Ohio University RN-to-BSN Program

Nursing Students Ohio University

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Since it seems that there's quite a bit of interest, I'm attempting to start a new thread devoted exclusively to the OU on-line RN-BSN program that will hopefully build on the comments on assorted previous threads.

I'd like to ask nevergonnagiveup, mtsteelhorse and babynurse73 - all of whom (I think) are either already in the program or have applied for admission - to post about their experiences. I just sent in my application and plan to post periodically about relevant issues. If we can populate the thread with good material, it could become a very useful resource for both those considering the OU program and students already in it. Once that happens, I'd hope we could prevail upon the forum moderators to make it a sticky thread.

As indicated, I've only recently applied to the program. So far, I'm happy with the support and information I've gotten. I've been contacted by an OU "enrollment specialist" who was somewhat helpful (I suspect that they have dual roles, one being to provide basic information to prospective students and the other to follow-up with the prospects and help to fill the roster for the program). This person e-mailed me, followed up with a phone call and was able to provide some useful, if basic, information about the program. I also sent a lengthy e-mail to OU with quite a number of specific, detailed questions. This too resulted in both an e-mail and telephone response, this time from an academic advisor in the OU School of Nursing. Again I received some useful and quite helpful information. All in all, my early experience has been pretty positive.

As indicated above, I plan to post about relevant issues that come up as I work my way through the admission and evaluation process. I'd very much like to hear from others about their experience with OU and I'm sure that there will be a lot of interest by others in our collective experience with the program.

Well, I'm considering changing horses. I've been talking with Aspen Univ. For about $7150 plus books I can earn an RN-MSN. The program looks intersting and applicable. There are no unrelated course requirements and you get to talk to real people with real answers to your questions. Email responses are very timely and I'm thinking this is the route I will take. No, it's not regionally accredited, but is CCNE accredited. The regional accreditation factor is significant for many people, but not for me. There's an Aspen thread going if anyone wants to take a look. For those interested in a BSN only Aspen does not offer that. I'm looking at the MSN bridge program for ADN graduates. Unless I find something really suspicious I'll likely go for the MSN. I've become quite fatigued by OU's less than prompt responses.

Sorry to hear that we may be loosing you from the OU thread.

I'm also interested in getting my MSN but don't think that the RN-MSN route will work well for me unless it also includes a BSN (most programs don't). I'm hoping that with the BSN, I can finally find a position and get some nursing experience before returning for my MSN. It's very difficult for ADN-RNs to find work in my area because so many of the hospital groups are magnets or seeking magnet status. Along with other non-magnet hospitals, many of the nursing homes have also become more selective and refuse to consider hiring associate degree RNs - at least those with no or limited experience.

I will continue to post about my experience with OU - right now, that's easy since I haven't heard anything from them (2 months and counting).

Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.

I haven't enrolled in AU yet but I'm darn close. I can complete the program then obtain NP certification if I choose to do so. I will not have a BSN but oh well. I have seen an MSN program that includes a BSN along the way. I can't recall which school it is but it's likely too spendy anyhow. I'll let you know if I run across something. I'm sure once things get rolling with OU and you find out what you need to take it will be okay. I got through that mess with OU but I'm still not sure it's the right thing for me. Have you heard more from UTA? I feel your pain. It's a ridiculously tedious process that really needs to be dealt with by their administrators. Keep us posted and I'll do the same.:rolleyes:

I've been posting here about the lack of communication by OU with applicants, so I went to the RN-BSN pages on the college web site yesterday. There is a page there entitled "WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT!" that states the following:

"You will receive e-mail verification with [sic] 24 hours of completing your application (I assume they mean 'within')

"You will receive a status e-mail after Ohio University has received ALL transcripts"

"If we have not received your transcripts within four weeks after you apply, you will receive a reminder e-mail"

So, since I've not heard anything from OU and it's been well over 1,000 hours since I sent my application in, I again contacted my enrollment advisor by e-mail. The last time I heard from him, he told me that I would not receive anything from OU until they had gotten all of my transcripts (He did not really provide a satisfactory answer to my follow-on question of how, in the event that OU didn't get all my transcripts, I could ever know that. But I digress. As in the past, he responded quickly and this time, he included contact information for the admissions office. Of course, it would have been just a little bit better if that same contact information were provided 3 weeks ago, when I first inquired about the status of my application. But again I digress.

I phoned the admissions office this morning. Of course, instead of a live person, I reached a recording. The recording asked for my user ID (the recording called it a PID) and/or my Oak ID. Of course, I don't have either of these because I've never heard anything from OU about my application. The recording went on to say that those who were inquiring about the status of their application (those who I guess, don't have either of the IDs referenced) should submit an e-mail request. Rather than leave a voice mail message, I opted to send an e-mail. Of course, I haven't yet heard anything back.

So after nearly 2 months, I still have no real clue if my application has been received, much less if they gotten my transcripts. I'm hoping that this is an aberration and that OU follows the process outlined on their website in most cases. What is really annoying though is the interaction with enrollment advisor. While his communication has been timely and profession, his last message clearly stated that

Once ALL of your documents have been received, you should receive a confirmation email from main campus letting your know all of your documents are in and you are under academic review.
Had he suggested then (3 weeks ago) that I contact the admissions office, I would certainly have done so and would presumably have been able to rectify any problems by now. Instead, I'm still floundering around trying to find out the most basic of information about my application.

