CSUN Accelerated B.S.N. Fall 2009 Applicants

I didn't take epidemiology, I'll take it as part of the program. I recommend getting the History and Political Science out of the way so that you won't have to take any other additional classes before graduating. My understanding is that you need them for them to award you the BSN.

You need three letters of rec. I didn't ask any of my undergrad professors because my major was completely unrelated to nursing or science. I asked my science prerequisite professors to write the letters of recommendation for me.

If you're worried about chem, sign up for tutoring early in the semester. That way if something isn't clear, you can have help clarifying it before getting lost in the subsequent chapters. The biochem chapters were the hardest for me--having to memorize the structure of all of the sugars...that was a pain. I took the chem in the summer while also taking speech. It was a lot of work, but I got through it. We had to read a chapter per day and turn in the problems at the end of the chapter the following day. It was intense, but totally doable. Do as many problems from the end of the chapter as you can. If you do, the exams will be much easier because you'll be able to recognize what you should do right away (since you spent so much time working on the problems).

What I meant by "getting to know your professors", was try to take the same professor for Anatomy and Physiology. That way they will get to know you over the course of a year. See if they have any extracuricular activities (i.e. tutoring, dissection teams, t.a., etc) that you can be a part of. I didn't ask any of my professors for letters from my old university. You want the letters from professors that are in the field you are applying for....bio-med sciences.

History and Political Science should had been a pre-req at the school you graduated from with your initial Bachelors. If not, then definitely get that out of the way.

My university didn't require Political Science or Speech, so I took them at a community college. I had the same professor for Anatomy/Physiology & Microbiology. Since I took Chem in the Summer, the class met M-F from 7:30-1:30. Even though it was a short amount of time, you do get a feeling for whether or not someone is a hard-working student by seeing them every day and how well they perform despite the intensive nature of the class. I was initially hesitant to ask for a letter of recommendation, but toward the end of the class, my prof was asking me about my plans and told me to let him know if I ever needed a letter of rec or anything. So when the time came, I felt comfortable enough to ask (despite the relatively short time I had known him).

Did anyone else get their "official" acceptance letter in the mail today? I will be part of the Fall 09 Cohort 5 ( not sure what the "5" is for?) and the first orientation wont be until August 19th! I'm still waiting to hear back from another school in a few weeks, as CSUN is my 2nd choice, but am still excited. Also, I havent taken Epidemiology yet either, and will prob. take in the summer? Is that how it usually works? Also, on a sidenote, my letter was dated May 23rd?.. Hello? type-o!

I received my letter today too. I was accepted into the Summer 09 cohort 4 (so I guess that means that if I go to CSUN, I'd be part of the 4th class). My orientation will be on May 21.

Where else did you apply?

Hi,

Applied to CSUF, and UCLA ( got rejected at UCLA) I live in Orange County so it would be more convenient for me to go to Fullerton vs. moving to Northridge area. I also got into a local community college for an ADN program, but will only go there for a backup Pretty sure I'll accept the offer at Northridge. Did you choose Summer cohort, or they just assigned that to you? btw... I am also a Bruin alum!

Yay, a fellow Bruin!! UCLA rejected me too, but I have the same issue with that program as I have with CSUF's El-MSN--both are to become a "clinical nurse leader," but it I have the impression that you don't actually work as a clinical nurse leader until you get experience--which makes me wonder if going through the extra trouble is worth it?

I thought that CSUF was going to reject me also, but I just got an invitation yesterday for an interview in two weeks. I don't get it. I thought they were done interviewing. Were you part of the first group that got interviewed? Did they say when they anticipated making a decision?

So far, I have only been accepted to CSUN. I'll find out about CSULA by April 1. CSULA was my first choice since it has the NP specialization built-in, but during the interview I asked if graduates had a difficult time finding a job as NPs and she said that they usually work as RNs to get more experience. That made me think that just going for the A-BSN would make more sense. That way, when I begin a NP MSN program, I will already have some experience and could work as a NP after finishing the MSN program.

I feel that if I am trained to become an RN, then I should work as an RN. But, if I spend so much time and energy training to become a nurse practitioner, I would want to work as a nurse practitioner.

If I can't do that, then it makes more sense to get the A-BSN, get the experience, and then go for the NP MSN when I'm ready. It made me regret not applying to more entry-level NP programs that maybe included more hours of clinical experience.

So now I'm debating if I have the choice, which would be best. Either way seems to have pros/cons

I would have to move if I were to go to CSUN, CSULB, or CSUF. I wouldn't if I were to go to CSULA or MSMC (but since I was accepted to CSUN, I don't think I would pick MSMC over CSUN).

This is going to be a hard choice to make!

Haha. I've been in the same predicament with the accelerated programs. My step mom is a Neonatal Nurse Practioner who went the "old school" route by starting with her RN, then BSN, then got her MSN and nurse practioner license. She had been encouraging me to go that route as well. The more I thought about it, the more I started feeling like I didnt want my BA to go to waste, and wanted to use it as stepping stone for a higher degree.. so I'm glad that at least I can put it toward CSUN's program. And I totally feel the same way about getting experience before pursuing any type of Advanced Practice nursing degree. It makes sense to know which area you want to practice in based on hands on clinical experience, which is another reason why I'm leaning toward completing the A-BSN, then advancing onto an MSN /NP program. It just makes sense.
I did interview at CSUF ( Fullerton) earlier this month, and am suprised that they are still offering interviews. They said that we would hear back on admissions decisions early in April, which is officially next week! Maybe they opened up more spots? ( They only have 36 spots available is what they told us in the meeting) Like I said, if got into their program, I would probably choose them over CSUN bc I live close, and would have the chance to earn my MSN in one stop, which is the ultimate direction I would like to go in anyway, and just work to gain experience anyway. Im looking at it like if I dont get into CSUF, then I was meant to go to CSUN and wait to get my MSN.. you know? Plus, we were so lucky to be chosen out of how many hundreds at CSUN, right?

Congrats This is the year09! I'm actually a fellow Gaucho (UCSB). I haven't received my letter yet, I'll probably get it tomorrow since I'm in SB. But I did get the call...that's all that matters. I am also part of the Fall 09 cohort. I actually only applied to CSUN and Loma Linda University. I won't hear from LLU until April, since their deadline is the 31st of March. It will be a tough choice between the two if I get in to LLU.
My goals are basically the same...get my BSN and work as an RN for a few years and go back to school to become a NP, which hopefully there will be some type of tuition reimbursement. As for now, plans are working accordingly. Keep me posted.

Wow this thread is so helpful to me! Thanks all for your advice. I figured the economy would be sending more applicants towards nursing but I didn't know that the competition would be this stiff.

I totally feel the same way about doing ADN, b/c of the idea that my BA would just go to waste =( So hopefully I get in somewhere.