Any UCSF Mepn Applicants?

spot145 · Dec 18, 2007

are we going to hear by email or by letter?

teenyjo · Dec 18, 2007

I do have to admit, I am really seriously disappointed in the whole admissions process. Their lack of any concrete info for applicants throughout the process has given me some concerns about the program in general. Having been fortunate enough to participate in a couple of grad programs already I can honestly say this has been the least applicant friendly process I've been through.

I have to say I'm with TippyToo on this one. While I am sympathetic to the inevitable time crunch their office is under (having volunteered in admissions for 4 years in undergrad), part of your job when you work in admissions is PR. Like it or not, you represent the school and what you say and do significantly affects how people view your program. I have my own horror stories about my encounters with their staff.

I know when it comes to nursing schools, it's a "seller's market" but that doesn't excuse being unprofessional and unhelpful. There are plenty of extremely competitive programs to which I've applied - nursing and otherwise - who have still made me feel that I am worth their time and energy (even if I eventually didn't get in).

If I do get an interview, I'll still go because I want to give them the benefit of a doubt. Maybe they'll surprise me in person. But I'm having serious doubts about subjecting myself to a program that doesn't have their sh*t together, especially when I know that the next several years are going to be hard anyway. (Read nurseSF's blog for some firsthand thoughts on MEPN's organization, or lack thereof.)

sheilanagig · Dec 18, 2007

]I have to agree with Birthrevolution's voice of descent. Everyone I talked to during the application process was kind and patient on the phone. I had some pretty humorous stuff happen to me when I took the GRE's --imagine your worst nightmare (like taking the test and the computer shutting off twice as you are logging in your info and then the score not registering your answers as in you get a 200 and still they send that score to the school)...I stayed calm, called them and then had to email info. from the test center stating that a mistake had taken place and ETS was responsible...Yes, I got to take that delightful test twice and UCSF got both my scores --and the test office guy's breath smelt like something between hot garbage and dog #$@!...both times.

In short the woman on the phone at UCSF was sympathetic and put me at ease immediately. Also the person they put me in touch with for my specialty choice was inspiring, insightful and open to all my questions.

That being said, I can understand your frustration, sorry you have all had such a negative experience.

teenyjo · Dec 18, 2007

I do agree that the faculty members I spoke with were more than helpful - I was having trouble figuring out which specialty to choose given my goals and they really did answer all of my questions promptly. So that is a mark in their favor. Unfortunately that's the only one so far... :)

JohnOnOahu · Dec 18, 2007

I don't think my concern is with individuals members of the admissions department...the one question I asked via phone was answered politely and quickly.

My concerns have more to do with some of the policies:

-No ability to talk to current students

-No campus visits (other than the info session)

-Info sessions which really just rehashed info already available on the website

-No sample class schedule (ie...what does "a day in the life" look like?)

-The lack of willingness to work with students on clinical sites (read NurseSFs blog)

-No historical admissions data (what specialties are most popular, what constitutes "good" volunteer experiences etc)

-No willingness to review pre-req courses in advance

-Ability to choose only one specialty on the application (some of them are so similar...it would be sad to be denied admission just because you picked the "wrong" one)

-Long/slow application process (I feel like I am applying for med school)

I actually understand some of the policies...(eg, having visitors constantly sit in on classes could been a distraction)...but students are going to be at the school for 3 years and will pay thousands of dollars to attend. I don't think its completely unreasonable to have some slightly more user-friendly policies in place.

In any case, I'll stop complaining now...I was very frustrated about some of these issues and didn't know if anyone else felt that way until we started chatting on here.

I feel confident that despite what the admissions rep told CodeBlue we're going to start hearing things in the next few days and then we can all make plans to have coffee together during the interviews! :balloons:

Iridescence · Dec 18, 2007

I do agree that the faculty members I spoke with were more than helpful - I was having trouble figuring out which specialty to choose given my goals and they really did answer all of my questions promptly. So that is a mark in their favor. Unfortunately that's the only one so far... :)[/quote
This is completely agonizing, but lets look at this way- UCSF is overwhlemed with the amount of current students they already have in regards to finding clinical placements, grading term paper/ projects, and submitting these grades before a deadline. Obviously, MEPN decision making is important- but taking care of buisness is probably a slighly higher priority. One of my coworkers is married to one of the FNP professors and she tells me how completely overworked her partner is, especially towards the end of a semester.
Lets try to muster up just a little more patience.

purlees · Dec 18, 2007

Ladies (100) and gentlemen (5), btw correct me if I am wrong on the ratio, I know we are very anxious about this letter. I don't know why they choose the busiest time of the year to send out the good tidings. I forgot to ask whether it was snail mail or e-mail. I agree with Iridescence. The school is probably focusing on their current students. Hence, we are nothing yet to them.

In regards to answering questions, they have answered all of my questions efficiently via e-mail. However, I too feel the school is too confident in its superior status. I sometimes questioned whether the school actually looks at everyone's application. Perhaps it's a lottery process considering the large number of applicants. How did some of you find out how many people are applying or will be accepted into the program?

nihgirl · Dec 18, 2007

Hi,

I'm v. new to the allnurses' board and am also a UCSF MEPN applicant, second time around. I've been reading a lot of the messages about the ucsf admissions process and feel that I could give some insight to what UCSF is like after having worked here for a couple of years.

In general, UCSF is not v. well organized, i.e. read the LA times/chronicle/NYT from this past weekend. It is a bureaucratic organization and not the most efficiently run. I truly feel this is due to the high living stnds of the bay area and the low pay of working at UCSF.

Getting on, last year when I was rejected, one of my recommenders wrote the academic advisor to see exactly how this admissions process works. The academic advisor informed my recommender that the admissions process takes just 12 hours. I know that the admissions committee has already met, however why they wait until xmas is because of all the ill felt posts we've recently read about the admissions office. If you've been to an info session before the application process begins you will notice a lot of v. angry second time applicants.

But knowing the UCSF staff, I feel that everyone I've worked with from the nurses and attendings to the mail delivery people, are v. nice. I feel the wait is only because so many people--like the ones reading and posting on allnurses--- will be v. hurt or upset because of a rejection. The holidays are stressful time for us anyhow, and I wouldn't blame UCSF for sending out letters to more than 2/3 of their applicants the week that their office is closed.

And notice, you definitely don't see these posts with the UPenn or JHU direct entry programs and there is the same amount of wait for those applications as well. Why? I'm not sure, these programs are amazing as well, and their admission offices are much more user friendly.

Good luck to everyone, and keep trying if it doesn't work out this time, it will the next. Happy Holidays!

Newtonian · Dec 18, 2007

ladies (100) and gentlemen (5)...

veni, vidi, vadi

purlees · Dec 18, 2007

Ladies (100) vs. Gentlemen (5)... correction it's really only 1 gentleman, because the other 4 are gay. Nothing wrong with being gay, it's just the statistics. Of course, I maybe wrong.

teenyjo · Dec 18, 2007

Ladies (100) vs. Gentlemen (5)... correction it's really only 1 gentleman, because the other 4 are gay. Nothing wrong with being gay, it's just the statistics. Of course, I maybe wrong.

Maybe my brain is just fuzzy, but I don't get it... What does being gay have to do with being (or not being) a gentleman?

purlees · Dec 18, 2007

I have a lot of gay friends and some dressed in drag. They are so much fun to hang out with. It was just a joke... I hope no one is offended by this. If you are I do appologize. Of course gay men are gentlemen. In fact, some gay men I know are so much more gentlemen than heterosexual men.