MSMC ABSN Summer 2012

hdkim · Jul 6, 2011

OOPS! I meant Summer 2012!

willowLA · Jul 11, 2011

Hi, Hdkim!

I am going to apply for ABSN 2012 Summer, hopefully. At their orientation and at a transcript evaluating meeting I kept hearing that they look at the overall application, and that the essay and letters of recommendations are also of vital importance. Another thing that was mentioned was that the admissions do appreciate when people get high grades in their prereqs, and that this could outshine the lower GPA from the previous degree. I also heard that the science GPA is more heavily weighed in. So do not overstress and keep up the good grades:)

hdkim · Jul 11, 2011

Hey WillowLA!

Thanks so much for the info! Yeah, I heard they do it the holistic approach of looking at the applicants rather than looking strictly at their GPAs. My science prereq grades are great, but my GPA for my bachelor's degree is horrible! I hope they don't think that I wasn't trying hard &/or think I wasn't a good student. I had to juggle with being a full-time athlete and a full-time student during my college years

Good luck applying to MSMC! :)

willowLA · Jul 14, 2011

Thank you! I am actually also considering CSUN ABSN, their program is cheaper. I am in love with MSMC atmosphere and I do believe their program is very well-structured, but it is so expensive... I will apply to both definitely:) Good luck to you too:)

jACqpOtT!4MSMC · Sep 10, 2011

I am applying to MSMC also. Like you willowLA I love the campus and they have been doing this for a long time. From talking to different people and reading the different blogs, MSMC puts more weight on the recent sciences. Any school you go to will be equally competitive. You just have to get prayed up!

newbiepnp, MSN, RN, NP, CNS · Oct 4, 2011

I wanted to throw my hat into this thread as a recent grad from the MSMC ABSN Program. I had a terrible GPA from my first BA, but did very well in my pre-reqs, which is what I am thinking got me accepted. Be sure you do well in Micro, Chemistry, Physio and Anatomy. If you are able to take the upper division Bioethics before coming to school, do it. You can only take it at Taylor University. It is an online class and pretty much the only one that MSMC accepts.

If you are trying to decide between CSUN and MSMC, apply to both. CSUN accepts an extremely small cohort twice a year, where MSMC allows around 40 each cohort.

Good luck!

hdkim · Oct 5, 2011

Thank you sugarlips! Makes me feel a lot better :) I don't think I'm going to apply to CSUN anymore just because I would have to retake Stats. My goal is to apply to nursing school this year. I don't really want to waste time. I also like MSMC's reputation and history of nursing . Congrats on graduating! How was the overall program?

newbiepnp, MSN, RN, NP, CNS · Oct 6, 2011

I wish I could say it was smooth sailing and the best experience of my life. Honestly, it is hard and you will say to yourself why did you do this to yourself on more than one occasion. However, as each "semester" goes by and you find yourself closer to your goal, it is the only thing that keeps you sane. You will live and breathe with the people in your clinicals and classrooms. You bond with some of them, and others not so much, but you will count on every single one of them because they are going through the same thing. You will have mutual respect, and learn things from each one another.

In the end, however, it is you taking the boards. Take what you need from the program and move on. Use ALL your resources, and don't count on school to make it easy for you. THINK. You will need to figure things out on your own. Click on every link given to you. Open every document and READ every word. This is not summer camp, and just because it is an expensive school they are not going to line the campus in red carpet for you. If you are willing to put in the work, you can do this and manage to have a little fun along the way.

hdkim · Oct 6, 2011

Wow, thanks for the input, Sugarlips! I'm excited to go into nursing even though it's going to be hard. I like challenges :) Also, do you know if they are strict about finishing prereq's before getting into the program? I'm currently taking 3 classes and need to take one more in the Winter session. I'm also a Nurse TCAB (transforming care at bedside) volunteer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in West Hollywood and have been volunteering since June. Hopefully, they see that I'll have some experience in the nursing field and consider this over my very low GPA...

P.S. One of my friends just graduated from your cohort also!

newbiepnp, MSN, RN, NP, CNS · Oct 7, 2011

You do have to finish your pre-reqs before the program starts. If you are in the middle of a class, they won't count it. I didn't get accepted on my first go around because when I went for the interview I was still taking Micro and Physio, and I guess they wanted to see my grades.

I was a TCAB volunteer as well at Cedars for a little over a year! Which departments did you work in? I was in Tele and ICU in the Saperstein Tower.

hdkim · Oct 7, 2011

Oh, I see... I'm currently taking religion, intro to philosophy, and speech and I have to re-take English in the Winter. Aww, well, I guess I'll have to see. I'll apply anyways, haha.

You did?! Haha that's cool. I started this past summer in June. I started in 3 Saperstein (Universal Care Unit) and now I'm in 8 South (Med/Surg). I love volunteering here! Everyone is so friendly and I also love Cedars Sinai's atmosphere. Thank you for answering all my questions! Good luck with your nursing career :)