CNL Applicants - Spring 2016

ldb89 · Feb 19, 2016

I wouldn't bother spending the extra money. Any accredited community college would suffice. I was exactly in your shoes, got my degree from UMD-College Park, had a first career, and I took all of my pre-reqs (except those completed as part of my degree requirements) at Montgomery College. I got into the program just fine. Just make sure that you get A's in your pre-reqs, if you can.

TheQuan · Mar 29, 2016

Hello everyone. I recently made the decision to pursue a carer in nursing. I already have my BA in Psychology and I'm looking into several programs in the area (MD), so far the CNL program and University of Maryland sticks out to me. Thank you everyone for all the info you've provided already. I'm still trying to decide on the CNL or is I should go the BSN route but I still got to take the pre-reqs beforehand.

Twinkles1119 · Aug 22, 2016

Hi anthroinscrubs! I was reading through your thread a few days ago and was wondering if you could give some insight and possibly answer a few questions about your experience with the CNL program at UMSON. I see that you were accepted and I'm considering applying for Fall 2017. Any help is appreciated... Thanks :)

kmun911 · Aug 23, 2016

Hi Twinkles. I am currently in my senior year. If you have any specific questions I would be glad to help.

Twinkles1119 · Aug 23, 2016

Thanks and congratulations on being at the end of your program!!! That's awesome :) I just visited the school today and spoke to a counselor who suggested I withdraw my BSN application. I'm so confused right now. I already know I planned on trying to get an advanced degree in nursing and figured it would be smarter to take the CNL route rather than do the BSN and then have to go back.

I know anthroinscrubs stats from the initial thread were somewhat similar to mine - I have about a 2.9 undergrad GPA and 3.3 pre-req with nutrition and microbio still outstanding (I'm taking those this semester) the advisor not knowing any of this other than that I have to retake nutrition suggested that I apply for fall 2017 anyway and I may be admitted on a provisional status if anything. I thought maybe it would be better wait until the semester was over, so this way all my pre-reqs are complete but she said it really won't make a difference. I recently got my CNA and just completed my BLS training over the weekend and have been looking for jobs as a CNA so I can get some additional hands-on.

I was also looking at the financial aspect of it, most of the schools in VA offering the ABSN would require me to pay and oos tuition at around 50K whereas I looked at the cost for UMSON's CNL and it's around 42K for in-state and this would also allow me to qualify for graduate education financing rather than being capped out from my undergrad. A lot of the schools are saying they look at the whole package but it's expensive applying to different schools especially when I read on some of the threads that people are saying they won't even look at your GPA if it's less than 3.00

I was reading in one of your posts on this thread about clinical hours. I searched online trying to make sure that I would still get a significant amount of clinical hours in with the CNL approach as I read on a few different threads that you don't get as much clinical training with the CNL as you do with the BSN.

Sorry I know it's a ton, but I think that's it. Thanks so much for offering to help answer my questions

kmun911 · Aug 23, 2016

If you know you want an advanced nursing degree you are wasting time pursuing a second BSN. CNL is the route to go. I would highly recommend this school over any other. Maryland is a great place for networking. As far as GPA is concerned don't get yourself hung up on it. If you have hands on experience and you nail your interview there's no reason why you would not be accepted. Apply as soon as you are able, do not wait until you've completed all your pre-reqs, come in with all that info fresh. The rumor mill is that BSN get more clinical hours than CNL, but I'm really not positive of the facts. What I do know is that the clinical hours we have are more than enough to feel comfortable in your skill set. I'll let you in on the secret, nursing school is all one big pre-req because the actual hands-on nurse training comes with your first job, scary thought! Also, I would recommend that you search for a job as a PCT at Maryland in the meantime. With your CNA you are capable of doing that. Your already ahead of the game in that department, because after your first semester all of your classmates will be applying for their CNA. The first semester classes allow them to be eligible for their CNA license. You'll be fine, you'll get accepted and then the real fun will start!

Twinkles1119 · Aug 23, 2016

Thank you so much for your response and help - Your insight really helps. I've been applying to both CNA and PCT positions at UMMC, so hopefully I'll be able to get one soon. I just emailed the school yesterday and asked them to withdraw my BSN application, so I'm going to apply to Fall 2017 with my Micro and Nutrition outstanding and make sure I do well in them. I just completed the accelerated A&PII and Chem101 over the summer and they're both on my transcripts now so that should help. Thanks again :)