Stony Brook Accelerated BSN class of 2013

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2011

Paco,
So I pretty much obsess over whether or not I'm going to get accepted into this program. It's the only one I want to attend, but am nervous that I should be applying to other programs as fallbacks. Would you say the people that were accepted in your class either have great grades, a lot of hospital or volunteer experience or a combination of the 2? I just feel like for the most part everyone is going to have a pretty good essay (since you either put effort into it or not) and people are going to get recommendations from people that they know will write them a good one.
I've been wanting to go to nursing school for the past few years and feel like I'm at the perfect place in my life to go. I've been teaching biology and anatomy (started the class this year) in a NYC public high school for the past 4+ years. I have done a lot of volunteer work with kids with cancer (many years in the hospital and at a summer camp). I have a bio degree and a very high science and overall GPA. I tried pouring my heart into my personal statement and while I have not viewed them, am pretty sure my recommendations are very good. I'd like to think I have a pretty good chance, but I almost feel like there's no rhyme or reason to who they accept from reading all of these blogs from the past couple of years. Do you agree with this? There's a few schools with application deadlines 11/15 and I keep going back and forth about applying since I really only want to go attend o Stony Brook.
I know you're busy and you probably feel like you've answered this same question before, but any insight you have would be extremely helpful. Also, were you one of the guys that spoke at the first info session? I attended it and there was a lawyer in the accelerated program who spoke. Just wondering.
Thanks!
Jenn

Hi Jenn!

I am here sitting in the cafeteria having my lunch and checking allnurses.com on my phone. Yes, very busy but I intend on living during the program, lol. Breaks are very important. It cannot be all about the books all of the time.

To answer your question, I personally think you are a very competitive candidate for the program, based on your credentials. It would not hurt to have a back up school or two if you are really determined to start nursing school next year (I had 4 backups). What is meant to be will happen. I was waitlisted the year before and got in this class, prob because I was meant to be with this group instead of the one that just graduated in May (and other life reasons). I really love my class. At this point, all you can do is hope for the best that you are among that 64 that get in. Be confident that you did your best to portray that you deserve a seat.

And yes, that lawyer was me up there!! :)

Emer1234 · Oct 26, 2011

I shouldn't have applied so early.. Im beginning to get impatient and it's not even November yet

Mindylane · Oct 26, 2011

I know exactly how you feel -- it could be months until we hear back!!! So nervewracking, haha. I'm trying to figure out alternatives just in case I don't get in, but I've just found out that the Suffolk Community College AN program takes three years if you do the evening course, so I assume NCC is much the same (does anyone know if that's the case?) I can't justify spending three years to get an Associate's degree if I'll eventually need the BSN.

Joie_de_vivre · Oct 26, 2011

Hi Jenn, i second Paco 's response. I'm obviously not in the program ( yet hopefully ) but do think that you are a competitive candidate so its all up to fate now. I've mentioned this before, SB is the ONLY nursing school i want to go to based on many reasons. If i dont get in, I do not have a back up school. Hopefully i wont have to cross that bridge, but if i do, i will cross it when i get there. Good luck!

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Oct 26, 2011

Would you say the people that were accepted in your class either have great grades, a lot of hospital or volunteer experience or a combination of the 2? I just feel like for the most part everyone is going to have a pretty good essay (since you either put effort into it or not) and people are going to get recommendations from people that they know will write them a good one.

I just realized that I never answered this part of your question. There are some people in my class with no volunteer experience in health care whatsoever, that I know. I can't recall how many but I can tell you that my class is really a mixed bag of backgrounds and intellect. I mean, if my class is representative of the types of students selected for this program ... then I would have to say that everyone has an equally fighting chance to get accepted (provided of course you meet the minimum requirements for admission). Yes, your essay and recommendations and your grades are your face before admissions, the whole package. Again, not everyone here is a 4.0 student (and to be honest, I am glad that is not the case as it would be a very boring and uber-competitive environment ). Yes, there are the ones in my class who get upset because they got a 98 on an assignment, but there are others who are quite happy to get in the 80s. It's all relative. Stony Brook is clearly looking for a :redbeathe and not just the top academics. There are many in here with both but you just have to be more than a bookworm to get in (and might I add to succeed in the program as well).

When you're on the floor working as a nurse, no one is going to care that you got an A or B or C in Med-Surg or any other course in school (C is minimum passing). Did you pass NCLEX? That's all that is going to matter! Unless of course, you're looking to go on to grad school, then you should be concerned with your grades a tad, but to obsess about them while you are in the program means you're missing out on so many other things in the short time you're here. It's 12 months! I HOPE to graduate in 7 months, can you believe it? LOL!

