Motlow 2019 applicants

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Hello (: my name is Kyla

Just wondering if anybody else is applying to MSCC's 2019 nursing program? The application opens up in a couple of weeks and I have been pretty nervous...I have never applied to a nursing program before and I hear that it is pretty competitive. If anybody would like to share their experience(s) that would be awesome!

Your GPA is calculated by only using the classes required for the program.

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Wkrbee,

Thank you so much for the info!! I'm ecstatic to hear that the GPA is only calculated using the required courses because that was my biggest concern. I will have the quality points but I am definitely nervous that my hesi is not competitive enough because I am not sure what the average applicant's score is. I did really well on the math portion but I am not sure if my overall score is sufficient. I also heard that mtsu cut their accepted students in half this past year so I am wondering how that will affect the amount of applicants applying to Motlow, and essentially the increase in competiton. We were definitely wondering about the traveling aspect so thank you for clearing that up. That does sound a little confusing lol. Do you break up into smaller groups later in the first semester or later in the program? Also, do you have clinicals the first semester?

If there is anything in particular you wish you would have known or asked before starting the program, please feel free to share! :) Thank you again for taking the time to share your experience!!

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First of all, thank you so much for all the information. Wow, 700 applicants?!! It seems more competitive than I thought! I'm sure they offer a great program at motlow.

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So, the lectures are through ITV? I had no idea. How is it though? While watching the lectures are we able to use a voice recorder? you know, so we can listen to it later while studying.(i don't know if it is allowed in nursing school)

So we would travel to the main campus about 3 times a week?

How many hours a day we would have to stay at the main campus?

what time does class start and what time does it end? I know it might change everyday, but what is the average of time we need to be on campus (for lectures, labs). The reason I ask is cause I wanted to see if it would be possible to continue with my part time job while in school.

Do you have clinical on weekends or just weekdays?

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Wkrbee,

I am not sure if my overall score is sufficient.

I also heard that mtsu cut their accepted students in half, how that will affect the amount of applicants applying to Motlow.

Do you break up into smaller groups later in the first semester or later in the program?

Also, do you have clinicals the first semester?

If there is anything in particular you wish you would have known or asked before starting the program.

Full disclosure:

It will not be of any benefit for me or you to sugar coat this process. As a result, I will be direct as possible. Also, please don't consider my comments as the Holy Grail but more of an outline with the knowledge that all information is subject to change with each class. The first thing you need to grasp is you-will-have-to-learn-to-be-flexible. If not, it will drive you crazy. I mean that with all sincerity. There are times that you will be in the dark up until the last minute. It makes it hard to plan, know when you can work, sleep, study, spend time with family, will need child care, what you need to bring, or simply where you should be, and when. Just know that you are not alone, and your classmates will be feeling the same way.

From now until April feels like waiting for-ev-er:

As I have already mentioned, you should confirm with the dept. that your HESI scores were received. Don't assume they got them or anything else for that matter. Customarily, at the very END of April the LPN bridge acceptance emails are sent first, then to the traditional students, followed by rejections. There is a time window so that those who are accepted can confirm or decline enrollment and they can move to the next person in line. I bet I refreshed my email inbox every 2 seconds! Sadly, there is no way to know what each year's cumulative scores will need to be until letters are out and people are willing to share their scores. One could only assume that if/how MTSU changed their admission number that it would have some impact on the competitiveness for acceptance into Motlow. I would suggest having alternate plans in place by running down all the "what if" scenarios and possibly applying to other schools. This way you always have a game plan.

If you don't get in, don't give up. I could tell you my sad story of how they changed the curriculum when I began this journey and couldn't even apply till the following year. I had to finish a course that I was in the middle of taking that was no longer required merely to turn around and take another required class. I was not grandfathered into anything. Then, the next year I was "ranked in the next 20 students" on the wait-list my first time applying (4/25/17), and my total points was in the 580's. They don't tell you if you are number 19 or 1 in the list. Essentially, you just sit, wait, and pray until Aug 1st that your number is pulled. I'm not going to lie, it's torture. Are you getting the importance of perseverance and flexibility yet? If you're like me and are not called, then look at that "what if list" on where you need to improve and make adjustments accordingly. I reapplied and was accepted (4/19/18) with around 620 points.

Words of advice that I have picked up along the way..

Let that be the last time you compare scores/grades with others. I don't have to tell you that at some point a classmate's grade will be higher or lower than yours which makes you or them feel bad. Just don't do it. Once you start the program it honestly doesn't matter what everyone else makes. You will know the grade you need to make, and you are in competition with no one else but yourself.

Orientation:

This was held in May at Moore Co. for almost 6 hours with lunch provided. The bookstore and financial aid just to name a few presented to us. There was also 2nd years who showed a few guides to us. Its hard to express the enormity of this without sounding negative about everything. Heck, I didn't even know what questions to ask when given the opportunity. A packet is given to you with a list required items due by mid-July: drug testing, background check, tb skin test, physical, vaccines, and CPR verification (by AHA ONLY). If you find yourself assuming, don't. DON'T ASSUME a facility will send copies of your information to the Nursing Department. Don't assume they got it.

Travel time:

Time spent on the road is a big deal for everyone. As you are probably aware, just because you choose Smyrna to be your main campus doesn't mean you will get it. It tends to have the largest number of students. Since you will frequently be traveling to the main campus, if you have never driven there and back from your home, do it. Figure out now what the best route is for you and if it is going to be a deal breaker.

