^^Advice on when to apply^^

[megamiepona]

Hello all,

I'm not convinced that I will be a competitive enough applicant which is why I'm having second thoughts about applying to MEPN programs this coming June, but am considering applying in June 08 instead. I'm an SFSU postbac student who recently decided about a few months ago that I wanted to get into nursing.

Here are the reasons why I'm having 2nd thoughts about applying this upcoming cycle:

1. Insufficient amount of clinic/hospital exposure?

For the yrs prior to this decision, I thought I wanted to pursue dentistry and thus have a bunch of exposure to dentistry, but not so much in the medical fields. I only started gathering medical field experience last November (about 6 months to date) at a nonprofit women's clinic as a general volunteer who chaperones healthcare providers, logs laboratory work, rooms patients, sterilizes rooms, etc. In terms of hospital experience, I plan to volunteer at CPMC in the ED hopefully at the beginning of next month while continuing to volunteer at the community clinic.

-I have like 9 yrs of experience in a dental office which doesn't count I know.

2. Insufficient amount of leadership skills?

-My previous leadership skills also fall within the realms of dentistry as a fundraising chair for half of a semester and community outreach chair for 1 semester in the Pre-Dental Society at SFSU.

-Others: Mentored high school students for a semester on the college application process which includes filling out applications and editing/providing feedback on personal statements.

Other info about me:

3.70 overall GPA

GRE - will take at the end of July

BS Physiology

If I decide to take another year off, I plan on:

-continuing to volunteer at the women's community clinic and at a local hospital

-apply to a Peer Health Educator's program on campus in order to gather more leadership skills.

-of course finish up some pre-nursing pre-reqs

-obtain a CNA certificate?

-any other ideas?

But...of course I really don't want to wait another yr since I have already taken a year off after graduating from SFSU!

Anyways, I know this posting is long and I truely appreciate ya'll reading through it. Any advice will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[ham_tranwich]

Hey Megamiepona,

What a coincidence! I'm at SFSU too! Although you feel as if you are not as competitive of an applicant as you'd like to be, there's really nothing to lose if you apply this year. I think that the experience you have in dentistry and the extracurricular activities relating to it definitely demonstate leadership skills, and though it's not relating to nursing, it shows good qualities that graduate programs are looking for in prospective students. I feel that as long as you write a strong personal statement and explain why you changed from dentistry to nursing, your experience will only add to your application and support what's stated in your personal statement. If by any chance you apply and don't get in (knock on wood), it would still give you an advantage because a lot of schools give extra points in the application process to reapplicants. I say go for it!

Good luck,

Ham_tranwich

[megamiepona]

hey hamtranwich,

i like your user name by the way. i'm glad to hear that you're also an sfsu student as well hehe. what yr are you in or better yet, what's your life story? are you also in the process of applying? if so, good luck with the process! i wish there was some magic equation that could tell us if we're qualified or not. but of course that is just wishful thinking. i just applied to the PEACH (peer educators advocating for campus health) program in the student health center to gain some more leadership experience and also to overcome my fear of public speaking! we shall see what transpires. anyways, i'll ttyl!

Hey Megamiepona,

What a coincidence! I'm at SFSU too! Although you feel as if you are not as competitive of an applicant as you'd like to be, there's really nothing to lose if you apply this year. I think that the experience you have in dentistry and the extracurricular activities relating to it definitely demonstate leadership skills, and though it's not relating to nursing, it shows good qualities that graduate programs are looking for in prospective students. I feel that as long as you write a strong personal statement and explain why you changed from dentistry to nursing, your experience will only add to your application and support what's stated in your personal statement. If by any chance you apply and don't get in (knock on wood), it would still give you an advantage because a lot of schools give extra points in the application process to reapplicants. I say go for it!

Good luck,

Ham_tranwich

[ham_tranwich]

Wow...I just applied to PEACH as well! I'm actually an undergrad finishing up my degree in Bio, but I'll be applying to Master's entry programs this year as well. The next couple of months seem pretty stressful, considering I have to get everything together for apps. I'm sure we'll run into each other one of these days!

[mvanz9999, RN]

I think it depends on the school, but from just what I read, you are perfectly well qualified for both the MENP programs in Chicago.

Like the other posters say, you've really got nothing to lose by applying this year. If the schools consider you competitive enough and grant you a seat, you're on your way.

If they don't, that still gives you another year to make yourself more competitive and apply again the following year.

My advice is to do it now. You really do have nothing to lose.

[megamiepona]

Wow...I just applied to PEACH as well! I'm actually an undergrad finishing up my degree in Bio, but I'll be applying to Master's entry programs this year as well. The next couple of months seem pretty stressful, considering I have to get everything together for apps. I'm sure we'll run into each other one of these days!

haha. double coincidence!

did you go to an info session for PEACH? i might've saw you there at one of the sessions. are you a senior? anyways, good luck with completing all your classes and the apps! what schools are you applying to by the way?

I think it depends on the school, but from just what I read, you are perfectly well qualified for both the MENP programs in Chicago.

Like the other posters say, you've really got nothing to lose by applying this year. If the schools consider you competitive enough and grant you a seat, you're on your way.

If they don't, that still gives you another year to make yourself more competitive and apply again the following year.

My advice is to do it now. You really do have nothing to lose.

Thanks for your advice mvanz9999! I'm going to give it a shot this upcoming app period.