I know exactly how you feel -- it could be months until we hear back!!! So nervewracking, haha. I'm trying to figure out alternatives just in case I don't get in, but I've just found out that the Suffolk Community College AN program takes three years if you do the evening course, so I assume NCC is much the same (does anyone know if that's the case?) I can't justify spending three years to get an Associate's degree if I'll eventually need the BSN.

Not sure if you were @ the info session a few weeks back, but I remember them saying that the hiring trend right now is nurses with BSNs. Someone please correct me if I am wrong: ADN Grads from Suffolk CC (which has a great nursing program) has a much smaller hiring rate than Stony Brook BSNs. Also, I THINK they mentioned how many of last years graduating class are already working as nurses but I hesitate to repeat because not sure if I heard right - but it is a very high number. NCLEX passage rate is among the highest in the state. Everyone I personally know from the 2011 class passed it this summer. I hope to be one of those next summer too :up:

3 years in an ADN vs. 1 year in an accelerated BSN ... It really is easy math.

anniet828 · Oct 26, 2011

Wow Paco, I love the picture...I was wondering how your Sunday in NICU went? Also, I don't remember this question being addressed before- I wanted to understand how clinical location is chosen...I am assuming not everyone is at SBUH? What other locations are used for SB students? Who chooses location- the school or the student?

Thanks!

Jennyfur1234 · Oct 26, 2011

Not sure if you were @ the info session a few weeks back, but I remember them saying that the hiring trend right now is nurses with BSNs. Someone please correct me if I am wrong: ADN Grads from Suffolk CC (which has a great nursing program) has a much smaller hiring rate than Stony Brook BSNs. Also, I THINK they mentioned how many of last years graduating class are already working as nurses but I hesitate to repeat because not sure if I heard right - but it is a very high number. NCLEX passage rate is among the highest in the state. Everyone I personally know from the 2011 class passed it this summer. I hope to be one of those next summer too

I remember them talking about that at the info session. I believe they said Suffolk CC had around 50% of their graduates still unemployed, while just about everyone from Stony Brook had found employment. I've talked to so many nurses that have told me the only place I'll find a job with an associate's degree is in a nursing home. These are nurses from good hospitals (that volunteer at a camp for kids with cancer I work at every summer). Maybe they just aren't taking ADNs at their hospitals??? That's what they tell me every time I see them though.

I actually started an associate's degree program a couple years back. I went to school 3 nights a week and worked full time as a teacher during the day. The program was almost 3 years long and after a month or so I kept asking myself why the heck I was putting myself through all of that for an associate's degree. I had no money and was trying to figure out any way possible to go to nursing school. However, they economy just went to crap and hospitals stopped hiring as much and I was told repeatedly I wouldn't get a job at a hospital I wanted to work at with an associate's degree. I withdrew from the program and I'm worried that may end up being a factor in whether or not to admit me to any further programs. I'm hoping not, but who knows. I also had a friend that graduated from Beth Israel who couldn't get an interview in NYC. She found a job in Westchester, hated it and ended up moving to Texas.

Thanks so much for your response Paco. I appreciate it! I like to think I have a great heart and I know I will make a great nurse. Hopefully I portrayed that to the admissions committee. Now I just have to play the waiting game and apply to some more schools.

Also, glad that I can now put a face to your name! I knew it had to be you when I heard about how he (you) were a lawyer previously. :rolleyes: That's exciting that you're in the NICU now. If I don't end up working in pediatric oncology, I'd love to be in the NICU!

Jennyfur1234 · Oct 26, 2011

Hi Jenn!
I am here sitting in the cafeteria having my lunch and checking allnurses.com on my phone. Yes, very busy but I intend on living during the program, lol. Breaks are very important. It cannot be all about the books all of the time.
To answer your question, I personally think you are a very competitive candidate for the program, based on your credentials. It would not hurt to have a back up school or two if you are really determined to start nursing school next year (I had 4 backups). What is meant to be will happen. I was waitlisted the year before and got in this class, prob because I was meant to be with this group instead of the one that just graduated in May (and other life reasons). I really love my class. At this point, all you can do is hope for the best that you are among that 64 that get in. Be confident that you did your best to portray that you deserve a seat.
And yes, that lawyer was me up there!! :)

You definitely need to take breaks and have a little fun every now and then! Although I'm not sure how much fun writing back to all of us on this blog is haha!

