NYU ABSN Spring 2013 - page 3

Hi scottnyc
I have applied to NYU's ABN for Spring 2013. Can you share how the program works logisticallly. Does everyone in the entering class take the same lecture classes at the same time? Are you broken into sections? Are you able to get to know professors and are they proactive in helping students succeed? Are classes during the day? Are they located down in the Village (vs at the Dental School)? Are you able to get studying done between classes? How are clinical locations assigned and how many days per week do you go? How would you characterize the workload? Would you say you spend most evenings and weekends studying? Finally, what are some things you wished you had known about prior to starting the program?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences!

I'll answer all your questions from my experience but know that some things may have changed since I started a year ago.

Everyone in the same entering class does all take the same lecture courses at the same time. Most are held in large theaters to accommodate everyone (in our cohort we started with nearly 300); in my first semester two courses were split into two separate lecture sections but otherwise we've all been together. Your clinical groups will be small - we had 6 at the hospital and then two clinical groups come together (12 total students) for the on-campus clinical simulation sessions. You'll definitely get to know your clinical/simulation instructors well since the groups are much smaller. You can get to know the lecture professors as well but you just have to make a little more of an effort. They are all very tuned in to how students are doing and very much want everyone to succeed.

All my classes have been during the day with the exception of one class third semester (Genetics) that started at 6:30 p.m. and met until 9 p.m. All have been held in buildings on the main campus in the Village.

For us we got to choose our clinical location during registration but not everyone got their first or even second choice as popular sites would fill up first. Now I believe sites are assigned but I am not sure how that's done. First semester we only went to our off campus site one day per week, every other week, for a total of 6 visits off site during the semester. The other week you will be in the on-campus simulation lab. In later semesters you will have more clinical courses and will spend more days at clinical sites. For example, this semester (my fourth) I'm at off-campus clinical every Tuesday and every other Thursday.

Most classes are scheduled to minimize time between; however sometimes that can't be avoided so you will have time for studying between or before/after. Otherwise I'd say I spent most weeknights doing something - either studying, reading, or completing other assignments. Weekends I'd typically try to give myself at least part of Saturday or Sunday off, but sometimes the work load didn't allow for that.

I can't say there's really anything I wish I knew looking back, except to make the most of every experience you have in clinical (on and off campus) and not spend too much time worrying about what you think you're missing out on. Everyone's clinical experiences will be different but the opportunities to learn are there for everyone - don't be afraid to speak up and ask your clinical instructor how you can learn X or if there would be an opportunity to see Y. Their role is to facilitate your learning but they don't always know exactly what each individual student wants or needs.

Hope that helps! Feel free to ask any other questions.

Hey Scott! Thanks for all the input. Definitely helped. Do you think its reasonable for a student to work an evening or two per week (waitressing or bartending, something like that)while completing the program? I know some programs say no way and some are a tiny bit more flexible. Thanks!

Has anyone received an admission decision yet?? Going craaaaaazy here.

I know!! Im waiting anxiously. I need a decision so i know what im doing here. Has anyone called the admissions office?

I haven't called but I think it might take a bit longer because of Sandy. I'm so anxious though :***:

I had a transcript "go missing" requiring me to send an unofficial copy immediately and a new one for my file. After sending it out, I received this response on 11/6:

"We'll let you know if we need any further credentials or information, but have received your unofficial transcript. You should be all set for now. We will begin notifying students of their admission decisions between mid-November and mid-December.

Hope that helps... Good luck everyone, sounds like we are close

I think working one or two evenings is definitely possible first semester. Second semester gets a bit busier so might be hard to keep up with it then.

Ahhh! So exciting. I check Albert on a daily basis haha. I know the storm set everything back a little bit, but hopefully not too far .

@GinaMarie Wow that's ridiculous, but at least everything's good now! How did you find out they "lost" a transcript?

Good luck everybody!!!!!!!!!!