Caldwell College BSN

AndiRN13 · Apr 3, 2011

Caldwell's program is still brand new and they are still working out the kinks. That said...

I can't tell you about the clinical at Mountainside yet because I start that in the Fall but from what I understand they run from 7am till 1pm. but there is also other classes that need to be taken so I am not exactly sure what the schedule looks like.

All the nursing courses are held at Mountainside hospital and all of the pre-reqs are done first at Caldwell. So you receive an advisor at Caldwell then you transition over to Mountainside and receive a different advisor there. The programs feel as if they are being run some what separate from one another. At times it feels as if the Caldwell students are out of the loop. Communication could be improved. Like I said I think they are still ironing out all the kinks. They require all the below courses to be completed before entering the clinical portion which starts one a year in the Fall.

Public Speaking

English Lit I & II

Language of Art or equivalent

Language of Music or Music History or eq.

History Western Heritage I & II - no exceptions

Concepts of math (a general basic plus algebra course)

Intro to Philosophy

Philosophy I

General Psychology

Sociology 101

Theology I & II

A Intensive Writing Course for freshmen (usually waived for transfers)

Anatomy and Physiology with Labs I & II

Microbiology w Lab

Chemistry (must be organic/bio/inorganic will not accept General Chem)

Statistics (either Psy, Business, or Mathematical) the Psy is the best for those who aren't math fans :)

Best of Luck Guys!!

-A

jva13 · Apr 20, 2011

Andi thank you for your reply. My pre-reqs are all done as I am graduating with a degree in Biology and applied to the fast track program at Caldwell. I hope everything runs smoothly for you as you enter your clinicals. Has anyone heard from Caldwell yet? I called a couple of weeks ago and they said they were still going through applications. I hate this waiting game...

piscesgrl389 · Apr 20, 2011

jva13 - I think they sent a few acceptance out from what i have heard. I was finishing up my pre-req and one of my classmate and i both applied to Caldwell aBSN. He already got an acceptance letter however i have yet to get anything in the mail. The waiting game is the worst =.= GL!

jva13 · Apr 22, 2011

piscesgrl I got a letter from Caldwell today and unfortunately I was placed on the waiting list. I guess we'll see what happens, but I'm not terribly worried since I've already been accepted elsewhere. Good luck!

piscesgrl389 · Apr 22, 2011

Jva- I actually got wait listed as well got the mail today. But I'm at the same boat as you. I'm actually starting a program this summer. I guess Caldwell just wasn't mention to be. good luck to whatever you choose in the future !

east-westRN · Apr 22, 2011

Hi piscesgrl and jva -

I just found out that I too was waitlisted at Caldwell. The only problem is that I do not hear back from the other school I applied to until mid summer. I am sort of freaking out. I have to get in somewhere. I am leaving my full time job to finish classes this summer in hopes of starting the aBSN somewhere in September. I don't really understand why I was waitlisted since I have a 3.5 GPA and have an impressive resume in medical device for the past few years. I've decided to change careers so that I can do what I really want to do which is help people.

Can I ask the both of you what schools you got into? I am really a nervous wreck here.

I wish you both the best in your nursing careers,

Kampenny

piscesgrl389 · Apr 22, 2011

Hey kampenny! Don't get discourage. Your GPA is def. Better than mine, my GPA was only a 3.2 so when it comes to choosing from the waitlist I'm sure your up there. Was Caldwell your 1st choice? I actually got into umdnj bsn program that starts this summer. I was in same boat as you, ( kinda ) . I was rejected from stony Brooks And I didn't find out I got into any school until this month. Just stay optimistic! If you are really passionate about nursing, it will happen for you! :) GL

jva13 · Apr 22, 2011

Don't be discouraged at all. That gpa should help you get into a lot of programs. Where else did you apply to? As for me, I have a 3.4 gpa and a BS in Biology and got into Concordia College. I'm still waiting on some other schools including UMDNJ for the fall cycle.

