Drexel University ACE Spring 2010

Nursing Students School Programs

Published

Hello all,

I just received a letter from saying that my application for the ACE program is now complete and I'm waiting for a response. I was wondering if anyone else here is applying for the same program and received an acceptance letter already?:uhoh3: I'm trying to be patient but I wish I knew how long it will take...

Hi,

I have heard a lot of good things about Villanova's program. However, I have read some mixed reviews about it online, but I am not sure how factual they are. The campus is beautiful and they just built the new nursing building in 2008.

I do not know that much about UPenn's program.

I requested information from UPenn, , Jefferson, and Villanova, but have only seen Villanova's campus (not the new nursing building though). I need to take tours of all of them to make a better decision. As of now, I don't really have a first choice - they are all pretty level. I am waiting to visit all of them and hopefully get wowed or fall in love with one of the schools.

What about yourself? Are you leaning towards one school?

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Thanks BibaBibaa!!! I'm so glad I finally got my acceptance, but lately I have only heard bad things about the program... mainly just how tough it is to stay in the program... apparently if you fail just one class (fail= below a C) you are automatically kicked out. Also, there is some confusion on the HESI's and I've heard you must pass with a 95 (or 9.5? I don't know the grading scale) and you only have 7 chances to take it, otherwise you are not awarded a BSN. You can also take it only once each semester (?) so if you do fail, it could take up to 2 years to be awarded a BSN before you can even sit for the NCLEX. Apparently Jefferson only requires an 80% pass? I dont know, this all makes me very nervous!

AugustRain, I know you have been through the program already and like it, (I've read another thread), can you shed some light on this for us newbies?

Thanks!

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hi blondiemcd24,

yeah villanova has a nice campus in a great area of pa, are you from the area or planning to make a move to phila for school? Taking tours of each school is a great idea to narrow down your choices. At this rate, i'll go to whatever school accepts me!!

The program does intimidate me abit, I hear it's really stressful, but I guess all of the accelerated 2nd degree programs will be like that.

Good luck to all thats getting ready for the program!!!

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Hi CocoBelly! I feel the same way you feel. At first I only worried about getting that acceptance letter but once I got it the reality hit me and I started looking into everything else that comes afterwards. As much as I want this, I feel very unsure whether I can do it or not. I've heard that 's program is one of the toughest accelerated programs out there! What scares me the most is the clinical locations. I live so far from the school to begin with, if they send me to Delaware I have no clue what I am going to do...I'll be traveling for hours every day and I'll have no time left to study. Unfortunately, Drexel is my only option for now. I didn't get accepted at NJCU, which I expected, because the program starts this fall and I don't even have all of the pre-reqs yet. I'm still waiting for an answer from UMDNJ but I feel very skeptical because they require the ridiculous 95 in TOEFL and I got 92, so this option is out most likely too. I never considered Jefferson before but I think I might apply there as well. I don't know what to do anymore...it's just too much money to lose if you fail. I don't want to see myself next year at this time with no job, no degree and 20-25G in debt...It's scary!! For now I'm just trying to be positive and think that I'll not be the first or the last who's doing this...there're plenty of people who've done it before and have succeeded so I hope I will too...ahhh, we shall see...:uhoh3:

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Hi Hanool,

I actually went to Villanova for my undergrad. I loved the school and would love to go back.

I currently work in NYC, so I will definitely be relocated.

I know how you feel about the intimidation factor of the program. But, all of the programs are going to be intensive. But, as BibbaBibba has voiced concern as well -- the distance to clinicals might make things even more difficult. Although, from what I have heard nearly all of the programs require driving (sometimes lengthy drives) to clinical.

But, I think we should all just keep in mind that if this is something we really want -- and I think we all do, we can figure a way to do it. Don't get discouraged yet!

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Blondie, you are absolutely right. If we want this badly enough, we can definitely make it through. And BibaBibaa, you are also right- we're not the only ones! People have done it before, and we can do it too.

I dont think that you should worry so much about transportation to and from clinicals. The R2 runs from Philly to Newark, DE. Also, everyone is in the same boat with that one... so I'm sure they will encourage carpooling and I'm sure all the students really try to work that out together. I just don't think that should be the concern that makes your breaks your decision.

