Macon State BSN Fall 2011

madnessisay · Mar 17, 2011

I had a not so great experience with advising at MSC on Tuesday. Had an appointment at 4pm, and waited 20 minutes only to hear that woman that was supposed to advise me ask very snidely, "I MEAN, what does she need advising FOR??" when one of the secretaries asked her how much longer she would be. The upshot? She never met with me, and I ended up talking to a secretary in a conference room. (Fantastic, right??)

Anyway, she told me that BSN letters could start coming in April, or it might be May. I think everybody is getting really antsy right now about classes, wrapping up pre-reqs and getting accepted. Tension is definitely running high in my A&P 2 class! I'm worried about getting accepted, but have realized that the only thing any of us can do is cultivate a strong "Plan B" or even "Plan C" if nursing school isn't in the cards for us this fall.

*crossing fingers*

hc123 · Mar 18, 2011

I also applied to MSC for both the BSN and ASN programs, but am hoping to get into the BSN program. I am sooo nervous!!! It's nerve racking not knowing, I'm just ready to find out! Good Luck to everyone, I hope we all get it!

nicubee · Mar 18, 2011

It sounds like we could hear back on acceptance anytime from next week on, from the varied responses some of you got... I bet it won't be til mid April sometime, though, based on previous threads...

madnessisay, that's frustrating that you never received the advising you were scheduled for. But I'm pretty sure the secretary knows lots with all the students that pass through that office, and can likely answer most questions anyway.

I guess the BSN holds 50 slots and the RN-BSN has 20. I'm not sure about the ASN. Does anyone know how many applications they get for each program? Also, I know that many schools require pre-reqs to be completed within 5 years of the application. I don't think MSC has a formal time limit rule, but I am a little worried because all of my nursing-specific pre-reqs were taken well over 5 years ago (A & Ps, micro, etc.). Not sure how this will influence their decision...

Lvance7 · Mar 19, 2011

nicubee- I haven't ever seen anything on the website or heard anything about any time limit on the science courses, I know some schools have that but I would think if that were going to be an issue then they would have it posted somewhere on the BSN or ASN homepage.

What did you guys get in your A&P one and two and Micro, if you don't mind me asking? Those have me a little worried.. I got a C in both A&Ps but a B in Micro and good grades in all other pre reqs including chem...

hc123 · Mar 19, 2011

Lvance 7-I got B's in all my sciences except for in A&P 2 (I got an A). I'm a little concerned though because it's suggested to take CHEM 1 and 2 but they will except BIO 1 and 2(which is what I took). I hope the fact that I didn't take Chemistry won't hurt my chances. I'm just ready for the wait to be over so I can start thinking about what I'll take in the Fall if I don't get in. **keeping my fingers crossed** I don't to even have to think about a plan b.

nicubee- I agree with Lvance7, I really don't think it matters when you took your sciences as long as you have taken them. I think if it was required to take them in the past 5 years they would have said so on the website. :)

Good Luck! We will have to keep each other posted on what we hear. I hope we all get in!!

terralynn · Mar 19, 2011

Nicubee, I also think you will be fine regarding your pre-reqs. If that was something they were concerned with it would probably be mentioned on their website. I know sometimes schools, not necessarily the individual programs, require all courses to be completed within a certain amount of time to earn your degree. I am not sure about MSC. Thanks for your info on GA. I actually lived there for 4 years when I was stationed at Robins AFB. I know the humidity can get some getting used to. I am also from Cali too :yeah: ; mainly from Ventura but my family is from the San Luis Obispo area. Which part are you from?

Lvance, I am glad to hear they worked with you on your credit transfers, sorry it set you back a little though. I know it can be hard to transfer credits and get everything sent to the school. I know you are concerned about your A&P grades, but there are several other classes they look at and hopfully your good grades in those courses will help you. A&P is a hard course; I don't think most students do as well as they would like. Give it positive energy :). I think it matters more what you overall pre-req (science) GPA is.

Do you guys think it is wise to talk about our GPA and Teas score? I know other students from different schools have dislosed it but I wonder if any good can come from it. What do you think? I hope we can all get accepted!

nicubee · Mar 19, 2011

Thanks for your votes of confidence regarding my old science courses... The reason I took them so long ago is that I got a degree in another allied health field. I have been working in my field since then and only needed the GA required history/political science and area B perspectives classes to apply for nursing. Weird though, to be taking political science to get ready for nursing school... :rolleyes:

terralyn, that is such a coincidence that we have lived in the same 3 states (but maybe you have been in others, too). Those are the only 3 I've lived in. Born in Sacramento but moved to Orange County when I was 4 and lived there most of my life except 4 years in CO and now 7ish years in GA. I'm married to a Southern boy, so we'll be here for good. We try to get back to CA as often as possible since my whole family is there.

