Anyone graduate from Texas Tech's 2nd degree Bachelor's in Austin area?

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Specializes in Rehab.

I've been looking into Texas Tech's accelerated bachelor degree (in Austin area) and have a few questions. Is it feasible to live in Austin and drive to campus, or I guess a better question is, how often do you have to be on campus? Do they have clinical sites in Austin? And what is the job market like after graduation? I eventually want to do advanced practice nursing (either CRNA, or NP). Is it a realistic goal to want to get a job in the ICU as a new grad?

I am finishing up my first bachelor degree right now (in health science) and would apply to their Spring 2011 program. Any advice from those who have, or are currently in, the program would be greatly appreciated! Also, if you did get in what were your stats?

Thanks in advance

Hi Deyanna119,

I applied to this program for the January 2010 program and received an invitation for an interview on 11/17.

Although I'm not exactly IN the program just yet, I can answer your questions to the best of my knowledge.

Since the program is a web-based program, you do not go to lecture classes. Majority of your classwork is done online individually or with fellow students as group projects where you will have to meet up. The clinicals, from my understanding, is done at University Medical Center, where the Perry SON is located. They may offer other clinical sites but I'm pretty sure UMC is where it is primarily done.

As far as the job market after graduation, it has been said that many BSN students have job offers about 2 months before graduation so you shouldn't have a problem. I've also heard that some hospitals offer tuition reimbursement if you did your clinicals with them and sign a contract with them after graduation. I don't know if that's the case with this school, but I'm just throwing that out there.

I'm not sure how difficult it may be to get a job in the ICU right after graduation, but I do know that most recommend that you start in Med/Surg to gain experience and utilize the skills you learned in school to your job right out of school.

As far as my stats, I have a 3.78 GPA, B.S. in Psychology and Health, CNA and SAMA certification, medical and volunteer experience in family practice and wound care units.

You didn't mention if you have it or not, but it's also important to remember that TTUHSC weighs a large amount of your admission on your volunteer and work experience. If you don't have any volunteer experience, I would suggest doing that now while you still have time.

If I get accepted after my interview, I plan on moving to Austin. I'd feel more at ease knowing that I am just a few blocks away to meet with retention counselors should I need them or meet with classmates easily for study groups.

I hope I helped a little bit and wish you the best! Let me know if you have any other questions and I'll try my best to help you out if someone else doesn't have the answers for you! :)

Specializes in Rehab.

Thanks for your help!

I have some volunteer experience (180 hours) but it is with Physical Therapists in a out-patient setting (and other non-medical volunteer work). I will definitely get started on some volunteer work more geared toward nursing. Thanks for the heads up.

How many hours did you do?

Did you apply to other schools? I am looking at UT Houston as well, but I like the time frame of Texas Tech's a bit better.

Good luck in your interview! If you don't mind posting, I'd love to hear how the interview goes :)

~Deyanna

Hi Deyanna!

180 hours in PT volunteer work I great! I don't know how important it is that your experience be in nursing volunteer work, but more volunteer work wouldn't hurt by any means. If you have the time, do it!

I have 150 hours in wound care volunteer experience, 1 1/2 years experience as a medical assistant and 1 1/2 years experience as a C.N.A.

About applying to other schools, I applied to University of Houston-Victoria and UTHSC-Houston for the accelerated programs as well. I received an invitation for an interview from UHV just this afternoon scheduled for 11/30.

Also, pathophysiology is required PRIOR to admission into the program and will be calculated into your GPA for their school. TTUHSC offers it online, but beware, its a very intensive course and definitely not an easy class. It is a great indicator as to how the classes will be in the program. The professors are awesome though and very easy to get a hold of when you have questions. That one class with them was $1,000, definitely not cheap, but I decided to take it w/ them as opposed to somewhere else because I know some schools prefer you to take certain classes w/ them. When they evaluated my transcripts they suggested I take it w/ them.

Just something to think about :)

Hope I answered you're questions and let me know if there's anything else!

hi guys anyone intending to apply to texas tech or texas A&M ABSN program for spring 2011?

Specializes in Aspiring CRNA.
hi guys anyone intending to apply to texas tech or texas A&M ABSN program for spring 2011?

I've applied to Tech for spring '11...heard nothing so far.

I applied last year and was one slot away from getting in. I reapplied this year, but they changed their requirements and now want a TEAS V test. I missed this (it's listed at the bottom of the pre-reqs page) and was told today that my app is dropped because I didn't take that exam. :(

Oh well, I plan on starting an ADN program this spring.

They sent out an email for interviews today. If an interview was extended to you, it should be on merlin. I applied for Spring 2011 in El Paso.

I am super excited and nervous! :eek: Just got an interview for the Austin spring 2011 program. Has anyone been through the interview process? Any suggestions/advice?

I am also interested in the interview process as I am interested in this program. Wondering if having been an LVN 27 years ago for one year, and lots of unofficial, out of a hospital setting, community type nursing work done on the mission field since then, would be what they are looking for experience wise. Thanks.

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