Anyone at ACC or UT AE MSN?

veggiegarden · Apr 1, 2006

I don't know about the validity of the perfect GPA deal. The are both good schools, but I've heard that ACC especially has an excellent program. It has been said that hospitals have sometimes preferred ACC grads to UT. That being said, I really do think that either one is fine in the long run. I mean, a masters degree will provide more opportunities than an associates, but you can still be an excellent nurse and make good money either way.

A friend of mine is doing the UT accelerated masters/CNS tract, and she hasn't had many complaints. I have heard some of her classmates complain that: 1. they wished they had done the NP instead of CNS route and 2. that several wished they had just done the BSN route, and decided to do masters or beyond at a later date. I am from Austin and applied to ACC with about a 3.7 GPA during Spring 2005, and was offered a place in the program for Spring 2006 start date. I definitely was not in the top 100, more like top 300 or something :lol2: It didn't matter anyway, b/c I ended up attending college out of the city to do an accelerated BSN. Good luck with your decision!

judyk2 · Apr 1, 2006

Thank you so much, veggiegarden!

And I am happy for you to get into accelated course.

I'd better prepare UT AE MSN but still am going to apply ACC, too.

(I am really afraid of GRE test!!! I heard there are lots of crazy vocabulary)

By the way, I have thought NP an CNS are almost same as both are APN in Texas. NP is better than CNS? I checked the website but I don't recognize any big difference:eek: .

veggiegarden · Apr 2, 2006

Good luck!

Yes, NP and CNS are both APN, but I *think* CNS is more of an "educator"....at least that is the distinction that my friend gives. I'm not sure, but I found a good link that explains some of the differences:

http://www.nur.utexas.edu/studentaffairs/new%20grad%20pages/cns_np01.html

Maybe you've already checked the site out, but thought I'd throw it out there anyway :)

adelajudith · Apr 4, 2006

I'm at ACC right now doing pre-req's. I'll be done with them hopefully this fall, and will be applying next Spring for their nursing program (to start in the fall.). I'm really excited about it! Right now I'm doing all of the non-nursing courses in the program also, so I should have all of those done by the end of this year.

Good luck with entering! I'm not sure how competetive ACC is... so I'm interested to hear how your application/admission goes. Keep us posted!

Mom2EllaBella · Apr 7, 2006

I am interested in doing UT's AE MSN. I am doing my pre-reqs now at ACC - I have been really wondering how difficult it would be to get into UT's program. I think its between that and Tech's 2nd degree BSN.

My end goal is to be a nurse-midwife, so I am not sure how it would work getting the Parent-Child Nurse Clinicitian MSN THEN getting a post graduate certificate in midwifery. I might just be better off with a BSN, then going to get a CNM - BUT I really don't know if the distance learning part of the BSN is a good fit with me. Plus, oddly - its more pre-reqs than the MSN program. Werid.

Anyway - I would LOVE to hear more about people's experiences with UT-Austin's nursing program.

judyk2 · Apr 9, 2006

Thank you all guys!

I am applying to ACC and if I cannot be in top 100, I am applying to UT MSN, too ( I'll let you know how competitive ACC is afterward). I don't understand why accelated BSN needs more pre-req than AE MSN either.

I would LOVE to hear more about people's experiences with UT-Austin's nursing program, too.

Anyone here?

FutureAustinNurse · Apr 12, 2006

Ok all, so I've talked to someone @ UT regarding the AE MSN & the average GPA is 3.3-3.6 & they on average get about 100-150 applicants w/ 65 spots to fill. Not all pre-reqs have to be completed by the time you apply but do need to be done by the time you start the program if you are accepted. I work with several AE MSN students right now & they have all said that it was easy peasy for them to get in (GPAs ranging from 3.0-4.0) as opposed to ACC's getting 200-250 applicants for that many spots. I also work with a woman that just got in to the Intro to Nursing class (not the same as getting into the actual ADN) and she has a 4.0 in every since class you can take that isn't an actual nursing class (she just applied this Spring). Not sure how much this helps you guys but I'm going the AE MSN route just because it would mean having my RN by June 08 & a MSN in the end. (Unfortunately my hospital gives the same pay rate for all entering newbies no matter if you have an ADN, BSN or MSN but I like the idea of an MSN behind my name haha! :lol2: ) Oh and one last note - when I interviewed with HR for my current position she (interviewer) also said that the hospital likes the ACC students better than the AE MSNs or the UT RN's because ACC gets more clinical time. Just a thought (but hey I'm still going for that MSN since I'm already getting hospital time and feel comfortable in that environment)

Hope that helps!!

iliayur5150 · May 5, 2011

Thank you for your advice! This thread is really helpful!

tryharder · May 5, 2011

Yes, it is true. I have about the same gpa as you do and I was going to be on the waiting list until next fall or just about. The reason why you aren't getting in isn't because your gpa is not good enough. You have average students that have been collecting points by waiting on the list for semesters at a time. They can have over a 4.0 gpa with their collected points. I decided to do the lvn program since it was only going to be a 3 months difference between me waiting and just going to the lvn program and completing that and bridging to the rn program. I of course got accepted in the lvn program immediately. Good luck in whatever you decide to do!