Piscesgrl....are you going to be on the Newark campus or Stratford? I hope I get into UMDNJ so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

east-westRN · Apr 22, 2011

Aw thanks guys! I sure hope so.

I was just hoping to get in Caldwell by now so at least I would have an option to start there in the fall. I am not sure what went wrong. I am trying to stay positive. I wanted to apply to UMDNJ Newark for a fall start, but the admissions woman told me that if I was not done ALL my prereqs by the May deadline, I have to apply for the January 2012 cohort. So that is my backup option even though I would get started at UMDNJ later I would still finish by May 2013 and it is a lot cheaper than going to Caldwell for 4 semesters.

Jva - are you done all of your prereqs now, or will be done next month? I would assume you are since you were allowed to apply for fall admission.

Kampenny

piscesgrl389 · Apr 22, 2011

Newark campus. I was a Bio major as well! :) I actually applied for the part time so I can work at the same time since I still have loan to pay from my undergrad. I just found out yesterday that when I go back to school loans get deffered automatically of ur taking more than 6 credits. O well a few extra months isn't gonna kill me and the tuition ends up the same. As long as I finish lol!

rcarson · Apr 25, 2011

Hey guys! I was just reading up on your convo. I am a junior at Hunter College in the city and i am finally completing all my pre reqs for nursing this semester. That said I applied to Caldwell College as a transfer and they sent me a letter saying I got accepted for fall 2011 pre-nursing track? The admission guy told me that I had to finish some of the pre-reqs caldwell college requires then I will have a spot at the BSN pragrom if I maintain a gpa higher than a 2.75. I guess this is a good thing??? Finally some good news. What do you guys think?

Piscesgrl389- Are u going to UMDNJ??? if so, congrats! my brother is a surgeon and graduated from there not too long ago, i was thinking of applying there as well but don't you require a degree already?? He really did love the school!

Anyone accepted to the "pre-nursing track" like me ??? let me know!

-R

1989nurse · Feb 12, 2012

Hi everyone

I wanted to post as a senior in the class of 2012 at cc graduating as the first bsn class. there seems to be a lot of mis information posted on this wall. as someone who has spent the last 18 months in the program and has 97 days remaining, i feel pretty knowledgeable on the issue.... as with the majority of nursing programs, you must complete the nursing pre reqd prior to entry into the clinical portion of the program. i had two years of undergrad courses completed at 4 year university out of state and when i decided to transfer into a nursing program, i applied to 12. I had an outstanding GPA thousands of hours of community service and worked in a hospital. I got into two of the 12 programs. NYU which was by far the most prestigious program and caldwell. The other ten programs were schools throughout the tri state area (including all three Rutgers campuses). I found it most difficult to transfer into a nursing program because you only get in if there is a spot open. Usually most of these schools give students attending the college for the first two years preference into the program since theyve been there which is only fair. These programs dont hold anyone spots. They dont have too- they have sooooo many students applying that they have 10 other applicants just as qualified who actually have the pre reqs complete. Not all your clinicals are 7-1 and/or are at mountainside. this is a lie. Some clinicals are 7-1, some 7-7, some 7-4... It depends on the course credits, clinical site etc. I have had clinicals at Overlook, St Joes, Mountainside, Morristown, Broadway House in Newark, RWJ VNA, and St Joes VHS. There are certainly communication issues between Caldwell and Mountainside Hospital but by and large it has been a decent education. With the contract between Caldwell and Mountainside terminating, we've been told as of Fall 2012, all courses will be on the Caldwell campus. This will certainly improve the program. I highly recommend you go the BSN route vs. ASN.... It is hellacious to get a job with your BSN now a days let alone the ASN. Many hospital wont even consider ASN students. Go the BSN route.

Good luck in the process. Nursing school is incredibly difficult- harder than actually getting in so be prepared to work your butt off.