How competitive is UNC SONs ABSN (really)?

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Hi all :)

I'm new to the boards and have found a few UNC SON threads but they are either based around waiting for admission decisions or too old to use for information. I have, of course, been to the UNC SON information sessions, perused their website and googled it to pieces :) But I was hoping that folks who have more specific information might answer some questions for me.

I hope to apply in Aug 2013 and matriculate in Jan 2014 (I know...awhile from now :)). I have a BA in Mass Comm from UNC-Asheville with a respectable 3.5/3.6 but that's not a great GPA for humanities, really. That, however, was ten years ago. I also have a year of MA courses in literature from CUNY with a 4.0 gpa. They don't take the GRE, I hear, so whilst that might have helped me it does nothing for me now. I am currently taking pre-requisite science courses at Durham Tech Community College. I realize that grades coming out of DTCC are going to be less competitive than grades coming out of Carolina but I didn't have a choice financially or time-wise. So anyway, with the prior GPAs, if I can get straight or nearly straight A's in the science and math prereqs at Durham Tech, do you think it will matter a great deal that they're from a community college?

I am also volunteering several hours a week (4 a week as of now) at a state psychiatric hospital (I'm interested in psych or neuro nursing, I think). I plan to do so through the time of my application. I also have faith in my essay writing strengths.

Has anyone here been accepted to UNC's ABSN with community college prereqs? Or heard anything about it being a big problem? If you were accepted, what were your stats like (gpa, volunteering, age anything relevant :))? If you weren't accepted did they say why you were denied?

I would so appreciate any help you can give (and if there are any other pre-nursing folks in the Triangle with similar questions maybe we can all help each other out on here?).

Thanks!!!

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So anyway, with the prior GPAs, if I can get straight or nearly straight A's in the science and math prereqs at Durham Tech, do you think it will matter a great deal that they're from a community college?

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I do not think it matters where you take your pre-reqs at, as long as you have excellent grades in the pre-reqs to be competitive. Most nursing schools place a great emphasis on the nursing (science) pre-reqs.

Good luck!

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Specializes in ER, IICU, PCU, PACU, EMS.

Moved to the North Carolina State Nursing Programs forum.

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I will be starting UNC's ABSN next week. I was accepted the second time I applied to the SON, however the first time I applied I had not finished my pre-reqs and was trying for the traditional 2 year program. My first degree was from Emory University in 2010 with a 3.38 GPA as a Psychology major (I wasn't sure I had a chance to get in at all). I did the most imortant pre-reqs at GTCC. I took Anatomy & Physiology I/II and Microbiology there with A's in all three. I had an A in statistics and a B+ in Psych 101 from my previous degree. I did a lot of volunteer work in college, but none of it was medically relative. It's great that you're doing the volunteering--UNC places a lot of emphasis on it, I've heard. In short, no--I don't think there's anything wrong with doing the pre-reqs at community college. I'm sure it's how many of the ABSN applicants have completed the courses. Tell the admissions officers why you deserve to be there and what unique qualities you will bring to the table. And don't give up!

And now starts the hard part, for me! haha

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