Got into Rush University's ABSN Program (Chicago)!!!

NaomieRN · Mar 27, 2006

congratulations

laurawho7 · Mar 27, 2006

Thank you, Laura! Good luck to you on getting into that ABSN! Haha...
Actually, I work for 2 educational companies now, tutoring high school students on their chemistry, math, physics, and preparing them for top SAT scores. Feel free to ask me!
Chemical engineering is like a double major of chemistry and mechanical engineering. It was like going through the military. :)

Are you nuts? I think chemistry is the worst subject ever! But of course it doesn't help my professor is lousy! When I meet with the tutor she makes it make sense! My professor gives us "baby-fied" problems and then assigns killer homework problems! So far I'm doing okay, but I'm not use to struggling so much for a 2 credit class!

Jolie, BSN · Mar 27, 2006

Congratulations! You are on your way to an excellent school!

Raymond CA · Mar 27, 2006

Thank you! I see that you used to be a nurse at Rush. I have only heard and read good things about the Rush University Medical Center and am very excited to be a part of it!

Alexalynn20 · Apr 3, 2006

Congrats!

I have my interview with Rush on Friday. If you don't mind my asking what was your score on the TEAS? Also do you have any tips for me?

Alexa

Raymond CA · Apr 4, 2006

Congratulations on your interview, Alexa! :)

My TEAS score was 90.0% overall. My individual national ranking was 99% and individual program ranking was 99%. Individually, I got 95.0% on reading, 86.7% on math, 90.0% on science, and 89.1% on English. It's ironic that of all sections, math was my worst part! It's because they throw all these laborious and time-consuming arithmetic calculations at you, and I didn't watch my time well enough to finish the section. Most people have problems finishing the math section on time, so be prepared. I'd suggest skipping the math problems that look extra long so you can finish the math section. Unfortunately, the TEAS we took was an online test, and we could not go back to check or change previous answers.

Also, I got a 4.0 GPA in all my nursing prerequisites for two years. (I also took and got A's in extra courses: pathophysiology, pharmacology, cell biology, genetics, physics, and Spanish.) In high school, I got 1500 on the SAT (720 Verbal, 780 Math), and I included a copy of my high school transcript, though it and the SAT are not required.

Interview tips? Be positive, show how you have successfully handled high pressure situations gracefully, that you are tough (mentally, emotionally, and physically) and can deal with regular criticism from clinical instructors and patients, that you know what a nurse actually does day-to-day, and that you are highly driven/focused/organized. Convince them how much you truly are committed to succeeding in their extremely difficult program.

Finally, make them laugh! For example, Rush students have a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX. When my interviewers mentioned that, I joked "I've been wondering about your famous 100% pass rate. Do you guys have a dungeon for all the students who don't make it there? Are they locked up somewhere and never heard from again?"

They both laughed.

Raymond CA · Apr 4, 2006

Also I have only had wonderful experiences with their admissions and financial aid depts. In fact, the head of admissions personally called me only TWO DAYS after I submitted my online application, asking me to interview. She said because I was in California, she wanted to tell me as soon as possible to give me time to buy a plane ticket.

Before that, she would always reply to my emails within a day or so.

When I called their financial aid office, I got a human being right away, and he answered my question perfectly and immediately.

I've dealt with other nursing schools (esp. in California), and the customer service was consistently both slow and awful. It's one reason I decided to leave California for nursing school.

Rush has treated me excellently from start to finish!

Raymond CA · Apr 8, 2006

Congrats!
I have my interview with Rush on Friday. If you don't mind my asking what was your score on the TEAS? Also do you have any tips for me?
Alexa

How did your interview and the TEAS go? What's your background?

Awndie · Apr 11, 2006

Congrats on getting in. I'm in my 2nd quarter of the ABSN at Rush right now, so let me know if you have any questions and I'll try to help you out. Also, I'm from CA and went to UCLA, so we have that in common too!

Rush is a great hospital, but they aren't lying when they say that school is harder than anything you've done before!

Take care,

Andrea

Raymond CA · Apr 11, 2006

Awesome, Andrea! Thank you for offering to help. I'm in contact with some Rush students now and people have been fantastically nice to me. :)

I'm trying to study patho and pharm in advance now, for next January. Which textbooks did you use for them, and will they use the same books next year? Also, I know that their syllabi are on the WebCT site. May I see a copy of your syllabi for patho and pharm? It would help me know what to study.

Just curious---what did you study at UCLA, and what's your background before joining nursing?

Good luck! I know Rush is super tough and am looking forward to working like hell. :)

wlian06 · Apr 16, 2006

So I'm applying for Rush Jan 2007 right now. I have to go through the regular decision since missed the priority date. I'm also a UCLA student and was wondering for all of you who have gotten in had any advice for me about the application process? Interview? NET's?

I'm a little concerned because I know Rush do things on a rolling admissions for regular decisions. Do you think it's too late to give it a shot? Also I know a lot of you had a lot of experience after your 1st bachelors? What did you do to improve your competitiveness between the time of your 1st degree and now? I'm somewhat lost right now if nursing school doesn't work out for me this year. My chances are slimmer because my GPA sucks. I'm above the minimum but being a Phy Sci major at UCLA was almost impossible. So your advice is much appreciated and would relieve much of my stress. Thanks all! Congrats Raymond

Raymond CA · Apr 17, 2006

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