I'm not sure about applying to Jefferson just because they require two letters of recommendation, an essay, an interview, and their pre-reqs are different. Ive already completed or am already signed up for all my pre-reqs according to , and I can't stand the thought that I did it all for no reason and wasted all that time and money! In addition, I don't want to get reco's and waste that time if I don't end up getting into Jefferson (I only have less than 60 days to let Drexel know if I'm attending and put in my deposit) Also, the program starts in the summer, which is a few months after the Drexel start, and I don't know what I will do with all that time in between (I would have 6 months between finishing my pre-reqs and starting the program with jefferson, vs, 2 months between with Drexel). It just makes more sense for me to stay at Drexel since I've already been accepted. But there is definitely that fear that all of this will be wasted time and money if I don't pass! I wonder if there are options for finishing it out with Drexel's co-op or other program, if you can't make it through the ACE.

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That's a good point there CocoBelly! May be there are other options if you fail ACE.

I'm still considering Jefferson though. Their prerequisites are pretty much the same, even less than 's prerequisites, except for the extra 4 credits in Chemistry...and I have plenty of credits in Chemistry from my first degree so it doesn't really hurt for me to apply.

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CocoBelly, i def don't think it would hurt to apply to jefferson, if you apply by their first review (9/15 deadline) you should hear something by october 20, but it does suck that you have to give a deposit within 60 days.

Thanks all for the support and encouragement regarding the ACE program and Nursing. I hope I will hear from Drexel soon in regards to my application! I shall def keep you updated!

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Thanks BibaBibaa!!! I'm so glad I finally got my acceptance, but lately I have only heard bad things about the program... mainly just how tough it is to stay in the program... apparently if you fail just one class (fail= below a C) you are automatically kicked out. Also, there is some confusion on the HESI's and I've heard you must pass with a 95 (or 9.5? I don't know the grading scale) and you only have 7 chances to take it, otherwise you are not awarded a BSN. You can also take it only once each semester (?) so if you do fail, it could take up to 2 years to be awarded a BSN before you can even sit for the NCLEX. Apparently Jefferson only requires an 80% pass? I dont know, this all makes me very nervous!

AugustRain, I know you have been through the program already and like it, (I've read another Drexel thread), can you shed some light on this for us newbies?

Thanks!

I'm almost finished the program, six more weeks to go! It is intense and time consuming and difficult, but I think that's pretty much just nursing school. The hardest part is that we do it in 11 months. ACE isn't right for everyone, but it works for me. No matter where you go, you're not going to please everyone all the time. Even within our class, when students give feedback, about half the class usually supports it, while the other half wants something different. It also seems like the faculty does make adjustments based on student input, so I think it's important to speak up if you have something to say - they can only use the information that's presented. There's good and bad parts, but overall, I'm happy with it.

As far as making it through the program, I really don't think we've lost a ton of people. If you fail a class (below 76%), you're allowed to re-take it with the cohort behind you, but you only get one chance. We take HESIs throughout the program - one at the end of each clinical course and one at the end of Pharm II. These all factor in as essentially a quiz grade for the particular course, so there's no required passing grade for these, you just need to pass the course as a whole. The comprehensive "exit" HESI is taken as a part of Senior Seminar 4th quarter. You need either a raw score of 950 OR an 87% (scores are based on difficulty level of the questions). If you happen to fail the comprehensive HESI twice, then you remediate the following quarter and try again. It seems intimidating, but our class was told that exactly zero ACE students have ever failed every attempt at the HESI.

Hope that answers some of your questions!

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AugustRain- thank you so much for your input on , in this thread and others. Your advice, perspective and info on the program have really been invaluable and confidence inspiring for me! I'm looking forward to starting in the fall :)

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Thanks a lot AugustRain!!! After reading your thread I feel definitely a lot more confident. The only thing that worries me is the commute to clinicals. I live 60 miles away from ...do you think that commuting and coping with the demands of the program is something achievable or I'll be shutting my self in the foot later? Do you know people who're commuting or everybody lives on or close to campus?

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Thank you AugustRain, as others have mentioned, your input is greatly appreciated and so incredibly helpful!! It's nice to hear a different perspective from you rather than everyone who complains about the program!

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