Any Johns Hopkins (JHU) BSN/MSN 2008 applicants?

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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Yes, we're a few months away from applications for the Accelerated BSN track, but I thought I'd see if anyone else was applying for the BSN/MSN (or just BSN portion) at Johns Hopkins, 2008? JHU is my first choice, but I'm also applying to Columbia, Mount St. Marys College (Los Angeles, BSN only) and Oregon Health & Science University.

I'm nervous as I haven't visited the school yet although the Admissions Officers have been very helpful, answering all of my endless questions via email and phone. I'm taking the GRE in October and I have one shot to get it done and get my scores sent off by the Accelerated track early decision deadline, November 1st. I've spoken to some JHU Nursing Alums via allnurses as well and they've been super helpful with my questions as well (thanks!).

How would I pay for it...? Who really knows... :rolleyes:

Hi Ladies (and gents),

I'm pretty happy to find this thread, as I would love to get into JHUs BSN/ABSN program. But, I dont know if my application would be really competitive.. relatively speaking...

So, I was wondering does the admissions look at the GPA in all previous courses or just the nursing pre-reqs? I'm kind of worried that my previous bachelors degree will ruin my chances of having my application reviewed :cry:

I'm just assuming that everyone here has a high undergrad GPA 3.5+, and very high on the pre-reqs too. Mine was a 2.6 and pre-reqs is 3.6+ (I havent actually calculated them yet). Any advice?

Thanks everyone :heartbeat

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I met with several folks at JHU, including admissions director. Great program, awesome facility and reputation, really nice people. My previous undergrad was 17 yrs ago and I graduated w/ 2.6. I was told that they would look at my whole package, my previous GPA would not rule me out. If my pre req scores showed I was capable, I could still be in the running. They want people with a dream, passion to make a difference, and life experiance doesn't hurt.

Having said that, I chose not to apply because their financial aid office will never excuse my previous GPA. They look at ALL previous coursework in figuring GPA for scholarships. Even if I had 4.0 in pre req's and a 4.0 in my first year of the program...it wouldn't pull my GPA up enough to make me eligible for any free money the second year. Free money would have to come my way for me to attend a program that cost 80k. I just couldn't justify the price for the BSN.

I think that the grad program will look at the BSN GPA when determining admission and FA. So, there is hope for me yet!

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Specializes in SRNA.

Having said that, I chose not to apply because their financial aid office will never excuse my previous GPA.

I'm very curious if they told you that point blank, because my GPA from my previous BA was a tad lower than yours and I received a significant School of Nursing grant. I was told at the Accepted Students Day that the SON grant was based on financial need. I had taken over 60 units of pre-reqs and post-bacc course work with a 4.0, however.

Was this recently or several years ago?

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I should have clarified. I was looking at merit scholarships. I am not eligible for financial need grants because my DH makes too much money. Was the criteria for financial need at JHU very different from Federal Grants criteria? I am no where close to being eligible by Federal standards. We're in that bubble that makes to much for grants but barely enough to support a family of 5.

I almost don't want to know if I was misinformed, because I have worked through this decision seven ways from Sunday and back! ;)

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Also, you mentioned that you also took 60 post bac credits. That would have brought your cumulative GPA up considerably, coupled with your financial need is a different picture. If I was willing to take 60 more credits, I could bring my GPA to 3.0 but I just can't see taking all those classes over again. I didn't need to do so for my alternate programs.

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Specializes in cardiac electrophysiology, critical care.

Hi,

I am finishing up at JHU and had also been told that the grants are need-based (and don't have anything to do with grades- pre-reqs or otherwise). I'm not sure if criteria for grants are exactly the same as criteria for federal financial aid, although I imagine they probably are?

Also, it's wise of you not to count on getting a merit scholarship, because in my experience they are few and far between. Although someone has to get them and of course it could be you, I think that it would be a big financial risk to attend JHU under the assumption that you will be getting one.

Anyway, just wanted to chime in even though you have already made your decision : )

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I'm very curious if they told you that point blank, because my GPA from my previous BA was a tad lower than yours and I received a significant School of Nursing grant. I was told at the Accepted Students Day that the SON grant was based on financial need. I had taken over 60 units of pre-reqs and post-bacc course work with a 4.0, however.

