Any Fall 2008 UCLA - MECN Program Applicants out there?

Hey NSFA08-

I also applied to the MECN program at UCLA. Other than an email to let me know my application is complete, I haven't heard anything else! And yes, the waiting is awful!

Hi!

I also applied to UCLA's MECN program. I asked the program coordinator how many applications they received for this fall's class. Much to my chagrin she said 365 and they expect to enroll around 55. That is only the top 15%. I really got my hopes up to returning to UCLA where I went to school after many years. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed very tightly.

Kathy

according to the posts by people who applied last year, decision notifications went out at the beginning of march last year. have you heard whether or not that will be the case this year?

according to the posts by people who applied last year, decision notifications went out at the beginning of march last year. have you heard whether or not that will be the case this year?

The program coordinator said March 1 (not around then, or early-March, etc.). I am feeling very nervous right now. I have just received rejections from two MSN programs already. They were private schools and because of their high costs I really don't want to go there if I don't have to. I just hope that this isn't a sign of what the results of the rest of my applications will be. UCLA is my alma mater and I am dying to return there.

Kathy

I'm waiting on admission, too. I heard that they notify on March 1st, but I'm not sure if this is via e-mail or snail mail? I got my admission notification by e-mail for graduate school for the program I am currently enrolled in, with a hard-copy that followed.

I heard the same thing - they take 55 students, but it's good to hear only 365 applications! Even though it sounds like a lot, they projected there'd be about 700 applications for this year's program.

Does anyone know anything about the structure of their program, specific to when they do clinicals in relation to classwork? I forgot what was said in Orientation...do they begin right away or after the first couple of quarters?

I'm waiting on admission, too. I heard that they notify on March 1st, but I'm not sure if this is via e-mail or snail mail? I got my admission notification by e-mail for graduate school for the program I am currently enrolled in, with a hard-copy that followed.

I heard the same thing - they take 55 students, but it's good to hear only 365 applications! Even though it sounds like a lot, they projected there'd be about 700 applications for this year's program.

Does anyone know anything about the structure of their program, specific to when they do clinicals in relation to classwork? I forgot what was said in Orientation...do they begin right away or after the first couple of quarters?

I applied for Fall 2007 admission and those who were accepted were notified by email the first week of March. Unfortunately those who were not accepted (myself included), had to wait to receive a hard copy of the bad news. (Pretty horrible way to do that IMO, as the word spread pretty quickly here about the emails and it drove you nuts if you didn't get one.)

Also, they calculate your GPA on the last 60 semester/90 quarter units of your degree GPA (pre-req courses are not included in that calc.). The last time I spoke to someone who is wrapping up the program in one more quarter, she had stated that the last accepted cohort had an average GPA of 3.8-3.9 and significant volunteer experience.

Also, if you are a Bruin alum, it will not make a difference in the admissions decision.

Good luck!

I applied for Fall 2007 admission and those who were accepted were notified by email the first week of March. Unfortunately those who were not accepted (myself included), had to wait to receive a hard copy of the bad news. (Pretty horrible way to do that IMO, as the word spread pretty quickly here about the emails and it drove you nuts if you didn't get one.)

Also, they calculate your GPA on the last 60 semester/90 quarter units of your degree GPA (pre-req courses are not included in that calc.). The last time I spoke to someone who is wrapping up the program in one more quarter, she had stated that the last accepted cohort had an average GPA of 3.8-3.9 and significant volunteer experience.

Good luck!

Thanks for your response - may I ask (if applicable) where you ended up going to for your nursing program? I am a little hesitant about UCLA re: the response I read from "noa" in the MECN Cohort, who mentioned how her friends in similar programs are better trained vs. UCLA MECN students who just learn business routes. I remember in the open house, they did mention patho, pharmacology, and some disease management courses.

That average GPA is pretty high, and significant volunteer experience may make it so my mere 80 hours weren't enough!

I wasn't expecting that being a Bruin alum would help TOO much, I just wondered if it would have helped a little with regards to what I am getting my Master's in.

Wow I agree with it being poor to send a hard copy to the "No's" and e-mails to the "Yes's" - way to up the anxiety factor! Do you mind my asking what your GPA was and what type of work experiences you've had?

Thanks for your response, it really helps gain some insight!

Well last time around I had only applied to UCLA so I had to wait for another round of applications and will be attending Johns Hopkins beginning late August.

UCLA began the MECN program with their first cohort in Fall 2006 and the word has spread so fast that it became ultra-competitive even in its second year accepting apps. I believe there were 350+ apps for Fall 2007. I tried to make myself a more competitive applicant by obtaining a 4.0 in my pre-reqs and taking the Epidemiology course they required in advance, but it didn't shake the fact that I had two not-so-great quarters when I completed my undergrad at UCLA in 2004. Nor did they make it clear prior to applying how they would be calculating the GPA that the applicant was evaluated on. When I had applied I had 2+ years experience at a community clinic and I was in the middle of the COPE/CCE internship at St. Mary's in Long Beach.

