CSULA ELMN 2011

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Anyone else applied? I know they're supposed to notify us on April 1st but I'm curious if anyone who applied got any feedback yet. :)

Hey All I got from Kathy was a verbal acceptance and a blurb through email. She said she would be mailing out forms for the background check and other things but I haven't received anything yet. But again, she did tell me just last week. But she emphasized that we need to get on top of all the immunizations and CPR stuff.

Soo happy for you Sam198!! So excited to meet all of you!

Btw, I'm also moving from SF to LA which is going to be a big change! I'm planning on staying in an on-campus apartment over the summer so I can get acquainted with the area then search for a place starting this fall. I know some of you are from the area, but what are the rest of you doing?

And for everyone who hasn't heard back, when I went in she said she was super busy with finals, and grading, and teaching etc. So its understandable that she has a lot on her mind right now, but then again I know exactly how you feel. Hang in there!

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Oh congrats to you too RosePetalss and anyone else that I might have missed out. Eeek soo excited!

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Hey Moto88, definitely don't give up hope. The Friday deadline the coordinator gave Sam and me might have only been for those who interviewed on that day, so it might not be the deadline to declare acceptance of her offer to us. I interviewed this past Saturday, and she said she was interviewing that day and the day after. Now that she's done with interviews, I'm sure she's going to be getting back to everyone pretty soon! So look out for any news from her, and good luck!!

Thanks rpatil88! And are there actually apartments that are a part of the campus that we can live in, like wannabe dorms, just for the summer?? I'm also moving from SF, and I'm kind of planning living arrangements with a friend, but it might not work out. Who knows. It'll be good to meet everyone in May and see what everyone is planning! :)

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Thanks rpatil88! I will be looking for a place to live since I am not from the LA area. Time to start searching for living spaces! Im excited to meet everyone too! Cant believe its happening already!!

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Thanks xluescluesx!! Did you end up going to the interview or did you already accept to your other school?

We have to notify Kathy by friday if we intend to join the program. That means all other schools will be out of the running. I just need to check on some financial aid stuff before I accept.

I emailed Kathy to cancel my interview. I'm sticking with Mount St. Mary's Accelerated BSN. I'm not sure which advanced practice specialty interests me yet so I think a BSN is the best choice for me for now. I'm sure we'll be doing clinicals in many of the same hospitals though! So excited!

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CONGRATS to all my fellow future nurses at CSULA! I'm so excited to meet Sam198, RosePetalss, and anyone else I haven't seen on here :). Yayyyyyyyy! I don't know about you guys, but I'm having a hard time finishing my last prereq in anticipation of starting :lol2:. I'll be commuting from the Westside area, so anyone who lives around that area please tell!

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Well, it's official. I didn't get into CSULA. I got an email letting me know that they have completed their final review of the submitted applications and I was not selected. Just to let you know, I was not selected for an interview in the first place. So, if you've been interviewed but haven't heard back, that's a good sign! That means you're still a contender!

Good luck everyone. :up: Maybe I'll see some of you at UCLA instead.

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Dear bababaowman and innatchka,

Thank you for all the program. It certainly is helpful. I had some additional questions.

I got accepted to the program but I am now having doubts that I'll be smart enough for the program. I do have a GPA of 4.0 but that does not necessarily equate success in a nursing program. Did you have any fears in succeeding in the program? Does anyone ever fail?

If you could compare your current classes to those you took during undergrad studies, is there a big difference in difficulty levels? What is the hardest part academically?

Do you study from morning through night (as in MSMC ABSN) or you actually have time for other things as well?

How popular is the ANP track?

What is the reality when trying to get a job as a new grad RN while completing the NP track at the same time? How do you juggle both? Kathy did state that sometimes you need to pull out of the program for a little while while working as a new RN grad.

Can you study NP track part-time if your new RN grad program does not fit with school schedule?

What is the schedule in general for NP track? Bunch of other schools have once a week class for NP track.