Was this recently or several years ago?

Thanks for all your replies, they're very helpful. :loveya:

For your specific postbac work, how long did it take for you do complete all those? And did you take the classes in a community college, or at your original university?

I'm currently trying to take as many classes as possible to boost my GPA, but its taking longer than I've planned. If it can get me into JHU though, I think its well worth it. I just wonder what my chances are...:confused:

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I met with several folks at JHU, including admissions director. Great program, awesome facility and reputation, really nice people. My previous undergrad was 17 yrs ago and I graduated w/ 2.6. I was told that they would look at my whole package, my previous GPA would not rule me out. If my pre req scores showed I was capable, I could still be in the running. They want people with a dream, passion to make a difference, and life experiance doesn't hurt.

Having said that, I chose not to apply because their financial aid office will never excuse my previous GPA. They look at ALL previous coursework in figuring GPA for scholarships. Even if I had 4.0 in pre req's and a 4.0 in my first year of the program...it wouldn't pull my GPA up enough to make me eligible for any free money the second year. Free money would have to come my way for me to attend a program that cost 80k. I just couldn't justify the price for the BSN.

I think that the grad program will look at the BSN GPA when determining admission and FA. So, there is hope for me yet!

Typically, JHU SON looks at the entire package...isn't the previous GPA (before pre-reqs) just gen ed? They normally look at those grades + pre-reqs, the two should not be seperate unless they were done at different times or for another BS degree in the past. Overall GPA is what they need- general ed (for AA or BS) and then the pre-reqs for JHU SON.

They are picky though, so if you have lower grades and GPA than you want- maybe you could retake a few classes to do better.

Good luck! I am sure you will follow your dream no matter what! Don't forget too that UMB is right there in the city as well- they allow lower GPA.

But I am sure its fine! :D

-gab.rielle

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Hi Ladies (and gents),

I'm pretty happy to find this thread, as I would love to get into JHUs BSN/ABSN program. But, I dont know if my application would be really competitive.. relatively speaking...

So, I was wondering does the admissions look at the GPA in all previous courses or just the nursing pre-reqs? I'm kind of worried that my previous bachelors degree will ruin my chances of having my application reviewed :cry:

I'm just assuming that everyone here has a high undergrad GPA 3.5+, and very high on the pre-reqs too. Mine was a 2.6 and pre-reqs is 3.6+ (I havent actually calculated them yet). Any advice?

Thanks everyone :heartbeat

My advice would be- Try!! :yeah:

All they can do is say no, simply ask what you must do to become the type of student they need. Maybe you need some extra GPA inflation, maybe some more experience, who knows...but get that info and it will increase your chances of being a future JHU SON nursing student! Good Luck!!

-gab.rielle :D

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Specializes in Psychiatric NP.

Hi, So I was actually wondering why you all are choosing John Hopkins for grad school. Is it only because they have the accelerated program or for the school's reputation? Because I've heard several different opinions while choosing my grad school and some have said that it does not matter as long as you get certified after graduation. What do you all think?

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Specializes in cardiac electrophysiology, critical care.

Hi gotnurse333,

Are you interested in the accel BSN or the grad program? I'll answer your questions assuming that you are interested in the 13 mo BSN.

Now that I am almost done with my BSN (and will have to start paying my huge loans soon: ) I think reputation matters a lot less than I used to think.

I chose JHU because of location (sig. other is here) and because I could get a BSN in 13 mos (short!)

Part of my new mindset is that when it comes to finding jobs, having professional connections seems to mean a whole lot more than which school you went to. For example, I am trying to get a job in a city (not Baltimore) that is NOT experiencing a nursing shortage and all I hear from recruiters is that they are filling all their positions with internal applicants who worked as techs and are now graduating from nursing school. If you think you know where you want to practice nursing, I would investigate whether or not that area is having a shortage, and if it's not, then my advice would be to go to school there and get a job (per diem or something) as a CNA or tech in a hospital where you'd want to work.

I also realize that the quality of education should be a factor when it comes to school choice, and I'm happy with JHU, but I don't have any other nursing school to which I can compare it. So, I don't know if the quality is worth it financially (I hope so!)

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