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Hey all! I wanted to created this thread in hopes of finding other Grand Canyon University (GCU) Spring 2014 hopefuls!! I am about to apply for the Fast-track 16 month BSN as a second degree student, either at Scottsdale Healthcare or GCU campus. The deadline for applications are September 15th, 2013... just a couple months away. If you are applying or thinking of applying, please join in and lets get this thread started! :)
Good luck!
For those interested in GCU campus at SHC Shea:
There's a total available spots of 25-30 for the Shea location and right now approx 50 applicants. However, my advisor said that this number includes those with incomplete applications who they are still trying to finalize. He said typically that number will go down slightly as some people never follow through with finishing to actually apply despite expressing intent previously.
Despite my less than stellar GPA he still recommended I continue to pursue my first choice location because I work for the hospital as opposed to seeking a less competitive cohort elsewhere.
*Fingers crossed*
Hi Andi -
Thanks for the updated info, that is really interesting to know about the SHC location! I really get the sense that any given factor on our applications can make a difference, especially partner hospital affiliation, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for you! We will find out 3 weeks from today, and thank goodness I have classes and work to keep me preoccupied. If I am accepted into the program, my whole life is going to change (quitting full time job, totally switching gears to new career/industry), and I kinda feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas lol. If I happen to hear anything about the application stats for Boswell, I will update the thread.
Cheers :-)
Hi Andi - Thanks for the updated info that is really interesting to know about the SHC location! I really get the sense that any given factor on our applications can make a difference, especially partner hospital affiliation, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for you! We will find out 3 weeks from today, and thank goodness I have classes and work to keep me preoccupied. If I am accepted into the program, my whole life is going to change (quitting full time job, totally switching gears to new career/industry), and I kinda feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas lol. If I happen to hear anything about the application stats for Boswell, I will update the thread. Cheers :-)[/quote']Ya I agree, but it does also seem like it's not as competitive as everyone made it out to be originally. I'm like dying waiting for the results! I'm busy with work and keeping up with my two year old, yet it's still feeling like the longest month ever lol. If I'm accepted I will be cutting back hours at my job. I work full time now (and have during the past two years of pre reqs as well), but as a single mom to a toddler I just decided it was going to be too much to handle during nursing school. My plan is to go to 2 days a week (12 hr shifts) at first and hopefully continue that for as long as possible. I could cut down to as low as 36 hours per biweekly pay period & still keep benefits including tuition assistance, so we'll see. What's everyone else's plans for work/school/life balance? And how about loans? I know I'll be forced to take some additional out to cover some living expenses in addition to tuition and books costs. I feel like as long as my total loans are less than the increase in income my first year after graduating then it's justified.
I plan on dipping into my savings to pay for most everything, and supplement by working as much as I can while keeping up with my studies. Hopefully I can find something in health care part-time until I qualify for an extern position (I have a CNA license, I've just never worked under it). I still have loans from my previous degree and am trying to avoid taking out any more. We don't have kids so I really admire anyone who is juggling kids, school and work!
I haven't posted on here for a while, but I've been reading all of your comments, and the waiting feels like torture for me too I currently live in California with my parents, but they're moving to Tennessee in about a month. As a result, I'm packing up my things and (hopefully) temporarily moving with them, then moving to the Phoenix area in December if I'm accepted.
Just like with you guys, there's a lot at stake right now for me, but I'm glad that we're in this together!
I'll also have to take out loans (which kinda sucks), but it's beyond worth it to me. Becoming a nurse is my dream, and I know that I'll be able to get a job and pay them off after I graduate. I know the job market is tough for nursing, but I have friends who graduated with degrees in other fields years ago and are sill paying off their loans. Thankfully, GCU has pretty reasonable tuition in comparison to other private schools I've looked at.
Hopefully we'll survive the next three weeks!