I realize now that UCLA was not the right choice for me and my timing was also a bit off, I still love the school itself, however please realize that the program itself is still in its formative years and I believe they still have a few kinks to work out. I don't know much about those who are mid-program and their level of satisfaction, but from my last conversation with one of them, some have already been recruited by local hospitals, including Cedars-Sinai.

Well last time around I had only applied to UCLA so I had to wait for another round of applications and will be attending Johns Hopkins beginning late August.

I realize now that UCLA was not the right choice for me and my timing was also a bit off, I still love the school itself, however please realize that the program itself is still in its formative years and I believe they still have a few kinks to work out. I don't know much about those who are mid-program and their level of satisfaction, but from my last conversation with one of them, some have already been recruited by local hospitals, including Cedars-Sinai.

Congrats on JHU's acceptance! It's the 0-NP program, right? I know someone who'll be attending that program in the Fall of 08, too. I can't believe you went back and re-did your pre-reqs to get a 4.0 and they still didn't accept you? hm.

I definitely agree that drawbacks are that it's in its formative stage, as well as the fact that the program is so business-based (from other threaders) rather than disease process-oriented? I'm not even that sure myself what the program is like since they don't let you see a sim lab, meet instructors, look at a sequence of clinicals/courses, etc. Did you get the same impression? I was shocked when I saw a threader choose CSULA over UCLA, since UCLA has the "big name." what about the MECN program at ucla was unappealing to you?

I love USD's program and the people who run it, as they seem - not like they hand-hold you through the program but - that they are really passionate and concerned about the success of each of their students. The tuition costs are just a huge concern.

Congrats on JHU's acceptance! It's the 0-NP program, right? I know someone who'll be attending that program in the Fall of 08, too. I can't believe you went back and re-did your pre-reqs to get a 4.0 and they still didn't accept you? hm.

what about the MECN program at ucla was unappealing to you?

I love USD's program and the people who run it, as they seem - not like they hand-hold you through the program but - that they are really passionate and concerned about the success of each of their students. The tuition costs are just a huge concern.

I didn't redo the pre-reqs, only took em' once, but made sure I had everything done upon application time (rather than In Progress) as I thought they would strongly emphasize success in all of the sciences, rather than my Psych/Anthro background! :icon_roll

At the time of application I did have the same concerns you listed, what basically breaks down to lack of information: a course schedule not provided, the typical day, access to current students and their experiences and the nursing building/classrooms.

JHU is refreshingly different, and very similar to how you describe USD...open, warm and inviting, open access granted to everything and seemingly everyone (faculty, Dean of Admissions). I went to a information session last Fall and got a chance to speak to several alumni and hear the student's experience from the horse's mouth, so to speak. The program I will be entering is the Traditional (2-yr) BSN/MSN Adult/Acute Care.

I didn't redo the pre-reqs, only took em' once, but made sure I had everything done upon application time (rather than In Progress) as I thought they would strongly emphasize success in all of the sciences, rather than my Psych/Anthro background! :icon_roll

At the time of application I did have the same concerns you listed, what basically breaks down to lack of information: a course schedule not provided, the typical day, access to current students and their experiences and the nursing building/classrooms.

JHU is refreshingly different, and very similar to how you describe USD...open, warm and inviting, open access granted to everything and seemingly everyone (faculty, Dean of Admissions). I went to a information session last Fall and got a chance to speak to several alumni and hear the student's experience from the horse's mouth, so to speak. The program I will be entering is the Traditional (2-yr) BSN/MSN Adult/Acute Care.

Great to hear that JHU's program is personable somewhat of how I experienced with USD. I really wish UCLA gave us more of a feel of what a typical nursing student goes through, what kind of scheduling they have re: clinicals and classes, how the sim labs are set up, etc. etc.

I respect UCLA's ranking it's just that, since they have the big name, I wonder if they could still try a little to get more info out to us besides pre-reqs, deadlines, financial aid, tuition costs, and "what is nursing" at the open house.

Thanks for your help! Good luck this Fall!

I will be grateful to get into ANY nursing degree program. I will pay whatever the tuition costs and commute as far as I need to. Never did I think I would see the day when getting into nursing school was as competitive as getting into medical school. I knew so many students at UCLA who struggled for four years to complete a science major only to be turned down by every single medical school they applied to. On the other hand, I knew a few people who were accepted by every single school that they applied to. Life doesn't seem fair sometimes. I have already been turned down by two MSN programs this year. I fear that my UCLA application will end up with the same result, and then I will read from gleeful accepted applicants who will have to decide on which of their many accepted applications they will settle on. I think that it is a rumor that UCLA's acceptance pool will have 3.8-3.9 GPAs and many hours of volunteering. I could understand medical schools where the vast majority of their applicants are early-twenties undergradudates. These masters entry programs are designed for students from all walks of life. Everyone has different academic backgrounds as well as different work experiences and most importantly different life experiences. We all bring something to the table. However, I don't know what I will do if I get rejected by the last few schools that I am waiting to hear from. I have finished all of my pre-reqs so I don't see how I can strengthen my application for next year. I am also too old (seriously) to wait 2-3 years to get into an ADN program. I am also too old to get an ADN and spend many additional years getting a higher degree. My career needs to get on a fast track.