Any Jan 2010 UIC GEP Applicants Out There?

SEVILLAES · 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!

I looked at Rush as well, but, like you, I really don't want a generalist program. I know that I want to be a neonatal nurse and I'm not interested in being "half-trained" to do so. If I wanted that I'd go back and get another bachelors. I will be applying to Yale and Columbia, and will be taking the GREs on October 29 (yeah, studying for that and taking classes, etc. is NOT easy). I so want to get into the UIC program but the low acceptance rate really scares me since I truly have no idea where I stand among the applicants. Generally, I think I am a good student, with a demonstrated interest in healthcare (though not through science classes) and I hope to do well on the GRE and write an outstanding essay...but who knows! Also, waiting until May to find out is going to kill me! I'm going to be in an awkward situation if I get into Columbia since their program starts on May 27th but we don't find out about UIC until May 15!! I have no idea what to do about that. Anyway...let me know how things are going for you. It's nice to have someone to talk to about this!

weezbug123 · Oct 2, 2008

Hi! Yale and Columbia are OK with you not having your official GRE Scores into them by the deadline? I called them and they said they wouldn't even review my app without the 'official' scores. Just curious.

Liu2 · Nov 29, 2008

Hi Guys! I'm applying to UIC GEP too. I haven't decided on a specialty yet-- have come to the whole idea of pursuing nursing quite recently-- so I need to do a lot of investigating in the coming months. So far, I've just spent a whole lot of time browsing this website... I'm hoping to go to school in Chicago for familiar reasons, and was excited to learn that UIC has such a highly ranked nursing program. Though of course I'm also worried about discovering how competitive it is. I guess Ill be applying to Rush too, and if I don't end up going to school in Chicago, will try for Johns Hopkins.

judr · Nov 29, 2008

Hi everyone! I'm also applying for the 2010 GEP program, in the Adult/Geriatrics specialty. I have a question about pre-reqs: the UIC website says that we need two semesters of human anatomy and physiology for a total of 8 credits. Does anyone know how that applies to a school on the quarter system? I'm taking two quarters of anatomy (1 & 2) and each class has five credits (it's a lab class). Any idea if that is sufficient to meet the UIC requirement?

How is everyone else doing on pre-reqs? Anybody out there still studying for the GRE? It's hard to get this application in order and continue to work full-time, but I'm really excited about the program and looking forward to a career change!

JUllmer9 · Jan 15, 2009

hello!! the application window opens tomorrow and I am already VERY anxious!

Judr, in response to your question about the quarters to semesters conversion for prereqs, I had to deal with the same thing. I had taken a 5credit/quarter Anat class and a 5credit/quarter phys class.. when I spoke with someone at the admissions office I was told my classes would suffice.. but I would e-mail or call the office to talk about your own situation. It seems like they sort of go on a case by case basis.

I just took the GRE and did not do as well as I wanted. I am so worried i won't get into the GEP program because I know it is highly competitive. I got my BA in psych and I'm specializing in Geriatrics...which will help my case because Geriatrics is one of the less in-demand specialties so i won't be competing with quite as many people.

How is everyone else doing on their app process? And who did you get your letters of rec from?

judr · Jan 15, 2009

Thanks, I will contact admissions and ask them about the 5 credit hours per quarter ANP classes I'm taking to make sure they are acceptable. I'm sorry that you were disappointed with your GRE score - I'm taking it next week and I'm nervous. I'm also trying to put my application together and am glad that we will be getting the official materials soon.

As for letters of recommendation, I got one from my current employer and two from professors. By the way, it looks like UIC moved up the interview and final decision dates - it now says we should know whether or not we've been accepted by April 13. I think that's fantastic as the waiting process is usually the hardest part!

aspiring.midwife · Jan 22, 2009

Hello all! I'm also applying to UIC GEP for 2010 with a specialty in midwifery. I applied last year, interviewed, and was put on the wait list. I'm reapplying, and have also applied to OHSU, Columbia, Vanderbilt, and UCSF. I didn't get in to UCSF and haven't heard from any of the others yet.

