Georgetown Accelerated BSN

I graduated from Georgetown"s 2001 second degree program. I really enjoyed the program and felt very supported througout. The program is very intense but we did share certain classes with regular BSN students. I recently heard that their NCLEX pass rate is 100% on the first attempt for both programs. The interview process is unique in that you will interview with a Local Georgetown alumni prior to being accepted. The application process as usual an application and essay as far as I can remember. Good luck, I would definately go for it. Feel free to email me with additional questions.

I didn't go through the program, but had my transcript evaluated from my B.A. I found that they wouldn't take many of my credits and wanted me to take their pre-reqs. At that tuition rate, it added way too much for a second Bachelor's degree.

(This isn't unique to Georgetown though, I've found that many schools want you to take their nursing pre-reqs, I've been advised that if a school transfers 2/3 or the credits I would expect to transfer, that I should be happy.)

You don't interview with a local alumni, at least not anymore. There were 21 candidates at my interview session: first we broke into three groups and did a scenario while "raters" looked, listened, and took notes, then we were interviewed separately by a panel of four instructors/administrators. I found it all very intimidating, especially since we had been there several hours for presentations, tours, and Q&A periods, and most of us had flown in the day before and were flying out that night or the next day.

It's been two weeks and I still haven't recovered!

That sounds very different from my interview process! I guess things have changed. How didi you find the program ( interested to see how that has changed) ? Best of Luck!!!!

I love the simulation labs; I guess the thing I'm most worried about is the course load. I took several of the required classes (Pharmacology, Human Development, the second Theology, etc.) that fill out the four semesters but, although they will count toward requirements, we still have to have the 18, 11, 15, and 18 units. So, we have to fill in those semesters with "whatever" classes.

I'm afraid I'll be too overwhelmed, as it's been many years since I've taken a full course load during a semester (and I never took more than 13 units at a time). I've got 'A's in all my maths and sciences (done recently), a high GPA overall, and have a Master's degree in Social Work from The University of Chicago (I went to Notre Dame for undergraduate). However, the B.A. and M.S.W. were some time ago and I'm just really freaked out that the program may be too much. Also, I'm still taking three things now, and will finish just two weeks before I have to be at Georgetown, so it's not very much of a break.

We had four students talk to us at the interview, and every one of them said they would not do the program over again because of the stressful pace (which we all thought was weird, and wondered how those four were picked to talk in the first place...).

So, I'm really confused about the whole thing, as didn't apply anyplace else except for two local ADN programs for "back-up," although I REALLY don't want to have to do a 2-year program as it will take years to finish my graduate degree.

Soooooo......how did you handle the pace, and was it really as bad as the students claim it is?

I finished the G-town program in Dec 2007 - and the last time I was in school full time was 1984! It is do-able - especially if you are able to prioritize and have good time management skills. You'll feel like there is a ton of paperwork to do - but just plow through it and get it done. Try to get a jump on stuff at the beginning of each semester. It was interesting being in school and being older than some of my professors! Go for it and enjoy every minute. You will be well prepared for the NCLEX. Good luck!

Anyone out there who was accepted to the Spring 09 Georgetown 2nd degree BSN program? Anyone doing the WHC program?

I think the reason a lot of grads say they wouldn't do it again is because the school seems to be out for making a profit off you.....For example, they "require" you to take a 3 day NCLEX course before graduating that they hire an outside instructor to do.....oh and it's $200. You also have to take an online course (another $200) if you don't pass the mock NCLEX exams within 3 tries. And believe me, that 3 day course is 3 days I will never get back......not worth it! But I think Georgetown makes money from the outside course, so that will never change.

Another problem- one of the first semester courses is a "weed-out" course that many students have problems with. In my class, 4 students did not pass. They were automatically bumped back a class and now have to pay an extra semester's tuition to attend, making it a full 2 year program and not a 16 month program.

You are put into clinicals with regular Georgetown junior level nursing students who have been taking nursing classes since freshman or sophomore year---so that is an intense learning curve, particularly if you don't have a lot of hospital experience.

All in all, I would NOT do Georgetown again. They provided very little help with tasks like resume and job preparation, unless you are going to WHC through their scholarship program or want to work at Georgetown, which I didn't. I defnitely learned how to become a nurse, but I would have liked to have done it at a program where I felt more supported and not like the school was looking at a walking dollar sign.

I did, however, have teachers who were dedicated and very helpful, which is a definite plus. The program's administration and planning, however, need a lot of work.

Hey Angie,

Thank you for your input. Gosh, everything you mentioned was probably the opposite of what I thought GU would be like! I thought they were more concerned with the success of their students and would be an excellent resource in terms of finding a job after graduating, but it appears thats not really the case.

I'm having a dilemma trying to decide between GU and NYU - and I was leaning more towards GU because of the smaller class size, smaller clinical groups, and felt that they genuinely cared about their students. Also, I liked the fact that GU just seemed to have higher academic standards and has that prestige associated with the school. But it makes me nervous to pass out in the opportunity to study at NYU ... you mentioned the "name" of the school, and I feel that NYU is just more internationally known, whereas Georgetown would only be beneficial if I stayed in the DC area (which i don't plan on doing). I actually experienced this already with my undergrad degree from USC - essentially if you don't stay in Los Angeles or southern california, the "name" wouldn't be as valuable.

Anyway, I'd really appreciate it if you can give any further advice on this - especially since I have about 2 weeks to make a final decision! Thank you!

For what it's worth, I spoke to a few ABSN students at my visit and interview, and they said they loved the program (even when the administrators left the room). They said that they were always able to get help from teachers when they needed it, and that the people in their cohorts were really close. They told us that tutoring and study sessions were available, and that many people utilized these services when they had their weed-out class in the first semester.

If you are deciding between DC and NY, try to identify where you want to work and what the tuition is like in each place (obviously both are really expensive). I know nothing about NY, but looking back at Georgetown I was happy with completing a nusing program in 16 months- however, I was upset about the expense and lack of structure in the program, which I know they are trying to work on, especially with the program growing so much. I also saw many students at smaller schools who were getting the same clinical experience, and had just as many job opportunities in the area.

I too was very close to my cohort- and tutoring for first semester students is available for patho. We did, however have people fail out who had to attend for an extra semester.

If I were deciding between two programs, I would try to make a budget and a plan for where you want to work after school, and try to decide which school fits best with both.

Good luck! Let me know what you go with or if you have more questions!