Did anyone apply to UCLA's MECN Program for Fall 2009?

MisterSimba, BSN · Feb 8, 2009

Good luck guys, I know exactly how you are feeling right now as I was in the same place a year ago. Just an FYI, the program costs approximately $13k for tuition and the financial aid package (including living expenses) cannot exceed around $35k each year, not including summer months. Graduate tuition has increased greater than 50% over the past five years and will continue to increase. The complete cost of financing MECN graduate program is around $70-80k but this does not include additional personal costs you might have like mortgage or childcare, etc. If you decide to go to UCLA, start putting away every dollar possible. A few students work but most cannot because of the intense academic load. Just be realistic about what financial demands you may have while in school! That being said, the MECN program is completely worth it.

70 to 80K???? Seriously? If tuition is @ $13,000 a month and rent is $1,000 a month (that's an estimate), that would be about 50K. Just wondering where the other 20 to 30K comes in?

And where/how did you get financial aid? I need to look into that, as I definitely don't have 70K siting around!

BerryGood30 · Feb 8, 2009

Hi, I just want to clarify, the tuition is $12,438 for the 2008-2009 academic year (see link attached) http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gss/library/0809profresfees.pdf. It is highly likely tuition will increase another 7-10% for next year, so I'm bracing myself for the impact.

Most students finance their graduate degree based on subsidized Stafford Loans (up to 8,000k), Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (up to 12,000k), and the remaining is in Graduate Plus Loans (high APR, interest accrues upon disbursement). Every year the budget is approved for a student depending on general cost of living. This includes, rent, books, test books, equipment and supplies, uniforms, utilities, insurance, fuel, food, and other personal expenses you may have. For this academic year, the total loan package cannot exceed $34k, so subtracting out tuition and professional fees, a graduate student surviving off of loans has approximately 20k to live off of for the academic year. We take classes and have clinicals through the summer months between our first and second year and this spans approximately 10 weeks, which is not included in our academic budget. So if you don't have enough money to cover the summer months while attending classes full time and going to clinicals, you would have to take out another small personal loan to cover the costs of education. For fall quarter, I spent a little over $1000 alone on books, $400 to cover ATI practice tests, and $300 on uniforms and supplies. To get financial aid, you should fill out the FAFSA before March 2nd and also you may be considered for a fellowship or be offered scholarships that can cover all or a portion of your tuition for the first year. We have some private scholarships that are offered to students in the nursing school but they are competitive as well. I think the majority of my classmates have been offered some sort of financial based scholarship so there is some $$ to go around.

Musictonurse, living at home is definitely feasible. We have a group of students that live in the SF Valley and commute as a group together in the morning. They usually stay later or come earlier to campus, but it works out because they just study until traffic dies down. You may be tired but it's doable.

The students in my class fall into one of two categories, they are recent college graduates with limited work experience but a strong academic record and some volunteer experience and the other category are those who have had other careers. We have a former lawyer, administrators, a paramedic, EMTs, teachers, peace corp volunteers, social worker, actor, graphic design artist, surfer, lab researcher, barista, etc. In short, it does not matter what your background is as long as you are willing to study hard, appreciate science and have the heart to practice nursing at the bedside. I think having some background or experience in health care will help, but it is not going to make or break your application. If your prereq grades, letters and statement of interest are strong then that will be weighed heavily too. I know for sure the admissions committee is looking for applicants that are clear about their goals as delineated in their personal statement. I hope this info is helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions.

levoila · Feb 8, 2009

Hi, I just want to clarify, the tuition is $12,438 for the 2008-2009 academic year (see link attached) http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gss/library/0809profresfees.pdf. It is highly likely tuition will increase another 7-10% for next year, so I'm bracing myself for the impact.
Most students finance their graduate degree based on subsidized Stafford Loans (up to 8,000k), Unsubsidized Stafford Loans (up to 12,000k), and the remaining is in Graduate Plus Loans (high APR, interest accrues upon disbursement). Every year the budget is approved for a student depending on general cost of living. This includes, rent, books, test books, equipment and supplies, uniforms, utilities, insurance, fuel, food, and other personal expenses you may have. For this academic year, the total loan package cannot exceed $34k, so subtracting out tuition and professional fees, a graduate student surviving off of loans has approximately 20k to live off of for the academic year. We take classes and have clinicals through the summer months between our first and second year and this spans approximately 10 weeks, which is not included in our academic budget. So if you don't have enough money to cover the summer months while attending classes full time and going to clinicals, you would have to take out another small personal loan to cover the costs of education. For fall quarter, I spent a little over $1000 alone on books, $400 to cover ATI practice tests, and $300 on uniforms and supplies. To get financial aid, you should fill out the FAFSA before March 2nd and also you may be considered for a fellowship or be offered scholarships that can cover all or a portion of your tuition for the first year. We have some private scholarships that are offered to students in the nursing school but they are competitive as well. I think the majority of my classmates have been offered some sort of financial based scholarship so there is some $$ to go around.
Musictonurse, living at home is definitely feasible. We have a group of students that live in the SF Valley and commute as a group together in the morning. They usually stay later or come earlier to campus, but it works out because they just study until traffic dies down. You may be tired but it's doable.
The students in my class fall into one of two categories, they are recent college graduates with limited work experience but a strong academic record and some volunteer experience and the other category are those who have had other careers. We have a former lawyer, administrators, a paramedic, EMTs, teachers, peace corp volunteers, social worker, actor, graphic design artist, surfer, lab researcher, barista, etc. In short, it does not matter what your background is as long as you are willing to study hard, appreciate science and have the heart to practice nursing at the bedside. I think having some background or experience in health care will help, but it is not going to make or break your application. If your prereq grades, letters and statement of interest are strong then that will be weighed heavily too. I know for sure the admissions committee is looking for applicants that are clear about their goals as delineated in their personal statement. I hope this info is helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks for the info BerryGood! So, are the clinicals only in the summer, or also throughout the year? Do you feel that the program offers MECN students sufficient time in a clinical setting?

