CU Denver Traditional program 2021

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Hi all! I didn't see a thread for the CU Denver 2021 Traditional program starting in Summer. I am a Boulder grad and would love to get some insight on this program from either alumni, current students, or applicants like myself!

I am hoping to receive an interview. I love that this program does an interview process in order to get to know each applicant on a more personal basis. Anyone out there also looking forward to hearing more about this program? 

Finished the whole process today! I think I did well but it’s hard to say! For the interview you are put in groups and they give you a couple scenarios and you discuss and answer as a group. Then we all got one individual question to answer at the end, but I tell ya what our individual questions were nothing on the list of nursing questions to prepare for haha! So just be genuine and relaxed. It was actually very laid back 

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Wow, thanks so much for letting us know! That was kind- given you could see us as the “competition!” ? So there was just the one individual question, and that was the only individual question? 

I’m sure you all did great! I hope we all make it in and can become best friends! ? jk, but not really ?

Let’s hope they let us know quickly, so we don’t go too crazy!! The hard part is over for you guys! ??

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Yes, just one individual question! The interview portion was a very small amount of time in my opinion! It was a good experience but I am definitely curious how they further make a decision on who to admit based off of what the interview experience was like. Here’s hoping it goes well for all of us! 

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I hope everyone that interviewed on the 15th did awesome! We all made it through that part! Now the hard part of waiting begins. Good luck to us all

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Specializes in Pre-Nursing student.

I attended the Jan 8th interview.

Everyone in my group interview seemed to be great at public speaking, and seemed overly confident, whereas I felt so unprepared and nervous. I got the dreaded interview question "When was a time you were stressed, and what did you do about it?" Well, during answering I got so stressed out that I actually forgot the question and had to ask what it was again. Talk about irony.

The group interview felt directly competitive and the other interviewers kept stealing my answers by restating them as their own ideas. They would talk longer than they were allotted time for and tried to edge me out of getting to speak. It felt like a knife fight in there. So many A type personalities. I left the interview feeling like I didn't leave a strong enough impression. I hope that my Resume, GPA, and 4 medical certifications are enough to be considered, rather than some competitive group interview. I'm an Introvert and I definitely write better than I'm able to orate. It's so frustrating.

Anyone else have a difficult interview? Or just don't find yourself fitting the typical mold of your basic nursing student?

Considering that they require the Casper test instead of the HESI, I'm afraid they're looking for the extroverted public speaker type over anything else.

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45 minutes ago, strangerdanger89 said:

I attended the Jan 8th interview.

Everyone in my group interview seemed to be great at public speaking, and seemed overly confident, whereas I felt so unprepared and nervous. I got the dreaded interview question "When was a time you were stressed, and what did you do about it?" Well, during answering I got so stressed out that I actually forgot the question and had to ask what it was again. Talk about irony.

The group interview felt directly competitive and the other interviewers kept stealing my answers by restating them as their own ideas. They would talk longer than they were allotted time for and tried to edge me out of getting to speak. It felt like a knife fight in there. So many A type personalities. I left the interview feeling like I didn't leave a strong enough impression. I hope that my Resume, GPA, and 4 medical certifications are enough to be considered, rather than some competitive group interview. I'm an Introvert and I definitely write better than I'm able to orate. It's so frustrating.

Anyone else have a difficult interview? Or just don't find yourself fitting the typical mold of your basic nursing student?

Considering that they require the Casper test instead of the HESI, I'm afraid they're looking for the extroverted public speaker type over anything else.

I think it's normal to be critical of ourselves after the fact! 

My group didn't seem that competitive with one another, most of them seemed quiet due to nervousness. I was the most outspoken one in my group and took a natural lead, but I still left my interview feeling like I dominated over the others and maybe even talked too much. 

We're our own worst enemy because I'm sure if I talked less, I'd probably have the same worries that you do. If it's not one thing it's another ?

Think positive thoughts!

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3 hours ago, strangerdanger89 said:

I attended the Jan 8th interview.

Everyone in my group interview seemed to be great at public speaking, and seemed overly confident, whereas I felt so unprepared and nervous. I got the dreaded interview question "When was a time you were stressed, and what did you do about it?" Well, during answering I got so stressed out that I actually forgot the question and had to ask what it was again. Talk about irony.

The group interview felt directly competitive and the other interviewers kept stealing my answers by restating them as their own ideas. They would talk longer than they were allotted time for and tried to edge me out of getting to speak. It felt like a knife fight in there. So many A type personalities. I left the interview feeling like I didn't leave a strong enough impression. I hope that my Resume, GPA, and 4 medical certifications are enough to be considered, rather than some competitive group interview. I'm an Introvert and I definitely write better than I'm able to orate. It's so frustrating.

Anyone else have a difficult interview? Or just don't find yourself fitting the typical mold of your basic nursing student?

Considering that they require the Casper test instead of the HESI, I'm afraid they're looking for the extroverted public speaker type over anything else.

I’m really sorry to hear you felt this way! 
 