What are the job prospects for grads in CSULA program? I was told at CSUN that I may not find a new RN grad program for up to a year. It's that tough out there.

Thanks in advance for all the info!

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Hey wrightnurse,

Hope this helps:

Did you have any fears in succeeding in the program? Does anyone ever fail? Getting in is a big accomplishment in itself. It means that the directors have faith in you! Of course we all worry about not succeeding, but I think it's less about being "smart enough" and more of being organized and on top of studying. I know this quarter, I got kind of lazy/skipped reading etc, and felt pretty uneasy after every test, praying I'd guessed well. If you study well and put in your time, the tests should be fine. As for anyone failing, the rumor is that the ELMN group loses one student during the MedSurg quarter, but I don't personally know anyone that has happened to.

If you could compare your current classes to those you took during undergrad studies, is there a big difference in difficulty levels? What is the hardest part academically? I was a psych undergrad and had similar multiple choice type tests, but I had gigantic classes (300+ students) and I just lost interest by the end. This information is completely practical and you know that you'll use it, so I find it easier to sit through lectures and do the reading. The hardest part for me is the sheer amount of information you need to absorb in so little time - it's doable, but challenging.

Do you study from morning through night (as in MSMC ABSN) or you actually have time for other things as well? If you manage your time well, there will be plenty of time for other stuff. For example, I try to study at work when things are quiet (I tutor at a local CC), so as to leave time to spend weekends with my bf or play in my band. Some quarters you may actually have 4 day weekends and then the challenge is to not let yourself have too much fun!

How popular is the ANP track? I believe this is actually most people's second or third choice. In our class, a lot of people wanted the FNP because it was the broadest, or the ACNP because it's more intense. I don't think anyone put ANP as their first choice.

What is the reality when trying to get a job as a new grad RN while completing the NP track at the same time? How do you juggle both? I can't answer this from personal experience since we aren't there yet, but I know some students take a few quarters off to start their new grad programs and then continue the NP part part-time (so we still have some ELMN Cohort 3 people just finishing up this year). My plan is to start the Masters portion in fall as a full-time student (we won't even have our licenses until we take the boards in October), and then see if I can find a job and take it from there.

Can you study NP track part-time if your new RN grad program does not fit with school schedule? Yes. You can speed through the FNP, for example, in two years, but you would take 12-16 units each quarter. Going part time stretches it out to 3 years (according to the schedule I was given).

What is the schedule in general for NP track? I believe they have classes two days a week. Not sure how clinical hours work, but I imagine you need to work that out with your preceptor. Even though it's not a lot of time in class, I know it's caused problems for some students who'd already found new grad jobs (seems like the hospitals wanted them available 24/7 for instruction).

What are the job prospects for grads in CSULA program? Again, I'm not sure - it's pretty tough for most new grads out there, and a lot of them have a terminal degree and all the time in the world to start a new job. We're kind of in limbo since we have to get through the Masters portion to get a degree. I know some hospitals really like CSULA students (e.g. Huntington Memorial in Pasadena). I also know your prospects are better if you've already worked in a hospital (as a CNA, Telly tech etc). The Cohort 6 students who found jobs easily had worked at CNAs in the hospitals where they were hired.

And just so it's not all gloom and doom - I have to say: I really enjoy the program. Nursing school is a challenge but it's kind of fun! And it's exciting to know you're approaching your goal and quickly!

Let me know if you have any other questions!

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Great info! Clears up many of the same questions I had. Thank you for taking the time to answer them!

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Innatchka,

Wow! What great answers. Maybe you should be doing our orientation ...

Thank you so much

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wrightnurse- Have you accepted yet? I am going to send my email to Kathy today once I get out of class! I just wanted to say that you are not alone in feeling the "fear of failing". Innatchka is right- we all fear it and worry if we will be good enough for the program. I had the same doubts, but the great thing is that we have our cohort to rely on/study with/and work through the challenges together! : ) You wont be doing this alone! (thats just how I see it).

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