CU-Denver Nursing Program

Now I don't know this for a fact, but I have actually heard that it is actually advantageous to continue to apply. It shows you are serious about wanting to commit to the program. I do want to warn you, though. I am graduating from UCD in May and even though the acceptance criteria states you must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a prereq GPA of 2.0, I have not met anyone who got in that had less than a 3.7 GPA and a 3.5 in prereqs. Granted, that is anecdotal and not necessarily true of everyone. But it is VERY competitive. Really focus on your essay- they look at that very seriously when considering admissions.

Thank you so much! I am not really worried to much about my GPA. I just don't have a lot of volunteer experience. I am applying to the program in August, for the June start date. I registered for a CNA course over the fall that way I can hopefully work until the classes start, and I want to mention that in my essay for my prepartation and motivation. I am just so nervous. I am going to start my essay as soon as this semester ends in a week! COngratulations on graduating :)

Thanks

Thanks! Just so you know, I had VERY little volunteer experience (I had volunteered maybe a total of 30 hours in my life, and that included a community service project in HS) Play up the diverse populations you have worked with in any setting- work, school, volunteer. Also, talk about having an interest in going on to help educate future nurses and continue on to grad school. They like that stuff a lot. Tell a personal story when explaining how you decided to get into nursing (sick relative, childhood illness, anything!)

Okay, thanks! I have a great story for why I want to go into nurses. My grandma died of Cancer. I really will work really hard on my essay. Thank you so much I have been freaking out about this. My stomach is just in knots!

I think that is pretty normal. And then it is in knots again when you are about to start. Then when you are about to start a new class/clinical. Then when you are about to graduate and applying for jobs :). It will be worth all of that stress and nervousness in the end, though. (That is what I tell myself anyways).

It will be worth it definitely! Were you working in a hospital or anything of that sort when you applied? Like a CNA or something?

Not when I applied. I started working as a CNA during my first semester of school. I took my CNA class at FRCC, thinking that if I did not get in, I would work as a CNA for a while. Then I got in in June, so I went ahead and got a job in July. I was VERY happy I had already started working before clinical started in the Fall- I was much more prepared to jump in and do patient care after that.

That's awesome. I am registered for a CNA course starting in October so I am hoping I can find a job and work until June if I get in. I did that so I can say in my essay that is how I am trying to prepare myself for a career in nursing. For your CNA job did you start in long term care or were you able to find a job in a hospital?

I was able to find a job in a hospital. I think the fact that I was in nursing school helped a lot. I don't think I would have been able to deal with nursing home CNA work! I respect what they do, it is backbreaking and endless labor. Even if you start out at a nursing home, just keep applying over and over again at the hospitals. I think it gives you a lot more exposure to learning opportunities.

So, I found volunteer work! I am excited, I think it will help out a lot. Do you think it would be dumb to write about critical thinking skills I used on an exam to figure out a short answer question? for the part of the essay where it says to name a time you used your critical thinking skills?

You really need to put yourself in a situation to have diverse experiences. The essay is a really big deal with them and they want to know how you stand out and what life experiences with diverse populations you bring to the table. They want to know you are able to be a critical thinker and that you understand what it means.

The grades are also very important as Workinprogress mentioned. You will want to be higher rather than close to the minimum. I have read of people on these forums having a 4.0, volunteer experience and years of experience in the health care field and NOT get in the school. This makes me feel as though the essay is going to be the most important thing for you to work on. This means finding environments where you can have these experiences. Good luck!

Well how am I supposed to put myself in diverse situations? And, I need one of those diverse situations to challenge my core values. Do you mean like go to an ethnic carnival or something like that?