George Mason University (GMU) Accelerated BSN Fall 2016

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Hello all current/ prospective nurses! I am currently finishing up my application for admission to George Mason University for the Fall Semester 2016. At this point I have completed the HESI Exam and all required prerequisites for the program. My cumulative HESI score was a 94% and my Pre-nursing GPA was a 3.6 (all A's except in two classes: a B in Statistics and a C+ in microbio both which I took at JMU). I have a B.S. in Biology from JMU, and my GPA from my undergraduate career is less than stellar (2.9) due to my very difficult, science-intensive course load which included organic chemistry and physics. Since my graduation from JMU in May I have gotten A's in all the classes I have taken (6 including anatomy & physiology I & II). I have been CPR, first aid and rescue certified for the last 8 or 9 years and am and I am currently seeking employment as a clinical technician at INOVA for more extensive experience. I would just like to ask any current or prospective Mason ABSN students who have knowledge about the program what my chances of getting in look like? Will my post grad coursework make up for my undergraduate grades or is my goose cooked? Also as a side note I am applying to other programs (Marymount & Shenandoah) as well. I appreciate your insights and wish you all the best of luck with your endeavors! :)

Hi there, Trhl09!

Working during the program is definitely a challenge, but some of my classmates are doing it - and by some, I mean very few. I have one friend who has continued her job in a nursing home part-time during the program. Another guy had started working as a clinical tech in a hospital before the program started and managed to do ok juggling his responsibilities. He changed roles to a unit secretary at some point and finds that to work better with his schedule. There may be a few other folks that are working in part-time tech positions, but I don't know of anyone who has managed to hold on to their previous professional job while in school.

If you are working in a healthcare role, then it might be possible to juggle school and work. But if you're working a regular 9-5 office day job, then you might want to reconsider. Of course, it is all so personal, and you will have to figure out what works for you. The program administrators strongly discourage working during the program, because the program is incredibly intensive (and it is!). I had left the option open with my previous employer to work part-time for them once I got settled into my academic routine, but by the time I got settled into a study rhythm with my courseload the first semester, I couldn't imagine finding time to work as well.

The program is intense. They aren't just saying that. You're getting what amounts to four semesters of full-time coursework crammed into two full semesters, one two-week winter intersession, and both summer sessions.

As for jobs after graduation with the previous cohort, I have no idea!! I actually met a woman at my clinical site yesterday who was part of the 2015 ASBN graduating class and was on her lunch break at the hospital, and I have purchased some used books/supplies from another woman who was in last year's cohort and seems to have found a job with no issues. So, my sample size of two is promising!

I am pretty confident in our ability to secure jobs when we finish. However, one thing to keep in mind as you plan your finances and whatnot for the year: You will graduate in early August, but you cannot sit for the NCLEX exam until after your final transcripts are received by the state board of nursing, which could take several weeks. We have been told to expect to take our NCLEX about a month after we graduate. That means we won't be graduating and starting jobs right away - but that's ok, because it gives us about a month to prepare for the NCLEX without taking time away from our other academic obligations.

Sorry if this is too rambly!! I'm glad to answer any other questions.

One more piece of advice: As your cohort coalesces, you may want to form a facebook group to take your discussions private and start to get to know each other. One of my classmates started one for our cohort a month or so after we received our offer letters. It was really helpful to us as we geared up last summer, and it has continued to be really useful throughout our program.

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Specializes in Progressive care, cardiac surgery, telemetry.

Hi, I'm actually from the cohort that finished August 2015. Everyone I know that has passed the NCLEX has a job or is taking some time off but has a job lined up. Most people took the NCLEX within 1-3 months from graduating, with the majority that I know of passing on the first try. Many hospitals in the area are actively hiring BSN new grads (especially the INOVAs).

As for working during the program, I it's doable if you have you can do at home or on the weekends. But if you're thinking of trying to hold a regular 9-5 office job, that won't work.

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Thank you so much! This information is so helpful, and I was wondering about the timing of the nclex exam as well. I haven't yet told my employer that I'm leaving so not sure if they'd want to offer part time. I'm sure I and others will have more questions so thanks for being willing to answer!

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Hello! I have also been officially accepted to the GMU Accelerated BSN Program. Thank you to those who have been through this program for answering the questions on here. Could you tell me what your average daily schedule was like? Also, were most of the classes at the Prince William campus or the Fairfax campus? I was also wondering how clinicals are assigned. Is it random or are you assigned based on your field of interest or is it rotational? I apologize for the bombardment of questions. If you could answer any of these, it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

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Hi sla004! Congratulations!!

I know you all have so many questions! (We had a million questions at this time last year, too!)

The daily schedule seems to change each year. I'm in the current cohort, and I know that our class schedule has been different than the cohort that graduated in 2015.

I would NOT plan on this, but just to give you an idea of what to expect, here's what our schedule has been for the current cohort:

Fall semester:

We had 4 didactic classes, with two each meeting on M and W.

We had 2 labs that met 1 day a week (either T or Th).

We had an 8-hr clinical one day a week (either T or Th).

