Any Jan 2010 UIC GEP Applicants Out There?

mommy2three2 · Aug 15, 2008

As far as shadowing, I would recommend looking into volunteering at your local hospital. I do in the ER and I love it. I have learned so so much from the nurses who were more than willing to talk to me about their experiences on various floors/units before they came to the ER during a slow time, they have been such an invaluable resource for me. In fact, I can hardly wait to go in on Sunday and tell them I got in, I know they will all be doing backflips for me (well maybe not literally...lol).

I would start working now on your LOR, go with the profs you have this semester. Tell them straight out that you are applying to this program and will need a LOR. Stand out in class, ask questions, be engaged and participate.

I wish you luck :)

(PS - You may also wish to look into DePaul and Rush if you do not want to settle for a specialty yet or if UIC does not offer the specialty you are interested in {latter is my case} )

peonie · Aug 22, 2008

YES! You started a thread. :)

weezbug, are you in the Chicago area? I'm from CA but I've been considering UIC for a very long time (costs, location). I'm also considering Columbia but I'm having difficulties figuring out how bad my debt will be coming out of it.

The problem is, since UIC is on a different cycle, if I get accepted I'd have to decide right away without considering other schools...

I bought a GRE book but haven't started yet. And...I'm nervous about getting good letters. My university is so large that it's difficult to get to know profs unless you help them with research.

weezbug123 · Aug 22, 2008

Hi Lemonchiffon,

You and I are pretty much in the same boat! UIC is my first choice, b/c of cost and location (I've lived in the Chicago area all my life). But, I don't like the feeling of not having any back-ups in case I don't get in. And, like your situation, the other schools I'm considering applying to have different deadlines (mainly November) and quite a different tuition scale.

So, I'm assuming you are still in school now? What will your degree be in? I went to a pretty large university too for undergrad. I graduated four years ago, so I thought my chances of having ANY professor remember me was pretty slim. But, I just heard back from one professor who STILL remembers me and would be glad to write me a recommendation letter eventhough he is on leave in Germany! Yay! I was totally jumping around my house for joy yesterday when I got his response. This was a huge source of worry for me. (one letter down, two more to go!)

As for your situation, I think you'd be surprised at how professors do remember their students. Even if it the professor does not teach science, I think it should still be acceptable. My professor taught Philosophy. By the way, I went to a UIC informational session, and they stressed the importance of having letters written specifically from people with higher degrees (masters, PHD).

Do you have any idea what specialty you will be applying for? I'm still undecided, at the moment. Sorry this is a bit of a long message! I'm at work now, and my brain is already enjoying the weekend.

mommy2three2 · Aug 22, 2008

I am sending you both all the GOOD LUCK vibes I can muster!!

Had I not gotten into DePaul, I most likely would have been applying with you all come January.

peonie · Aug 22, 2008

Thanks and congrats, Becky!

I'm getting a degree in psychobiology. My university re-offered the BSN program at the end of my second year, but, because of my credits, they told me it was too late to apply and that I should do a direct entry program after graduation. So...that's what I'm doing.

I'm considering pediatrics or acute care. I'll try to talk to as many nurses as I can before makign any decisions.

I just thought of another good potential reference after your comment. :) I don't think he'll remember me (he teaches ~2100 students/yr...no joke. he's a lecturer full time and doesn't conduct research.). But...I did an extra credit project for his class so he may be willing to help me out if I sit down and talk to him.

Also...people think I'm crazy for wanting to move to Chicago because I still haven't visited (time, money...but i will SOON). Is it worth the move?

Do you know how many people UIC admits to the GEP?

weezbug123 · Aug 25, 2008

UIC admits 40-50 students, which is a terrifyingly small number to me! I guess they have about 350 applicants a year. Certain specialties have more competition, some have less. I know midwifery and acute care are very popular specialties, so the competition is tougher.

I think Chicago is a great city - definitely one of my favorites. It's beautiful, not too expensive, lots of places to explore, relatively easy to get around the city without a car, the skyline is gorgous, and the people are friendly. Although, I may be biased b/c I've lived there my whole life. UIC doesn't really have that campus feel b/c it is smack dab in the city. But, it is blocks from Taylor Street (which is Little Italy) where you can get cheap, good food in a tiny little Italian joint. The winters aren't much fun, and I always gripe during winter about how much I'd love to move to California. But, I love my city!

I am also considering applying for pediatrics or acute care.

peonie · Aug 26, 2008

I have a question about tuition. The difference, according to the website, between resident and non-resident tuition is about $5000/semester. So, for the pre-licensure portion of the program (4 semesters, Spring '10-Spring '11), I'd have to pay ~$62,000? And as a resident, you'd pay ~$38,000? These costs are comparable to private school tuition costs...am I reading it correctly?

Do you know the approximate overall cost of the GEP at UIC?

I don't know how I overlooked this before...

SEVILLAES · Sep 29, 2008

Hi all,

I'm so glad to have found this forum! I will also be applying to UIC GEP for January 2010 and I'd love to chat with all of you. I know that I eventually want to work in the NICU so I would be specializing in Pediatrics. I am currently living in Chicago during most of the year since I attend Northwestern. I have very little science background (which makes me an unlikely candidate) but I am completing all of my prereqs through University of Phoenix. I am super nervous about applying since I really don't know any nurses, aside from the ones I have contacted, much less people who have applied to nursing school. I will take the GREs in October and I am eagerly anticipating the application's release in January (what's that all about btw??!). I have no clue where I would stand among all of these applicants!

peonie · Sep 29, 2008

sevillaes, (sevilla? españa? :)

are you applying to any other schools in chicago?

SEVILLAES · Sep 29, 2008

lemonchiffon,

Indeed, my username is representative of the time I spent in Sevilla (so beautiful!). As I said, I am a Northwestern student (which makes me extra annoyed that they got rid of their Nursing program about 30 years ago!). I would love to know if there are other Direct Entry programs in Chicago that will allow me to specialize in pediatrics. I know that Rush has a generalist program, but I've heard that NPs do not do as well when they do not specialize in something very specific. That said, I am also applying to Columbia and Yale, though UIC is definitely my first choice.

weezbug123 · Oct 2, 2008

As far as I know, Rush and DePaul are the only other Direct Entry programs in IL. While one of the pros of those programs is that you don't have to specialize, I think I rather graduate as an NP and not a Clinical Nurse Leader. Which is why my first choice is UIC.

I wanted to apply to Yale and Boston College as well, but unfortunately, their deadlines are in November. I haven't taken the GRE, and am by no means ready to take it in time to have scores sent to those schools. Have you taken it yet, Sevillaes? I keep telling myself, 'might as well try. You never know'. But - yuck...standardized tests are scary!