Azusa Pacific University ELM Spring 2017

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Hi all!

I'm applying for APU's ELM program for Spring 2017 and I was curious to see who else was applying :) maybe we could chat about the application process!

Thanks for all this insight regarding the program! I just attend the information session last night and starting my packet for Summer 2018 session. Any insights on how to make your application look more appealing if you don't have such a high cumulative gpa? I have a cumulative gpa of 2.8 and science 3.5 and non science 3.45. Any insights will help!

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Hi Sig_336! I had a similar issue with my gpa when I was applying. Obviously if your gpa is on the lower side, you would want to make up for it in all other areas of your application (great letter to the dean, a solid interview, etc). What helped me get a few extra points though was volunteer experience, healthcare experience, and experience working/volunteering outside of the country. I did not get in for the Spring 2017 that I was applying for, but I did get offered admission for the Summer 2017 session. A few extra points can really make a difference :)

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Thanks! What kind of places did you volunteer at? 85 you don't mind me asking.

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I have a lot of volunteer experience with my church, including overseas/out of the country volunteer experience. I got healthcare volunteer experience through the COPE Health Scholar program that several hospitals in Southern California have. Some hospitals call it the Clinical Care Extender program.

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Perfect! I will look into that program today.

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Hello! So applied for the COPE program and have an interview next month. What should I expect? Any insights regarding the process. Thanks!

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Awesome @Sig_336! I did the program at St. Francis Medical Center and my interview was fairly simple. I'm not sure if it will be the same if you applied at a different hospital. But they asked me a patient care scenario question, what my educational goals were, why I wanted to be in the COPE program, how I problem solve/work with others, etc. Mostly standard interview questions and it took around 30 minutes.

If you get accepted into the program, you will need to get CPR certified and have certain immunization shots if you didn't have those already. Then you do training. Training is 30 hours (3 10 hour days at St. Francis) and then you will complete a written test and a practical patient care scenario test. You need to pass both to begin your shifts at the hospital. The patient care test is the most nerve wracking, to be honest. At St. Francis you were assigned a scenario (bathe a patient, make an occupied bed, take vitals, etc.) right before you were tested and had to complete everything in front of the two people grading you as well as other trainees. My advice to pass the tests is to simply study and practice :)

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Thanks so much! I will definitely start planning now. I read some other treads indicating you need or should be the one to answer first on all the interview questions. Is that true? Also, did you have to write an essay as well before the interview?

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I had to write a few short essays during the application process, but not during the interview. And I'm not sure if you need to answer first. I read that some hospitals do group interviews, so you may want to answer first for those. But St. Francis had individual interviews.

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Thanks again!

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Just wanted to thank you for the insights about the COPE program. I just got inti CVHP!

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Congratulations! I hope you enjoy it! It gave me a lot of valuable insight of what it would be like to work in the hospital.

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