CSULB Spring 2017

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Is anyone applying? :) I thought I'd start a thread.

This is the site

CSULB Enrollment Services

to check the college acceptance. You need your Beach ID,your DOB and access to your email on file. I have been checking every day and I get the same generic email "thank you for interest, application is pending blah blah blah"

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Hello everyone, this must be an anxious time for all of you... THE WAITING GAME! I recently began the semester Basic BSN program this Fall 2016 as a transfer student from a CCC. As you may know, the Spring is less competitive than the Fall admission. Chances are that if you made it to the interview, your chances of getting in are very high. What they mainly look for in the communication exercise is how well you communicate, they don't want someone with straight A's but that doesn't speak English well. As you will soon learn, communication is the basis of every concept in nursing school. Even if you are waitlisted, there are various people who do not accept it.

Semester vs. Trimester: you get to pick at orientation your preference. There are 80 spots total but about 50 will get trimester and 30 will get semester. They will speak about the pros and cons at orientation but it is something to think about. Note that during summer, FAFSA does not kick in. Spring admits will do 2 rounds of summer semester. The regular semester is 16 weeks but the summer term is condensed to 12 weeks. So you will do 2nd & 5th semester during the summer. 2nd semester is more complex nursing fundamentals & 5th semester is your preceptorship where you will pretty much go to work alongside an RN. There were a few students that were able to switch after they got the results The results will be posted at the very end of orientation.

Before my first semester began, I spent well over $1,200 in NECESSARY supplies (texts, books, ATI, equipment). Please be ready and expect possible FAFSA delays. Faculty will expect you to have all the materials in hand by the first day of school. Also you will be assigned a schedule based on your cohort.

GOOD LUCK & let me know if you have any questions.

btw, I have not been working all semester. I am still trying to find a balance 10 weeks into my first semester.

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@bgon. Thank you for your time in letting us know these important information. How do you like it so far and what would be the things that you would recommend us dos and the don'ts. Thanks

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Hello everyone, this must be an anxious time for all of you... THE WAITING GAME! I recently began the semester Basic BSN program this Fall 2016 as a transfer student from a CCC. As you may know, the Spring is less competitive than the Fall admission. Chances are that if you made it to the interview, your chances of getting in are very high. What they mainly look for in the communication exercise is how well you communicate, they don't want someone with straight A's but that doesn't speak English well. As you will soon learn, communication is the basis of every concept in nursing school. Even if you are waitlisted, there are various people who do not accept it.

Semester vs. Trimester: you get to pick at orientation your preference. There are 80 spots total but about 50 will get trimester and 30 will get semester. They will speak about the pros and cons at orientation but it is something to think about. Note that during summer, FAFSA does not kick in. Spring admits will do 2 rounds of summer semester. The regular semester is 16 weeks but the summer term is condensed to 12 weeks. So you will do 2nd & 5th semester during the summer. 2nd semester is more complex nursing fundamentals & 5th semester is your preceptorship where you will pretty much go to work alongside an RN. There were a few students that were able to switch after they got the results The results will be posted at the very end of orientation.

Before my first semester began, I spent well over $1,200 in NECESSARY supplies (texts, books, ATI, equipment). Please be ready and expect possible FAFSA delays. Faculty will expect you to have all the materials in hand by the first day of school. Also you will be assigned a schedule based on your cohort.

GOOD LUCK & let me know if you have any questions.

btw, I have not been working all semester. I am still trying to find a balance 10 weeks into my first semester.

This was very helpful and also comforting regarding this waiting! Thank you so much!!!!! Good luck during this semester as well as the others that are on the way! I am sure you will do awesome :)

Besides attending orientation and all the material we are required to get, is there anything more to be done prior the beginning of classes?

I am asking because I am an international student and I'd love to go back home for Christmas/New Years to visit my family. However, I am afraid I'll be stuck here to get all these things done... Moreover, planning a trip and finding good price for plane tickets require time and patience, so I'd have to start looking asap. Overall, I am afraid to go and end up having to get things done in the US while I am many miles away (at least 17 hours away by plane lol).

