Hopkins Accelerated/Traditional Applicant

Giggles999 · Oct 31, 2009

Hi am also applying to JH nursing program. Im actually sitting her at 2am trying to think of ways to answer their applications essay. Any tips you may have is greatly appreciated! How did you apply without finishing the pre-requisites first??

rockkstarr · Nov 2, 2009

I just sent my application yesterday. Just wanted to wish you both luck! I'll be finishing my prereq's in the spring, just in time for the start of the accelerated program in June. So, irvster, if you're finishing classes this summer, you'd only qualify for the traditional program. But then you probably already knew that :)

The essays are definitely challenging. I ended up just free writing to clear my head, and that's when the good ideas started coming. If this makes any sense... you kind of have to look at your experiences from all angles. Something that you think might not be a challenge to your core values or an example of critical thinking could actually end up being the perfect topic.

Giggles999 · Nov 2, 2009

Hi Rockkstarr

Thanks for the reply. Im done with question 1 & 3. Still stressing over the critical thinking. Dont know if they want a clinical experience or what. I was thinking of issues with co-workers but wouldnt that be core valuese??? Heck I dont know! Havent had a good night's sleep in days. People telling me to think of a situation or experience I've had, well stating the obvious lol.

Best of Luck to you. Do you know when they let us know of acceptance? Have you spoken to anybody already in the program?

Still trying to decipher on the 13mth or 21mth program. Its only an 8mth difference.

rockkstarr · Nov 2, 2009

I really stressed over the essays too. I think my family was ready to kick me out of the house because it was all I talked about :)

I did ask admissions what they were looking for for 1 and 2, and they pretty much told me that it was up to me. What they really want to know is who you are. So, although they're all so nice there, that didn't really help :) They stressed that the application is YOUR application, so it's not about what they're looking for but who you are overall.

I ended up writing about a work situation for essay two. Essentially, I just wrote about a problem at work, the initiative I took to investigate the causes, come up with viable solutions, and present those solutions to my manager. Some of those solutions were implemented, and I helped with that. It's pretty hard to be really specific and descriptive in about 300 words though. I also wrote about a work conflict for essay 1. I have to say I didn't particularly enjoy writing those essays as much as I did essay 3 and 4 (I've applied to the MPH too).

As far as the accelerated or the traditional go... I chose accelerated because I'm in my 30's and really want to get my RN quickly. It's going to be intense, but they say that the summer is the worst, and by the time fall comes around you have much more free time and can take up some electives or extracurricular activities. It seemed to me the hardest part is those first 10-12 weeks.

The traditional pace is much nicer and allows much more involvement in other activities. There's definitely a lot more free time and time to study, and that appealed to me too. What you could do is apply for accelerated and let them know that if they feel traditional is more appropriate, you would be interested in that, too... another thing that admissions told me some people do.

December 15 is the Early Decision target. I think regular decision could probably go through to February, but I'm not sure. I was able to talk to some current students at the open house, and I found the student blogs really helpful. http://www.nursing.jhu.edu/blogs/

good luck!

Giggles999 · Nov 5, 2009

Thank you Rockkstarr!!

I appreciate your pearls of wisdom. This really helped a lot. Sorry for the delayed reply. Im still wacking away at question #2. By the time Im done Im soooo exhausted and pass out in bed LOL. Thanks for the link also. Seems like you really did your homework! I really hope I get it! I want to be a nurse so bad. I want to start doing clinicals and nursing people. Anyway, I will email you later if I need more advice, that's if you dont mind!

thanks again!

~Giggles

irvster87 · Nov 5, 2009

I went for the funny effect on question 2. I hope they get my humor...

rockkstarr · Nov 5, 2009

Giggles, no problem! I don't have enough posts to private message you, though. But feel free to send me one, and include your email if you want :)

Irvster, I'm sure it'll go fine!

irvster87 · Nov 6, 2009

I'm so excited to hear my decision. The school is really nice and the staff/teachers/students are all really happy and out to help. I hear there're only 10 males in the current class of over 100. I'm thinking about joining the men in nursing student club if i get in. Lots of opportunities at Hopkins, plus it's a great school.

serasarah18 · Nov 6, 2009

I'm currently in my first semester at Hopkins and I remember going through this not too long ago. I personally chose the traditional program, because the summer in between the two years gives you time to gain experience. I've talked to some alumni that currently works at the hospital and the ones that were in the traditional program were able to get a job after graduation from the same place they interned the previous summer. One person commented that only the people that interned at the ER over the summer were hired, because it was essential that the nurses already had experience and could work at a fast pace. I do wish that I was in the accelerated program sometimes. It would be so nice to be a nurse in just one year.

Currently my class has 119 people with only 11 men. So they are they minority, but they don't seem to mind. The staff is nice and a lot of them have a good sense of humor so I'm sure they will find it in your essay.

Feel free to ask me any questions!

pinkheart0220 · Nov 9, 2009

serasarah18, and any other Hopkins students, I'm applying for the ABSN/MSN program, and have been selected for an interview. I'm so nervous, and I don't know what to expect. Do any of you have any pointers?

HopefulABSN10 · Nov 9, 2009

Is it just the BSN/MSN option that they ask you to interview for? I applied to the accelerated BSN but was only told that I would hear a decision by December 15th. Should I be worried if I haven't heard anything about an interivew?