I wanted to get some opinions on reference letter writers. I have a BA in Religion, and am having one of my Religion professors who knows me very well write me a reference. I'm also having a science professor write a letter for me. I took Nutrition with her, as well as A&P I tutoring, so she knows me fairly well. I'm torn on who to ask for the last letter. I volunteer at 2 hospitals - one doing clerical work in the maternity center, and the other doing baby care in the NICU. I think either of the volunteer directors would write a letter for me, but neither of them know me that well, and I'm not sure if they have advanced degrees. Alternatively, I could have a former supervisor who has a PhD and is the Vice President of a nursing school write one - but her experience with me involved international volunteer work and was not at all related to health care.

So, any thoughts? I just can't decide who would write the best letter, and am kind of agonizing over it b/c I came close last year but didn't make the cut. There were only 4 spots for midwifery students in UIC's GEP last year, so I feel like every little thing counts. :bluecry1:

Thanks for any input! And if anyone else is applying to the midwifery track and wants to hear about how the interview process went last year, let me know. :)

Liu2 · Jan 22, 2009

Hi Aspiring Midwife,

Right at this very moment I am procrastinating from working on my UIC application! Oh well. It sounds to me like you have a lot of good options for letter writers. I recently went to an info session at UIC and the people there, current students who work in the peer admissions counseling office, said that while they are interested in academic references, you should not put too much importance on getting a letter from a professor or someone who has an advanced degree if they don't know you that well. I mean it sounds like if you already have two profs, you don't need to worry about the degree status of your third recommender. At the same time I wouldn't think that it would hurt you to have a letter from someone you had done volunteer work with that wasn't health related, particularly because you clearly do have health care experience.

I, on the other hand, don't have any health care experience and I think it comes as quite a surprise to all of the people I've asked for recs that I'm planning to go into nursing! But I'm still hopeful.

Good luck. I know that midwifery is always one of the most competitive programs, probably at any school.

aspiring.midwife · Jan 22, 2009

Liu2,

Thanks for your input! I appreciate it, especially about what was said re: reference letters at the info session.

I didn't have any health care experience when I applied last year (I've been volunteering in the hospitals since September), and yet made it to the waitlist in one of the more competitive specialties, so I feel like that's promising! My friends and family were surprised last year as well - not that I'd decided to be a midwife, but the nursing part.

What specialty are you applying to?

Best of luck!

aspiring.midwife · Feb 1, 2009

Hi all,

I have a question about the online nursing supplemental application. I see that this year our reference writers can submit their letters online, and it looks like UIC will send them emails on how to do this. But it appears that UIC will not send them email instructions until after we've submitted our entire application. (I assume this b/c at the bottom of the page with the goal statement and everything on it, it says to "Submit and send emails.")

This seems odd to me b/c it means that we have to submit our applications ASAP so that our reference writers have adequate time to write letters before March 1st. Is that how you understand it? I emailed Chris Ocampo about this, but he's out of town, so I wanted to see what you all thought.

Thanks!

Liu2 · Feb 2, 2009

Yes, that is how I understand it and indeed at the info session they did mention that we have to submit our applications in advance so that the recommenders get the emails in sufficient time, so effectively our deadline is not March 1. I should have thought to mention that when I responded to your earlier post. They should make a note on the website as well!

BTW, you had asked, I am applying for the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty.

judr · Feb 2, 2009

Thanks Liu2 and aspiring.midwife for the heads up about the accelerated deadline. I have another question maybe you can help me with - how soon did you receive the school of nursing supplemental application after you submitted your general application to UIC graduate school? I had to wait until I took the GRE before submitting the general application so I didn't get it in until last Monday and I wonder how soon I can expect to receive the GEP application.

Thanks and good luck!!