Any CSULA 2008 ELMN Applicants?

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Hey there - has anyone else been accepted to the CSULA 2008 ELMN program? Are they notifying everone by email? Just wondering who's going to be attending...

Welcome, cohort 5!

Many of us in the 4th cohort are very excited to finally meet you! It's great to see that some of you are trying to get connected prior to meeting face-to-face.

As far as preparing for this upcoming year...don't. You're going to be very busy this upcoming first year and will wish that you had spent more time having fun right now. In my opinion, you won't be able effectively prepare for the NCLEX right now because you haven't learned the content yet. Just relax and enjoy your time of freedom.

In regards to the pros & cons of the program...I'm going to say that I'm a bit biased because I just LOVE our cohort! I really couldn't have asked for better classmates and future colleagues. These past 9 months have been exceptionally trying at times but even through the tears (it's not a metaphor) it has been an awesome experience.

Some other things I like of the program include the following:

  • intimate classroom setting
  • motivated, determined, and intelligent classmates (congrats if you got accepted as one of 20! They pick the best of the best!)
  • great clinical sites (e.g., LAC-USC, Huntington Memorial, Children's Hosptial LA, Las Encinas)
  • faculty (qualified, role models, caring, genuine)
  • 10 week quarter system
  • cheap tuition
  • leads to MSN degree with many different specialty options
  • option to work full/part time during masters portion
  • option to study full/part time for some specialty options (e.g., FNP, Acute Adult NP, PNP)

Now, on the other hand, a select few of our instructors were subpar, but what school doesn't have bad teachers? For the most part, the instructors have been very knowledgeable and effective in teaching our accelerated courses. Since this program is fairly new, there are things that are unclear and disorganized; however, most ELM programs will be like this because it's still a growing option to nursing. In comparision to nearby ELM programs (e.g., CSULB & UCLA), I've heard that their programs are less organized and they are even newer than CSULA's ELMN program but you should try contacting someone from their program to get a better description of their programs. I also was accepted to CSULB but after comparing the two programs, I decided that I like how CSULA offers the NP option, has been around longer, and has a general higher passing rate for NCLEX. Actually, CSULA is one of the top nursing grad programs in the U.S.! Needless to say, I'm very happy with my decision, however, I cannot assume that everyone else in my cohort feels the same way I do.

Phew. Sorry for rambling on but I hope some of you found it helpful. :nurse:

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What Nurses Rule said is true.

Once you start the program it is intense. Time off is a real luxury, so if you can relax and go somewhere and enjoy the people in your life it would be good. You will have A LOT less time for social things once school starts. So, if you are able to just kick back, relax, and enjoy the people in your life (and maybe line up something special for the time off between the summer and fall quarters), it would be good-------------but if you feel the need to read, what I mentioned will be relevant. However, whether you study now or not, once the semester starts it is going to be intense. You will discover that by pulling together as a group you all help share the burden, be drawn closer together as a group, and will pass the classes anyway. So, if you can---do try to just enjoy your current freedom.

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Congrats to all those that got in. For those on the waiting list, don't give up! The great part about this program is that you will be able to work after only attending 15 months of school. All the professors want you to succeed. I would not worry too much about studying before the program begins. They will teach you everything you need to know. PM me if you have any specific questions.

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Thanks for the support, Cohort 4! It's really heartening to hear your enthusiasm about the school and about each other. Just curious, are you all planning on working while you finish the second half of the program? How long do you think it will take?

Also, for Cohort 5, what are your backgrounds? I'm from LA, I have a BS in Molecular Environmental Biology, and my professional background is in art & design.

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Congrats to all those that got in. For those on the waiting list, don't give up! The great part about this program is that you will be able to work after only attending 15 months of school. All the professors want you to succeed. I would not worry too much about studying before the program begins. They will teach you everything you need to know. PM me if you have any specific questions.

Hi! Thanks for your post. I am on the waiting list. Do you know how many are usually accepted from the waiting list?

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Thanks for the support, Cohort 4! It's really heartening to hear your enthusiasm about the school and about each other. Just curious, are you all planning on working while you finish the second half of the program? How long do you think it will take?

Also, for Cohort 5, what are your backgrounds? I'm from LA, I have a BS in Molecular Environmental Biology, and my professional background is in art & design.

Yes, everybody in our cohort plans on workinng. I believe it is a requirement. However, you could work part-time. The masters portion for the FNP takes two years full time or three years part time.

