Hi. I am applying for entry to LSU's CARE program for my Accelerated BSN degree in August 2008. I am just getting ready to send my application off, and was wondering if anyone here has done this program, or is currently enrolled in it.
Mainly, I'm curious about the admissions standards. I have always been a very good student, and maintained above a 3.5 in college. I also have an advanced professional degree in another field. I am hoping these things will make me an attractive candidate for the school. I am curious how competitve the program is, especially for someone who is not a Louisiana resident.
Also, I'm wondering what the program is like. I know that it's got to be pretty intense if it wraps up all the nursing education into 18 months. What is a typical schedule like? How many hours a day and things like that?
I'm really excited about this opportunity, and looking forward to reading any responses here. Also, if anyone is currently applying as well, I'd love to connect with you so we can bite our nails together.
We are required to interview applicants as part of the final semester nursing management class, so it is definitely very structured. They all had a group "debriefing" before you guys came in yesterday. I'm pretty sure there is a set list of questions because last year, when we were comparing the questions we were aksed, it seemed they were all the same. It wouldn't be ethical (maybe even not legal) to make up random questions.
Nobody in my class had a clue when letters would be sent out either. To tell you the truth, the school probably doesn't know themselves yet. I got mine on April 28 last year; however, our interviews were at the beginning of March. If you scroll back through earlier discussions on this thread, you'll see that several years ago, they never sent letters until the end of May. Our letters weren't sent out at the same time either. I think beejaycee didn't get his till a week after I got mine. There were also people waitlisted last year and that's not the end of the road because we had 5 or so people pulled in from the list later into the summer when others decided not to take their acceptance.
I know it's nervewracking, believe me. Once you find out if you're accepted, start getting into the mindset of not being to hard on yourself (this is for all of you! LOL!). I'm one to really beat myself up about things and I've had to keep myself on the level by saying that just passing is a good thing. We've had so many not make it already. Like beejaycee said, instructors will LITERALLY pound information into your head and you'll feel like you've been hit by a freight train. The one class will also make you feel like you're failing all semester. The first semester is a bear and it's not even accellerated. You gotta roll with the punches in this program.
I have to stop and remind myself how lucky I am to be there almost every day because it gets frustrating. I'm frustrated with things almost daily because there's just so much information crammed into a short time. You really do have to take the time to care for yourself. Stressing out will only make things worse; I know from experience .
Reading how excited everyone is is helping me remember how crazy excited I was this time last year, so thank you!
I did awful in my interview! My mind went blank and I was shaking. I had the nicest people interview me and I feel like what I said made no sense. I hope everyone's went better than mine.
I walked out thinking: Words were coming out of my mouth, but I should have prefaced those words with this or that to make it clear to them what I was saying. Was I just babbling? Do I even remember what I really said?
It is a surreal experience for sure because we all obviously really want to be there and it means so much. Otherwise, we wouldn't be nervous. So, don't feet alone. If you weren't nervous, something would be wrong!
Did you interview with two students and one instructor?
I walked out thinking: Words were coming out of my mouth, but I should have prefaced those words with this or that to make it clear to them what I was saying. Was I just babbling? Do I even remember what I really said?
This is EXACTLY how I felt my interview went last year. To this day, I don't remember how I answered some of the questions, but I know I was rambling.
Congrats to everyone who interviewed and good luck to those who are in the shoot on Thursday. They are "aiming" to have the acceptance letters sent the first week to 10 days of May. Keep in mind that is a goal, not an absolute. The turn around time from when you get your acceptance to when you must confirm your place in the class is very short. For instance, I received my accceptance May 2 and it was due May 5. Especially, if you live out of state, MAKE SURE you have a trusted friend, relative, etc that is monitoring the mail for you if you will be out of town during this period. A good friend of mine barely got her confirmation in on time due to being on a long weekend trip.
According to the sheet they gave us, 65 people interviewed on Saturday. I don't know how many will interview this coming Thursday, but I am positive it is substantially less. I don't want to get into specific questions that were asked, so that the Thursday folks don't have an advantage over the Saturday interviewees. But here were my general impressions.
1. Everyone that I saw dressed and conducted themselves like a professional. We had heard horror stories from previous classes of microskirts, halter tops, hooker boots, or a person who wore sunglasses throughout the interview. Thankfully, there was none of that this year.
2. The opportunity to mingle in the atrium was hopefully helpful to candidates. I felt it provided a little more relaxed atmosphere and a chance to for the candidates to ask questions.