Other things to consider:

I feel that it is not expressively straightforward on just how much time you are going to spending at school or doing something for school. It is a huge commitment. To the students taking extra classes either to keep/obtain a scholarship that requires a 12-hr. load or following the classes outlined by the Nursing Dept found it difficult to work due to the constant flux in the schedule. This was especially true if they were ground classes and not on-line. I'm not saying it can't be done, it just complicates life.

You will have clinicals the first semester. We had 5 clinical days that began the second week of October that were on T/Th/Sat. This partly dictates groupings for mandatory practice/lab days. For example, your clinical day does not change. I was placed in a Saturday clinical and went every Saturday for 5 weeks. Therefore, my lab day was on Tuesday and I had Thursdays off (but not always). If you have a clinical day on Tuesday then your lab day would be on Thursday.

Info overload! Let that all that sink in.

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So, the lectures are through ITV?

How is it though?

While watching the lectures are we able to use a voice recorder?

So we would travel to the main campus about 3 times a week?

How many hours a day we would have to stay at the main campus?

what time does class start and what time does it end?

what is the average of time we need to be on campus (for lectures, labs).

Do you have clinical on weekends or just weekdays?

ITV. Interactive Television

The instructor is lecturing from one of the campuses (mostly from Moore but there is rotation) in which you see and hear in real time. The power point is on the projection screen. Everyone is on camera. Its like one big classroom. The tv screen has the students from Moore, McMinnville, or Smyrna displayed in boxes depending on where the lecture is coming from. If the lecture is taking place from another campus... good luck if you have a question or comment. You are not even the size of an inch on screen. It just about takes the whole classroom joining in to get the attention of the instructor. They do their best, but it has its own set of challenges.

I do recommend recording the lectures, but you have to sign a disclosure agreement at the beginning of the semester. I just used my iPhone, nothing fancy. You can then listen to it over on days you have to travel or while trying to get in some exercise lol. There is occasionally a review at the end of class, and you don't want to be scrambling to write it all down.

You can bank on being at Moore at least 1 day/wk the whole semester sometimes 2.

Monday/Wed - Lecture 1-2:50 (home campus)

Tue or Thur & sometimes both days - Lab 9-4 (Moore)

Clinical Tue or Wed or Sat -Clinical 6:30 am- 2:30-3

Mandatory -Practice 9-12 (home campus)

The day for practice depends on what days they present to you and what is available.

Mine was on Wednesday. So, I would be there at 9-12 for practice, eat lunch, and just stay until lecture was over.

Twice during the semester, you must demonstrate a "return" of what you have learned. You could be asked to come in any day/time of the week when this is due. This is performed at the main campus and can take anywhere from 20 to 40 min. All subject to them being on time.

Then, beginning in October you will need to factor in clinical days. Some drove from Smyrna to Tullahoma NHC for clinicals. Lynchburg, Antioch, Murfreesboro, McMinnville were all on the map for clinicals. The clinical day isn't over once you leave either. You will have around a 20-page report called a Enag and Concept Mapping to fill out on your day that can take hours. This is due by 11 pm the following day.

Myjourney2nursing, I answered some of your other questions in my previous post.

I am being as candid as possible with this and all information is subject to change. Our 2020's class outline is different from the class before us.

Hope this helps!

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Wow, thank you so much for your honesty. It's definitely a lot to take in but it is better for us to know beforehand so that we have a better idea of what we are getting ourselves into. I've anticipated the program being challenging and time-consuming, but finding the time to work does seem to be a concern.

I know you mentioned before that our GPA is calculated only with required courses for the nursing program, so where does this show up? Is there a way to see this along with the possible 75 quality points we have earned, or do we have to call and ask?

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I know you mentioned before that our GPA is calculated only with required courses for the nursing program, so where does this show up? Is there a way to see this along with the possible 75 quality points we have earned, or do we have to call and ask?

If you know how to calculate your GPA using only the nursing classes and HESI score with their points calculator, then thats your score. It's what they will have also.

You will not see anything nursing related till that April email and then the first day of class on D2L.

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Hello Ladies, my name is MARK and I am also pursuing the same career. I am currently enrolled at motlow for this coming spring semester to finish my last 2 prerequisites which are A&P II and Microbiology. I have already submitted my application and registered for the HESI exam this coming March. My GPA for 2018 fall semester is 3.33 which I feel is not high enough, however, I have 50 quality points out 75 for making a B in Math and A in A&P I. I have attended motlow's nursing session and got plenty of information which is not included in motlow's website. So, if you have questions, reach me on my SNAPCHAT @ tavkid25. Good luck to all of us.

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HELLO, so my grades for fall semester are: HISTORY=B ANOTHER HISTORY=B . A&P I=A MATH=B which gave me a final grade of 3.3 with 50 quality points. In your opinion, what do I need to get on hesi in order to have a high chance of getting accepted? have you talked to somebody or heard about somebody that had low scores but still got in?

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HELLO, so my grades for fall semester are: HISTORY=B ANOTHER HISTORY=B . A&P I=A MATH=B which gave me a final grade of 3.3 with 50 quality points. In your opinion, what do I need to get on hesi in order to have a high chance of getting accepted? have you talked to somebody or heard about somebody that had low scores but still got in?

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Hello there

I have a question, I hope it doesn't sound like a stupid question lol.

Is the application for Motlow Nursing program only 1 page( motlow's student webpage where it asks what are our choices on campuses)? Is that it?

I just wanted to make sure if there's anything else we need to do in order to apply (other than take the hesi and the prereq classes of course).

Again, I know this question might seem stupid, but I just hope I am not missing anything on the application process. ?

Thanks

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