Fall 2010 UCLA MECN applicants share your comments/concerns

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Just a reminder for whoever interested in applying to fall 2010 UCLA MECN program, the deadline is Nov. 2, 2009.

Let me share my story. I mailed my application to UCLA SON two weeks ago via certified mail. I thought I could track my package on USPS website. However, it only showed that the postal service received my package and there was no more further info regarding the arrival at UCLA. I panicked and called the USPS three times with three different phone #s. And I went to my local postal office to recall my package. NO LUCK. They told me to call PO with 90095 zip code. Finally, I talked to the right person who worked in the Village postal in Westwood. He said UCLA had its own postal service system and it did not conform any kind of mailing. I was sort of relief that knowing my package was with UCLA SON. This is my first time applying to MECN. Anyone who is re-applicant out here, do you mind share your previous experience with UCLA-MECN?

Tokebi211

Wow, thanks so much. This may save me a lot of time!

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Specializes in Hem/Onc/BMT.

You're welcome, NP to be.

Watch out, though. It seems you still have to show up for the final exam. If it's possible, however, I really, highly recommend this professor's epi class. I had signed up thinking it'll be an interesting elective -- I wasn't exactly planning on applying for MECN -- but ended up with an intense interest in the field by the end and decided that I want to work in public health. :D

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Vicb-

I also still have to take Chem this summer. My only option is to take it at a community college, since if I took it at UCLA extension, I would have to do 3 quarters... and wouldn't be done in time to start MECN in the fall!

I'm planning on trying Santa Monica, Los Angeles Valley College and Pierce College, since I live within 20 min (without traffic) of each. None of the schools have posted their summer schedules yet. Hopefully all the summer session start dates will differ so I'll have a chance to crash just in case. Even if you don't get in during online registration, I've always found that if I show up I usually get in.... even though its way more stressful.

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Vicb - Thank you for the info on UCLA's decision date. Regarding the Epidemiology class, I believe the dates/times are out already on the UCLA's summer session website. If I'm not mistaken, Epidemiology 100* is listed as TWR 5-8:30pm and Nursing 50 is listed as MR 8:30am to 10:50am. *The MECN Approved Epidemiology Courses lists Epidemiology 100A as being the approved course, so I'll have to find out if 100 is the same or equivalent to 100A. Seems like it would be.

Vicb and Cstark - regarding Chemistry, I'm taking Chemistry 51 at La Trade Tech (downtown LA) right now. It's not ideal but it was the only place I could get in to (with no priority) so I recommend trying LATTC. I think I applied to all nine LA community colleges just for Chemistry 51. Make sure you get your prerequisites cleared before registration because some of the LA community colleges have one and some don't for chem 51.

NP to be - I live in LA...I have no plans on moving any closer to UCLA yet since I'm on the waitlist. I attended UC Berkeley for my undergraduate studies though, and I've heard good things about the public health classes. When I attended, a lot of the larger classes were webcast so even though a class is not listed as online, you might ask the department if there are any plans for it to be podcast or webcast.

Tokebi - Thank you for the info on epi course! Really good to know.

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congrats to all of you who've been admitted for the fall :yeah:.... as far as Epi goes, i suggest contacting Student Affairs re: their suggestion. the suggestion that i received was to take it through the School of Nursing, so i did (and passed successfully). while i do know a couple of ppl who took and passed Epi 100, i do know that one person who was admitted to my cohort did not pass the online version, and could not enroll into the program as a result. from what i understand, the online version of Epi 100 is based solely on the grade that you receive on your final. you should really think about the risk that you are taking by relying on one grade--especially if epidemiology is new to you, and are unfamiliar with how the professor tests. i hope this is helpful to you...

to the person who was admitted to the MECN program, but is considering declining so that you can apply to UCSF... my :twocents: is that you enroll where you know you've been admitted. as you know, admission to nursing school is sooooooooooo competitive, and you are really gambling by waiting an entire year to apply somewhere else. half of your program would be complete at UCLA by the time you begin at UCSF--assuming you are admitted, of course. becoming an NP is still a possibility after the MECN program. you may need to work a year before applying to an NP program, but you can still realize that goal nonetheless. just really think about it before you tell UCLA "no thanks". i hope this is helpful to you as well...

to everyone who wasn't admitted. be encouraged, and hold fast to your goals :redbeathe...

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Hmm... that is not good news about Chemistry and LA community colleges :uhoh3:

Thanks for the suggestion though... I may have to beg and plead professors this summer to let me in. Should be fun!

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Thanks to everyone for your feedback on chemistry classes. I'm starting to get nervous that I won't be able to get into a class over the summer! I'll definitely look into the LA community colleges. Was the LATT class hard to get into?

NSFA, do you recommend taking Epi through the nursing program rather than Epi 100? Is one easier than the other?

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NSFA, thank for you the info Epi 100.

Vicb, the La Trade Tech chemistry class was not hard to get into because I had no priority (had never taken a class there) and I was able to register and get in. It was the last open section out of maybe 4 or 5 sections at LATTC. All the ELAC sections were already full. For LATTC, I just had to submit my transcripts showing that I cleared the prerequisite, I think it was a basic math class. I am confident that you and Cstark will be able to get into Chemistry 51 at one of the Los Angeles Community Colleges it's offered at, it just might not be your first choice campus or your first choice section. The LA Community Colleges website lets you search all nine campuses for the class you want http://www.lacolleges.net/class_offerings/schedules.asp . I just checked the site and the summer listings aren't up yet, but I would check back frequently and register at the schools you're interested in ASAP for summer so you can get an earlier registration date.

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Thanks SRL! The locations actually really work well for me. One last question for you.... Do I need to apply to each of their nine schools (just in case)?

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SRL656, I saw that CHEM 51 at LATTC is introductory chemistry. Wouldn't you need another chem course to fulfill organic and biochemistry requirements? Are you taking that over the summer?

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Thanks to everyone for your feedback on chemistry classes. I'm starting to get nervous that I won't be able to get into a class over the summer! I'll definitely look into the LA community colleges. Was the LATT class hard to get into?

NSFA, do you recommend taking Epi through the nursing program rather than Epi 100? Is one easier than the other?

i recommend it... but check with Student Affairs to make sure nothing has changed in the last two years.

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roborant, Chem 51 is an introductory chemistry course but it's an introduction to General, Organic, and Biochemistry. It seems completely general to me right now, however, it is listed on the MECN Approved Chemistry Courses handout that I got at the info session. The handout is also on the MECN website. I used this handout to determine what class to take. Chemistry 51 is listed for LACC, Pierce College, LA Southwest, La trade tech, and LA valley college. Chemistry 51 and 52 is listed for LA mission college and Chemistry 66 is listed for LA Harbor College.

Vicb, yes you do need to register for each of the nine LA campuses but it's the same website and same online forms. It's very easy to do, you just need to click through all the online forms again and change the school you're applying to.

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