3. In any interview you do, you always want to illustrate your point with specific examples. For example, rather than just telling me that you are persistent, use a short story of how you overcame an obstacle, adversity, etc. (and this was NOT an interview question, just a piece of advice)
4. There has been some discussion of "additional" questions and the legal/ethical implications of such questions. We are using a provided script, but have the opportunity to ask for clarification. I can only speak for myself, but if I asked additional questions or for more information it was during times when the initial answer would not have been scored particularly high and was hoping to give the candidate a chance to better his/her score. None of the questions (scripted or additional) are meant to be "gotcha" type of questions. They are all based on qualities necessary to succed here. And the faculty is present to intervene in the almost unimaginable case that someone would ask a question that is not legally permitted (e.g. questions about religion, race, etc).
5. Far more important than merely preparing for the interview, I think it is very important to clarify to yourself about why you want to be in nursing school and to carefully think through the sacrifices (personal, financial, time, etc) that you will have to make to be here. In our class (which did not have interviews) we had a number of people who came to nursing school simply becasue they failed to get into med school. We also had a few that got a liberal arts degree and didnt really know what to do with themselves, so they took a flyer on nursing school. All those people struggled and most are no longer with us. I don't know about beejay and cpk's class, but it is my general impression that at least some in their class entered the program thinking they could continue business as usual (full-time work, play, etc) and as a result, with a year to go, are already smaller than our class (despite starting with more people). I stress some, because I know the majority is filled with extremely motivated and hard working people.
Overall, it was an impressive bunch. Remember, that the students scoring you want you to succeed. We were looking to celebrate your successes and not fault find or dwell on any shortcomings. I wish you all the best of luck.
5. I don't know about beejay and cpk's class, but it is my general impression that at least some in their class entered the program thinking they could continue business as usual (full-time work, play, etc) and as a result, with a year to go, are already smaller than our class (despite starting with more people). I stress some, because I know the majority is filled with extremely motivated and hard working people.
TRUE! We lost several people who insisted on keeping up with jobs. They worked hard, I know, because a couple were my friends but, not putting enough time into school will be the end. The big truth is that once you start accelleration in late December, it is not in your best interest to work AT ALL! None of us are working right now with the exception of those who have employers who allow them to work whenever and not on a set schedule.
You have to be ready financially. There will be much, much more than tuition you'll be responsible for having - uniforms, supplies, extra books that aren't recommended but you won't get by without, etc.
Family time will suffer greatly. I don't know how people with children in my class are doing it, but many of them are doing well because they are making sacrifices. You're not going to be able to live the life you're used to for 22 months straight.
The first semester is very misleading. It's a traditional semester and you have to remember it's not normal for this program. Accelleration hit me in the face like a bucket of cold water. Always remember, it's looming around the corner right after Fall finals. I think some of the people we lost judged things by the first semester.
Anyhow, I think having interviews weeded out the people who were applying to the program for the wrong reasons. I don't think there are many in my class that's just here because they think nursing is recession proof or they're going to make the big bucks.
The week of May 10th is their goal for sending out letters. :) Hang in there!
As cpkrn2b2011 stated it looks like May 10th is the mailing date as of now. I heard this from several people including (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME - PLEASE DO NOT PLACE NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS ON THE PUBLIC BOARDS PER TOS) herself that letters will go out 1st or second week of May. So don't start checking the mail yet.
By the way I think I did really well on the interview. There was only one question that I didn't like my answer.
It was funny because they asked sever questions where I ended up bringing different countries I have lived in and countries that spent months traveling through. Then the 4rth question in was something like, "have you experienced another culture and tell me about it. I looked at the student interviewing me as I had just given her 4 different stories from 4 different continents and rattled off a story from living in Malawi and working at a cafe and the local boys not trusting me to buy fish because they didn’t think a mzungu (foreigner) would get a good price. Well I showed them and went down to the lake and got an even better price than they would have received.
Anyway it was fun. I wasn’t nervous or stressed at all. Yeah watch I don’t get in and all of you that were worried do get in.
Unfortunately we all have to wait a bit longer.
Good luck everyone. All of you that are local will get your letters 2 or 3 days before I will get mine. Please post and describe what the envelope looks like so I can call and have my roommate look for it while I am at work.
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I hope everyone's went better than mine.
LRMama
29 Posts
Thank you, once again for the encouraging words. I can tell that when we start, we will be a great support system for each other. :hug: