Anyone Starting At UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing?

Patti_RN · May 24, 2009

Good luck to all! I am a Shadyside SON grad and know exactly what you're going through... the admission process is difficult... the admission test makes everyone nervous, but it is a good indicator of success in nursing school--that's why you need to take it and do well on it. It's been proven that those who score well on the admission test have a better chance of success in nursing school. It's like someone trying to get into engineering school... if your math skills and mechanical aptitude are so bad that you struggle with the admission test, then you probably won't be able to get through the program. I hate to say this, but the admission test was easy compared with the rigors of nursing school. I scored in the 95th percentile and above on every section of the preadmission test and nursing school was a struggle for me... as it was for everyone. It's a tough program.

So... some advice. If you don't do well on the preadmission test sign up for some courses at CCAC and get a really good foundation. Don't take the college courses for nursing school--take the foundation courses. Take high school level basic math... take high school biology... take high school english. If you didn't do well on these sections of the admissions test, your basic skills are rusty. You need strong math skills to do drug calculations... you need a basic understanding of biology to understand micro-biology... you need to be able to write well to complete all those writing assignments. So, even though it will take you an extra few months, take foundation classes. You will then do better on the admission test, AND you'll do better in nursing school... AND, you'll be a much better nurse after you graduate (and isn't that the real goal???)

It's a really tough program, and there isn't a lot of flexibility. We all have family issues, problems and difficulties--Shadyside SON will NOT accommodate your work schedule, your need to be home with a sick kid, your transportation problems, or any other legitimate hardship you have. Don't expect it. (This is typical of ALL nursing schools.) I saw good students kicked out because they couldn't make clinical days or because they missed classes. Plan on being at school or at the hospital when you are assigned... and THEY make the schedule, not you. They are getting you ready for the 'real' world of nursing.

Good luck to everyone. Nursing is a wonderful, fulfilling career, full of many, many possibilities. Stick with your dreams!

j.mil314 · Jun 13, 2009

ok so i took my psb exam apr 4, they lost my results in the mail, and i had to call natalie 2397234 times to find all this out and to find out that i passed everything with 95's and above. so i hurried and sent in all my admission forms and all that. NOW its middle of june and i'm still waiting to hear back from these people! when i talked to natalie before she said send in all the admission stuff together (transcripts, recommendations, etc.) in a big envelope so that it will get there and be together faster in hopes there will be room for me in full time rather than having to resort to part time this fall. anyway, still havent heard anything. a lady named joanne vukotich emailed me today and said she really needs to get ahold of me asap and needs to know if i'm still interested. she said shes been trying to call me (my phone broke last week!) so i guess i'm going to call her monday. i don't know what to think anymore. this all seems so unorganized and frustrating. i just finished my sophomore year at WVU and left to go to this nursing school and i'm starting to wish i was back in morgantown. does anyone know who this joanne lady is and what she wants? i KNOW my admissions materials are all there in full, they were all packaged together, so its not that. i am so stressed. help

Patti_RN · Jun 13, 2009

Hi J.Mil ! I'm not sure of Joanne's exact title, but she is one of the high level administrators at Shadyside SON. And, of course I have NO idea what she is calling about! But... think about this... (and this is clearly supposition)... people only make several efforts to contact those who they DO want to speak to (does some cute guy you met phone multiple times to tell you that he's not interested???)... she isn't making all this effort to tell you that you were rejected. Maybe there is some small piece of information they need... it could be as simple as a missing signature on a form. Or, she wants to discuss whether you want to attend full or part time. This woman is high enough up that she isn't wasting her time courting you if she doesn't think that you're a strong candidate for admission. Good luck! (and let us know how it's going!!!)

nocheapones · Jun 13, 2009

I wish someone were trying to contact me. I agree, I think it's probably a good sign. I sent in all my stuff about 2 weeks ago (probably got there very close to the deadline), and I still haven't heard anything. I suppose it's a little soon, but I'm not feeling very hopeful.

danh3190 · Jun 13, 2009

Joanne's one of the assistant directors, the one that students saw the most when we were there. I agree with Patti RN. If all they wanted to do is reject you they could do that easy enough by snail-mail. Sounds promising.

r0b0tafflicti0n · Jun 14, 2009

I have her email address if you want that as well. She's pretty fast about getting back to people.

j.mil314 · Jun 15, 2009

well i called her early this morning and she didn't call me back today. still waiting.

j.mil314 · Jun 16, 2009

Alright. I talked to Joanne and she said shadyside requires anyone whos taken a nursing class from another school to be interviewed before being admitted, so thats why she needed to talk to me. Since my grades at WVU were so good she knew i didn't drop out or anything, so she didn't make me have an interview, she just asked me over the phone why I want to transfer. Well, everything is all good and I'll be getting my evening/weekend acceptance letter in about a week she said. Wish I would have applied early enough to be full time, but I'll deal with it somehow.

nocheapones · Jun 16, 2009

:ancong!: How late did you apply?

j.mil314 · Jun 17, 2009

thanks :) well i took the exam april 4th, but they lost my results in the mail so i waited almost a month before i found out from them my results and was able to actually apply. so i'd say i sent in my actual application umm beginning/middle of may. from what i understand there are still some evening/weekend spots left.

nocheapones · Jun 17, 2009

I've heard that they have alot of problems with losing things. I'm surprised that my results actually came on time. I'm not sure if all my admissions materials were received on time though, or not lost in the process, since I didn't collect everything in a big envelope and bring it in :selfbonk:

If you don't mind my asking, what was your GPA? I'm really stressing out... I have a 4.0, I thought my essays were good and everything, and I just am not feeling very positive that I made the cut at either place I applied at. What else can I do, ya know?

Also, will you be able to transfer to a full-time schedule at a later semester if you want to? If so, how soon?

nocheapones · Jun 17, 2009

Actually, nix what I said... I actually applied the beginning of June, right before the deadline!