Did you have any other back up schools in the NY area? I'm looking into Hunter, Pace, possibly SUNY Downstate (if all of my pre-reqs didn't expire), and Adelphi. If so any advice on any of these?

Joie_de_vivre · Oct 27, 2011

Jenn, thank you for the input about beth israel. That was another school that i looked into before, but for a number of reasons decided not to go for it.

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Oct 27, 2011

Wow Paco, I love the picture...I was wondering how your Sunday in NICU went? Also, I don't remember this question being addressed before- I wanted to understand how clinical location is chosen...I am assuming not everyone is at SBUH? What other locations are used for SB students? Who chooses location- the school or the student?
Thanks!

Also, glad that I can now put a face to your name! I knew it had to be you when I heard about how he (you) were a lawyer previously. That's exciting that you're in the NICU now. If I don't end up working in pediatric oncology, I'd love to be in the NICU!

To answer you both at once: my stint in the Stony Brook NICU was only for a Sunday morning, and was something I did extra from my normal OB clinical. So I am technically not there (yet?). I asked my lecture prof if I could have that extra experience and they were able to accommodate, easy because my clinical prof works in maternity next door. It was quite awesome. I was mostly in observation but the nurses I shadowed let me do a few things, like suction the lungs of one neonate (with supervision of course) ... it was quite awesome! The reason I asked for this extra experience is because I was doing my OB clinical at another hospital whose NICU is not as busy. I wanted a better experience.

As for locations for clinicals: everyone does Fundamentals clinicals @ SBUH during the summer. In the fall, you do OB @ either SBUH, St. Charles in Port Jeff, or St. Catherine of Siena in Smithtown. Peds is either at SBUH or Good Samaritan in West Islip. Psych is at SBUH, Mather in Port Jeff, Zucker-Hillside in Queens or the VA Hosp in Northport. Med-Surg placement in the Spring can vary between SBUH or North-Shore or LIJ, some with capstones tied in to these. Don't know if these locations will stay the same for next year but this is what it is right now. I think there is also a placement for Community Health, but I don't know anything about that yet.

There is something called "Stony Brook 24" in the ABSN where 24 out of the 64 students who are Suffolk County residents can opt to take all of their clinicals and the capstone @ SBUH. You would sign up for this after orientation. By doing this, you're pretty much locking yourself out of doing clinicals at other sites. But if you live in Suffolk and know you want to work @ SBUH after graduation, makes sense to do all your clinicals there. As far as choosing: Most times your groups and locations (except for the SB 24) are chosen for you, but they do take into consideration whether you have your own transportation or can carpool and you would indicate that on signup.

BTW, it is kinda fun to come here and write about school. Also keeps my writing skills sharp! :) You WILL do a LOT of writing especially in the fall! Nursing care plans, papers, welcome to nursing school!

Speaking of clinical, I have one in the morning, so I should go to bed! Night

kimmieminnie · Oct 27, 2011

When I went to the information session back in April, Dr. * said that the hiring rate for SBU is around 98-99%--so that being said.....we also want to all go to a school that when all is said and done--you can get a job too, right? If we all were infinitely wealthy, I am sure out of the kindness of our hearts we would help others--but all of us have bills to pay and responsibility to family, etc. There needs to be a balance in taking care of yourself and being able to give to others as well.

That is also why I applied to Columbia too (although out of price range) because they also have a high employment percentage after school--I went the route earlier with B.S. where it wasn't about the school, and when it came to getting a job-guess what?- it was about the school you went to. I contracted at Merck and got a permanent position(luck) while a friend of mine (contractor too) was passed over for them to hire a girl from Harvard who could not do research to save herself. It does not make sense sometimes.

When I went to Suffolk Community College to talk to the admissions lady--she basically said for people like us with a BS already it is like taking a step back...i know logistically some might not have that choice but if you do--aim higher as it will pay off in the end with you being happier.

Kim

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Oct 27, 2011

Law is definitely about where you went to school. I tell future law students not to even consider schools outside of the top 10 if you want to have national job opportunities at your disposal. If you intend on staying local to the school's city, then local school is fine. I have been there ... the legal profession cares about where you went to school, especially in NYC. In terms of nursing school, those affiliated with a hospital such as Stony Brook, NYU or Columbia give you an edge because they love hiring their own ... and that could be important to get experience and then branch off to other hospitals. One of the reasons Stony Brook won me over my other school choices.