Anyone starting Regis College, MA this fall 2011

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Hello!

I am starting the Accelerated Direct Entry Masters program at Regis College this fall 2011! I would love to meet anyone starting the same program. Also any advice on preparing for graduate nursing school would be greatly appreciated! I am super excited, a bit scared and all things in between! :)

Specializes in Pediatrics.

Nice to meet some of you today at the Luncheon!! I'm happy to answer any other questions as you think of them. Welcome to Regis :)

And to banana44--since they do have rolling admission they like to leave some spots open for late apply-ers like yourself (and myself when I applied in late feb/early march of my year). They'll start looking at the waitlist to fill the rest of the slots soon I'm sure as they start hearing people's decisions.

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Nice to meet some of you today at the Luncheon!! I'm happy to answer any other questions as you think of them. Welcome to Regis :)

And to banana44--since they do have rolling admission they like to leave some spots open for late apply-ers like yourself (and myself when I applied in late feb/early march of my year). They'll start looking at the waitlist to fill the rest of the slots soon I'm sure as they start hearing people's decisions.

GREAT! Thanks so much for the info! Now I'm more excited... was worried I was a (very) long shot. Can you give any information on what the student body looks like stats wise? GREs, GPA... background.... I didn't get into BC this year and worry I might not be a strong candidate.

Thanks again!

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Bummed I couldn't make it to the lunch today...I'm sure it was fun, I wish I could have been there!

Is there anything I missed?

Jennifer, from years past, do you know what time of the month orientation is in August?

If you were to look back, is there anything you would have done differently to prepare? Or is there anything you are happy that you did before the program started? Or wish you would've known prior to classes beginning or even in the first few months of the program?

Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
GREAT! Thanks so much for the info! Now I'm more excited... was worried I was a (very) long shot. Can you give any information on what the student body looks like stats wise? GREs, GPA... background.... I didn't get into BC this year and worry I might not be a strong candidate.

Thanks again!

I am a second year student, so I can at least tell you what they told me when I applied. GREs they told us they wanted us to break 1000 for a score. GPA was a little more flexible...they were really just focused on your prereqs, which they required a C or better in all the courses (but obviously a B or A would probably be better). Background is VERY diverse, which is what makes these types of programs so "special". I have a biochem background, but some of my other friends have arts, english, etc. backgrounds. Some have medical experience others don't.

I didn't get in to BC when I applied either (although I decided that program probably wouldn't have suited me anyway...2 years seems fast for me at least, but I hear the BC students who it works for like it). They have a smaller class size than Regis and are probs a little more "prestigious" as far as reputation, so I wouldn't use your status with them as a gauge of whether or not you'll get into Regis.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
Bummed I couldn't make it to the lunch today...I'm sure it was fun, I wish I could have been there!

Is there anything I missed?

Jennifer, from years past, do you know what time of the month orientation is in August?

If you were to look back, is there anything you would have done differently to prepare? Or is there anything you are happy that you did before the program started? Or wish you would've known prior to classes beginning or even in the first few months of the program?

Thanks in advance!

I didn't stay for the whole "admitted students day" so I'll let your classmates fill you in on all of that. But as far as your other questions...

Orientation was smack dab in the middle of August for my class (stinks to wait so long after you got in to get any good info, but don't worry you'll get info throughout the summer).

As far as preparing I would say enjoy the summer :)

Buy a nice stethoscope...Regis recommends a couple both of which are great. Also I know you're spending a lot of money right away but have all other supplies you need (Regis will tell you explicitly what you need). Some of my classmates skimped on some of the items and then weren't prepared for the first few days (examples: uniforms, nametags, watch with a second hand, PDA with required applications, etc.)

Have the reading done for the first classes...if you don't have time for this don't worry about it (it's a lot right in the beginning) but if you do have time it'll make you SLIGHTLY less overwhelmed right off the bat to have that done and not be playing catch-up from the get-go.

And if you can get in touch with a few of your classmates and meet up I would suggest that :) I did not do that and I kind of wish I had. It's nice to see familiar faces, especially the first few days before you get to know everyone.

Once you get into the program try to stay on top of the work as much as possible, so you're not cramming for tests and once they introduce lab values...KNOW THEM, LOVE THEM, LIVE THEM! haha No need to memorize these beforehand, but as soon as the professor tells you about them...memorize them. This will be somewhere in your first semester of Professional Nursing I forget exactly when they introduce them.

Other than that...again enjoy your summer. No need to prepare any specific material (again other than the first day of classes worth of reading) because it probably won't really click and it'll make you more overwhelmed rather than calm you down.

Hope that helps!! Let me know if you have any other questions!

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Jennifer,

Such great information and advice!

You've been a wonderful help to all of us on this thread! Thank you so much!

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Anytime :) I remember what it was like when I was applying and waiting to begin. I'm happy to help!!

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Hey Jennifer!

Another quick question.

Are you at liberty to share the suggested PDA that might be recommended by Regis? I have been researching PDA's online, and what a selection! Not quite sure where to start. Are there certain applications that you have found most helpful?

Since they seem to be a bit expensive, I'm trying to get a jump start.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Good questions Hiking78!

Regis doesn't require a specific PDA...just any that can support Skyscape (which is a free app that you then buy other medical apps through). I have an Ipod Touch, which I LOVE for nursing purposes. I know other people who have the Ipod Touch I also know people have Blackberrys, but some clinical sites don't allow your PDA to be a phone (although I think there's a way to turn off the "phone" part on some of these smart phones, but I don't have one so I don't know all the details) so just be wary of that. And I think a few people might have some random other types of PDAs as well. Palm maybe?

Regis does require you buy certain nursing apps through Skyscape (and it is expensive, but you do get a break when you buy through Skyscape through Regis...they'll send you links and stuff early/mid summer so feel free to buy the PDA, but I'd hold off on buying the actual apps). But just for your info we had to buy Davis' Drug Guide, Nurse's Pocket Guide, Taber's Dictionary, and there might have been one other one or not, but I use those three a lot. Also through Itunes I ended up buying RN Notes, which I love!! And that one is free and don't have to use through Skyscape or anything just put it right onto your PDA (I suppose you'd have to have an Iphone or Ipod touch to do that, but RN Notes might be supported by other app stores as well--Check it out!).

Hope that helps :)

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Thank you sooo much Jennifer. I have a Mac computer and an iPhone so I think looking into the Ipod touch makes the most sense for me! Great info!!

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Hi everyone - I just realized this forum was here, and what a great find! :) I am also attending Regis in the fall for the direct entry masters program and am SO excited and nervous! I can't wait to meet everyone (I was not able to make it to the admitted students day). Does anyone know around when we hear back on our financial aid after filling out a FAFSA?

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They said that financial aid letters will go out in June or July, but since all the letters are basically the same, this isn't a big deal. We're all eligible for $20,500 in Direct Loans, but depending on your EFC, the amounts of subsidized versus unsubsidized could be different. The rest you get in Grad PLUS loans. The total tuition for the first year is a little over $31,000 since summer will be counted as part of the second year. The total available budget (or total amount you can get in loans) is a little over $48,000. As long as you haven't defaulted on a federal student loan, you can get this maximum amount.

Hope this helps! I can't wait to meet you. I'm simply dying for it to be September already.

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