Current Drexel ACE'rs

hey justcause...thanks for the reply!! i had called US dept of education...i believe they said the maximum for loans was around the $57,000 bracket...it is a very difficult decision for me due to the responsibilities, as you said you have the same, so i'm sure you understand....if i could pick up a non stressful weekend position it would help, but Drexel does not advise ACE students to be employed, due to the intensity of the program...i will contact them, for more clarification ...good luck to you, and keep us posted!!!

Yeah, from what I'm reading, it's almost 40 hour school weeks (21-23 credit quarters). Two+ days of classes, and then up to 3 full clinical days. I'm not sure when people would find time to work. Especially with studying.

For the private loans, though, I'd be somewhat careful. If you end up with 50k in loans, you'll be paying nearly $600/mo repayment for 20 years (maybe more). If you can manage to scrounge a bit and take out fewer loans, you're probably better off. Just try to remind yourself that you're a starving student.

Loner - great advice... I think scrounging is a good idea.. i also think there is no way you should work in this particular program It will increase your chances of not completing the program and will diminish your sanity.... I'd say sell plasma.... live cheaply and 11 months later get a well paying RN job :)

The school does advise you not to work during the program. Now, some instructors will tell you that you CAN work the first quarter if you have some background in health care, considering it may be a review for you. Also, you are on a more regulated schedule, Monday thru Friday, and usually 8-4, now depending on scheduling you may have a day that is REALLY early, but usually that is the schedule. No weekends in the first quarter, that may change as the time progresses. What I am told is starting second thru fourth quarter, you get Sunday off and one additional day, Monday and Tuesday are lectures...so that gives you an idea. But personally speaking, I don't recommend taking on a job.

My class is encouraged to apply for jobs starting April/May 2009 (I am in the Fall 2008 class, so I am anticipate to graduate Sept 5, 2009). Now, from what I heard, we are allowed to work as a GN for six month during which time we get one attempt at NCLEX to pass it. But generally speaking, you pass HESI, you pass NCLEX. And they start you on HESI early, so by the end you have a good idea what to expect.

Congratulations to all who got in, I hope everything turns out well.

Can current aBSN drexler's provide some feedback:

# of uniform sets required

shoe specs? anything leather and white?

How does this PDA work - are we having to purchase their model or? Is it something we can get as a PDA / Phone plan?

any info on how likely housing is at Stiles Hall?

any other equipment recommendations?

Thanks!!!

I would suggest buying 2 sets of scrub pants, 2 scrub tops, & 1 lab coat. You will have clinical 3 days a week throughout most of the program. One set is never enough, & 3 is overkill. By the end of the program they will be faded, stained, & you may just burn them like some of my classmates did...don't spent too much money if that might be the case. However, the lab coat will be worn for some lab experiences, or extra pockets, but will spend most of your stay at Drexel hidden under a pile in the depths of your bedroom closet.

As for the shoes, anything leather & white works. You'll want to be able to wipe them off with a Clorox wipe or something of that nature if blood, urine, BM, or anything else gets on them. Some people even wore Crocs, but eventually faced a clinical where either the professor or hospital requested that they not be worn...so I wouldn't suggest that. Some students in my class wore plain white Nike, Reebok, or New Balance sneakers, some wore Dansko Professionals, and others wore NurseMates. Nobody was given a problem for wearing any of those.

The PDA is provided to you at your orientation. The memory card with programs already included is given to you during either your 1st or 2nd week of school, which is when everyone is taught how to install the programs on your PDA & begin to use them. The PDA, memory card & programs are included in your tuition & fees (not optional) so I'd suggest not buying your own prior to the program...or you'll end up paying twice. Some people were forced to replace theirs when the one provided by the school was either lost, stolen, or damaged beyond repair. That is the only time that I'm aware of that anyone went out on their own & purchased one that differed from the one that the school had provided...& only because the one the school provides is an EXPENSIVE model to replace.

I cannot offer any info about Stiles other than some of my classmates did live there & seemed to like the convenience, as it's less than a block from most classes. I don't remember hearing that any of my classmates that wanted to live there had a problem getting housing there.

