Anyone Starting At UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing?

Shamrock532 · Dec 2, 2010

About to put in my application in the mail this Friday!

I'm worried about my test scores however. I scored a 99 on math, reading comp, and vocab, but scored in the low 80's on natural sciences. Anyone get a low score on science like that and get accepted? I also have a previous BA degree, not sure if that will help at all any? My college G.P.A was 3.25. Unfortunately it was a non-science major.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Dec 2, 2010

About to put in my application in the mail this Friday!
I'm worried about my test scores however. I scored a 99 on math, reading comp, and vocab, but scored in the low 80's on natural sciences. Anyone get a low score on science like that and get accepted? I also have a previous BA degree, not sure if that will help at all any? My college G.P.A was 3.25. Unfortunately it was a non-science major.

Shamrock, your scores sound good to me. I had less than stellar science scores on that entrance exam, but the rest of my scores were well into the 90's, and I got in. I think anyone that at least gets the minimum on the entrance exam is at least seriously considered.

audreyrasmusson · Dec 8, 2010

I already posted this on another Shadyside-related thread. However, I find this situation I am in sufficiently bizarre that I would like to know if others have had similar experiences applying to Shadyside. Thanks.

"I am having a similar experience with Shadyside admissions now. I took the PSB on October 6 so I could apply to start in spring, 2011. Shadyside took three weeks (and a phone call from me) to get me my results. I passed very well (99% each in math and English, 90% in science). Then, they took another two weeks (and another phone call from me) to send me the application packet, which turned out to contain nothing that I could not have printed out from their web site. However, they had stated that they sent out the packet shortly after sending out passing PSB results, so I assumed I needed to wait for their hard copy. Well, as of Nov. 17, all my transcripts had been ordered online or by fax and paid for by credit card. My card was charged that day and the next by the various schools-- I have about six, because of schools where I've only taken one or two science courses and I also have prior graduate degrees. Anyhow, the deadline to have all application materials in is Dec. 10. Well, here it is Dec. 8 today, and they still have not received my transcripts. I spoke to Natalie by phone last week and told her I found it extremely strange that not a single transcript has arrived. She said it didn't surprise her, because once things get to UPMC general mail, they take "forever" to get to Shadyside School of Nursing. This really shocked me for a few reasons. Even if I overlook that the application instructions were to have transcripts sent directly to the school, Shadyside was still offering the PSB into November for spring, 2011. If it takes that long for things to get to them, why bother offering the test so close to the application deadline? And if they run into this sort of thing routinely, why not give applications information on how far in advance they really need to order transcripts. I know I can ask them to consider me for fall, 2011 admission and I probably willl-- after all, they should receive the mail on time for that and I have paid my application fee. But I would welcome other people's opinions and experiences. Right now, I just find the entire thing fairly weird and, like you, I am considering applying elsewhere for next fall."

PghRN30 · Dec 9, 2010

If you are considering applying elsewhere for fall, there is also Shadysides sister schools, Mercy and St Margaret. I dont know about Mercy, but I will be starting at St Margaret in Feb. They start classes in Feb and June. St Margaret is 18 months, and is only the nursing courses so you have to take all prereqs on your own, most before starting (though having all done is recomended). I do know one of the girls I met that I am starting with said that one of her friends that did go to shadyside told her if she could do it all over, she would go to St Margaret. Her main reason is the major difference between Shadyside and St. Margaret.....the size. Shadyside takes classes of over 100....St Margaret takes classes of 28-36.....36 is the max class size they will take. My class starting in Feb is 32. So throughout the program you are always in every lecture and lab with the same people. It is also mostly adult learners, more people that have already held jobs, either got laid off, or decided to change career paths......mostly mid-late 20s-30s, and some older. Only a few students that are 19, or early 20s. So a lot more maturity. I think Shadyside and Mercy pull the just out of highschool kids since they do not require having prerequisites. Just thought I would let you know since not as many people know about St Margaret, and if you dont get in for Shadyside for spring, and have the prereqs you could apply for June start, and get started a little sooner then waiting for fall start

kbm318 · Dec 9, 2010

If you are considering applying elsewhere for fall, there is also Shadysides sister schools, Mercy and St Margaret. I dont know about Mercy, but I will be starting at St Margaret in Feb. They start classes in Feb and June. St Margaret is 18 months, and is only the nursing courses so you have to take all prereqs on your own, most before starting (though having all done is recomended). I do know one of the girls I met that I am starting with said that one of her friends that did go to shadyside told her if she could do it all over, she would go to St Margaret. Her main reason is the major difference between Shadyside and St. Margaret.....the size. Shadyside takes classes of over 100....St Margaret takes classes of 28-36.....36 is the max class size they will take. My class starting in Feb is 32. So throughout the program you are always in every lecture and lab with the same people. It is also mostly adult learners, more people that have already held jobs, either got laid off, or decided to change career paths......mostly mid-late 20s-30s, and some older. Only a few students that are 19, or early 20s. So a lot more maturity. I think Shadyside and Mercy pull the just out of highschool kids since they do not require having prerequisites. Just thought I would let you know since not as many people know about St Margaret, and if you dont get in for Shadyside for spring, and have the prereqs you could apply for June start, and get started a little sooner then waiting for fall start

