George Mason Accelerated BSN Fall 2011 - page 6

1. 
   May 19, '11

   Quote from LawyerRN2b

   For those who got in, would you be willing to share your stats? Undergrad GPA, pre-req GPA, and what in your background you think made you stand out? I am about to go start my pre-reqs at NOVA in the fall and am planning to apply to only GMU and GT (would only be able to afford GT with the scholarship). I NEED to make this happen for myself. So exciting!

   Undergrad GPA: 3.7 (Vanderbilt)
   Prereq GPA: 4.0 (NOVA)
   HESI: 94%
   
   As far as background goes, I think my biggest asset was having worked in health care policy. With health care reform (and more recently, the regulatory phase of HCR) being such a hot-button issue in the industry, I think GMU, and other schools (including Gtown), liked the fact that I had a strong understanding of the policy issues that affect our health care delivery system. Also, I think that writing strong essays is an important key to success in your applications. Lastly, I'd say that some volunteering in a health care facility is an important facet of anyone's application. Let me know if you have any more questions! Best of luck!!!
2. 
   May 20, '11

   Thank you! I really appreciate it. It's so hard to find info like this and I want to make sure I keep my expectations in check. I, too, have a 3.7 undergrad gpa from a liberal arts school, but I also have a law degree. I did terrible in law school (2.6 GPA), but passed the PA bar the first time. I don't have any healthcare experience except that I (hopefully- if they take me) will start volunteering 4 hours a week at a local hospital in DC. I've worked for two national non-profits doing fundraising and now with the law degree, program management. I have a very strong service background....just not healthcare. I hope the law school gpa does not hurt me---I just found it very boring and had trouble engaging. I'm very much looking forward to my science pre-reqs---it will be a nice change!!
3. 
   May 20, '11

   Quote from LawyerRN2b

   Thank you! I really appreciate it. It's so hard to find info like this and I want to make sure I keep my expectations in check. I, too, have a 3.7 undergrad gpa from a liberal arts school, but I also have a law degree. I did terrible in law school (2.6 GPA), but passed the PA bar the first time. I don't have any healthcare experience except that I (hopefully- if they take me) will start volunteering 4 hours a week at a local hospital in DC. I've worked for two national non-profits doing fundraising and now with the law degree, program management. I have a very strong service background....just not healthcare. I hope the law school gpa does not hurt me---I just found it very boring and had trouble engaging. I'm very much looking forward to my science pre-reqs---it will be a nice change!!

   I'm sure the law school grades won't matter too much! I'm sure they'll be impressed by the fact that you have a legal background. I would definitely start volunteering at a hospital as soon as possible. That will show them that you've seen firsthand what nursing is all about, and that you know, based on those experiences, that it is the right career for you. It will also provide some great material to draw from when writing your essays! I would also suggest shadowing in a physician's office or hospital. Do you have a good relationship with anyone who practices medicine (a friend, or even a personal physician)? If so, contact them and see if it would be possible to shadow a nurse in his or her office. It's a quick, fun, and easy way to beef up your health care experience! Good luck, and let me know if I can be of anymore help!
4. 
   May 20, '11

   I actually think you have enough experience and a good enough GPA that you shouldn't need to volunteer anywhere.
5. 
   May 20, '11

   Thanks for all of your feedback!
   
   I know volunteering is not a requirement, but I want to just so I can get a real feel for it/ watch exactly what nurses do. I'd also like the experience to beef my essays up (glad the one poster mentioned that) as I feel I am stuck at- "I enjoy learning about medical related issues and dealing directly with people. I have a strong nurturing side and patience made of steel". All true- but I do need something to back this all up. It couldn't hurt...and I really do enjoy my service time. It will be hours well spent regardless.
   
   Looking forward to reading all about everyone's experiences as they start this program!
6. 
   Jun 12, '11

   My stats are identical to the ones posted before
   
   Undergrad GPA: 3.7 (James Madison University)
   Pre-req GPA: 4.0 NOVA
   HESI: 94%
   
   I was a Finance major so I didn't have very much medical experience to apply to my application. I did volunteer at a hospital for about 6 months prior to when I applied. They definitely mentioned at their info session that they like to see some sort of volunteer experience or job in the medical profession on the resume.
7. 
   Jun 14, '11

   Congrats to those of you who have been accepted. I didn't realize that GMU discussion was under DC not VA. I just recently started taking pre-reqs at NOVA. I have a question for those of you who did the same. I noticed that for microbiology, you need to take 1 year of chemistry but have also been told that not everyone who has taken micro had to do the full year of chemistry. Any ideas? I am excited but nervous about starting this process. It is so competitive to get into nursing school. Congrats again!
8. 
   Jun 14, '11

   You do not need a full year of chem - I only took CHM 111. I would get verification just to make sure but that's how it was when I took micro in the fall, and I know people who took it in the spring and only took a semester of chem as well. There are conflicting summaries of BIO 205 on two different parts of the NOVA website. One of the course descriptions states that 1 year of Chemistry is needed, whereas the other says only 1 semester.
9. 
   Jun 14, '11

   Quote from Qtpiecal

   You do not need a full year of chem - I only took CHM 111. I would get verification just to make sure but that's how it was when I took micro in the fall, and I know people who took it in the spring and only took a semester of chem as well. There are conflicting summaries of BIO 205 on two different parts of the NOVA website. One of the course descriptions states that 1 year of Chemistry is needed, whereas the other says only 1 semester.

   Thanks for replying. How was the class? I am so scared of that class (chem was not my strength in high school) but I know I need to get through it to get to the microbiology.
10. 
    Jun 15, '11

    SuzyQ2011- Would love to keep in touch. I am starting pre-reqs at NOVA in late August. I've been out of school for awhile so I am taking a bio-medical ethics class to satisfy a GT pre-req (and maybe GMU- I forget) just to get a feel for school again. I am so excited and looking forward to this road ahead.
    
    Let us know how chem goes. I'm deathly afraid as well--think I squeaked by HS honors chem with a D+. Ouch. It truly was one of my worst classes ever.
11. 
    Jun 15, '11

    I think it's silly that NOVA requires chemistry intended for science and engineers as a pre-req for microbiology. I can understand if it was general chemistry. The other thing didn't realize until now is that it requires placement into a pre-cal level math.
12. 
    Jul 10, '11

    Does anyone know if GMU traditional BSN program require 500 clinical hours?
13. 
    Jul 12, '11

    Hi everyone - I'm new to the site but this discussion is right on target with some questions I have. I'm currently in the process of applying for a 2012 Accelerated nursing program, and I need to take the HESI still. Where did all of you take the exam, and how was the test overall?

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