I tend to agree that sharing our grades/scores won't really help... At this point, none of us can do any better than we have and hopefully, that will be good enough to let each of us be accepted. It seems from other posts that lots of schools receive so many applications they have to be overly selective and deny many very capable applicants. I'm hoping that MSC is not quite as competitive and has space for all their qualified candidates.

hc123, I did not take chem either, if it makes you feel better. From what I have heard, any chemistry you need to know for nursing will be taught in the program.

terralynn · Mar 19, 2011

Hc123, I also will use Bio 1 & 2 as my pre-reqs. From what I understand Bio 2 is a lot of A&P and maybe they don't want you to take courses that are too redundant? I just decided to take bio 2 instead of chem because I like it more. Hopefully it will not matter.

Nicubee, is your degree in OT? I know it is a rewarding field. I kind of work in an OT role; I work with special needs young adults. I have to leave my job when we move however :crying2: . I can understand about how you feel regarding your job while in school. Is there a position in which you could use both of your degrees? That is neat we have lived in the same 3 states! They are also the only states I have lived in. I briefly lived in Texas, however, but it was only for about 7 months for training so I don't really count it. Did you go to school at CSU Fort Collins?

I agree that none of us can do better with our GPA and Teas score than we already have and hopefully MSC doesn't have to be overly selective. It is so unfortunate that there is such a great need for nurses, especially in GA, and nursing schools can only take so many applicants.

Hopefully we will find out soon! I am anxious to know though somewhat nervous about starting the program if I am accepted. It is such a big commitment and I hope I would be ready and do well. I am trying to just stay excited about it rather than nervous. How do you guys feel?

nicubee · Mar 19, 2011

Terralynn, I did go to OT school. I was originally going to go to CSU Fort Collins, but we ended up moving back to CA when my youngest began kindergarten, so I attended LLU. I have been a pediatric OT for quite a while and now work in the NICU. Nursing and OT go very well together in this unit and that is why I'm planning to go back for my BSN.

You asked how we feel about the actual commitment of nursing classes, and I am definitely not excited about the work involved. I love the unit I work in, and plan to stay with NICU whether working as an OT or RN. But since it is not a necessity to get my RN, it is hard to muster up the motivation for all those hard classes we'll be taking. Also, even though I'm part time and plan my own work schedule, I'm not sure how I'll arrange my hours around nursing classes and know that school will be super time-consuming. My husband is finishing his MBA online this semester and he has been on complete overload for 5 semesters while also working five 10 hour days. So knowingly putting myself through that same torture is sort of overwhelming :eek: . However, I've spent a lot of time (? too much time ) reading various threads on allnurses to help me make my decision, and know I'll be really excited if I get accepted.

hc123 · Mar 20, 2011

I feel the same way. I know the nursing program is such a big commitment and will be nervous if I do get in but I think the excitement will definitely outweigh the nervousness. I know it will be a lot of work, but I think I will definitely enjoy it and all the work will be worth it in the end.

nicubee- What made you decide to go back to school? Just curious. My mother has been an OT for over 20 years now, she works at a nursing home. I considered OT but decided that nursing was a better fit for me. :)

nicubee · Mar 20, 2011

I'm not sure it was a conscious decision to go back to school, more that the idea sort of evolved since I've been working in the NICU the past 2 1/2 yrs. :idea: I have enjoyed every pediatric OT job I have had (no real experience in adult areas), but I plan to stay in NICU for good and think OT and RN will make a great combination of skills, since pre-term infants are both medically fragile and at very high developmental risk. You can't really separate medical and developmental care for this population, or provide care for one area without impacting the other. So I really want to know the medical piece along with the developmental. Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)

hc123, it sounds like you are really familiar with both OT and RN. How did you decide between the two? What type of nursing do you want to do?

What about everyone else??? How did you decide to do nursing and what area(s) of practice interest you the most???

madnessisay · Mar 22, 2011

I'm so glad to hear everyone following up. I'm so nervous about this whole acceptance waiting game. For what it's worth, I did get a big apology from the nursing advisor who bailed on me. I think tension is just running really high. She talked with me today, and kind of suggested that if I really *didn't* want the ASN that I might take myself out of that pile... I don't know what the implication is...I just applied to both to have a back up plan although I really want the BSN.

I just have too much college to have to get the ASN, and then spend 18 months bridging over to BSN when for one semester more I could have the BSN to start with. I know I'm rambling...I'm just really worrying/wondering what is the next step for myself and my family.

I wish we had more insight into the admissions process and what to expect. I really want to power through all of this and end up in an ICU somewhere! We'll see... I guess if I don't get in, it's back to the drawing board. I hate to talk back up plans now, but feel like it's necessary.