accelerated BsN program questions

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hi.

i am looking into applying for an accel. BSN program at either UBC or UofC. I just found out that with my current GPA after 6 years of two uni degrees (in a very hard program for the most recent one) is not competitive enough, so i am being forced to head back to uni to do some fluff courses to boost it up to 3.6 of above.(which i find ridiculous)

questions:

between UBC and UofC, what are the advantaged/disadvantages of each program? how do employers view grads from these programs? (i've read some more negative comments about UBC grads on this forum... so i'm curious)

do the universities really care which disciplines the last year of courses are in (the courses that they will use in the calculation?) like i said- i am planning to take some fluff courses to boost the ole GPA. or do they just care about the mark?

for UBC- i know there is a large weighting on volunteer experience, and well honestly- in the past 3-5 years, i have none. (a lot of work experience though) so.... since i have a year to get cracking with all of this, do you think that UBC would view my sudden participation in volunteer work as suspicious and would therefore not highly regard it? i would have under a year at one place for volunteering.... i've been interested, but due to my class and work schedule, i have not had time in the past 7 years to do anything of the sort.

basically i am seeking ways to guarantee my admission to UofC and to guarantee my way into an interview at UBC (the amount of high stress panel interviews i've survived over the past few years leaves me not too worried about the interview component).

thanks for reading all of this!! i appreciate any feedback and advice. this next year is going to require my full commitment/attention, and i need to make every second count!

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Welcome to the sad world of those wanting to become a nurse. Most schools entrance requirements are marks driven now which often accepts the brightest but not necessarily the "right" applicant who wants to be a nurse.

I honestly don't enjoy working with the second degree students. Over the years many have told me they have no desire to be a bedside nurse, they want to go straight to "management". Clinical skills are often lacking but then I've been told "that's what LPNs are for, I'll supervise". I've been told by one that the only reason they were doing nursing was to get a job that makes money.

I don't think anyone is a nurse for free, but the BScN seems to be becoming the degree of choice for some who couldn't find a paid position with their other degrees....

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i very much agree with the "brightest" but not "right" comment having seen it happen to too many of my friends applying for med schools. it is quite sickening if you ask me.

as per "managerial" aspirations.... well, as it stands- i have none. i primarily want to go into nursing to work WITH the patients. not the other nurses. sure, a managerial position might eventually happen, but it isn't a goal. i'm going to see where i best fit into the whole scheme of things. (that is- granted i get in somewhere)

yeah, after doing a very theoretical second degree at uni, i am dying to do tons of hands on PRACTICAL work. too much of my education has been from books (actually- basically all of it). that is why i am interested in how UBC and UofC rate in terms of clinicals.

i have read that BCIT and Mount ROyal College (for institutions in the same cities) are more recommended for smaller class sizes and better clinicals, BUT neither of them have accelerated programs.

i appreciate all comments

thanks!

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I'm curious about something you said. Why are you taking "fluff courses" as you call them to boost up ur GPA? which school requires that it has to be higher? also, did they specifically tell you that you need volunteer experience?

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re: k004'd message,

if you look at the entrance requirements for UBC, you need volunteer experience along with belonging to clubs, work experience, etc.... competitive average is above 75%, but i am under the understanding that it is around 3.4-3.6

if you look at the entrance requirements for UofC, you need a 3.6 to be GUARANTEED admission. GPA's in the range of 3.4 -3.6 are competitive, but i personally want to be guaranteed admission.

this info is found on their respective websites.

fluff courses (courses which i will take below my academic level and which i do not actually need for anything ) are required for me to raise my GPA. due to my extremeely difficult second degree, my GPA is no where near the requirements.

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Hi

In regards to the volunteering, don't worry because I'm in the same boat! When school gets hectic, you just automatically focus on nothing BUT school and drop any other activities you have. I don't know what to do either!

PS: I'm curious, how are you taking fluff courses AFTER your degree is done?

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hi.

i am looking into applying for an accel. BSN program at either UBC or UofC. I just found out that with my current GPA after 6 years of two uni degrees (in a very hard program for the most recent one) is not competitive enough, so i am being forced to head back to uni to do some fluff courses to boost it up to 3.6 of above.(which i find ridiculous)

questions:

between UBC and UofC, what are the advantaged/disadvantages of each program? how do employers view grads from these programs? (i've read some more negative comments about UBC grads on this forum... so i'm curious)

do the universities really care which disciplines the last year of courses are in (the courses that they will use in the calculation?) like i said- i am planning to take some fluff courses to boost the ole GPA. or do they just care about the mark?

for UBC- i know there is a large weighting on volunteer experience, and well honestly- in the past 3-5 years, i have none. (a lot of work experience though) so.... since i have a year to get cracking with all of this, do you think that UBC would view my sudden participation in volunteer work as suspicious and would therefore not highly regard it? i would have under a year at one place for volunteering.... i've been interested, but due to my class and work schedule, i have not had time in the past 7 years to do anything of the sort.

basically i am seeking ways to guarantee my admission to UofC and to guarantee my way into an interview at UBC (the amount of high stress panel interviews i've survived over the past few years leaves me not too worried about the interview component).

thanks for reading all of this!! i appreciate any feedback and advice. this next year is going to require my full commitment/attention, and i need to make every second count!

Hi,

Did you end up getting into an accelerated program? I'm in a similar position as you, only I guess around a year later. I would love to hear any advice you have, and especially to hear if you got in and if you wouldnt' mind sharing what your GPA was? I'm pretty nervous as I don't think mine is competitive enough :S I have a lot of volunteer experience, but I don't know how much they actually weight that these days.. most programs don't even ask.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I just graduated from the U of A's program and I'm really glad to be done.

Have you thought about applying to U of A's after degree program? I'm not a big fan of the program as its pretty disorganized and you won't get that much clinical exposure, but the faculty are really nice. I think the cut-offs are in the 3.5 range for the program, but I'm not sure. Its also the last 5 full course equivalents I believe.

Also, I think the cost of living in Edmonton is probably a little bit better than Calgary or Vancouver, especially when it comes to housing.

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