FAU Accelerated BSN 2011

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Hi I was a current male physical therapy student disappointed with my career choice with a burning passion to be more involved with medicine and taking care of patients. I realized that nursing was a better avenue for what I wanted to do in life (I didn't care to get patients up and walk them, I'd rather be more involved with medical treatment). So I applied to FAU's accelerated BSN program hoping to be accepted for MAY 2011!!! I will be taking a few more pre-reqs at palm beach state college and hope to hear the good news in February.

Any one else apply?? :coollook:

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I applied to FAU's ABSN program. I am going down to the Boca Raton area next week to take a look around and find out if I like the area. I am also applying to UCF and USF. Are you applying anywhere besides FAU?

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I too am a rehab student disappointed with my career choice. Rehab has nothing to do with medicine, in fact it's glorified teaching and should be marketed as such to prospective students. Anyway I also need information about how to make this career switch. I have one year left for my masters in speech (my externship). So I have to finish ... not so much for myself but more for the people around me to helped get my through it (parents, spouse etc.) ---- I have a few questions for you. Why did you chose ABSN over just an RN? The cost is significantly more. After finishing a doctorate in PT you can't possibly qualify for additional financial aid ... could you? Also what do you think about the pace of learning? Do you think you will benefit from such a pace or are you just trying to get it over with and hope to learn on the job? Hope these questions aren't rude. I just thought that because we are coming from such a similar place, you may have also contemplated these questions.

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I applied to FAU's ABSN program. I am going down to the Boca Raton area next week to take a look around and find out if I like the area. I am also applying to UCF and USF. Are you applying anywhere besides FAU?

I live south of boca raton and I really love it here. If I don't get into FAU (since I would live at home and go there) I will be applying to UF and USF for the Fall terms. I went to UF as an undergrad, it's an amazing school and I received a top notch education there. Their nursing school is really great too but I would have to take the GRE again, I only got a 1140 and don't think that's competitive enough according to the admissions counselor. And USF I know also has a great program but I can't apply for it until I finish my two pre-reqs.

I too am a rehab student disappointed with my career choice. Rehab has nothing to do with medicine, in fact it's glorified teaching and should be marketed as such to prospective students. Anyway I also need information about how to make this career switch. I have one year left for my masters in speech (my externship). So I have to finish ... not so much for myself but more for the people around me to helped get my through it (parents, spouse etc.) ---- I have a few questions for you. Why did you chose ABSN over just an RN? The cost is significantly more. After finishing a doctorate in PT you can't possibly qualify for additional financial aid ... could you? Also what do you think about the pace of learning? Do you think you will benefit from such a pace or are you just trying to get it over with and hope to learn on the job? Hope these questions aren't rude. I just thought that because we are coming from such a similar place, you may have also contemplated these questions.

I can't agree more. With a rehab degree there is only so much you can do and you receive way too much education. I was actually only in the PT program for a semester and realized it wasn't what I had a passion for so I withdrew and I went to a state school so it was really cheap. I want to do the ABSN because I feel I can handle it and would love to work sooner than later. Plus, I hear BSNs are more likely to be hired than ADN's but I don't know how true that is. Also I plan to pay for the ABSN out of pocket or get loans if I need too. A DPT program is an average of 60K and some even 150K just for tuition so the ABSN doesn't seem so expensive to me. I do hope to learn on the job and I feel like I can learn a lot of information in a little amount of time so that would benefit me in passing the NCLEX for if I did it in two years I might forget what I learned from year 1, I may not though. Good luck to both of you. Also Taylor if you have any questions about FAU or the boca area let me know. Good luck and I am praying to be part of the FAU ABSN class of 2011!!:clpty:

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I have been debating on whether to apply to UF as well, but I just have not been able to make up my mind. I know that UF is supposed to have a good nursing program, and I really like that they are affiliated with a teaching hospital, but I have not taken the GRE yet. I really don’t know if I would score well enough if I did take it. I am comfortable studying for the math, but the vocab seems daunting. I would rather be spending my spare time reviewing anatomy and physiology than studying for the GRE. I am going to take a look at Gainesville next week as well, and that will hopefully help me make my decision. Also, I have a family, so I am a little concerned about Gainesville being more of a college town and not being very family friendly.