On average, do you remember how long it took you to gather everything you needed before semester started? Do you think it's possible to have all of the material between the time we find out if we were accepted until mid December?

Once again, thank you so much, we all really appreciate you help a lot!!!

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Thanks for sharing all these info bgon!

I'm wondering what's going to happen if more students choose semester than there are spots for it. And do more students prefer semester than trimester? I am planning on taking the semester route.

Thank you so much in advance!

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It is definitely one of the most challenging things I have ever done, both emotionally and mentally. The faculty is amazing, they want to see you succeed but of course you have to put your effort & time into it. They are always there to help. I underestimated how fast paced it is but you will get the hang of it, perhaps by trial and error. I recommend to make a mental commitment and get in student mode before starting the semester. Yes, you will be excited that you got into one of the best nursing schools in CA but ride that excitement out as motivation. Another piece of advice, leave your pride at home. You will probably not get A's anymore and that is ok. Nursing school is hard and you are no longer competing with these candidates, they will be your support and no one will understand what you are going through better than your peers. Failure will occur and it is okay, this is where you will learn the most.

As far as things you need to do prior to the beginning of the semester, read and re-read the handbook: http://web.csulb.edu/colleges/chhs/departments/nursing/docs/StudentHandbookUpdatedFall2016v1.pdf

Note pages 18 & 33. Check out these various files as well to get a feel of what you are expected to complete prior to the start of first semester: New Student Information and Documentation

Get the flu shot now, get verification of the flu shot. You will also be doing a back ground check, and a full health assessment. Schedule a physical exam appointment a month from now. You will need a physical exam and various vaccinations, labs drawn, TB testing etc. The earlier you do this, the easier it will be and they are usually due before the start of the semester. If titers come back negative, you will need to get a booster shot and get labs drawn again (TIME CONSUMING)! This should be briefly stated in the handbook. You will also need a current Basic Life Support certification, , verification of health insurance, current driver's license. You will also be purchasing at least 8 textbooks, an ATI package of ($750), uniforms, shoes, stethoscope, BP cuff etc.

Transfer students, please stay on top of all documents needed for the university as well as deadlines. Get the WPE out of the way if you can as well.

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There are more spots for trimester than semester so if all the semester spots are taken up, you will by default get trimester. They try their best to give everyone their first choice but you can only do so much.

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@lousan: the things that I can advise you on doing while waiting is to get your physical, flu shot, titers and things of that sort done now so when they request it, you would have it done and just turn in those paperwork.

@snorlaxrn: if more students choose basic semester than there are slots for then they will draw a lottery.

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bgon can you please advise as to what blood work needs to be done? It didn't specify in the handbook or the link posted. Is it just a CBC? Also were you required to do a urinalysis and syphilis test as well?

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bgon can you please advise as to what blood work needs to be done? It didn't specify in the handbook or the link posted. Is it just a CBC? Also were you required to do a urinalysis and syphilis test as well?

All the PDFs are listed on the link, you have to click on each link and read through it. There is more information in the previous link I posted.

http://web.csulb.edu/colleges/chhs/departments/nursing/docs/TiterandVaccinationInformation.pdf

http://web.csulb.edu/colleges/chhs/departments/nursing/docs/2-StepTBTestInformationPacket_000.pdf

http://web.csulb.edu/colleges/chhs/departments/nursing/docs/CSULB-healthtrackerBSNStudentsFall.pdf

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First semester of the Basic BSN program will be Nursing Fundamental & Lab, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology and Nutrition. If you have the chance to do one or more of these during Winter session at a CCC, please so. It will help take the load off during your transition.

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First semester of the Basic BSN program will be Nursing Fundamental & Lab, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology and Nutrition. If you have the chance to do one or more of these during Winter session at a CCC, please so. It will help take the load off during your transition.

Thanks for all the great info and feedback. I appreciate it.

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