Questions regarding SUNY Downstate Accelerated Nursing Program

[cupcake8503]

I apologize if these questions have been answered. There are a lot of posts to go through to find answers! I am currently a Clinical Lab Technologist that holds a BS in Chemistry from Howard University. I will finish my MS in Forensic Science from Pace University in the Fall. Unfortunately, instead of following my heart and doing Nurising, I did what I thought was best at the time. I am considering applying for the accelerated Nursing program at Downstate and had a few questions:

1. Is it possible to work while completing the program? Of course I have to eat, live and pay bills (I am the only person that provides for myself financially and NYC is not cheap to live in). If working is not possible, does the student loans cover living expenses?

2. Does the program only start during the summer, or do they have a Fall admittance? (I have a few pre-reqs to complete that probably wont be done until Summer 2010--I plan to take them at a CUNY school)

Thanks for your help. I know its crazy for me to make a career change after completing a Master's but better late than never!

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

I think its more than 50, if memory serves correct it was more like 60 to 65 i believe

My class has 56 or 58 students. I think they accepted 60 initially but a couple did not register for whatever reason, and one or two dropped/failed out. In general, though, this year they have been very good at student retention, and will work with students to keep them from failing out of the program.

[spearlm1]

I just got my acceptance letter from SUNY a few days ago (maybe the 16th? crazy busy so I lose track). I didn't turn in my application until a couple of days before their deadline, because I was finishing up some pre-reqs, so I don't think the time that you applied has anything to do with it.

They said that they need a $100 deposit which is only refundable if I ask for it back by April 1 - so I assume April 1 was their deadline - but the deadline was not immediately apparent from the letter.

Last month they sent me an email saying I needed to send them more information about my sociology pre-reqs. (Can't figure out why they care, anyway). I sent them a load of info from my undergraduate college, but could not get anyone on the phone or by email to confirm that it was what they wanted. I guess it was, since they accepted me. Honestly, my application was really strong, so they might have had less thinking to do about it.

[mamalizza]

i got my acceptance via fed-ex on st. patty's day (application went in on 1/15 on the nose). the letter said they still needed information from me, even though i thought it had already been taken care of and verified. either way, to answer my own question earlier, acceptance packages must be turned in within two weeks of receiving the letter.

@chonofish- my aunt, who is in admissions at columbia, told me it's best to contact them (admissions) and ask for the specific reasons why you were deferred so you can work on that for the next application period. in all cases i think you get the best responses if you do a walk-in. my undergrad was spotty, but had a 4.0 in all my science pre-reqs. did well on my net exam. and had some good reccs. how was your essay?

hope that helps:)

and ps- proof of citizenship was listed as missing on my application as well!

[HEARTofJADE]

Thanks for the advice, I think that is exactly what I will do and walk in to speak with them. I just don't know who to request to speak with? Dean of admissions?

Yeah the application is about the same- spotty undergrad (even one F) but cleaned up very well afterwards. I thought I had a solid application. I think the essay might have hurt. I had a solid one but kept revising and revising, it was just so hard to keep it at 250 words but everyhing else was good I thought. Oh well, not gonna give up! More volunteer work and reapply in June

[kirham]

Sigh. Still waiting to hear. According to the sect my app is still with the admissions dept. In hindsight I should have waited until the last min because I probably would have heard something by now. Has anyone wait listed ever got into the program the same year they were put on the list

[lala88]

Hi, I will be entering the Accelerated BSN summer 2010 class. :)

I was wondering if anyone still have holds on their account. I have JUST mailed out my health forms because I received my acceptance letter 2 weeks ago. I am afraid that my hold will not be resolved in time and if administration is as bad as everyone make it to be then I am even more worried. Hope someone can help me out before the end of registration. Thanks!

[artistmom]

I still have a health hold; I'm going to my doctor tomorrow. Since there's only one class of each to choose from, I'm not worried too much. But, from my earlier experience with admissions, I realized that it's better to show up in person if I need to resolve any issues there.

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

For us the only class that had two sections was Health Assessment, on either Monday or Friday. Since most of the class wanted Monday that class ended up being way overcrowded (they allowed overtally). The lecture halls are huge but the labs are small and can't really accommodate more than 15 students at a time.

