GBCON Mercer

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Hi was wondering if anyone applied to mercers nursing program and if they have found out anything. I retake the TEAS tomorrow in hopes of getting accepted. I don't know if there is another post on this, couldn't find one. If so sorry for the repeat. But I am so anxious. I am worried about the teas. I haven't done so well on my other attempts (this is my 3rd try) but hopefully it will work out. Does anyone know roughly what GPA they want/accept? tia!

I have finished all of the prereq's, but one: religion. I am going to take it online through a community college this summer. I'm graduating in May with an Allied Health degree so luckily all of the prereq's, except for religion, were included in my degree plan. Hope you hear good news soon too!

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Hey !

I got accepted to GPC's program for this fall, but still havent heard from Mercer. I do not know what to do if Im accepted to Mercer, which school should I choose? Like GPC will be cheaper, but it is associate degree. Mercer is really expensive, so I would have to get loans...What is better? My ultimate goal is getting my MSN. I can to RN to MSN after GPC, and save my money for Master's.....I am soooooo confused! Any suggestions?

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Did anyone go to the information session on April 1? What did they go over? Also, does anyone know how many students they take for fall and when we should get a response?? I'm really worried because I have to take abnormal psych over the summer if I get accpeted, but classes start on May 9th... I'm hoping I know before then because Mercer is the only school I've applied to who requires it so I'm not going to take it unless I get in!

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Je88

I have to take a political science this summer. I'm still waiting too!! I think they take about 130-140 a year. Maybe today will be the day, right? I'm anxious to get accepted so I can start working on the financial side of things. Good luck to you!

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Well, my advisor emailed me yesterday and said that she is swamped and at this point because they are so close to the final deadline, most people probably won't hear until around May 15th. I swear, part of my soul died when I got that email! ;) I am going to have to find somewhere to take abnormal psych online because my current school doesn't offer it- but classes start before May 15th, so it will be a gamble. If I take it and don't get in, it will have been a waste because none of the other schools I've looked at require it. Ohhhh well. Patience is a virtue, right??

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:):) WooHoo!!! I received my official acceptance from Mercer yesterday!! Can't wait to meet all my fellow classmates! Now time for all the paperwork and praying for scholarships and grants!! Good luck to everyone who is still waiting. Don't lose hope!

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Those of you who haven't heard don't give up. I applied since February and I got wait listed but I got my acceptance letter Thursday June 23rd. It took 4 months but I'm in and I can't wait to start. NEVER GIVE UP!!!

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Specializes in Student nurse and CNA in Georgia.

As a word of advice from previous experience, don't give up hope on acceptance. I was accepted kind of "last minute" for fall 2009 but then I didn't pass one of my pre-requisites & couldn't start then. I re-activated my application & kept in touch w/ my admissions advisor periodically throughout the following year & was accepted again "last minute" for fall 2010. I didn't have the best grades, although I had an average TEAS score. I am now entering my senior year (go Class of 2012!!) this fall.

As far as costs go, I did have to take out some pretty hefty student loans but to me, it's well worth it. It may take longer for me to repay my loans but I am having a good experience at GBCN. The professors are great & they really do care about their students. Build up relationships w/ the professors & it will be an even better experience. Get involved at the school through various organizations to help w/ networking & be active in the school's student association (GBANS). I am paying for my experience & I can't imagine myself attending another school. This school may not be for everyone but for someone who really thrives on building relationships & working together, it was the best choice for me.

It's been a tough road so far, by no means was it "easy". But I am 10 months from graduating w/ my BSN degree & I am excited!! :)

Good luck everyone! Don't give up hope.

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Hello hyunjoo82,

Thanks so much for your encouraging words. This has truly been a long journey for me; getting into nursing school took forever! I have heard so much good things about GBCN. I can't wait to start. Can you please tell me what I should do to prepare for the first semester; which prerequisite classes would you recommend I review?

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Specializes in Student nurse and CNA in Georgia.
Hello hyunjoo82,

Thanks so much for your encouraging words. This has truly been a long journey for me; getting into nursing school took forever! I have heard so much good things about GBCN. I can't wait to start. Can you please tell me what I should do to prepare for the first semester; which prerequisite classes would you recommend I review?

Congrats on getting accepted! Did you attend the July 19th orientation or are you going to the August 9th orientation? I was there representing GBANS at our booth & will be there again on August 9th.

I understand about it being a long journey as I worked on trying to get into nursing schools for almost three years. I started my pre-requisites at Georgia State only to find that GSU's program was not for someone like me & I applied/reapplied to Kennesaw's program three times w/ no luck. But alas, here I am!

For your first semester, it's tough to give you any solid tips because you will be bombarded w/ a hectic new schedule & you will be learning the basics/foundations of nursing. You'll be taking Pharmacology & Pathophysiology which was my toughest course. I would recommend to just be familiar w/ the anatomy & physiology that you covered in A&P 1&2 so that you can have those fresh in your mind. It would help because when you add in the drugs & disease aspect of it, it helps to already know all the "normal" physiology of the body & how things are supposed to function before a disease occurs. I found myself wishing I had familiarized myself more with the cardiovascular, pulmonary, & renal systems prior to beginning my first semester of nursing school.

As your semester progresses, you will find yourself practicing more NCLEX-type questions. If you've struggled in the past w/ nursing type exam questions, there is a course you can take called Learning Enhancement w/ Professor Lewis (LOVE her) which helps you break down old habits that lead you to the wrong answers. This course isn't for "strugglers" but just good practice time. It was good for me because I had a class where I had to practice questions because I know I wouldn't have practiced as much on my own w/o the course. Nursing questions are those "best answer" questions & I had to reprogram my brain to not get "carried away" w/ one particular answer (which was often incorrect). You could look into purchasing an NCLEX book that gives you rationales but I think at this point, it wouldn't come in handy until after your first or second exams of the semester in each course.

There are also Success books by Davis that some professors (and seniors) will highly recommend. They were very helpful w/ practicing questions while you prepare for exams. The key is, practice practice practice! You will find the more you practice various questions, you'll feel more confident as you take exams.

Most importantly though, you should take care of your body your first semester because it is a big change. Develop good study habits, find a good study group (or two), eat HEALTHY food, & have a good outlet to "unwind". Learn to use a planner & stick to your plan because it's very easy to become stressed out w/ deadlines & just life in general. There is a lot of reading and/or studying involved & you throw in clinical rotations. It can get very mind-boggling & challenging in all aspects. Look to the seniors & professors to help you--the professors want to see you succeed. GBANS is trying to put together a mentor/mentee system where seniors get paired up w/ a few juniors to help them w/ adjusting to nursing school. If you need any help, feel free to ask me anything & I'll do my best to offer help. :)

I don't know if this information helps any. Some of these things are "common sense" but it's very easy to overlook the importance of these things. Also, word of advice: You are already accepted into nursing school. It is not about competition anymore so do not look at your fellow classmates as your competitors. There are no grade curves or extra credit to try and compete for a higher score, if that makes sense. You're all in this together--which some students had a tough time adjusting to this because we all spent years trying to get the "best grades" to raise our GPAs. You were accepted for a reason & always believe in that--just do your best. :)

Sorry for the long drawn-out response but I hope this is a good start. If you need some more encouragement, you know where to find me!

-Helen

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