Welcome, Andiisme! Great to hear all the additional info you are providing us with! Thank you. It is very helpful to get an idea of what is ahead of us. I also applied to SHC! I hope both of us get in!!!! You mentioned you work there, what do you do now? I was thinking of getting a CNA license before school started, to see if I could work for SHC, but it so costly and I don't know if I will even have enough time to work at all while in the nursing program (hello student loans :-( Anywho, I too was wondering what the schedules will be like and how many people applied. So you think around 50 applied? Ahhh if only 30 of us get in.. that means 15 don't.... ahh! I am freaking out. LOL. I have a calendar at my desk and on my computer for Oct. 15th- just counting down the days one at a time. Less than 3 weeks out! Yipee!
Hi redcellophane! Welcome back, I remember you posting a little while ago too. What made you decide on GCU coming from out of state? That is great! Which program did you apply for? I too will have to take out student loans to cover tuition and cost of living. I agree that it is well worth it. I think of borrowing thousands upon thousands of dollars plus interest, and I don't fret too much because at least I will be happy with my career while paying it off :)
Hey! I work as a PCT and Tele Tech on the Telemetry floor at Shea. I started there with just my CNA and have received training through the hospital since then. I definitely like working there. I also feel like its helpful for school cuz gives you a more practical side of application to the knowledge you learn in school, as well as lots of nurse resources for help. However, clinicals serve that same function. If you have time to do it and really want to go for it. The only thing I would advise is that you're not necessarily guaranteed a job. I'm not sure about all the floors, but I know some, including ours doesn't generally hire people in or about to be in nursing school. They are VERY supportive of staff pursuing higher education and have been nothing but flexible but that's for current staff. Hiring someone already in the nursing program is costly potentially. Spending the money to hire them and put them through orientation for them to then graduate as a nurse several months later is often not worth it, especially when you add to that the risk that they might end up quitting anyways due to the workload or having an extremely restricted availability. Sorry not trying to be a downer or discourage, just something to consider.
As for your GPA that's higher than mine (which is something like 3.16) & I looked up my TEAS 83 & 90. So good but not phenomenal either. I think everyone (or at least most) are in the same boat. Very few applicants sound like they have great everything. & yes some won't get in, but remember he said that 50 includes incomplete applications. Some people won't ever contact them to finish it. Others will ask to defer for later start date. Think positive. It's nerve racking for sure and I don't want to jinx it, but I think all of us on here are very diligent about following the process and obviously care a lot so I'm hoping and praying we all get in.
Out of curiosity where do you other guys who applied to SHC live? & anyone have kids?
I live in Mesa (west/central - not far from downtown) and I have a 2 1/2 yr old daughter. Hoping if we get in I can find some carpool and/or study buddies. :)
Andi- thanks so much for (more) helpful info!! Seriously, I didn't even think about the whole not-hiring-nursing-students-as-cna's/pct's. It makes alot of sense, and I would agree as a hiring manager, because afterall, once a cna who is in nursing school passes the NCLEX and gets an RN job, they are outta there. So I get it. I just wanted to have SOME kind of job while in school- even if just working one day a week. I have been working full time since the beginning of my undergrad 5 years ago, and to think of just living off loans and going to school is a different adjustment for me! I'm glad to get perspective from an SHC employee. That's great you already have an "in" with them, with tuition assistance and possibly getting an RN job upon graduation! That's ideal. How long have you been working for them? And man is that a long drive from where you live!! I guess its all freeway though huh so thats good. I live near Oldtown Scottsdale, a couple miles from the Scottsdale Osborn. I heard there may be some clinicals at that hospital, so I thought that was super close and just seemed really neat. I am always up for study buddies! If we all get in, I say we have weekly or biweekly study sessions :) I do not have kids, but do have a dog.
JamieQuinata
6 Posts
Hey guys!! Figured I'd say hello and jump in on the post, since I'm also crossing my fingers for that acceptance email next month. I'm not so sure of my cumulative GPA (maybe a 3.2?), since I have transcripts coming in from 3-4 different places. So aside from the science classes, I'm not sure what they used to calculate my GPA. The TEAS went pretty well with a 98/87.... I'm hoping to get into the fast track program at the AT Still site, since I live down in San Tan Valley, all the other locations are just too far of a drive.
Currently I'm just trying to gather as much info about the schedule and what to expect, I'm super excited to get started!