Any Fall 2007 UCLA MECN Applicants out there?

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So many of the threads regarding direct-entry programs featured mainly east coast schools, there have to be a few folks out there like me who've applied to the UCLA MECN program for the Fall 2007 term. Just wanted to say hello and let's have fun waiting four months for our notifications! ;)

Also, If you're out there, did any of you take the GRE although it wasn't required?

Cheers!

Suzanne

Specializes in SRNA.

BerkMom,

I don't think there's hope for me, although I didn't specifically ask it I had been waitlisted, the words that came out of her mouth were, "we did not recommend you for admission to the graduate department," which Im interpreting to mean as a big ole' no.

I can't speak for anyone else or their waitlist opportunities...I'm just glad that I found out now so I can work on getting through it and focus on my current classes. I was seriously going through hell just waiting.

She also said on the phone that they only issued 50 acceptances this year, so perhaps 10 more people will be added later with the waitlist.

But I'm okay, I've seriously thought this through and its a test for me and how badly I want this, I just need to keep doing what it takes.

I hope your outcome is more pleasant Berk!

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.....

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Specializes in SRNA.

Hah! I already told my mom that when I get my official rejection letter I'm going to frame it and hang it above my desk for a little added "motivation." I'll do whatever it takes not to see one of those again, does that seem odd to you?! ;)

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I was just told that the avg. GPA for this years UCLA MECN applicant pool was 3.5. Last year it was 3.3.

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Hi Everyone,

First off, congrats to all who got the email. I, too, applied for UCLA MECN Fall 2007 and have not received any emails from the SON. So, I'm grasping the idea that I was not admitted... But, out of curiousity, for those that did get admitted, what is your GPA and life experience? My GPA is not as competitive, but not super low as well. My undergrad GPA was a 3.50, but my pre-req GPA was much much higher. I didn't have any healthcare experience, but had a few years of research experience. Ehh, I feel so bummed out that I didn't get an email. Why can't they just post it online on the gdnet.ucla site? Hehe.

Thanks again!

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Hi! I almost feel bad writing because I was one of those students who got in. I actually found out by accident that I got in when I called the SON to ask whether I should fill out the FAFSA. However, I was also able to download the acceptance letter on gdnet that night. Keep in mind though that I had already been a student there and I may have gotten the letter sooner because UCLA didn't have to create a file for me per se. In other words, I was already in the system and it was just a matter of sending out an email. All I can say is that there were probably more qualified applicants than there were spots. To those of you who haven't gotten the letter yet, don't lose hope. PLEASE. You should think positively and try to attract admission. Have any of you ever seen THE SECRET? If you haven't, you should check it out at Blockbuster. It has changed my life. It esentially teaches you about the power of the mind in atracting positive things to your life.

I'll tell you a story that might shed some light on not getting an acceptance letter. When I was in high school, I was class salutatorian. I was #2 in a class of 404 students and was one of the best chemistry, physics, and calculus students. My dream was to become an engineer. As such, I applied to MIT in hopes of going to a world-renowned scientific university. I got through to the interviews and a few weeks later, I was rejected. I cried and cried and cried... I then was accepted to UCI, UCSD, and UCLA. However, none of these were my second choice. Berkeley was my second choice and I found out only until last minute that I got in. I went off to Berkeley and began a major in math. The first semester there, I failed calculus. I was like, "Whaaaaaatttt???????? I was the best math student in my high school!!!!" Well, I finally realized that EVERYONE was the best student in their high school and my counselor helped me find comfort by telling me this: "You should be happy that you are competing against the best of the best. What do you think life would be like if you were always on top? You would have nothing to fight for!" He was right! That experience changed my life. Since then, I've realized I can't be the best at everything and I won't always get what I claim to be dreaming about. In the end, I majored in psychology and all of my professors urged me to go into a PhD program. Because I wasn't sure psychology was my thing, I took a year off and went to work in a lab at UCLA (before even considering grad school). It was a fluke that I ended up working at the UCLA hospital! I could have very well found a job at the psych department at UCLA (away from the hospital). It wasn't until I was there that I realized that the reason I had liked psychology in the first place was that my true passion was in helping others... It's history from there. I went to public health school and then applied to nursing school. But what happened to that engineering dream??? Would I have been happy as an engineer? I may never know, but I do know that my experiences since I got out of Berkeely have helped me grow an become an independent woman who is happy. I am NOT saying at all that anyone who feels discouraged should find another field. What I AM saying is that things happen for a reason and the best thing we can do is turn bad things around and make them positives instead of negatives. Love yourself and know that even if you have not gotten an acceptance letter, you either (a) are on the waitlist, or (b) are not meant to go there at this point in time. Perhaps God (or whatever you believe in) has something stored for you down the line. My mom says "No hay mal que por bien no venga." This means when a bad thing comes your way, it's an indication of something good to come. Or in more scientific terms, life always regresses to the mean. That is, if we take the high road, have a healthy amount of self-respect/pride/love, then life will bring us back to that state regardless of the bad days that are sprinkled throughout.