Actually I started last March at Shadyside and we are mostly adult learners. There are a few straight from high school and when I say a few I mean maybe 3 at the max. Also we didn't start with a class over 100 it was more around 80 or so and our lecture sizes range from 20-30.

Shamrock532 · Dec 9, 2010

Audrey, congrats on getting Natalie on the phone. I have yet to speak to anything other than an answering machine.

songrad · Dec 16, 2010

You guys make it sound like Natalie won't help you or isn't available to do so. She is actually very nice and helpful. Waiting to start the program is frustrating but nothing compared to the 2 years you are in it. It was the longest and most difficult 2 years of my life but I would not trade one minute of it.

I am actually graduating tomorrow. If you have any questions, post them and I would love to help.

Shamrock532 · Dec 16, 2010

Songrad, I am not trying to "make it sound like" Natalie won't help anyone. She is simply hard if not impossible to reach. When voice messages go unanswered it is very aggravating. I know in my current job that if I treated clients this way I would be fired on the spot. The few times I have spoken to her she is a very delightful and understanding person. And I'm sure she is very helpful once in the program.

And yes, waiting to start the program is frustrating. I just hope I get accepted right now and eventually graduate like you are :).

songrad · Dec 16, 2010

Don't stress...getting accepted is the "easy" part. I remember feeling exactly how you feel right now. Enjoy every minute of your experience there. You will meet lifelong friends and will love being a student at the most highly respected nursing schools around. Hang in there!

songrad · Dec 16, 2010

Ok, so I tried to reply to a private message but have no idea how to do that! I will answer here...no big deal. The question was how does transitions work? Well, you have no control over where you end up for transitions. I suppose there are always exceptions to the rule, but as far as I know you get what you get. Fortunately, in my case I had a nurse back when I was in 201 that wrote the school and requested to transition me. That was because she remembered that I had an interest on that floor and we got along well. I would suggest to you that if you have that relationship with a nurse you come across leave you name with her and maybe you will luck out.

As far as peds goes, you actually have the entire 8 weeks at Children's Hospital it is just combined with Magee. You go to Magee on Tuesdays and Childrens on Wednesdays, for example, the entire 8 weeks. That was actually a frustrating rotation for me because we are not allowed to give any meds or do much documenting, procedures, etc. I thought it was a long rotation with a lot of paper work. Don't get discouraged. I hope I answered your question!

kbm318 · Dec 16, 2010

Thanks!

mrsh · Feb 10, 2011

Ok so I've read a lot of posts, and have been following this site and school for a few years before I actually decided to apply.

First, I took my PSB in October. I knew there would be a wait time before I found out the test results but I was too antsy to wait so I called them repeatedly. I spoke with Natalie one day, maybe about 2 weeks after my test date and she said results would be mailed that week but she did tell me by phone that I passed. I already had printed up the application/reference sheet online so after I received my official results, I immediately submitted my app/essay/references and ordered copies of my transcripts to be mailed.

I called and called as many times as I possibly could to make sure all my information was being received and to inquire about when I would receive a word. In approximately 2 weeks, I got my offer letter and dates for info sessions. Truly, the testing/application phase was the easiest part. The information session was very to the point; they gave me deadlines and dates of all the information that I needed to have in. Including all the titers that needed to be drawn, the immunizations, the physical, and all the clearances, if I wasn't on top of my game, it could have been a disaster. KEEP COPIES OF EVERYTHING!!! If you are applying for a specific semester, be sure to make sure you test early because you will need roughly 3-4 weeks for just the clearances to come back. I just had my compliance meeting with Joanne to make sure I got everything in, and I did, with 2 weeks to spare. If, however, you wait for them to be on the ball, you may miss your deadlines and have to defer, provided you are accepted. I was very proactive , by making sure I did my research on the steps I had to take, and making sure someone knew things were coming by mail and confirming they were received. I've read about some of the horror stories, mine was actually a breeze. Thats because I did all the work instead of waiting for them to tell me what was next. Oh and if you're local, it's absolutely best to drop information off right in the hands of someone instead of waiting on the mail.