I would suggest purchasing a decent stethoscope for clinicals. I found the one provided by the school to be awful, as did my lab instructors first quarter who could not understand why we were having problems taking blood pressures. Then she tried our stethoscopes & told us we "cheaped out," which we explained to her was actually Drexel who "cheaped out." However, you will use a dual sided stethoscope for check-outs that is only slightly better than the one provided by the school. Some of my classmates did successfully managed to use the one provided by Drexel throughout the program, though. As for any other equipment, I suggest a penlight & little notepads to write down patient info during clinical. They fit nicely in your pocket.

If I think of anything else, I'll be sure to add it.

~Cathy :heartbeat

Is anyone still waiting to hear on Fall 09 acceptance? I haven't heard anything yet, but my transcripts didn't get to them until about a week after the priority deadline.

Is anyone still waiting to hear on Fall 09 acceptance? I haven't heard anything yet, but my transcripts didn't get to them until about a week after the priority deadline.

The Priority Deadline was October 15th. I think they make decisions 4-6 weeks (generally) after that deadline. Add 2-3 days for mail, and.. well, I figure the first letters may be arriving this week.

My acceptance came about 9 weeks after I applied (and my transcripts missed the deadline).

Is anyone still waiting to hear on Fall 09 acceptance? I haven't heard anything yet, but my transcripts didn't get to them until about a week after the priority deadline.

I just received probably the thinnest envelope in America yesterday from Drexel and my heart literally sunk. It turns out they're reviewing my application. I actually have a student number...so that's somewhat encouraging.

Actually, you don't have to buy stethoscope anymore. My class got the decent ones. They knew about the horrible stethoscopes, and this time around bought nicer ones. Now, they are not the best out there, but definate suffice...A LOT better than the school dual stethoscopes. Keep in mind, if you are listening to BP or anything like that in your first quarter, you WILL test out on a dual stethoscope shared with a faculty. Those are AWFUL, so if you are used to the great one you paid a lot of money for...at least practice on the crappy one so you can actually test out.

Penlight, the list school gave actually requires one...you CAN go and get one, most of my classmates and I did. But when you get your kits, you will end up getting one in there. They will provide most of the equipments, and there apparently is an upgrade.

I am actually finishing up my first quarter at Drexel...and for the first quarter, one set of scrubs will probably suffice, I did it with one...but I did go out and buy a second set for the winter quarter.

Good luck,

XLford, awesome info, ty.

Basically - what would you suggest a new student driving across country purchase prior to his/her arrival?

It sounds like I need 1x set of Drexel uniforms and a computer.

Anything else?

I haven't received anything from the school yet... I'm assuming all of the books are readily available and everything else might be provided upon arrival...I'd appreciate any additional info, thanks!

Buy uniform early, when I started in Sept, a lot of the students ordered late and didn't have uniform until the third week of class...not a good first impression.

The books...are readily available, if you don't mind paying the bookstore price...Otherwise, once you get settled, you can order them online, in the meantime use the library's.

Uniform wise, they will tell you to buy a lab coat...(you can...it's NOT required). They will tell you to buy bandage scissors as a part of the uniform list...I haven't used mine this quarter at all, unless you can get one cheap...I'd hold off on that. They will also tell you to buy goggles...that's up to you, so far I haven't used mine this year. Name tag seems to be optional, but that depends on you clinical faculty. The school will tell you where to get your uniform, so do go out there to buy it now, except the shoes, you are on your own there.

Other than that, not much. BUT, if you are not great at math...Drexel does require you to pass a med math test your first quarter in, and by passing it's 90%...so, if you are not great at it...go get the "Calculate with Confidence" 4th edition by Deborah Gray Morris and start working on it. (I wouldn't buy it, your local college library should have it if they have a nursing/medical program... or some other kind of book similar to it) That is the one Drexel uses...and it's actually pretty easy to work through.

Other than all that, a sense of adventure, a willingness to learn, and ability to go with the flow. Anything else, just ask.