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.
That's not what I was told, which was to make sure above all to have all the prerequisites done when i turned in my application. I wanted to turn it in earlier but I was finishing my last science course, and was advised by one of the student recruiters that if I did so my application would not be considered. Idk, I heard from friends that sometimes the communication at LSUHSC can use some help.
I was also under the impression that your pre-reqs had to be completed but who knows.
Hey I was wondering if maybe LSUHSC CARE does rolling admissions? As in, maybe they will make decisions on people even before the second round of interviews? I'll look back through some of these old posts to see if I can find out. If anyone knows the answer please do share. Thanks!
Hey lsuhscnurse - My interview was for 1:30 on Sat too and my interviewers were not chatty. Mine was about 20-25 minutes and I left feeling really unsteady. I felt really confident and prepared when I went in but some of the questions they asked were from left field. From what I know it was a totally different set of students that interviewed the morning compared to the afternoon. The CARE students have to conduct interviews to complete one of their courses and one group did interviews from 8-12 while the other was from 1-4 I think. Anyway now I am super nervous wondering about if I got in or not. I had a friend interview at 10:30 and she said her group was a breeze and very comfortable unlike what I experienced. I guess all there is to do now is pray and wait.
That is really unfortunate. I know that part of why I felt I did well is because my interviewers were able to put me at ease so I felt less tense, so I was able to talk more clearly and put my thought together better. I'm sure if you feel you are being judged, rushed, and critiqued on every word, it was probably a much more challenging interview. Makes me think about how I would want to act if I were ever put in the position of interviewing someone.
I did feel one question was a little from left field but I was able to take a breath, think for a minute and respond. That would have been far more difficult if my interviewers weren't as easy going as they were.
I'm so sorry for anyone that had the tough interviews. Hopefully they will look at the average scores from each and maybe see a 'pattern'.
For those of you who have already had your interviews (and congrats on getting through that part of the process!), can you give some idea of the questions you were asked and let us know about any that were 'out of left field', as Lilli209 put it?
I'm expecting to be asked how I came to nursing, how I'd deal with the intensity, high stress, and not making the kind of grades I'm used to, but I'm really not sure about anything else. Did it seem to you that your interviewers had seen your application or personal statement?
Now that interviews have been completed (for some of us) what are ya'll doing in the meantime? Are you taking classes or reviewing AP material. I hear that physiology is hardcore at LSUHSC.
Do ya'll have any backup schools? I made the mistake of putting all my eggs in one basket and did not apply to any other schools... but now I realize that that was a major mistake. Even though the Director told me I was a great candidate, I don't feel that confident after my interview. But now that I'm looking up admission into other nursing schools (Our Lady of the Lake, Charity, LSU traditional BSN), I realized I missed all of their deadlines for the Fall 2011 and the earliest I could start is Spring 2012.
Oh, and if ya'll were planning on applying to the accelerated ASN program at Our Lady of the Lake for the Spring semester, don't count on it. They are canceling their ASN program and the last class will be in the Fall. So much for my backup school...
Right now, I am just trying to work as much as possible and save money so that if I do get in, I can quit my job. I also put all my eggs in one basket and only applied to the CARE program so hopefully it will all work out. Fingers crossed.
@ NolaRachel, I think over-preparing for interview is a mistake. You don't want to sound over scripted, instead go into the interview knowing why nursing is your life time career, be personable, and above all have some confidence. It sounds to me that the questions are different from group to group.
@ lvlistercho, I'm looking at LSU traditional and Charity and your right the earliest is Spring 2012. I just got back from talking with an advisor about the charity program and all I have left really to do is take the Teas for admissions and once I hear if I'm accepted (which the advisor seemed confident I would have very little trouble) I can work on taking A&P 1 and 2 during the summer and fall before spring 2012. But, I'm not giving up on LSU CARE!!!!
Hey LSUHSC_2011??? Just FYI, you need to sign-up to take the TEAS Exam ASAP! They don't have any more space at City Park and I just signed up at the Westbank campus today to take the exam on Monday, and they only had four spaces left for Monday and Wednesday! These are the last two dates for the TEAS exam before the application deadline of Feb. 28. Good luck and hopefully we both get into LSU CARE and don't have to worry about Charity!
lvlistercho, thanks for the heads up I'm doing that on Monday asap! And I second that idea; good luck to you too (hopefully doing this for nothing, but a refresher on standardized test taking skills)!
I don't have any backup schools either (eeek!). I'm specifically interested in attaining my BSN and the number of schools in the N.O. area that offer that are very limited. I know Dillard offers it and William Carey but those didn't really fit my interests. I found it unfortunate that you can't apply to both CARE and the traditional LSUHSC BSN program at the same time. So my plan, if I don't get into CARE, is to apply for the traditional next semester and go from there.
I've heard some CARE students say that between now and the day classes start is a good time to TAKE A BREAK. They said don't worry about studying now, worry about getting in a final vacation, reading some good books, spending time with family etc. One the program begins, there is very little time for those kinds of things so take advantage now. I'm like you in that I thought I'd begin studying for some of the harder courses, but instead I think I'll take the CARE students' advice and relax before the school begins (hopefully) in August.
But, I'm not giving up on LSU CARE!!!! 
rubyruby
33 Posts
i believe that they will still consider you if you are in process of completing the last prerecs when you apply.