Emory University BSN/BSN 2nd Degree, Fall 2012 Applicants

karczyn2 · Jan 30, 2012

It all depends :-/. I know we have one person in our class come off and was accepted with a week and a half to go before school started. Hang in there and don't be afraid to keep calling and asking them.

karczyn2 · Jan 30, 2012

It all depends :-/. I know we have one person in our class come off and was accepted with a week and a half to go before school started. Hang in there and don't be afraid to keep calling and asking them.

ayti · Jan 30, 2012

@ karcyn2 thanks for responding to my questions.For the check offs what I mean is how many attempts are you allowed to test for skill?eg health assessment skill.I have always studied alone for the most part, but i am open to our study group is huge! How does it work? Does everyone do independent reading and then get together to discuss?

ayti · Jan 30, 2012

@karcyn2 typing from my phone incidentally hit reply button. I meant to say your study group is huge, how do you all pull it off? I am open to study group if that is what will help me succeed. Thanks

karczyn2 · Jan 30, 2012

@ayti,

For the checkoffs we had two chances. That was for both health assessment and clinical nursing (nursing skills). I will be honest in that a few people had to use their second chance, but I do not know of anyone who missed both. The checkoffs are a lot to prepare for, but by no means should be too hard if you pay attention in lab.

Our group is good size, but we definitely make it work. There are huge study rooms here at Emory's main library and we check them out for about five hours and just review review review.

They way we prepare depends on the class. For pharmacology we typically don't review any special way. We come in with whatever knowledge we have at that point. Then we go through all the drugs for the next test by writing everything we know about them out on the dry erase board. What makes us successful is that we know each others strengths and weaknesses in group learning. Some of us are great at leading the discussion, some are better are asking the hidden questions, and others are great at checking the facts.

If we are studying for something like health assessment then we typically assign each other a chapter and do the reading prior to meeting. Then, when we go over that particular section/chapter that person will lead the study session.

When we are studying for clinical we typically hook our computers up to the big television screen and put practice tests up on the screen, sit back, and just answer test questions as a group. After each question we go over the rationale.

The best thing about having a group is that it makes studying for several hours much more bearable. We make it fun and it's something we look forward to. Every group has their own methods, but you have to make it work for you.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.

danceluver · Jan 30, 2012

@karczyn2:

As a BSN 2nd degree student or bsn/msn segue student, are we eligible to apply for positions like TAs or GRAs in other departments (like from our undergrad degree, research etc) to help pay for tuition? (because we already have a degree?)

Are there any commitments on weekends?

Do you know anything about the MSN program (questions to follow if you do :) )

karczyn2 · Jan 30, 2012

@danceluver,

I want to say yes you can, but I am not 100% sure as I do not participate in any work study or similar positions. The link on the Emory financial aid page may be of some help. I will try to find out in the meantime.

Student Employment

I do not know a lot about the MSN program. Sorry . You may still ask and I'll do my best to answer or find out for you.

crjohnson10210 · Jan 30, 2012

@karczyn2

I've loved reading all of your posts! Thanks for being so willing to tell us about your experience so far! I have a degree already as well, and have applied to the 2nd degree BSN program. If you don't mind, what were your TEAS scores and GPA when you applied? My GPA for my first degree was 3.78, my TEAS score is a 90.6, and so far I've made all A's in my pre-reqs. Do you think it will hurt my chances since I haven't completed all of my pre-reqs yet? (I'll be finished by the time I enroll...if accepted). Thanks!

karczyn2 · Jan 30, 2012

Hey crjohnson10210,

Glad you enjoyed reading those long posts :). Always happy to help someone who is in the same position I once was.

My GPA from my undergrad was 3.32. Not outstanding, but enough to stay competitive. I also completed a post-bacc program at UC Berkeley and finished with a 3.9. When I finished all my prereqs at Shoreline Community College in Seattle I had something like a 3.8 for prereqs. My TEAS scores were, eh. I had an 83.3%. We were not required to take the TEAS to get in, but had to once we were which was kind of weird. They used it to see where we stood and to use it as a reference to help students if they needed it. At least that's what I was told. I didn't study at all for the TEAS and didn't really know what was on it until two days before I took the test. I just woke up and took it. :) I don't think it is required for entrance for your class either based on what I read on the website so I wouldn't worry about it at all.

Assuming you don't have like five classes to finish, then I KNOW your chances aren't hurt. I was in the same position. I just had to send my transcripts after I finished the class. There had to be at least 50 of us in our class in the same position. Don't sweat it at all.

If you have quite a few classes to take then the only disadvantage would be that they have less to go off of. However, i still don't see it being an issue. From what you told me, though, it seems as if you are a strong candidate. The personal statements and resume do really play an important part in the process. If you are as strong in those as your GPA you have an amazing chance and I wouldn't doubt seeing you next fall. You will then be on your way to being this -> :nurse: .

crjohnson10210 · Jan 30, 2012

thank you for responding! i have 3 pre-reqs to finish, so hopefully that is pretty typical? i am taking all 3 of them this semester, so they will be finished in april. the only thing that really worries me is that i have absolutely no medical background or experience at all. i know a lot of people probably have a lot of medical related experience on their resumes and i don't. i was a teacher, so i never really got the chance to do anything like that. are there any people that you know of in your program that didn't have medical experience prior to admission? i'm just trying to stay positive and know that whatever is supposed to happen, will happen!

karczyn2 · Jan 30, 2012

I think 3 is fine. Which classes are they if you don't mind me asking?

Not having medical related experience doesn't hurt your chances. In fact, there aren't more than 15 of us in 112 who have experience as a tech, phlebotomist, etc. In fact, it is beneficial because you have an unrelated background. Especially teaching because that is such a coveted skill to have in nursing. I'm sure you will rock peds :).

Emory really prides itself on diversity and bringing different perspectives to the program and field. We have a few teachers in our program actually. We also have web developers, returning peace corps members, public health majors, engineers, moms and dads, history majors, and the list goes on. It certainly helps to have at least a volunteer or shadowing experience because it shows that you know a little about what you are getting yourself into, but don't think that you aren't as competitive as any other applicant. We are all unique.

crjohnson10210 · Jan 30, 2012

The three I am in right now are A&P 2, Chem 2, and Human Growth and Development. I got an A in A&P I and Chem 1, so hopefully they can kind of use that to go by. Since I majored in education, I already have tons of other psychologies, so hopefully those will help, too.

That is good to know that there is such a variety of backgrounds represented! I'm sure it's interesting finding out how all those different people arrived at the same place!