Hold your head up high. Believe in yourselves and great things will come. (And watch THE SECRET).

I don't really know if this helps. I don't mean to preach or sound like I have a lot of knowledge about life. I'm still trying to figure it out! I just write what I think. I must say, I have gotten hooked on these forums and it may not be the best thing for me. I have one prereq to finish!!! I must study now... :)

Dahianna

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Dihanna:

Wow, thank you for your honest response. I don't want to lose hope, but I don't want to be completely shocked when I get a rejection letter either. Even though it would have been nice to get a Masters, I'm fine with getting into any program at the moment. Right now, I am going to apply to the BSN program at San Jose State. I hope I get in!

Congrats to you for getting admitted. Already, I can tell by your response, you are going to be a great nurse!

So you also have a public health degree? Wow, that's awesome.

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I also just want to add how valuable healthcare experience is. I am sure everyone is intelligent and passionate and qualified to do whatever they want to pursue but I am also sure that the admissions committee at UCLA wants to make sure that this is what YOU really want and you really know that through experience. Let me try to explain myself better with this story. My co-worker and really good friend is the sweetest girl you would meet. She has a huge heart and naturally the most caring girl I know. Our friends always call her the "mom." She orginally wanted to go into nursing because she really wanted to help others and make a difference (what we all say and feel) After working at Cedars for two years she became really inspired by the manager of our department. Our manager is an amazing lady who is caring, sweet, outgoing, very social, a great people person, and at the same time very organized and creative. She made sure the patients were being treated properly that our medical team was being treated properly, she created new programs for our department, was almost like a therapist for any problems in the office...Just an amazing person, on top of everything but still making a difference and definitely affecting everyones life. My friend has that other side of her to, that side who likes to make sure everyone is okay by taking charge, she is very creative, and very organized and she realized after 2 years she wants to go into health administration and so she got her Masters in health administration. She loves kids and is not managing a department at a pediactric hospital and she loves it! My point is, I am sure we all want to help others and make a difference and do something with our lives that is rewarding...and after working in an hospital or in the healthcare field you realize there are a million ways to do this. I work with clinical trial coordinators for prostate cancer and they have their own patients, they stay with them through treatment, develop relationships with them, etc....There are nutritionists, medical social workers, program coordinators, pyschologists, health educators, or if you like stuff like the operating room there are usually more OR techs than nurses...My point is, it is incredible how many ways you can touch lives and it is good to experience all the facets of the health care and see all the different positions in a hospital to make sure you are positive what you are doing. I am not trying to say you dont know what you want to do but experience really tells you what it is like. And nursing, like any career, is not always great. It gets stressfull especially nursing because of the shortage. Our cancer center at the hospital has had 2 full time nursing positions that they havent been able to fill for over a year. Therefore, the nurses are really over worked, burnt out, cant spend as much time with their patients, and we have been hiring traveling nurses which is not as good because you constantly have to train someone, they dont get to know the staff and patients as well because they are gone before you know it. It is very hard work and that is why you have to be 100% sure you want to do it and you love what you do because only that way will it be fullfilling. Otherwise you will be unhappy in your job. And you really discover yourself through experiences.

So as I said before, I am not saying you dont know if you really want this...I am just saying from an admissions point of view, they and me malso probably wouldnt want to take anyone without a lot of experience because I would want to make sure they are making the right decision for their future. Its not that you arent capable or a great student...they just want to make sure this is really your passion and you know this because you have seen what nursing is all about and you have seen other positions in healthcare and you STILL really want to do this.

That is my take on it.. I think things happen for a reason...and people always through that phrase around but let me tell you what I think it means...I think its beautiful to always be growing and learning from things in life. And when things happen good or bad we experience something new and learn from it and that is the reason. Things happen and we learn from it and the reason is to make us more well rounded, experienced, and understanding people. If you think of yourself as always learning and think positive in your life you will feel that positive energy and learn and grow and be happy. So I think if you are saying you didnt get in and you didnt have much experience, that is a wonderful thing becuase you dont want to jump into something you might not be fully sure or aware of. Experience is great. There is no need to rush life. Experience it and discover yourself and you can alway apply again and they will see your new growth and confidence.

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haha..sorry for all my miswording and spelling mistakes above...I was just writing what was on my mind and then sent it off and then re-read it and saw certain parts didnt make sense...anyway..Im sure you got all I wrote though...

Be happy and confident and take your time with life...there is no rush...

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I got into the accelerated program at Mount St. Mary's. I'm waiting to hear about the Kaiser scholarship. I have not heard back from UCLA yet, but most likely I will be attending MSMC in mid May. Anyway, I will keep you posted if I hear anything. Good luck.

i currently am attending MSMC Accel. BSN.. if you have any questions, i'm here!

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i currently am attending MSMC Accel. BSN.. if you have any questions, i'm here!

Thanks for the offer. I want to send you a private message, but your box is full. Would you rather I post my questions here or start a new thread?

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Thanks for the offer. I want to send you a private message, but your box is full. Would you rather I post my questions here or start a new thread?

ahh, cleared up the problem - you can send me a private message now.

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