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I have been debating on whether to apply to UF as well, but I just have not been able to make up my mind. I know that UF is supposed to have a good nursing program, and I really like that they are affiliated with a teaching hospital, but I have not taken the GRE yet. I really don't know if I would score well enough if I did take it. I am comfortable studying for the math, but the vocab seems daunting. I would rather be spending my spare time reviewing anatomy and physiology than studying for the GRE. I am going to take a look at Gainesville next week as well, and that will hopefully help me make my decision. Also, I have a family, so I am a little concerned about Gainesville being more of a college town and not being very family friendly.

My experience of Gainesville is that Shands was a top notch hospital (I volunteered there for physical therapy) and that the town had everything. A ton of apartments near the school but also a lot of housing and communities on the outskirts. It's definitely not as nice as boca but also not as expensive as boca. I personally fill it would be better for a family to be in Gainesville then Boca Raton. Gainesville has some of the best schools in the state with excellent teachers as most are UF education grads. Boca Raton just has a lot of spoiled rich kids so it can be hard going to school at say Spanish River High when everyone has BMW's and Lexus as their cars. The GRE is a very hard and expensive test. I received over a 700 on the math but the verbal was killer even though I studied very hard for it. What is your top choice of the three?

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Thank you for the info, I appreciate it. It is funny you mention the spoiled teenagers because we actually have those in the town we live in now! I catch the teens who work at my daughter's gym talking about their expensive vehicles from time to time. We do eventually want to end up in the Orlando area, so if I am accepted to FAU we would most likely only be in the area temporarily. My first choice is pretty much a toss up between UCF and FAU. Both schools have good qualities that are different. Also, both areas seem to have good gymnastics clubs and nanny services for my daughter, so I think either one would work out well. My husband travels a lot for his job, so I need to make sure I have a lot of resources in the area, which was one of my concerns about Gainesville. It is a shame you won't be able to apply to USF yet because of the pre-reqs. I think you would have had a good shot of getting in there with your volunteer and pt experience.

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Thank you for the info, I appreciate it. It is funny you mention the spoiled teenagers because we actually have those in the town we live in now! I catch the teens who work at my daughter's gym talking about their expensive vehicles from time to time. We do eventually want to end up in the Orlando area, so if I am accepted to FAU we would most likely only be in the area temporarily. My first choice is pretty much a toss up between UCF and FAU. Both schools have good qualities that are different. Also, both areas seem to have good gymnastics clubs and nanny services for my daughter, so I think either one would work out well. My husband travels a lot for his job, so I need to make sure I have a lot of resources in the area, which was one of my concerns about Gainesville. It is a shame you won't be able to apply to USF yet because of the pre-reqs. I think you would have had a good shot of getting in there with your volunteer and pt experience.

Yeah it seems like UCF would be a great school for you to attend as you wouldn't have to move again as you would already be in Orlando. I know that Gainesville is centrally located, about an hour to the east for jacksonville and st. augustine and tampa on the west but traveling those distances can be arduous. I really wish FGCU had an accelerated BSN program because the fort myers and naples area is really beautiful! Good luck to you in the application process. As for now, it's a matter of playing the waiting game. You seem very nice and I hope when the time comes you make the appropriate decision. Hope the time goes by fast :)

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Thank you, good luck to you as well!

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FGCU has just announced an ABSN program. They don't have all the details up yet but they are taking applications starting May 2011 for Spring 2012 admission.

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That's really cool news about FGCU. I really like FGCU's location. However, all my money is in FAU because of where I live. I hope these two months go by fast so I can find out if I was accepeted!!

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I cannot wait to know if I was admited or not. For the people interested in this thread, Please post your comments about application process, GPA'S, HESI scores,and let us know when you receive your decision letters. Thanks!

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