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Hi! Thanks for your post. I am on the waiting list. Do you know how many are usually accepted from the waiting list?

Congratulations on all of Cohort 5 that has already been accepted. For those of you on the waiting list, do not give up hope. Several in our cohort were admitted from the waiting list. There is no telling how many are. It just depends on the number of those accepted that wind up turning it down for whatever reason. One of our cohort members found out of his acceptance the day before orientation. Good luck.

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Congratulations to the incoming ELMNs, Cohort 5!!!!! Our group is excited to get the chance to help you through this complex situation. It is going to be a difficult, yet enjoyable road, as my classmates have already told you. We all have formed tight bonds with everyone in this group. We wish the same closeness for your group. The support we find in each other has helped many of us through this program. Half of us went out celebrating an academic victory just last night.:cheers:

Take this time before the program begins to have fun, enjoy your friends and family. Also, prepare your friends and family for the fact that your time and availability will be significantly altered during the program. If you have the luxury, carve out your own office space or room in the house where all your nursing stuff will be. The tons of papers you will receive and write tend to require their own zip code! :typing

We cannot wait to meet all of you. And please know, we will be available to you for any questions or advice throughout your program. We plan to break the cycle of "nurses eating their young.":yeah:

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To those from cohort 4-- you guys are great. I appreciate all the advice and encouragement, knowing you all must be very busy.

Thanks veruca for starting this thread! As for my background, I'm from Orange County and graduated last year with a bachelor's in Biology and English. This past year I took some classes, worked part time in the ER, and did some volunteer work. I'm a little scared to get back into the grind again!

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I thought of one more con and one more pro about the program:

Con:

  • NO BSN degree at the end of the first 15 months. So you're kind of "stuck" until you finish the MSN portion otherwise, if you leave the program after you pass the NCLEX, you'll just be an RN without a nursing degree. However, I heard that they are thinking about changing the program to offer a BSN but I don't know if that's going to be indefinite and I'm not sure if it will be in effect by your year.

Pro:

  • FREE printing! We have our own nursing skills lab where you can print all your hundreds of papers for free with the exception that you "donate" a ream of paper each quarter...but you really print A LOT of stuff so it's really great! If you can afford one, a nice laser jet printer will come in very handy

If I think of anymore pros/cons I'll definitely post again.

By the way, I think someone asked about how to succeed in this nursing program. That's a really great question and I think that the biggest help has been group effort and support from classmates. Before starting this program I was someone who chose to study on my own and I really disliked groups; however, there are some classes in this program where I really couldn't have done it by myself...well, I take that back. I probably could have but would have struggle a lot more, gotten a worse grade and had a mental/physical breakdown-but I didn't because of my classmates. So, really, get everyone's contact info and don't be shy! You're going to make lots of new nursing friends and some will probably turn out to be life-long ones. :yeah:

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Hey Azaleas - it's nice to know that there are other science/humanities students coming in! I'm totally nervous about getting back to the grind, too. It was nice having a life for a year, wasn't it?

I can't wait to meet everyone at the orientation & get a better feel of the campus. Does anyone use the fitness center?

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i am in the cohort ahead of you. about 1/3 of us commute similar or greater distances. it isn't bad--the biggest negative about it is the cost of gas, and the potential loss of study time.

i live in simi valley. regardless of the time of day, i allow 1 1/2 hours to get to school. i don't think a trip has ever taken more than that, and sometimes it is way less. as far as it being a waste of time, i car pool so we can study (but often we talk which is surprisingly therapeutic--which is valuable considering the pace and pressure of the program). car pooling also cuts down on the cost.

if i were single and could find a room mate i would love to live closer, but i don't think i would do so if i were going to live alone.

good luck and congratulations. my cohort plans to be available to help you guys along the way. we are trying to make arrangements to be at your orientation and/or meet you somehow as soon as possible so that we can share with you things that might help in your transition, and your future sucess.

you really will become a close group as you pull together to get through the experience together

hi,

thanks so much :nuke: for your prompt reply to the email i sent you--i would have thanked you earlier but i haven't really had internet access in a while. i decided to go w/cal state la--and your email played a big role in that. to answer your question, i also applied to 2 other cal states-fullerton and sf, and haven't heard from them in terms of final decisions.

it looks like our orientation is may 3rd, so i look forward to meeting you then! it's good to know others have survived the program! :bow:

best,

jen

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