MUSC Accelerated BSN

P_RN, ADN, RN · Mar 31, 2007

The main hospital facility is being replaced. There are clinicals in more places though. MUSC has a good reputation in it's BSN program..

Maintained NCLEX scores over 90% for each quarter with a pass rate of 96% for 2005. Charleston is an eclectic city to say the least. I think you'd like it if you visit. Some locale problems I hate are the narrow streets (REALLY NARROW), the proximity of the school to the "badder" parts of town, but that's everywhere.

http://www.musc.edu/nursing/about.htm

The NP masters is in abeyance but there is a combo MSN/MS business jointly with USC in Columbia. Much is online.

Annaiya, NP · Apr 1, 2007

Thanks for the reply. I'm moving to Charleston anyway, because I've heard so many good things about the city. I'm just interested in finding out what I can about the program, because a friend of mine had a really bad experience at the school she went to. The school administration was unbelievable, so I'm always a little leary now.

What do you mean the hospital facility is being replaced? Are they building something new, changing ownership or something else?

Athenas83 · Apr 3, 2007

I just got accepted to MUSC's Accelerated BSN for Fall 2007. I'm so excited. The facilities are very nice. The college of nursing is directly across the street from the main hospital building. I'll be able to tell you more about it once I start the program.

Annaiya, NP · Apr 6, 2007

Congratulations on getting accepted! I'd love to hear what you think of it once you start. Did you feel it was very difficult to get in? Was this the first time you applied? I'm just curious, because you hear so many admissions horror stories on the student forums. Feel free to PM me if you don't want to say on the forums. Good luck starting in the fall:)

Athenas83 · Apr 6, 2007

Thanks Annaiya! In their admissions process, MUSC doesn't weigh GPA too heavily. They definitely cater to second degree students because the GRE is basically their weeding out tool. I think if you get at least 1000 on the GRE (with the verbal section being at least 500) you're good to go. It makes you a competetive applicant. I had to take the GRE 3 times, and finally got above 1000, lol :banghead:

Then they look at your GPA, essay, references, and resume. I had past professors serve as my references, didn't have much volunteer experience. My GPA was a 3.9, but I've talked to students who have gotten in with a 3.4, 3.1.

Annaiya, NP · Apr 6, 2007

Thanks for the informative reply! I have yet to take the GRE and I plan to start doing some volunteer work this summer. I worry about getting in because my undergraduate gpa was a 3.45, but my pre-req gpa should be 4.0. It's good to know that it doesn't automatically cut me out of the group. So many schools seem to be only taking 4.0's and I can't do anything about my grades from 10 years ago:) I'm planning on taking plenty of time to study for the GRE, so I should be able to do well on that. Thanks again for the response!

SCgirl22 · May 2, 2007

I am graduating from the Accelerated BSN program on May 18! Overall I would say my experience there was good. The faculty (in general) are very interested in their students success. I had a wide variety of clinical settings, in MUSC as well as other facilities in the Charleston area (VA, Roper, Trident, etc).

Many of my classmates had a degree in another field prior to coming to MUSC, but not all. You must do well on the GRE to get in, I know people who were turned down despite good grades and years of work experience in health care. The admissions process is competitive, but my undergraduate GPA was only around a 3.1 and I got in on the first try with a very good GRE, references, and essay. I would say they look at the candidate as a whole.

MUSC is expanding. They are building a new facility that looks lovely so far from the outside. Not everyone will move, and they will continue to use the existing hospital building as well. The College of Nursing building is also undergoing renovations (which sends us nursing students running around campus to different classrooms).

Almost everyone who started with us will be graduating with us, so the pass rate is pretty good I would say. Many students worked part time, especially over in the hospital as techs or externs, but don't try to go overboard with your work hours or your grades might suffer!

Best of luck with the application process and with school. I hope that you will enjoy nursing as much as I have so far. Any other questions feel free to ask!

emab · Jul 16, 2007

HI I am also in an Accelerated Nursing program and planning on moving to Charleston after graduation. I am wondering how it has been for you to find a job in Charleston? Do you have any idea what the yearly pay scale is like?

thanks for your help!!

ashmerpar · Dec 14, 2008

HI All!

I was looking for some help. I have a bachelor's of Science in International Business and have been a pharmaceutical rep for the past 4 years and finally after going back and forth for a few years, decided I want to make a career change. I already have spoken with MUSC and gone over my transcripts and I need 5 classes that I am set to take within the next 12 months. So I am going to apply to MUSC accelerated program for my BSN for Fall of 2010. Can anyone answer these questions?:

1. Is there a waiting list to get in?

2. Any recommendations other than just the pre-requesites that I should be doing in the mean time to help acceptance?

3. I have seen the GRE mentioned - should I take that or are SAT/ACT scores sufficient (I thought GRE was for masters/grad school medical field)

Any help and advice would be great!! I am really really looking forward to this transition and want to make sure I prepare and do everything I need to!

BestSweetGal · Dec 15, 2008

Hi, the GRE used to be required for the for the Accelerated BSN, but it is now not required. They are going by your SAT/ACT scores, GPA. So now that the GRE is not required, getting into the program will be very competitve. I'm applying for Spring 09. Good luck

Carebear28 · Jan 4, 2009

Hi everyone...I will be applying for the Spring 2010 program and I am so nervous about getting in. I have been volunteering in the ED at a hospital and taking my prereqs. I also have some experience working at a pysch hospital a few years ago. I am worried that my SAT score will not be good enough - I took it 10 years ago, I think I barley broke 1000. My GPA from college was only a 2.9, but i've been taking classes now and my GPA from the recent classes is a 3.8 - Anyone know how they come up with the overall GPA?

I also am not from SC, do they prefer in state applicants over out of state? I was trying to look for stats on previous accepted students for this program, but i can't find anything. If anyone has input for any of my questions above I would really appreciate it! Thanks!