Northern Illinois University Fall/Spring Cohorts

happyinmyheart · Jun 3, 2015

Hey, congrats on your acceptance! I just graduated from NIU this May! The first semester can be a little busy, but hang in there! You'll do great!

Wow congrats on graduating!!! Any advice for the program? :)

obscrubber · Jul 19, 2015

Congratulations! I look forward to meeting you this fall. I start then also

Krondike · Nov 16, 2015

Get out and transfer if you can ASAP

happyinmyheart · Nov 16, 2015

Get out and transfer if you can ASAP

Any particular reason why? Or are you just struggling in your classes?

happyinmyheart · Jan 8, 2016

Im starting the program this semester guys!! Any last minute advice?

Elevense · Jan 11, 2016

Good luck! Hmmm... so advice...

Fundamentals is more challenging than I think some people expect. There is a lot of material, the test questions can get a little tricky. Don't get freaked out, just take it seriously from day 1. :) And really question (politely of course) a posted grade if it seems off. That really goes for any class but in my experience, I've known more folks who've had big grade errors in that class than others (as recently as last semester). I only recorded and played lectures before one exam (basically just played them in the background while I did other things like typed up the study guide for the exam) but found that I picked up several questions that quite a few missed on the test.

And patho of course can be tough. It's just really important to understand what's going on so you aren't just trying to memorize a bajillion signs and symptoms. Videos on youtube can help a lot too (like Michael Linares).

It seems like in the beginning there's a lot of "or you'll fail." I mean it happens, but it's not as bad as the dire warnings seem to be. Just take things seriously, which I'm sure most people will anyway, but don't let the stress dominate. Skills check offs can be a little unnerving and they made it sound so doom and gloom if we didn't get it right the first time, but didn't know anyone who had to redo a check off who didn't ultimately get it.

You don't have to worry about this until you register for your fall classes but...

The first semester you don't have to worry about clinical sites, but after that, you get flexibility to choose whatever you want (depending on what's available when you register). I encourage you to think about where you might want to work and really try to experience as many hospitals as possible if your transportation allows it. Some of my friends chose hospitals that were the easiest to get to, and went to them repeatedly, but really didn't want to work there when school was over. It's not the end of the world and I know graduation feels like forever away right now, but those little things can help when you're a new grad and job hunting.

The school sets up review sessions with students further along in the track. It really is hit or miss depending on who they get to do it. But give them a try, and definitely make the time to go if you are lucky enough to get someone who's awesome at it. They also have peer tutors - take advantage of them EARLY if you feel you might need them.

Whoa that's way longer than I thought it would be! You'll do great! Just PM if you have any questions! :)

happyinmyheart · Jan 12, 2016

Good luck! Hmmm... so advice...
Fundamentals is more challenging than I think some people expect. There is a lot of material, the test questions can get a little tricky. Don't get freaked out, just take it seriously from day 1. :) And really question (politely of course) a posted grade if it seems off. That really goes for any class but in my experience, I've known more folks who've had big grade errors in that class than others (as recently as last semester). I only recorded and played lectures before one exam (basically just played them in the background while I did other things like typed up the study guide for the exam) but found that I picked up several questions that quite a few missed on the test.
And patho of course can be tough. It's just really important to understand what's going on so you aren't just trying to memorize a bajillion signs and symptoms. Videos on youtube can help a lot too (like Michael Linares).
It seems like in the beginning there's a lot of "or you'll fail." I mean it happens, but it's not as bad as the dire warnings seem to be. Just take things seriously, which I'm sure most people will anyway, but don't let the stress dominate. Skills check offs can be a little unnerving and they made it sound so doom and gloom if we didn't get it right the first time, but didn't know anyone who had to redo a check off who didn't ultimately get it.
You don't have to worry about this until you register for your fall classes but...
The first semester you don't have to worry about clinical sites, but after that, you get flexibility to choose whatever you want (depending on what's available when you register). I encourage you to think about where you might want to work and really try to experience as many hospitals as possible if your transportation allows it. Some of my friends chose hospitals that were the easiest to get to, and went to them repeatedly, but really didn't want to work there when school was over. It's not the end of the world and I know graduation feels like forever away right now, but those little things can help when you're a new grad and job hunting.
The school sets up review sessions with students further along in the track. It really is hit or miss depending on who they get to do it. But give them a try, and definitely make the time to go if you are lucky enough to get someone who's awesome at it. They also have peer tutors - take advantage of them EARLY if you feel you might need them.
Whoa that's way longer than I thought it would be! You'll do great! Just PM if you have any questions! :)

Wow, thank you SO much! That's some of the best advice I have received specific to Northern's program. I will definitely take all of your advice to heart :)

I'm very nervous about Patho and Fundamentals. I'm a very hard worker and I study very hard.... So I don't want to fail anything without a fight! Some of my syllabi are being posted right now and it's very overwhelming!

Patho is the most worrisome for me right now. We have to have the first seven chapters read by the first class, and the amount of information in the book is crazy! Any advice for specifically studying for Patho?

Elevense · Jan 16, 2016

First track is definitely intimidating and there's a lot of juggling! Lots of little assignments in other classes to keep track of around the 2 biggies. You seem really conscientious, and I'm sure you'll do great!

For patho, I found having another book breaking down concepts was helpful. The instructors recommend basically a shorter Patho textbook by Story, which is decent. One of my friends used that book a ton and said it got her through patho. I liked having Lipincott's Patho Made Incredibly Easy. (The library or interlibrary loans sometimes have good books you can borrow for free if you don't mind not writing in them. )

I looked up youtube videos a lot, Michael Linares and Khan Academy were probably two I found the most helpful. I went to the patho review sessions when I could, we had good reviews that semester. And fortunately you have a good patho instructor!

It's probably a little bit of trial and error to discover what works best for you to understand what's going on, so you aren't trying to memorize tons of symptoms for each different disorder.

pinksnowflakes · Jan 17, 2016

First track is definitely intimidating and there's a lot of juggling! Lots of little assignments in other classes to keep track of around the 2 biggies. You seem really conscientious, and I'm sure you'll do great!
For patho, I found having another book breaking down concepts was helpful. The instructors recommend basically a shorter Patho textbook by Story, which is decent. One of my friends used that book a ton and said it got her through patho. I liked having Lipincott's Patho Made Incredibly Easy. (The library or interlibrary loans sometimes have good books you can borrow for free if you don't mind not writing in them. )
I looked up youtube videos a lot, Michael Linares and Khan Academy were probably two I found the most helpful. I went to the patho review sessions when I could, we had good reviews that semester. And fortunately you have a good patho instructor!
It's probably a little bit of trial and error to discover what works best for you to understand what's going on, so you aren't trying to memorize tons of symptoms for each different disorder.

Thank you so much for the help!! I'm starting at NIU as well :)

Elevense · Jan 22, 2016

Thank you so much for the help!! I'm starting at NIU as well :)

Awesome! Good luck!! Hope you are enjoying your first week. :)

pinksnowflakes · Jan 25, 2016

Awesome! Good luck!! Hope you are enjoying your first week. :)

Thank you! I'm really overwhelmed, but I'm just trying to make it through :)

pinksnowflakes · Mar 27, 2016

I'm really enjoying the program so far- just an update :) Pretty scared for the two HESIs we take at the end of the semester though!