Any Jan 2010 UIC GEP Applicants Out There?

[weezbug123]

Hi all!

I'm new to the allnurses.com site and am so impressed at the wealth of information available on here. Kudos to everyone who participates and posts- sharing your knowledge is so valuable, especially to newbies like me! So, I wanted to start a roll call for Jan 2010 UIC GEP applicants on here.

Yes, it may be a little early considering applications aren't due until March 2009, but I'm super excited (and terrified). I'd love the opportunity to commiserate with some fellow students over the intimidating application process. I just started studying for the GRE and am feeling like I need to go back to the second grade to re-learn basic math!! Did anyone else have this same experience?

I'm 26, work full time in a completely non-health care field, graduated with a degree in Philosophy and pre-med emphasis (don't worry, I came to my senses right out of college and decided med school is not the most effective way (for me) to make a difference!). Most of my pre-reqs are done, except for A&P II and the Research Methods course. I'm having trouble getting letters of reccommendation, shadowing a NP, and studying the GRE (test anxiety...yuck!). Hope to hear from you guys!

[jalin_2009]

Red Chicago,

I did not get an interview. I have a 3.33 GPA in science, GRE 1320. I have about 3 years of healthcare exp. (CNA and volunteering).

I got into other highly ranked programs so am not sure why I didn't get an interview.

[rnewhouse1]

Has anyone heard anything about when admissions decisions will be made? I just got an email saying Chris Ocampo is out of town all week . . .

[kanturk]

I interviewed for FNP and we were told at that interview that decisions would go out mid-april. I think they are waiting to send out all the decisions at once and I know adult/geriatrics and acute interviewed today so maybe we'll hear tomorrow or Wed. I hope we find out this week.

For those who had interviews today...did they say when decisions might go out? Hope your interviews went well!

[ast8]

I had an interview today and the faculty members in my group had no idea when the decisions would go out. They said they would submit their recommendations to the GEP program and that they make the final decisions and to check with Chris for further information. Good luck to everyone!

[aspiring.midwife]

redchicago, I applied last year and this year. I haven't found out yet if I've been accepted this year. Last year I was waitlisted. When I called the admissions office last year to ask how I could improve my application, they told me two things: finish my prereqs and gain more experience. At the time, I was taking A&P I and hadn't done A&PII yet, and they said they use grades in those courses as an indicator of how well you'll do in the program. I had shadowed 3 nurse midwives (my specialty), but hadn't volunteered in healthcare yet. Now I volunteer in 2 hospitals and work as a doula (and have finished my prereqs). We'll see if it helps! My GPA for undergrad and prereqs is a 4.0 and I got a 1200 on the GRE.

I've gotten into 3 other good schools, but UIC has the smallest class size of any of them for my specialty, so we'll see. Good luck if you apply next year!

[kanturk]

hey redchicago! I agree with random15, I think it just depends upon the speciality you apply for and the competitiveness of the other applicants, but I'll give you my stats.

Undergrad GPA: 3.2 (I know, not great.)

Pre-reqs: 4.0

GRE: 1230

I have lots of volunteer experience, but not necessarily in a hospital. I've coached high school basketball, volunteered with big brothers big sisters, volunteered through my church and I spent nearly two years abroad volunteering in Bolivia and the Dominican Republic. I also used to work in a Dermatology department.

I also think it's important to write a good goal statement, and have strong recommendations--definitely pick people who know you well.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your application!

[judr]

I interviewed for the adult/geriatric specialty on Monday and the faculty members in my interview said that Chris Ocampo would be contacting us with a final decision sometime during the first week of May. I think he will send out the final decisions for all specialties at the same time, but I don't know that for sure.

Good luck everyone!

[kanturk]

hmmm... It sounds like there is some miscommunication here. The web site says April 13. Chris said mid-april--at an interview session and I think to someone who contacted him about decisions, but the faculty says May. I hope it's sooner than May. I'm in the same boat as rnewhouse1. My second choice school starts in May. Not sure what to do...

[rnewhouse1]

Hey kanurk -

Is your 2nd choice Marquette by chance?!?!

[kanturk]

No, but I went there for undergrad! I loved it. I was going to apply to their program but I'd really like to stay in Chicago. If I don't get into UIC, I'm going to go to Loyola...do the ABSN, work and then apply for grad school when I have enough hours.

What's your plan? I'm not sure what to do. I really, really want to go to UIC.

[rnewhouse1]

I know. UIC is tops for me. Their masters and PhD programs in midwifery have the exact focus I'm looking for. I want to be a practicing midwife, but I also want to be involved with current, relevant research.

I want desperately to stay in Chicago. If not, I will have to live apart from my husband, who is also in grad school right now. yuck.

Marquette starts May 27th. I'm basically holding off my living arrangements, financial aid and everything until I hear from UIC. Rachel Maldonado from UIC called me today and said i would find out "very shortly, certainly by the end of April." If I don't hear by the 2nd week of May, I'll have to scurry and figure everything out for Marquette.

Good luck to you!!!

[kanturk]

Thanks for letting us know about your call from Rachel. That's great news!!

Good luck to you too!!