At the risk of another digression, may I say that the application process at OU is very frustrating?

chuckster - can't believe you are having all these problems. Try Live Chat - here is the link, go to the live chat option. Either that, or call the School of Nursing directly. http://bsn.online.ohio.edu/default.asp

Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.

I indeed feel your pain. I experienced exactly the same thing. It was awful! If their tuition weren't so reasonable they'd lose a lot of applicants through this inefficient process. It causes me to be leary of the whole program. I'm sure it's academically sound, etc but delays in communication in this age of technology are unacceptable. I wish you luck...and a heckuvalot of patience!

Chuckster...My application process was a bit sketchy also. My intention was to enroll in the Fall 2010 session. Well I sent them all of my info. Didn't hear ANYTHING, so I contacted them. About 2wks prior to the term starting, they emailed me to let me know a transcript was missing. I had forgotten about a class I had taken for my undergrad degree at a local junior college. However, in remembering about that transcript, I quickly realized that there was another transcript not accounted for from another JC where I took a class. It's almost like whomever is reviewing your information, does it in stages, so it's up to you to be proactive in knowing what you need.

My advisor is TERRIBLE. Haven't heard from her. She doesn't answer emails. So I just bypass her and contact admissions/bursars office directly.

I've enjoyed the program. But I agree the admissions process is a bit of a turnoff.

Try contacting the bursars office. At least there you can speak to a LIVE person that can transfer you to the proper department.

Specializes in lots of specialties.

I will say that once I got tired of waiting for them I did contact the nursing school directly. I got a follow up phone call from Shedrick to say I had been admitted and my DARs was done which I knew weeks ago. He stated I could enroll right now which I tried to do Sunday but was unable.I will attempt to enroll today and order my books for class. Class starts in a month. I am anxious and excited to see what they have to offer and how soon I can really be finished with this program. I am currently looking for schools that are local that offer Jr English. I dont think I have the patience to wait to accumulate 90 hours @ OU. I also dont have any updates to my DARS or financial aid letter yet

i posted yesterday that i contact the ou admissions office by e-mail regarding the status of my application. they responded late in the day that they do indeed have my application and they also provided a list of the transcripts they've received (which thankfully was all of them).

the e-mail told me that the reason i had not heard anything was "due to the fact that ohio university is in the process of implementing a new student information system" and that once that new system went live, i would get an e-mail indicating that my application had been received. the e-mail did not give a date for that, but did say that they expected the new system would be in place for summer 2011 students, the term that i applied for.

they also stated that ou would begin the admission process for summer 2001 "within the next several weeks". that lack of definition was disappointing but it was even more discouraging to learn that i could "expect to receive an e-mail regarding an admission decision sometime in may or early in june".

it's really disappointing that you are expected to wait more than 4 months for the admission decision. who knows when you will get your evaluation - there was no information provided about when that would happen. since the summer session at ou starts 20 june, it seems likely that you will need to begin the semester without an academic evaluation.

by way of comparison, i expect to receive my evaluation from ut-a (which i applied to 3 weeks later than ou) in the next couple of weeks for the start of the term beginning 30 may. while it is likely that i will need to take 1 or 2 more classes at texas than at ohio (ut-a requires a course in "texas state government" - who in the other 49 states would ever have taken this course?), i may actually be able to complete the program more quickly - and apparently with a lot fewer issues.

just have to wait and see.

Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.

OU may be a good school but perhaps their online program has grown faster than they can manage. I have no patience for this when I've experienced the complete opposite from other institutions. I would rather pay a little more and have better communication than have this type of stress. I have changed my plans for school and I'm thrilled with my decision. Based on OU's incompetency in communication with potential students I can't help but feel it may bleed into the program itself. From other reviews of the program it appears this is not an issue; however I'd sooner take Texas gov't history than endure this maze of confusion. I hope you hear from UTA soon and can begin your program. I personally think OU's system has erected too many red flags for my comfort level. Keep us posted Chuckster.

Specializes in lots of specialties.

Im getting more and more frustrated with OU by the week. I attempted to register today only to find that I need permission to register for my class. Im seriously getting discouraged by all of this. Having to search all over to get info then to piece it together and try to make sense of it. All I want to is sign up for courses and get started but dang this just seems like OU cant handle any of this. I called the nursing school and they continue to state they aer busy and to leave a message. Im pulling my hair out.I think I may need to look into other programs if I dont get info soon

Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.

SShannon81, please refresh my memory as to your long term goals. Do you want just a BSN? I've done a LOT of research and perhaps I can help. I'm going for RN-MSN for about $7200 plus books. Remind me what you need and tuition constraints, etc.

Specializes in lots of specialties.

I am in this program because my job will cover tuition 100%. I need a BSN. I cant skip over that. I did get a call back from Nursing division who told me that registration was down. I did dig through and find my award letter for Fin aid. I have decided to sign up for Nrse 300 and stats together.Im just gonna push forth. They also told me they have staff coming in on the weekends to work on DARs to get them done so again we shall see. I am ordering my books for class today. Hopefully they will be in by the start of class.

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