Anyone starting @ VCU this summer?

keatonhoyle · Feb 10, 2009

Kira

If you create your login name for VCU and look on blackboard there are answers to a lot of your questions.

Winter break is about 4 weeks. http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/calendar/ac_fullViewNew.asp?aYear=2009&aSemester=1

And there is also a tentative schedule here: http://www.nursing.vcu.edu/students/schedule/summer2009_027.xls

Hope that helps a little

rickrickyricketts · Feb 11, 2009

yeah, i tried but my log in info doesn't work yet. thanks for the info tho. hopefully i'll get that fixed soon.

virginia15 · Feb 11, 2009

I'm an Accelerated BSN student class of '09 and would be happy to answer questions. I think you can send me private messages with specific ones. There aren't going to be scholarships available for the first summer but you can apply (think the deadline is in May? - should be on VCU SON website) for the scholarships available Fall & Spring. I definitely recommend as you can possibly get $1-2K from that or more if you are awarded one. Be mindful that summer federal aid will be impacted by whether you got federal aid from your current school if you're enrolled. I think the annual max is like $13K so be aware if you've used that for your undergrad this school year (for those graduating then coming to VCU directly) you have to get alternate loans...that was difficult for a few people in my class.

Summer schedule for our class was class all day 8-5pm Mondays, clinical about 6:30am-3pm one day, Health Assessment lab one full day about 8-4 or 5pm, CLC practice time one half day and class 8-5 pm Fridays. You basically are in class/clinical all day throughout the week with one full day in learning skills at the CLC lab and one full day at the hospital in intro. clinicals. It's very intensive and you have to study a lot outside of class since you're only in class about 9-10 weeks.

katiecap77 · Feb 12, 2009

I am also starting at VCU this summer. I currently live in Charlottesville but will most likely move to Richmond when my lease is up at the end of June. I would be willing to consider rooming with one or more classmates. I have a cat so you would have to be willing to coexist with her. If anyone is interested in sharing a place maybe we can get together and talk at the orientation on March 16th. Just reply to this thread if you think you might be interested. My name is Katie and I am 32. I am a pretty quiet roommate but would probably have my boyfriend visiting from CVille on a regular basis. I am a nonsmoker and cannot live with smokers.

avaz11 · Mar 11, 2009

Hi everyone! I was accepted in the program also and I will be moving from Atlanta, GA. I am also looking for housing, I'm not sure I will be able to attend the orientation on March 16, so I might miss the opportunity to meet you all but I am a non-smoking 22 yr old female and I'm not really a pet person ;-(. Let me know if anyone is interested!!

Carrig RN · Mar 12, 2009

I'm so excited to meet everyone on Monday. Who all is going to the orientation?

keatonhoyle · Mar 12, 2009

I'll be there.

keatonhoyle · Mar 12, 2009

im nervous tho i hope its not one big awkward situation

virginia15 · Mar 12, 2009

I guess I can't respond to PMs - I don't come on here often and haven't posted much so maybe that's why. Hokiety - nobody really uses PDAs and I'm not even sure if we're allowed to have them. There should always be a drug guide available on the unit, and there should also be computers available where you can access the pharmacy formulary or even google if you need to.

Orientation shouldn't be too awkward. I went when I was accepted and it was nice to just meet some people. You will all be put into small groups and given a tour with a chance to ask questions from people in my class (orientation aides). I'm one of them so maybe I'll see you there! Make sure to bring any questions you might have...

aztova · Sep 7, 2009

Is there anyone still on here who just started the ABSN this summer at VCU? Just looking for some updates on how everything is going? Do you like the program?

julyeah · Sep 7, 2009

Yep, I made it out alive this summer :) It was alot of work but if you are motivated and a hard worker you can definitely do it. I actually enjoyed it alot, and met alot of really awesome people along the way. My first clinical experience was really great and I learned alot. The only negative thing I can say is that the nursing school is a bit unorganized in the begining of the semester. I was unsure of what my schedule was for the first 2 weeks of the summer semester and just showed up everyday at 8 AM and they would let us know how long we would be there. Lecture days are a bit rough (8 hours!!) but the people you meet who are all in the same situation make it a bit more tolerable. Overall, I would recommend it if you are seriously motivated about becoming a nurse.

aztova · Sep 8, 2009

Thanks for the reply! I have a few friends who are in separate nursing programs around the country and it seems like "unorganized" is a common theme for nursing programs. At least in the beginning. That does sound a bit frustrating not knowing your schedule for the 1st two weeks though. I will have to organize daycare so that won't be easy if I don't know what time to be there. But I won't count my eggs before they hatch. :)

Good luck!