We were off on Fridays!! You have no idea how much difference that extra weekend day made in terms of study time!!)

Spring semester:

We have one didactic class that meets on M/W afternoon, and two didactic classes that meet on F.

We have one lab that meets on either M or W.

We have clinical on T/Th.

During the winter, we had a two-week hybrid course during the break. All of the coursework was online, but we met in person for the exams at the end of each week.

All of our didactic courses have been at Prince William, and all of our labs have been at Fairfax. However, a new CHHS building is under construction at Fairfax, so maybe - just maybe - that will be done during your program and you will get to use it!

In terms of clinical assignments, everyone is required to complete the same clinical rotations, so it has nothing to do with your field of interest. In the fall, we had our medical-surgical rotation; in the spring, we are in the midst of 5-week rotations for maternity, peds, and psych; and in the summer, we will have a 5-week community health clinical and a 5-week preceptorship. We were able to request the clinical sites for our summer community health clinical, and we will be able to request specialty and location for our preceptorship, but for the rest of the clinical rotations, they just to the best they can with what they've got! They try to place us at clinical sites that are relatively convenient to where we each live, but that is not always possible.

I know you'll have more questions, and I'm happy to provide a bit of insight for you!

Good luck!!

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Thank you for the information, greenbeen74 and others who have helped with guidance.

I am fortunate to be admitted to ABSN programs at George Mason and George Washington. I only have a week to decide between the two schools. I have to pinch myself that I got admitted to two great schools and this is not a bad problem to have. The cost is pretty high for GW but I am interviewing for the W Squared program that may allow for 50% scholarship if I get offered a position. Any information on that program? George Mason was my first choice until I found out that the Nursing is in Manassas campus and not at the Fairfax Campus which is only 7 miles to my home. If CHHS at Fairfax is opening in the near future, that would be awesome.

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EAR2RN2017, I live in Fairfax, and the Fairfax campus is less than 7 miles from my house. I had the same concern last year before everything started, but it's really not that bad getting to the PW campus. The annual parking pass is good at both campuses, and the PW campus is so much smaller that parking is pretty close to where you need to be. Also, there is a shuttle that runs between the two campuses, so that's always an option. We have students in our cohort who live in Arlington and Alexandria, so for them, getting to PW is a haul; but we also have students who live in Ashburn and Manassas, and for them, getting to Fairfax is a haul.

Also, one point to consider is that the GW nursing school is located in Ashburn, which is farther from Fairfax than Manassas is.

Congratulations on your acceptances! And good luck in your decision making!

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Are all the clinical sites at hospitals and not other environments? Could you give a list of what the clinical sites might be? I live in Arlington and realize getting to PW will be a haul for class, but Fairfax isn't as bad. It's nice that they try to consider where you live for clinical assignments.

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Congratulations to you all! I'm currently in the program as well and live in Arlington. I wasn't thrilled when I found out that all of our classes were at the PW campus but it's actually not that bad of a drive and I can only think of one time traffic on 66 was REALLY terrible. Last semester I was at Inova Fairfax and it took me about 20 minutes to get there in the morning and about 30 minutes to drive home. This semester I was there again for psych rotation so it wasn't bad. I think for pediatrics or OB just about everyone in our class had to haul out to Loudoun at least for one rotation because Fairfax hospital was closed to us because of their new Women's and Children's building being under construction but I'm sure by this time next year it won't be a concern. And even Loudoun wasn't terrible when I think about it, I only had to hike out there 4 times and I did one 6-hr day at the Manassas clinic which flew by. Right now I'm at Inova Alexandria for OB and that's 10 minutes from my house. You have some say for your community health clinical and there are a lot of sites so most likely you'll find one near you. I think during the summer semester all of our classes will be in Fairfax so yay. The driving has never been a life-altering issue for me. I got in to VCU and GW's accelerated programs as well and I'm happy I chose George Mason because of the cost and I was fortunate to have an awesome clinical instructor for the first semester during our medical-surgical rotation. It is totally manageable and I personally haven't been overwhelmed (yet...there are still 4 months left) but we all handle things differently. Again, congratulations to you all!

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Any general or specific advice for the Fall 2016 class from former/current students? Anything you wish you had known going to the program? Anything you wish you could have done differently during the program? Have you found any great resources or equipment useful?

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Hi everyone, I'm wondering if anyone from the 2015 cohort can talk about the labs and clinical studies a little bit more. I attended a few info sessions a while ago, but Mason's was so packed there was no tour or anything. Is the lab a full sim lab? I was really excited about GW's fancy lab with "sim mom", but no info from Mason. Do you feel like you sacrificed anything with Mason's much more reasonable tuition? (vs GW and others) Anything useful or exciting about clinicals? And when does the nursing dept start giving accepted students more info? :) I'm 80% sure about GMU, just wanted some confirmation from someone who has been there!

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Hi, I am excited to start also at GMU but had the same concerns as @Kayemaech. I had a very nice orientation for admitted student day and tour of the Medstar Washington hospital for GW ABSN but I wish I could get a tour of the PW campus of GMU and talk to the students. I may drive over to the campus and look around on my own sometime next week. Who wants to go?

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