Drexel Ace Fall 2014

[JerseyGirl87]

Hello everyone! JerseyGirl87 here. Is there anyone else out there planning on applying to the Drexel ACE Nursing program for Fall 2014?? I know it's still fairly early - applications aren't due for another six months or so, but I'm still hoping to find some fellow applicants (**fingers crossed**)

A little about me for those of you who may be curious, I'm 25, currently active duty military (deployed at the moment), and have had an interest in the ACE program for a few years. My ultimate goal os to become a Nurse Anesthetist.

Now that I've got less than a year and a half remaining on my military contract, it's time to start planning for what's next. I will be honest in saying that although I've had an interest in the program for quite some time, I am a procrastinator by nature and have not been very diligent in getting my pre-requisites completed. Part of it has been procrastination, and part of it has been a lack of time energy due to military and volunteer obligations, and other personal activities. So anyways, now I'm buckling down on getting my degree and other pre-requisites completed, with a goal of having them all completed by the application deadline - I know that this is not a requirement, but I'd like to give myself the most competitive edge possible in what seems every year to be such an enormous pool of applicants. With just over six moths to spare, it will be difficult (especially during a deployment), but I'm determined to get it done.

Here's a rundown of my progress, I encourage you to share yours as well...

Bachelors Degree - In Progress

-BA in Liberal Studies from Thomas Edison State College

-16 Semester Hours Remaining

-Remaining courses in progress and to be completed on June 22nd 2013; Expect to graduate in September 2013

Pre-requisites

-English Composition (3) - Completed (William Paterson University)

-English Literature (3) - Completed (William Paterson University)

-Chemistry (4) - To be Completed in July 1st-September 1st 2013 (Rio Salado College)

-Sociology (3) - To be Completed via CLEP Exam (GREAT CLEP study resource: InstantCert)

-Introductory Psychology (3) To be Completed via CLEP Exam (Received a C- freshman yr.)

-Developmental Psychology (3) - Completed (West Virginia University)

-A&P I (4) - To be Completed April 1st-June 22nd 2013 (Thomas Edison State College)

-A&P II (4) - To be Completed July 1st-September 22nd 2013 (Thomas Edison State College)

-Microbiology (4) - To be Completed July 1st-October 1st 2013 (Rio Salado College)

-Ethics (3) - To be Completed via DSST/DANTES Exam

-Computer Applications (3) - Completed (Thomas Edison State College)

-Statistics (3) - To be completed via DSST/DANTES Exam

-Human Nutrition (4) - To be completed July 1st-September 1st 2013

**Drexel's Human Nutrition Requirement is only 3 semester hours**

44 credits in 6 months. Quite a task. But I figure if I can't pull it off, then I don't have any business attempting to make it through the ACE program anyway...

Questions to you all to satisfy my curiosity...

What is your current professional field?

Why Drexel?

Do you have educational goals beyond your BSN?

Are you currently located in the Philadelphia area, or elsewhere?

If accepted to Drexel, how will you be financing your education?

Looking forward to your responses!

-JerseyGirl87

[awills710]

@nadahin I'm hoping to start spring 2014 too.

[tracyslei]

@awills710 when did you apply and what are your stats? when did you hear back you got in?

[ogoz]

Hi everyone,

I found out today that I have been accepted to the ACE program for Fall 2014. My application was completed in early October. A little about my stat, I graduated from Stony Brook with a BS in biology and my overall gpa is 3.4. I still have anp 1&2, Micro lab, and develop. psy left to complete. I don't know what else to say, but if you guys have any questions, feel free to ask. Also, Congrats to those who has been accepted, can't wait to meet you all. I wish the best luck to those who are still waiting.

[tracyslei]

Congrats ogoz!! At least one of us has heard back! lol

[ogoz]

@ tracyslei

Thanks. Hope you'll hear back soon.

Hey jff57, Did u go to the info session for accepted student? If you did, is it okay for you just give a brief overview of the info session? Thanks.

[jjf57]

I am a senior at the University of Pittsburgh and wasn't willing to miss two full days of classes to make the trip to Philly. So, unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it. I did, however, email Evan and he shared with me the powerpoint used during the presentation.

[Lexicon]

@Jjf57- Would you mind e-mailing the powerpoint to me since I couldn't go either? :)

[futurenurse255]

@Jjf57- I am also a senior at The Florida State University and was unable to miss class for the orientation. Is there anyway you could send me the powerpoint as well?

[klp1886]

Hi ogoz, Lexicon, and futurenurse255,

I attended the information session for accepted students & we didn't see a power-point presentation but we got a tour of the labs we will be using (very nice by the way), and they provided us with information about the program. We also had a Q&A session so that was helpful.

[ogoz]

Hi klp1886,

Do you mind sharing a little more info about the program? and possibly some important Q&As when you get a chance please. Thank you so much.

I looked on the event list and it seems like there isn't any more info session for accepted students until next year.

[klp1886]

@ogoz, no problem!

They gave us an idea of what our schedule will be like (they pick the schedule & clinical places). We will be on campus Monday & Tuesday for class usually from 8-430. Then about two weeks after we start the program we will go to clinical which can be anywhere in the region (the farthest place is 35 miles from Philly). Clinical will be either Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday OR Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday. This will change each quarter. Clinical hours can be as early as 6:30am or 7:00am or start as late as 2:30pm and are typically 6 1/2 hours long. There are about 6-8 other students in clinical with us.

We are on a quarter schedule & classes are 10 weeks long (midterm at 5 weeks & final exam at 11 weeks) then get a 1 week break in between quarters.

I believe we are required to have an ipad (or something like an ipad) & all of our books are electronic. If the person prefers a hard copy of the copy they can buy that instead. We will be taking hesi tests throughout the program which help us move on to the next quarter & prepares us better for the nclex.

We will have an all day orientation about 2 weeks before classes begin (classes begin the 3rd week in September usually).

We are required to have a series of shots & fingerprints before we can do clinical. The hep B shots can take a long time to get (series of 3 shots) so they recommended we started them as soon as we can.

Tuition right now is about 43,000 but this doesn't include books (they said e-books can be around $500 but probably more than that), uniforms, student fees. They said the most they have seen people receive from federal loans is $12,000, and most people pay the rest with private loans or through parents/relatives. Also, for health insurance they said if we decide to use Drexel's health insurance then that will be included in the tuition. But, if we use our own we have to contact whoever is in charge of health insurance at Drexel to make sure you tell them you have your own or you will be charged.

We got to tour the labs we will be using & they are equipped with cameras & microphones so we can be recorded & go back and see on video our strong points/mistakes. They hire actors as "patients" who act as if they have some type of health problem & we have to treat them depending on their case.

Ok, so I just wrote a book. Sorry so long, but I hope some of this helped! Let me know if you have anymore questions & maybe I can help.

[terpnurse]

@klp1886 Thanks so much for the information! I'm Brittney currently at the university of md, college park. Anxiously waiting for my decision!