I personally felt the interview was very odd. It was only 45 minutes and to me felt like it would be really hard to get a good idea of people in such a short time especially when we only got one individual question. My individual question was “if you could be invisible or fly which would you chose and why?” This threw me off completely, and I answered it in the best way I possibly could but it still felt scary that that was the only question I got to answer individually. As far as people edging you out goes I think that only reflects poorly on them. Personally I think a huge part of the group questions was to see how everyone interacting with one another working as a group because team work is a huge part of nursing, and if they were being over powering ultimately I don’t think that reflects a team player. Keep a positive attitude and remember no matter what happens you should be proud of yourself for getting an interview. I know for me this was my first application and first interview, so all I can do is learn from it if I don’t get accepted. 

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Specializes in Pre-Nursing student.
48 minutes ago, LivM09 said:

I’m really sorry to hear you felt this way! 
 

I personally felt the interview was very odd. It was only 45 minutes and to me felt like it would be really hard to get a good idea of people in such a short time especially when we only got one individual question. My individual question was “if you could be invisible or fly which would you chose and why?” This threw me off completely, and I answered it in the best way I possibly could but it still felt scary that that was the only question I got to answer individually. As far as people edging you out goes I think that only reflects poorly on them. Personally I think a huge part of the group questions was to see how everyone interacting with one another working as a group because team work is a huge part of nursing, and if they were being over powering ultimately I don’t think that reflects a team player. Keep a positive attitude and remember no matter what happens you should be proud of yourself for getting an interview. I know for me this was my first application and first interview, so all I can do is learn from it if I don’t get accepted. 

Yeah I don't know why I came away from that interview feeling so bad. Perhaps it was partly because I noticed concerning things during the group interview, like that one of the moderators that was there to review us (not the one asking questions) almost never picked her head up from writing, except when one applicant was talking. It made me wonder whats worth writing about if you're not even looking at people. Perhaps I'm just overthinking it all. I do great at one-on-one interviews, but admittedly I'm not great at winning group setting scenarios. It's hard to tell what people want at times. Maybe you're right, maybe the interviewers notice if people aren't being group players and its not purely some personality contest.

The chances of getting in to the program are likely close to 50%, as they have 120 spots available and they said they were interviewing 225 students. I probably have a decent chance and I'm letting group dynamics bother me. It's my first application and interview as well, so maybe its just nerves.

I was only able to apply to this one school because of the school specific prerequisite requirements. Perhaps if I was qualified to apply to multiple programs it wouldn't feel so scary. There was one in the area that required Patho! Most first year nurses take that class. Seems like a good way to prevent everyone from applying to all the regional schools at once.

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Specializes in Pre-Nursing student.
3 hours ago, tryingtimes18 said:

I think it's normal to be critical of ourselves after the fact! 

My group didn't seem that competitive with one another, most of them seemed quiet due to nervousness. I was the most outspoken one in my group and took a natural lead, but I still left my interview feeling like I dominated over the others and maybe even talked too much. 

We're our own worst enemy because I'm sure if I talked less, I'd probably have the same worries that you do. If it's not one thing it's another ?

Think positive thoughts!

Sometimes someone taking the lead can be a huge relief for overly introverted people. I'm always relieved when someone asks a good question in class. Perhaps the interview just had so much riding on it that I couldn't relax. It's hard to tell how important the interview really was or what factors they were judging us on. I guess we'll all find out on the 15th! Fingers crossed that it was much more informal than I'm thinking, and not some kind of sink or swim lightning round. LOL

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This waiting is killing me, can't wait to hear back! Huge week for all of us, hoping for the best. Good luck everyone :D

 

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Specializes in Pre-Nursing student.

They rejected me, not even wait list.

I'm going to find a program that actually requires a HESI and apply there. If a 3.65 GPA and 4 medical certifications is a straight NO from them, then I'm sure this school was just the wrong fit for me anyways.

No one should have to worry that simply being nervous in an interview will result in a straight No. The fact that this program only required the Casper test should have been a red flag for me in the beginning. I'll pick better suited programs for me next time. Programs that care about determination and relevant experience.

Good luck to everyone else, I'm sure you all got in.

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Glad to find this page but bummed today to learn I am waitlisted. Honestly, I didn't expect that result, I thought I did very well in the interview along with my group members. I am not giving up hope but and definitely disappointed. Anyone else?!

21 minutes ago, zoneDelta5 said:

They rejected me, not even wait list.

I'm going to find a program that actually requires a HESI and apply there. If a 3.65 GPA and 4 medical certifications is a straight NO from them, then I'm sure this school was just the wrong fit for me anyways.

No one should have to worry that simply being nervous in an interview will result in a straight No. The fact that this program only required the Casper test should have been a red flag for me in the beginning. I'll pick better suited programs for me next time. Programs that care about determination and relevant experience.

Good luck to everyone else, I'm sure you all got in.

I am so sorry! I too got a disappointing email this evening. I am hoping this is just part of our story and journey. I am already looking for what my plan B is. I wish you all the best!

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