Duke ABSN Spring 2015

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Anyone else applying to Duke's ABSN program for Spring 2015? As we're approaching the application deadline, I thought it would be great to get a conversation started. If anyone is currently in the program, I would love to hear your thoughts about the program as well.

Congratulations to everyone that was accepted! I am currently in the program. I know of a few people in my cohort who were able to get scholarships outside of Duke, so I would start searching now. Duke does provide some links on their financial aid website of places to search. Since I know the costs to attend is a huge concern for many I am posting a letter from the Fall 2013 (pg. 20) thread. While not everyone talks about their financial situation it get the impression most people have to take out private loans.

I emailed FinAid about loans and I copied the response below.....

The ABSN program is considered an undergraduate program for federal purposes. This means that ABSN students are subject to the undergraduate federal loan limits. Students who are classified as dependent on the FAFSA application are eligible to receive $5,500 in subsidized federal loans and $2,000 in unsubsidized loan. Students who are classified as independent on the FAFSA application are eligible to receive $5,500 in subsidized federal loans and $2,000 in unsubsidized loan. These maximums are for the entire academic year which means they are evenly divided across fall/spring/summer or spring/summer whichever time a student begins the program. We do consider all students for the need based grant that the School of Nursing offers. This grant is based on the FAFSA calculations and eligibility will be determined at the time we package students. The grant amount is $2,250 per semester for the duration of the ABSN program which is 4 semesters. Because the ABSN program is fairly expensive, students who have no other resources must take out private loans to cover their tuition and living expenses. If you do not have a co-signer or established credit, then it’s best to not start the program until you are able to secure a private loan for the four semesters on your own or find a co-signer. Below is a link to our website with the costs of the ABSN program for 2012-2013. The tuition increases every year and we will know the new rates for 2013-14 by late March. http://nursing.duke.edu/sites/default/files/financial_aid/absn_2012-2013_coa07242012.pdf If you are interested in applying for financial aid, the link below contains the instructions. Apply for Aid | Duke School of Nursing If you would like to contact private lenders about possible funding, the link below contains a list of recommended private lenders. Duke Financial Aid: Recommended Lenders You also should check your federal loan history if you have taken out loans for undergraduate studies. There are maximum limits on how much a student can borrow. Below is a link to the federal website to check your loan history. National Student Loan Data System for Students

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Has anyone else still not heard a thing (email or portal announcement)? It is disappointing that I have to make assumptions about admissions decisions from an online forum rather from Duke directly.

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Has anyone else still not heard a thing (email or portal announcement)? It is disappointing that I have to make assumptions about admissions decisions from an online forum rather from Duke directly.

Please contact Nora directly about your admission.

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Hi all. I spoke to Nora this morning and she said that they have not a decision ready for me so as soon they make a decision they will post it.

On my applicant self service it says "Decision not ready". I don't what else to say except that everyone knows if they got in and I am in lmbo.

BlueDevilNC, this is my second time applying to this institution and I just feel that I am clutching at straws. I hope by this week I get an answer.

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I did not get an answer yet for my admission. It just says "Decision not Ready". :(

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BlueGirl17, I sincerely hope that your application (because you're a a reapplicant) wasn't one that fell through the cracks, as I've heard of happening in the past where applications were NEVER reviewed and completely skipped over because of human error. :unsure:

I was accepted and STILL my portal has yet to change. While I got the e-mail about my acceptance, it was informal and not what the formal acceptance letter will read when and if that ever becomes available to me. Acceptance letters should contain info about our deposits, financial aid package dates (should be ~2 weeks from our acceptance date; roughly falls around Duke Days dates), etc. So, in a way, you're in the same boat as us who have been accepted and are not yet privy to this information. You've just got a lot more sweating it out to do, along with anixon.

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Yeah I just checked mine again and it says "Decision Not Ready" as well

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I just received my decision. I didn't get accepted. I am just keep checking out other nursing programs while I apply for work in a hospital. I know I will be accepted elsewhere. It's just sucks after a applying to go from wait-listed to being denied. It hurts :(.

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Sorry to hear that bluegirl. Did Nora call or email you or was your portal updated?

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I'm sorry Bluegirl. I know that's really disappointing.

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Ahhh, I'm sorry Bluegirl. You do have to remember that each cohort is looked at differently. Just because you got in one round and deferred/rejected it, doesn't mean you'd get in next time around. Just like how some students get into Duke but then get rejected from UNC's program. Crazy as it is, nothing is guaranteed. There are often different stakes for different cohorts (different GPAs, work experience criteria, etc).

If you are serious about pursuing a nursing profession, I highly recommend getting your CNA if you haven't already. Many schools (Duke included) don't require you to have it at the time you apply, but some (Wake Tech) do; others like UNC have the CNA built into the program itself but having it already at time of application really makes you stand out as a competitive, serious candidate. Regardless, it's a great way to obtain clinical experience. And if you're like me, finding volunteer or other experience is hard to come by, making the CNA a good route to go. I think that will make you look ever serious about nursing, as well as give you an edge in penning your essays.

Also, don't be discouraged! I got rejected from UNC's BSN program (which I hear only 10% of second-degree seeking students get into anyway, and of which they don't state but they only accept really those who have COMPLETED all pre-reqs with all finalized grades - no in progress classes) and the next hour I was working on my Duke application. So, if you haven't already, get started on that UNC app. It's due August 10 and also has a January matriculation. Things happen for a reason, just remember that! Hope this helps.

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My portal was updated. I am disappointed but at the same time I can't cry about it because I had a feeling about it but I still want to be an RN even if Duke is not the school for me. I believe that it's Duke's loss and another school's gain wherever in NC.

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