[DIVARN85]

In regards to Tanguera, can you please let me know if Downstate's program has improved?Also, anyone who stated or will start the program in summer 2010. Can you please provide me with some feedback on your experience! THANKS!

[CP1983, ADN, BSN, RN]

Hi, thank you for pstong comments about SUNY downstate. I didn't know the administration is crappy and it's interesting that one of my clinical instructers kept suggesting I should transfer out the school (since I have my BBA already) to go there. I am currently in BMCC and the program is excellent. And besides it's NLNAC-accredited which is a huge deal for me because I heard that some hospitals may not hire new nurse grads if they don't come from a NLNAC-accredited school. I wanted to research that alittle more but I am happy I am in BMCC. I think I will consider going to College of Staten Island. I don't know if they have an accelerated program but I know they have a BSN and master's program, all of there programs are certified by NLNAC. (SUNY downstate is accredited by a different organization but not NLNAC). That's a big deal to me, as well. Maybe that's their administration is crappy...? I don't know.

Where would I have gone if I had to do it all over again? I thought about that often, especially during my first semester here since we started in the summer and I actually was making arrangements to transfer out so I could attend another school that started in the Fall. I was told by some schools that I could still send in my deposit (as I had been admitted in the spring) because their classes still had space.

Unlike you, I was looking at schools outside of New York City. So many of my other schools would have been far, expensive, and would have been BSN/MSN programs.

In NYC, I only applied to Columbia, NYU, and Downstate. I got into all of them but I was convinced that they were all the same quality regardless of name. I have heard and read negative comments about all three schools so I figured that since Downstate would be cheaper, I would just attend school here. I wasn't convinced that the education at Columbia or NYU would really be worth the ~$60,000 more in tuition. However, I don't even think Downstate is worth the ~$12,500 worth of tuition.

I am not aware of any solid BSN program in the NYC area. The one accelerated BSN program that I thought was terrific was the one at Georgetown. I really was impressed with their program and it's a small class, 60 students or so a year, and they had a 100% NCLEX pass rate on the first try last year.

If you do have to go to Downstate, I would suggest to anyone who is going in, take a pharmacology class and a pathophysiology class before the summer session. That would help A LOT. The first semester has a 6-week pathophysiology course that you can place out of if you took it before. You will NOT have time to really learn all of the material but you will be expected to know all of the material. You will also take a 5-week pharmacology course and it will be very difficult to memorize all of the drugs and learn about them in such a short time.

Let me know if you have any more questions and i'll try to answer them as soon as I can.

[Murseeless]

It's hard to get into Downstate only because it's cheap. I really am unhappy with the administration here and wouldn't wish this program on my worst enemy. Take a look at the schedule of courses for the summer sessions and think about the workload that will need to be put in. Factor in a faculty that isn't always available (and some incompetent) and an administration that gets very defensive when problems arise.

http://www.downstate.edu/nursing/programs/accelerated.html

The first summer session is 6 weeks long and three courses are covered. The second summer session is 5 weeks long and includes four courses (Mon 9AM-7PM, Tues 9AM-5PM and Wed 9AM-3PM) plus clinicals (two days a week, each 12-hour days).

It's pretty intense the first summer and many people find that they're studying for the tests but aren't retaining much.

I agree with what Tanguera is saying, although some of the statements are a bit extreme for me personally. This is probably the cheapest program of it's kind that you will find in the 5 boroughs and that is an important consideration to make. And, honestly, from what I've heard, everyone has problems with their nursing program and it's pretty much the same complaints (although the Downstate accelerated program might take the cake). There might be a fundamental flaw in how nursing is taught in general (at least in Ny sate). If you need guidence and for someone to hold your hand as you're going through school, this program is NOT for you. If you are a self-directed and extremely motivated individual who can learn on their own, can set and meet their own deadlines, you'll make it through. But, it is hellishly hard. It is unrealistic to learn pharmacology in 5 weeks. Add OBGYN and two other courses to that load and it becomes even more impossible and unrealistic. Weigh the Pros and Cons and decide.

[woodyswifey4evaa]

for those of you that are currently in the accelerated nursing program that started in the summer how has it been so far? how was the first 3 months?