Duke ABSN Spring 2011

U.S.A. North Carolina

Published

Hi there-

My name is Sandy and I am applying to the Duke ABSN for Spring 2011, just wondering if there is anyone else out there applying? Only 2 months till the deadline and I am trying to get my personal statement finished, as well as spiffy up my resume!

I think I am anxious already! This may be a long ride!

Anyway....a little about me...

I have a BS in Environmental Management with a 3.73 GPA, didn't take the GRE, still working on the prerequisites but so far have a 4.0 in those classes.

I spent 10 years in the Navy, working as an aviation electronics technician and supervisor. Also did hazardous material control and other environmental stuff for my command. I also taught CPR for 5 or so years, as well as blood drive coordination. I was able to travel to a lot of neat places, and some that weren't! All-in-all it was a great experience for me. After leaving the military in late 2007, I worked for a semi-conductor company in RTP, doing research and development (not my favorite job). So, I decided to go to school for massage therapy, and I'm now a licensed therapist. So, that makes me something like 34 years young.

So, here I am....wanting to pursue a dream that I have had for long time! Thankfully I have the world's greatest husband! He is my rock and has encouraged me to take this leap! So let's do this!

I'm waiting for you! Hopefully someone will be here soon to go crazy in anticipation with me! :)

am a pre school teacher i loves my kids soo much and am gonna miss them terribly when school starts in january....:sniff:

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I worked as a financial analyst/manager before, and while I found the jobs I had both stressful, boring, and unrewarding, at least there was a little order and regularity in my life. I had to quit my last full-time job because taking Microbiology, Pathophysiology, and a CNA course while working 40+ hours per week was driving me crazy. I figured it would be worth it to get through the classes and work part-time in order to have a shot at getting into nursing school the first time around. And it paid off, so I think it was definitely worth the gamble.

However, at my current job (not accounting/finance related), the boss cannot yet pay me for last month's work until he gets a client payment in. I'm an independent contractor there, which puts me in more of a vendor situation with him rather than an employee situation (An employee would have more legal rights to collect money sooner, I believe.). Also, he is pondering the possibility of requiring all his contractors to work 20 hours per year FOR FREE related to charitable/promotional events, events that are really more about promoting him and his business than they are about giving to the community). I informed him the other day that this kind of arrangement is illegal in regards to HOURLY employees. Wal-mart got sued a while back for exactly this sort of practice. Salaried employees (for whatever reason) are allowed to be exploited in this way and not get paid for overtime or extra hours, but hourly are not. People who don't get paid to work are called SLAVES. I didn't tell him that last part, lol, but I did explain to him that he could get in big trouble if he tries to enforce his new idea.

I turned down another part-time job for this one, as that one seemed a little odd as well. It was more of an at-home nurse aide situation, but the mom seemed a little nosey and odd. She asked one of my references why I'm not married and don't have children (*****?? WHY is that relevant??) and proceeded to tell my reference all about her bad marriage, how hard her life had been, etc. My reference told me she thought this women would make my life a living hell. What's funny is my reference works in a therapy-type role and she couldn't take this woman. She said she had to get off the phone before the woman started getting into her sex life. The woman's boys, who I would have been caring for, would have been great to work with, but I think she would have been hypercritical and overbearing and likely intolerant of my upcoming school schedule. So...I took the other job I got offered, the crazy one I have now. I was thinking it would be good to get a part-time flexible job that I could keep while in school, but now I'm thinking it won't be this one!

I'm sure nursing will involve lots of insanity as well at times, but at least I'll be assured of getting paid for the hours I work...and hopefully my marital status and childfree ways won't be an impediment to my getting a job. ***.

Thanks for listening, all. That was good to get all that off my chest!

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Hey BluDevil! Sounds like it has been an interesting "adventure." I suspect a lot of us are in a somewhat similar boat. Even if we like our current jobs, it is very exciting to have made the decision to change careers and know there's a good chance we will be able to start school soon!! I don't know about the rest of you but I've been looking forward to this since 2006... Worth the wait!

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It has definitely been an "adventure" for sure! It all makes me really thankful I got into nursing school the first time around. I'm so excited to get going! I think you're right that no matter how happy or unhappy we are in our current job situations, we'll all be so glad for January to roll around. Can't wait!

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has anyone heard from financial aid?

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yea has anyone heard from financial aid. and do we have to accept our offer before they will send out or information or wht? getting worried here....lol :)

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i accepted my offer as soon as they sent out admissions decisions. however, i sent an e-mail to financial aid the end of last month and i received the standard yada yada yada that we would have our financial aid packages before the october 1 deadline. also, i think we have to accept the offer by october 1. don't quote me. i still have to order my criminal background check and am waiting on financial aid before i spend anymore money!

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I haven't received any information yet. I already accepted, as I was so impressed by Duke, but I must say, they must be horribly understaffed in their financial aid department. I wonder if maybe they are underestimating the importance of the financial aid portion of our decision??? If so, that's a bad move! I have nothing else critical to say about the school based upon my experience thus far, but I think they are making people nervous (especially in this horrible economy we're in) with all this waivering on when we'll know about the money side of things.

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I have a friend who started the UNC absn program this January and she only found out about her financial aid package in December, so September 24th doesn't seem that bad! Granted, there is less money involved, but, frustrating as it may be, it could be worse! Only 2 more days to go :o)

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Wow, that would drive me nuts waiting that long. I'm not the world's most patient person, though (one of those things I need to work on, I know). I guess I'm used to being so under the gun and deadline driven myself that having to wait this long seems odd to me. I'm so used to having to rush-rush hurry-hurry and get things done yesterday. Thanks for the perspective related to UNC, though. Like I said, I'm glad I'm going to Duke!

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I hope that I'll be joining you all in January, no matter what happens with financial aid-- when I checked in with M a little over a week ago, they still hadn't started pulling from the waitlist. Here's hoping they start soon, because I'm sitting at number 13! Good luck for whatever you all hear from them!

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Hey, b.salomon--

Number 13 doesn't sound like that's far down the waiting list at all. I think someone else was saying they had pulled everyone (or just about) off the waiting list in previous terms. Just remember a lot of people are applying to several schools and may not have heard back from their other options yet. I'm betting 13 will be a lucky number for you. :)

Good luck, and let us know when you hear!

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