anything else in the mail. Have you started receiving other letters?

Congrats.

msuliz2010 you should be able to get kristen on the phone. that is her job as i have talked to her before myself. call again and tell her you want a return call. if she doesn't, go above her head. you should be able to talk to someone there. i am sure she is busy but her job is to return calls.

and to the other person asking about the wedding, i would say you shouldn't be a brides made as you will be stressing big time about exams. i hear the program is brutal and you'll be wishing you were studying the whole time.

I applied in December 2009. I have heard that the earlier you apply, the better. I still had pre-reqs to do, so I was not accepted right away. However, I did have to submit a plan and stay on course. They accepted me after the majority of my sciences were complete. (I had one remaining). My the majority of my courses were completed at the end of May 2010 and I was accepted in July.

Good luck!

Hi Lo-be! I was accepted to the Jan 2011 cohort too! I was wondering how you know what the exam schedule is? Other than the letter asking for a deposit, I haven't received anything else in the mail. Have you started receiving other letters?

Hi Kalabaw! Congrats! I haven't received anything else in the mail either. I know about the exam schedule from the academic calendar that is posted on the website. :) Although, when I spoke with Kristin, she did say that our orientation will be sometime in September. So, I imagine that we will hear about it soon! :)

I just finished my first semester in the SDO program last week, and I'm surviving so far. I found this board really helpful when I was applying, and I kinda feel like I should do my part by helping out now that I'm in the program. So, if anyone has questions about it I can do my best to answer them, or at least give my totally biased individual opinion :-)

I'm guessing SDO is what they are calling U of D Nursing?

Did you lose any students the first semster from your class who couldn't cut it?

thanks.

SDO = second degree option, which is what UDM calls their accelerated program.

I'm not actually sure how many people didn't pass the first semester. I know of at least two students who withdrew, at least partially because of outside circumstances in their lives. I do know that if you fail a class, they give you the option of switching into the traditional program, which seems like a good option for people who can handle the material, but not the crazy fast pace. I certainly knew a few people who were struggling, but I don't know whether or not they passed (esp because all our grades aren't in yet!)

Also, I know at one time you were asking about whether a lot of people fail out of the first two weeks. As far as I can tell, the answer is no; most people seemed to do ok. And honestly, health assessment is really easy compared with the actual semester, so I think its a good chance for people to make sure they can handle the pace with one class before all the really hard stuff starts.

Hi Sophia! I have so many questions about the program. I hope you don't mind!

1) Is there anything you wish you did (like study/review certain topics) or anything you wish you knew about the program before you started that would have made your first semester easier?

2) Do you know if people plan on applying for externships to do during the program? And is the program doing anything to help address the tough job market (for example, workshops or counselors to help with resumes/cover letters, etc)?

3) Do you know if most of the new grads from this year have found jobs?

Thanks for your help and congratulations on finishing up your first semester!!

I just finished my first semester in the SDO program last week, and I'm surviving so far. I found this board really helpful when I was applying, and I kinda feel like I should do my part by helping out now that I'm in the program. So, if anyone has questions about it I can do my best to answer them, or at least give my totally biased individual opinion :-)

kalabaw,

I'll do my best to answer your questions :-)

1. The number one thing I wish I did before starting the program was take pharmacology, or at least read up on it some. It was SO overwhelming trying to learn pharm for the first time with all the other stuff going on. I did take Pathophysiology before starting the program, which made that class a bit easier, although UDMs patho class is much more nursing oriented than the patho I took at Washtenaw.

2. I don't really know if people are applying for externships. The first semester people are mostly just trying to survive school, and I can't imagine doing an externship on top of everything else. I've read on here about people during externships the last semester (I hear its much easier), but I haven't looked into it much yet myself. So far the school hasn't done any employment help/info for us, but again I just finished the first semester so its possible that happens later, although I'm not counting on it too much...

3. It seems like most students from the program do find jobs. I don't know any statistics, but I keep hearing about previous students who got jobs very quickly, which is nice to hear... the teachers also often talk about how well UDM students are viewed by hospitals, and how in demand we are, but of course you have to remember that they're just a little bit biased! I would definitely recommend that you network with people at clinicals... if you like a floor that you're on, make sure you spend some time talking to the nurse manager and get his or her card. Also we heard back on the NCLEX pass rate, which has gone back up... I know they had one cohort who had a lower pass rate so they made a bunch of changes. I can't remember the rate off the top of my head but it was good, I remember that :-)

The number one piece of advice I would give people starting this program is to be prepared in advance for the fact that it is quite disorganized. This is definitely the most frustrating thing about it. The teachers will tell you to be flexible.... actually they told us this so many times I wanted to scream when I heard it, but you kinda have to just let go and deal with all the disorganization, remembering that the program is only a year long!

Thank you Sophia!! That really helped!!

kalabaw,

I'll do my best to answer your questions :-)

1. The number one thing I wish I did before starting the program was take pharmacology, or at least read up on it some. It was SO overwhelming trying to learn pharm for the first time with all the other stuff going on. I did take Pathophysiology before starting the program, which made that class a bit easier, although UDMs patho class is much more nursing oriented than the patho I took at Washtenaw.

2. I don't really know if people are applying for externships. The first semester people are mostly just trying to survive school, and I can't imagine doing an externship on top of everything else. I've read on here about people during externships the last semester (I hear its much easier), but I haven't looked into it much yet myself. So far the school hasn't done any employment help/info for us, but again I just finished the first semester so its possible that happens later, although I'm not counting on it too much...

3. It seems like most students from the program do find jobs. I don't know any statistics, but I keep hearing about previous students who got jobs very quickly, which is nice to hear... the teachers also often talk about how well UDM students are viewed by hospitals, and how in demand we are, but of course you have to remember that they're just a little bit biased! I would definitely recommend that you network with people at clinicals... if you like a floor that you're on, make sure you spend some time talking to the nurse manager and get his or her card. Also we heard back on the NCLEX pass rate, which has gone back up... I know they had one cohort who had a lower pass rate so they made a bunch of changes. I can't remember the rate off the top of my head but it was good, I remember that :-)

The number one piece of advice I would give people starting this program is to be prepared in advance for the fact that it is quite disorganized. This is definitely the most frustrating thing about it. The teachers will tell you to be flexible.... actually they told us this so many times I wanted to scream when I heard it, but you kinda have to just let go and deal with all the disorganization, remembering that the program is only a year long!

Hi Bigdude, I don't feel comfortable posting my GPA, but maybe you can contact the counselor and see if she can give you the average GPA of students that were admitted. Good luck!

What was your GPA, pre-req and cumulative? If you don't mind answering.
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