Any UTHSCSA Accelerated BSN 2016 hopefuls that have started the application process?

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I am applying for the Accelerated Nursing BSN program at UTHSCSA starting May 2016. I just applied through NursingCAS, taking the TEAS V in November & hoping there are others out here doing the same! We can give each other some support and get through this process together, I haven't seen any other threads yet.....!

Tallahassee (the Capital). Born and raised here... I am graduating from FSU April 29th and Orientation is May 5th. That will be a close call!

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I was looking at the 2015 NCLEX pass rates for TX schools and found this. IT corresponds to that document about the school being on warning. Hopefully we will all be good though. it got me a bit worried. I am not worried about myself passing; just about the program being on some kind of warning.

https://www.bon.state.tx.us/pdfs/board_meetings_pdfs/2015/january/3-2-5.pdf

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I got in too!!! Pretty excited!!!

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Congrats to everyone that was accepted!!! If you guys have any questions, there are some of us that are currently in the ABSN program on here. We'll check in periodically. Noticed some of you have already seen some of the issues the school is going through. They started implementing some of those changes this semester in the middle of our program. Hopefully they'll get some of the bugs out before you guys start in May.

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Congrats to everyone that was accepted!!! If you guys have any questions, there are some of us that are currently in the ABSN program on here. We'll check in periodically. Noticed some of you have already seen some of the issues the school is going through. They started implementing some of those changes this semester in the middle of our program. Hopefully they'll get some of the bugs out before you guys start in May./QUOTE]

Thank you!! That is so helpful!! I was going to email our correspondent tomorrow about it. What exactly do you know about the change in approval? How could it effect your graduating class or future cohorts if in June 2016 the worst happened? Did the school offer any reassurance? Thanks again!

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I got in too!! Very excited to meet you all!!! Does anyone know if I can use the ATI books from a former nursing student?? It would save me quite a bit of money if we can do that.

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Congrats to everyone that was accepted!!! If you guys have any questions, there are some of us that are currently in the ABSN program on here. We'll check in periodically. Noticed some of you have already seen some of the issues the school is going through. They started implementing some of those changes this semester in the middle of our program. Hopefully they'll get some of the bugs out before you guys start in May./QUOTE]

Thank you!! That is so helpful!! I was going to email our correspondent tomorrow about it. What exactly do you know about the change in approval? How could it effect your graduating class or future cohorts if in June 2016 the worst happened? Did the school offer any reassurance? Thanks again!

The way they are implementing changes right now isn't all that fantastic. The school has to show the Board of Nursing they're doing something/making changes to improve the NCLEX scores. All they're doing right now is they've made changes to the ATI requirements for our classes (ATI used to not be part of your grade and if you scored a Level 3, you received 3 percentage points added to your final grade, if you scored a Level 2 you received 1 point and if you scored a Level 1 you received no points). They've now made ATI 15% of our grade. Level 3, you get 100% of the 15%, if you score a Level 2, you get 85% of the 15%. If you score a Level 1 or lower, you have to go through remediation and retake the exam. If you don't get a Level 2 or better on the second try, you are potentially out of the program. The problem with that is, the material you learn in class does not match ATI. (You'll receive ATI books during orientation that you'll have to pay for separately along with your laptop). Because the course material doesn't align with ATI, it's difficult to score higher than a Level 2. Essentially, these changes doubles your workload because you have to learn your course material plus learn ATI on your own. I believe they are working on revising the course material to better align with the NCLEX exam and ATI, but don't know when they'll actually incorporate those changes into the program. So until then, ATI is self taught.

We weren't aware these changes were being made until they told us the day we arrived back from winter break. They also haven't given us any reassurances at all. (At least not yet). Right now the school seems to be in panic mode. Both the Traditional and Accelerated BSN program students have been voicing concerns about the ATI changes and and how they have not changed the course curriculum yet to match the two. If the NCLEX scores do not improve this year (>80%), the school will be moved from a warning to conditional approval in 2017. Not sure what happens after that. Considering you all would graduate in 2017, I don't know that the school potentially changing to conditional approval would mean anything (unless they implement more changes in the middle of your program like they did to ours).

As for the question about ATI books, you aren't able to buy the books from another student. The books are included in purchasing the ATI testing program you'll be required to purchase.

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Thank you so much for the thoughtful response! I really appreciate your time. Just do the best you guys can on the NCLEX lol this whole thing has me in panic mode now.

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Wow, that seems a bit ridiculous. That said I wasn't expecting this to be easy. Hopefully they can fix things before we start. :)

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Thanks for the info sbgldneag. I'm sorry to hear about the less than satisfactory response from the school. Looking at the report, it looks like UTHSCSA is right at the cusp of reaching the Board's requirements. I don't have any doubts that the next cohort will make the requirement, maybe the school is confident as well so they don't feel the need to reassure students. (Not to minimize the stress you're going through sbgldneag, I'm just really confident it will be okay!)

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Hi everyone!

I just received an email from the Associate Dean of Admissions even though I emailed Josh. The school fully expects to have higher pass rates with their upcoming grads and with our cohort. We will be like their 'test group.' They are implementing more student support. I can only imagine that will be good for us! I am going to be taking full advantage of that! This school has about 100 more students taking the NCLEX annually, meaning more opportunities for people to do poorly and those scores reflect on the pass rate. I am thinking everything will be ok! I just hope they won't be too harsh on us because the grade inflation thing was kind of a big deal when you have good grades and aren't passing the NCLEX... Professors are going to be cracking that whip!! lol nothing I am not used to though from my undergrad though! Can't wait to have no life again haha

Anyways, just updating you all!!

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I have a friend in the program now and she has pretty much said the same thing. She's not worried about it so neither am I. I was expecting a tough program and fully intend to work hard. Hopefully they have identified the weaknesses and the changes they implement only helps our cohort out. I'm still excited to get started L) This is my first choice program, I hope it's great.

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