Anybody applying to UMASS Amherst and getting their BSN

U.S.A. Massachusetts

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Hi

Is anybody going to UMASS Amherst and getting their BSN.

If you are already a student can you give me advice about the university, classes, clinicals and if it is a good school.

Thanks

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i am taking pre reqs to apply there too...i did my ba there and it was a great school...i hope we can get some good tips from nursing students there, i'd love more info about the bsn program too!

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Specializes in CHF, Med/Surg, Telemetry, Cardiac Care.

I just graduated from UMass, here are a few things I learned about it:

*Many of the staff are wonderful resources to go to, but you will quickly learn the Professors who are on your case about EVERYTHING (ex. attendance policies, losing grade letters for missing class, etc).

*Make sure to study and pass pre-req's, it can kind of mess you up if you're held up for a semester!

*A lot of the clinicals you'll do are probably in the Springfield area (about a 25 minute drive), but you may go upto Greenfield, Northampton, and as far out as Worcester, the Berkshires and Boston for clinicals.

*You'll get great instructors, and not so great clinical instructors. Try not to take it too personally if an instructor is "harsh." I got a B- in my first clinical semester, but every one after that I got A's. 1st semester is always the hardest.

*Most of the classes in the first two years are "fluff," like your GenEds and Intro to Nursing courses, excluding A+P. Junior year is probably the hardest and most time-consuming, with senior year being a breeze (more fluff, in my opinion, combined with clinicals). You will easily know which courses people really don't take seriously and are considered (and I hate to put it this way, but it was the general consensus) a waste of time.

*Whatever people tell you, you do NOT have to spend every waking moment doing Nursing work. I've met so many people that had multiple nervous breakdowns stressing if they didn't get an A on a test, or as a final grade. I buckled down when I needed to, but I also learned to not neglect my friends, hold down a PT job, and be able to go out at least once a week. Just be confident in yourself, study your material when you need to, and you'll do fine.

*And as a note to the above note - try not to slack too much (aka - partying 5 nights a week, then you're destined to fail the coursework)

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Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

not sure where in ma you live; but Fitchburg state has an excellent nursing program and is a much smaller school. If you do not feel that you HAVE to live at school; a less expensive alternative is to take your prereqs at a local community college...takes a couple of years but you spend less $$ on "fluff" most ccs and state colleges in Mass will accept each others credits' just check with your school of choice first. good luck!!

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Specializes in Medicine.

Evilolive07....did you get hired right out of school and if so where?

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For anyone who has been accepted and went to umass for the 2nd bach.....what did you receive for grades in the pre-reqs?? i'm getting a little nervous. i took stats and life span dev. years ago and received a b and a b+. should i retake them??

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Specializes in CHF, Med/Surg, Telemetry, Cardiac Care.

Shopgirl1: I did not get hired after completing my coursework. I waited until January (a month after I got out of school) to begin job-hunting and still have had no luck. I did pass my NCLEX on the first try, which was a plus. I think a lot of my problems with finding jobs is my location (an hour outside of Boston on the Northshore). I'm beginning to apply to rehab/long term care facilities now.

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hi...for any umass amerst second bach. grads...is the program as difficult as the standard bach. route? it sounds like the teachers are very hard on you? is that true? any updated details would be great! how do they determine the place where your clinicals are held? how can i get placed in worcester??

thanks!

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Applied for UMASS Amherst's 2nd BSN starting January 09. So nervous and excited! Anyone else in the same boat??

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Of those of you who go to or went to UMass, do you remember a young lady by the name of Maura Murray? She disappeard Feb 9, 2004 and I'm trying to figure out where she was doing clinicals. Is it possible that she would have been sent to Norwood MA for clinicals--its a two hour drive from Amherst?

Thanks for your help

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