Drexel University-ACE Program Fall '09

juniataemt06 · May 7, 2009

The sole reason why I moved into Stiles was convenience. I only have a one block walk to class. Everything's included so I don't have to worry about utilities to pay, etc.

The apartments are pretty small. I live in a 2 bedroom and my room is a 10x10. I was told all rooms are pretty much the same size no matter if you live in a 1,2, or 3 bedroom apartment. Kitchens are decently sized and you have full sized range/oven and refrigerator. (You have to bring everything else--microwave, toaster, coffee maker, etc.) I somehow got a handicapped accessible room so my bathroom seems oversized. I'm not sure what other bathrooms look like to compare mine to!

I was freaking out about the size of my room at first. I thought it was way too small for everything I thought I needed to bring. There are no closets but they do provide a two door armoire or whatever it's called which you can fit a lot into. I went to IKEA to buy everything I needed. I got a nice sized desk, 6 drawer dresser, single bed, bedside table and a decent sized book shelf (which I recommend). I actually still have some room left to walk around haha.

The common area is small but you could easily fit a couch and large tv if you wanted to.

I live on the 7th floor and have a very nice view of center city business district (comcast center, liberty plaza, and of course the hospital. I'm into emergency medicine so I get excited when the aeromedical choppers come in and land on top of the hospital which I get a nice view of. *This all depends on what side of the building you live on. All even numbered apartments have my view (depending on floor obviously). I heard the view out of the other side of the building isn't as nice.

I know there are two or three other ACE students in my quarter that live here. I've seen a lot more ACE'ers that are in their 3rd quarter that live here too.

Overall, the building is VERY quiet. They say it's full with students but walking around you'd never know it. Everyone I guess stays in their rooms and studies all day/night. Never loud and no parties that i've experienced so far. It's pretty much all graduate students, ACE nursing, rad tech, and med students.

http://www.drexel.edu/housing/halls/Stiles/default.asp

Any more questions, just ask!

new1nursebabyea · May 8, 2009

Hi Jo,

Just wanted to add that I commute from Norristown on Septa R6. The first quarter I bought a pass for 146/month. Sometimes I take the bus to the train. Tokens are about 1.50/ride. If I drive to the train, I park for $1. The 2nd and this quarter i bought 10 pass tickets at about 50. My clinicals are all over so I am at school only on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The first semester, there is an advantage to being close to school but afterwards there is little to no advantage commutewise unless you are sent to a clinical that is in center city. So far, I have had one clinical at Hanneman and one at 11th Street Center. The other 5 have been in the suburbs.

Hope this helps in making a decision.

ohhitsjojo · May 8, 2009

Thank you for your responses, you guys have been a big help! =]

I was actually thinking about living on campus, however the price of Stiles was bothering me and also the fact that I had to bring my own furniture. Its good to know that I will only be on campus alot during the 1st quarter...and I have heard that clinicals are all over the place. With the money for housing, I might as well try to invest in a new car instead, lol. Thanks again for your input!

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · May 8, 2009

I live in University City across the river, and can get there easily by public transport. Can't afford a 2nd car and DH uses the car to get to work, so I'll be buddying up with my clinical group for rides when we start getting placed everywhere.

It's a beautiful neighborhood and less expensive than Center City if you do want to live closer.

But honestly? If you have free housing with your parents I would take it and save the money!

lemonsugar · May 18, 2009

Hi everyone,

I'll be graduating next year and would love to apply for Drexel ACE program. Can anyone please tell me when is the best time to apply? I only have to take Micro this summer and will be completed all the pre-reqs but I need to do really well in the fall semester in hope of bringing up the GPA to the 3.0 mark. Will it be too late to apply after the fall semester (around December)? Thanks in advance! :)

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · May 19, 2009

For the following fall or for the spring? Probably too late to apply for the spring, but not too late for the fall. It's past the priority application deadline, but I keep seeing people on the boards here apply late and get accepted, so it seems like it is on a somewhat rolling basis.

Gracefulmic · May 19, 2009

Hello All!

I am in my 3rd Quarter of the ACE program now. Other than getting all the things they require of you done here are a few suggestions from me:

1) Review your A&P as much as humanly possible. They do not review and you need to know whats what. If you went to CCP, there are 2 profs who's teaching at CCP will kill you in this program...if you had them you know this already so REVIEW!

2) Go on to the Drexel Ace page on FB- you will get REAL answers to your questions from actual students dealing with the insanity that is this program. Don't get me wrong it IS 100% do-able..just listen to what we/they have to say.

3) Take a nice, relaxing vacation before you start...if you can give yourself a few wks of from work or school to clear your head and spend time with loved ones.

This is FAST FAST FAST and yes its hard, but you can do it. Like I said if you want more than one perspective on it check out the FB page.

GOod Luck

lemonsugar · May 19, 2009

For the following fall or for the spring? Probably too late to apply for the spring, but not too late for the fall. It's past the priority application deadline, but I keep seeing people on the boards here apply late and get accepted, so it seems like it is on a somewhat rolling basis.

Thanks so much! I'm trying to apply for fall. I still have one more year to go for my current BA. I really want to apply as early as possible but my GPA isn't that impressive right now. Do they really just look into the cumulative GPA in the last 60 credits? In that case my GPA would be much higher (a 3.4). Do you think I'll stand a chance in getting accepted to their ACE program?

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · May 19, 2009

I think prerequisites and last 60 credits are weighed more heavily than overall GPA. My undergraduate GPA was a 2.795, and I got As in all of the prerequisites I took after my degree by the time I applied (both A&Ps, Chem, Dev Psych, Sociology, Nutrition; I had the English and Ethics requirements completed with my previous degree so applied with 9 courses complete). I think that brought my overall cumulative GPA up to a 3.18, but my undergraduate transcript still looked pretty bad.

If you're going to do really well in the fall and will be able to get your final transcripts in soon, it might be worth the gamble to wait to apply until after your fall semester- or at least apply but wait on sending transcripts? I highly recommend going to a Q&A session on the ACE program- it was really helpful in answering a lot of those questions.

juniataemt06 · May 19, 2009

There's always spring semester too. There were 84 of us that started in March. We're down a few people already due to various issues. I think they take around 120 to 130 people in the fall classes.

1caring · Jun 2, 2009

UMDNJ-School of Nursing has a campus across the river in Stratford NJ. It is a 15-month, full time Accelerated BSN with no entrance or exit testing, only prerequisite requirements. Housing is cheaper than in Philadelphia. The program has a 99% pass rate on the NCLEX. Tuition and other costs are very competitive.

new1nursebabyea · Jun 2, 2009

My undergrad did not assess GPA but my graduation thesis was reviewed with highest honors. I earned a masters with a B+ average. My pre-rec classes had a cumulative GPA of about 3.4. Hope this helps in your decision. My classmates here at the Drexel ACE BSN are real go-getters!!!!!!