Duke ABSN Program Questions! :)

[kellyc11]

Hey all,

I am currently a junior at Virginia Tech and am very interested in Duke's ABSN program! I just wanted to see if anyone could tell me, who's been in the program, applied, or is about to be in the program what they think about it! It seems really great.

One question about the different options there are for the ABSN, language vs. research vs. genome. I just wanted to know if anyone had more info. about the differences since there isn't much about the differences except for the curriculum on their website.

Also, is extremely difficult to get in? I have a 3.63 overall gpa, 3.9 psych major gpa, and a 3.62 bio minor gpa. I have volunteer experience in autistic clinic, research experience, and am currently still volunteering at a hospital near Virginia Tech. I just wasn't sure if there was anything else I should be doing to up my chances of getting in?

One last question, does anyone who has been through the program or is in the program currently have any advice for the future?

Thanks!!!

~Kelly

[the healer's art]

I am in Duke's ABSN program and I LOVE it. I am really glad I chose to go to Duke.

There really isn't a big difference between the three different options. Choose the one that sounds most interesting to you. Everyone takes the same classes, but the research people take one extra research class (3.0 credits) and a 1.0 credit elective. The Spanish people take four 1.0 credit Spanish classes. The genetics people take two 2.0 credit genetics classes, otherwise their classes are the same.

I can't speak to the new curriculum because they haven't talked to us about it at all. But I know they take student feedback really seriously so any changes they make are sure to be beneficial. Maybe they'll talk more about the new curriculum at Duke Days?

I know they look at applicants holistically. It's hard to tell you if you'll get in or not. It's about the overall package, not just raw scores. But of course they want to make sure you'll succeed in such a fast-paced program.

I don't really know how competitive it is to get in. I know there are a lot of people in my class who got into other top programs and chose Duke (over UPenn, Hopkins, Columbia, UNC, etc). When I interviewed for Duke Days it seemed to be everyone's favorite or top choice. I think Dukke might be slightly harder to get into than the other listed schools because Duke's cohort sizes are smaller. Duke, I believe, aims for a class size of 65-75 whereas the other schools were all above 100 (I think Columbia is closer to 190). I think UNC is easier to get into if you're from NC because as a state school they have to accept 2/3 of in-state students.

I really enjoy the small cohort size (I know everyone) and the perks such as free tutoring, a peer mentor, abroad opportunities and super supportive faculty.

Feel free to ask more questions. I hope you get in. I remember the anxiety around applying. Definitely go to Duke Days and visit the other schools you apply to. Visiting campuses really showed me the kind of environment I wanted to be at.

GO DUKE!