Thanks for the clarification! I remember reading a few posts by MECN students who were a little disappointed by the way the program is structured. How has your experience been.

Also, do most students live in Westwood? I remember when I was at UCLA the new graduate student housing looked nice--do you know of any students living there? I was thinking about commuting, but if I did I would have to leave early in the morning to avoid the traffic. What is a typical day's schedule like?

Thanks again for any information you can provide!

NSFA08 · Feb 10, 2009

our clinicals start in the spring with mental health. the summer is med surg I & ob; fall is med surg II & peds; winter is public health; spring is our immersion quarter.

people in the program live all over -- from graduate housing, as far south as torrance, as far north/west as simi valley.

due to the immense amount of content that is covered each ten weeks, coupled with all of the papers, many of us have wondered about the lack of hands-on patient contact right away. HOWEVER, both the original class & second year class have assured us that we'll be fine. by the time we hit the floor, we won't just know HOW to do a procedure; we'll know WHY we're doing it, and will be familiar with the evidence that backs it up. remember, we're training to become Clinical Nurse Leaders within a couple of years of when we graduate. knowing skills is only part of the CNL's competency -- being knowledgable of evidence-based protocols is equally important.

as far a "typical day" -- hmmmm... good question. i'll let you know what that looks like when i have one :-)! j/k... seriously, it depends on what's going on in our classes that determines what the day/week will look like. the first quarter, we were in classes 4x/week -- VERY DRAINING!!!! this quarter we're in classes 3x/week and it makes a HUGE difference in the amount of time that we have to devote to studying and writing...

okay, those are my two cents... BerryGood, i'll see you tomorrow :-)! happy studying...

btw, we have TWO midterms tomorrow. yeah, it's a demanding program -- but incredibly worth the effort!

NSFA08 · Feb 10, 2009

p.s... i wish you all all the best in this nursing school application journey. i know it is an anxiety-ridden experience. it's hard to believe it was only last year that i was in your shoes. CONGRATS to those of you who have already been accepted to schools. my hope is that you all get in to the best school for YOU!

levoila · Feb 10, 2009

Thank you so much for the information, NSFA08 and BerryGood30!! Good luck on your midterms tomorrow!!

I feel much better about the MECN program now. I was really worried about the clinicals not starting soon enough, but Spring seems fine. I initially thought that we would only have clinicals in the Summer and that made me feel like it would be enough by the time we finish.

Now I just hope to be accepted!

Good luck, everyone!!

puravida09 · Feb 19, 2009

Thanks for all of that info! very informative. I had one question NSFA08. After graduation of this program, are you able to officially be a CNL? It was interesting to hear that CSUDH has a CNL program, but you aren't officially a CNL after finishing. Their education doesn't meet the requirements, although they are working towards that.

schmooper · Feb 22, 2009

I was wondering...Does this MECN program prepare students to be Clinical Nurse Leaders? or just to take the NCLEX for RN licensure?

MECN2009 · Feb 24, 2009

Hi, I'm just wondering if anyone else received their acceptance?

schmooper · Feb 24, 2009

I have not yet, did you?

nmh586 · Feb 24, 2009

admissions letters are not supposed to be received until next week i thought, have you heard of other people getting theres?

musictonurse · Feb 24, 2009

Yes, it prepares you to be a Clinical Nurse Leader, from what I know. I haven't received anything yet. Please let us know if you get something - by email or snail mail. Does anyone know how the waiting list works? Did they say how many they usually take from it, if any? How long do we have to accept the acceptance, etc.?