MUSC ABSN Questions-Spring 2016

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I know this is very, very early to be posting this, but I wanted to reach out to the community for some advice before I apply in August. I'll give my stats and then I have some questions. I hope someone can help!

I have a 3.5 cumulative gpa and a BS in Public Health from College of Charleston (graduating May 2015.) I have over 200 hours of volunteer experience, 125+ of which are in hospice where I worked very closely with patients. This summer, I am retaking Anatomy to improve my grade as well as taking Microbiology at Trident Tech. My science GPA isn't great, but I have some really good recommendations (I think!) I don't have any hospital or nurse shadowing experience, but I am going to try to squeeze some shadowing in this summer.

It was suggested to me that I take an additional science course to serve as my elective since my grades aren't great in the ones that I've taken, so I plan on taking Chemistry in the spring. I am also doing a 6 week CNA program in the late summer. I will be applying for residency soon and should be eligible to apply as an in-state student.

So here are my questions, if anyone can help, and please be brutally honest!:

1. Based on my stats, do you think it is feasible that I will get in to the program? Or should I plan on working as a CNA for a year and apply for Fall 2016?

2. Is getting your application in earlier of any importance? I would like to apply after I have finished my CNA course, so it would be cutting it closer to the deadline (late August), but I don't know if it's more important to get the app in early.

3. I want Chemistry to be counted as my science elective instead of Biology because I got a B and C in those courses. But I won't be taking Chemistry until after I apply, will they still take that into consideration?

4. Any suggestions for me to improve my stats? Any suggestions about how to go about nurse shadowing? Is there any faculty at MUSC I can reach out to for help? (I have emailed Mardi Long but she never responded.)

Thank you so much!! I'm a little lost and pretty anxious if you can't tell :)

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Hey! I just applied for the Fall 2015 semester and was not accepted however I will be reapplying in August for Spring 2016 semester as well. Do you have any work experience in a hospital? I have a 3.5 cumulative GPA as well, a 3.25 science GPA, and a 3.18 pre req GPA cause I got a C in stats. I had 75 hours of volunteering on my first application and I will have over 100 on my next application. When I called to find out why I was not accepted they said my application was great all around except for the fact that I had no real work experience in the healthcare setting. If you don't already I would strongly suggest getting a job in a hospital, with a Public Health degree you could probably work as a case manager however I think they want to see hands on working like PCT jobs. I don't know for sure I just am going by what I was told over the phone. I really hope I get in for the spring however I think your stats are great!!

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Hi! my name is Caitlin and i'll be applying for the spring 2016 class too. I think your stats are very good.. I have about a 3.3 cumulative GPA, a 3.8 prereq GPA, a 3.3 science prereq. and a 3.0 overall science.. What are your science, prereq, and science prereq grades? I don't think it matters about getting your app in earlier or not bc they do not make decisions until after the deadline I believe. If you are signed up for any classes in the fall, they will not count them towards your application I dont believe. It says online that you must have at least 3 of the 4 sciences. So i would call and make double sure. There really isnt much you can do for your stats now because all the summer classes have pretty much already started... I was looking for ways to improve mine as well but no solution to my problem.. I do not have any work experience in the hospital just because it is so hard to get a job unless you have a degree of some sort. I am currently building up my shadowing hours though. Good luck to everyone who applys!

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Does anyone have the stats on applications processed like in previous years for spring 2016?

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Hey there! The best advice I can give you is get some sort of clinical experience. This is my first semester In the program and out of our cohort of 80, well 79 now, we have only about 8 people who have not worked as a pct. The second best advice I can give you is to have a Science GPA OF 3.5 I wouldn't go lower than 3.5 unless you get in with your last bit of pre reqs incomplete because they only require a C or greater if your courses are in session and the decision is made before you Finnish. So retake any sciences that you can. Email Mardi Long to ask if the sciences will be picked by the better grade. I know that Micro, A&P 1-2, are required and the last is just another lab science.

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Clinical experience gets you 5 extra points and military gets you 5 extra points! That's how they rate the apps...by points. And it's not a lot of points so it's a big deal! The shadowing/volunteering are interchangeable and the total points you get for your resume and volunteering I believe is 3 combined. That's why it's such a big deal to get the clinical experience in somehow.

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Thank you for your reply! I just applied to some PCT jobs; hopefully I get one and can let admissions know before decisions are made. How has the first semester been?

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele.

Hey! I applied for the spring 2016 semester as well and was just wondering if anyone has heard anything back yet? I'm just getting super anxious to know what I'm going to be doing this spring because it feels like it's creeping up sooner than I think! I know everyone says at least a month, but just wanted to throw it out there and see what everyone else is saying too!

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hey, I have also applied for the spring semester. I was reading through some of the other threads created for previous semesters and it looks like we should hear back in about 10 days... give or take. And of course that's depending on how long it takes the mail to get here and what not. I also read that you could call and find out if you got in or not but I'm not sure if I wanna do that. I think I would rather wait for the letter in the mail. What are your stats?

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I'm glad to hear from some more people that applied! I did the same thing as ccurrie88 to find out when we might hear back. I'm also gonna wait for the letter in the mail even though not knowing is driving me crazy. Good luck to you both!

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Good luck to you as well! Hopefully it wont be too much longer before we know! Im beyond excited to find out and if I get in, for the next step in my life! Do any of you guys already live in Charleston or would you guys be moving to Charleston?

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele.

I would definitely be moving! im from PA so it'll be a big jump for me! I was looking on the website and saw something about an orientation if we get in on November 6th!

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