Northern Michigan University

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So I am a Senior in High school this year and I have been applied and accepted to Northern Michigan University for Nursing as my major. I am just wondering if there is anyone on these forums who is planning on doing the same or is maybe a year or two into it already. I'm excited to start my education in Nursing and to start caring for people how I've always wanted to. So if you're going to Northern for nursing or planning to this fall, go ahead and reply! :)

Chris

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I am not at Northern, but I am from that area. I know some people who are in the nursing program and really like it. My advice is get a good GPA because I also know some people who wanted to do the nursing program but were not able to get in. Good luck and have fun!

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Specializes in NICU.

Hi, are you still planning on going into Nursing at NMU?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Oh wow! I'm so, so glad I found this thread! :D:heartbeat:bow:

I'm a transfer student from the state of WA going to Northern Michigan University this Fall for Nursing School. Once I get there I will only have to complete A&P and one Chem. class and then I'm in! Or I should be... I currently have a GPA of 3.95. I noticed that parris said a good GPA was important. I was told by an NMU person that 3.40 or better GPA and your in. Is this the case? Do I need to worry as long as I get no less than a B+ or A- in my last pre-reqs classes? Of course I'm shooting for As, but I know these last classes will be tough.

Also, could anyone tell me what NMU is like? What the Nursing School at NMU is like? What the town of Marquette is like? I have so many questions lol! I'm really nervous because I've never been anywhere outside of WA and I'm scared ... but excited! I'd love to know more about where I'm going and if anyone could tell me I'd so, so appreciate it!

Thanks in advance to anyone who answers! And maybe I'll see you at NMU this Fall DahlstromPreNurse! :D

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I don't go to the nursing program, but I grew up close to marquette. If you are used to a city, marquette may be the biggest city in the U.P, but some expereience a little culture shock. It is a great place to live with many and beautiful places to see. The lake is right there and there are many outdoor activities to experience. I love the U.P, but be prepared for a different culture than many other places offer.

I have heard that many do like the nursing program, but they are not happy with the amount of clinical hours they are getting and Marquette Gerneal seems a little behind times with the technology in the hospital and staff.

Good luck to you!

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Specializes in NICU.

Ha! I'm really not looking forward to Mqt General, because, like Parris said, it's behind on the times, and the management stinks. No worries. They're adding more clinical hours starting Fall 2009. I was just accepted for this fall, Maria, and I had a 3.2. That being said, I am retaking 3 prereqs and will likely have a 3.77 cumulative at the end of the semester. A&P are separated into Anatomy and then Physiology. I wouldn't say they're overly difficult..just take the time to study and don't screw off in labs..labs count for 25% of your grade, and you will be quizzed every week. I haven't had chemistry here, as I transferred, so I can't tell you anything about that. Have you already had Medical Microbiology, or the equivilant? You also need an upper level Nutrition.

Marquette is a beautiful mining town right on the shore of Lake Superior, but I'll warn you, it's small. Yeah, we have a walmart, target, a mall, and plenty of fast food, but if you're looking for anything in the way of high culture, this is the wrong place. I love it here though. The campus is simple, and well organized. There's lots of people to meet, and we are generally friendly. Oh, and the weather. What's the weather like where you are from? Here, it's pleasant and surprisingly warm in the summers, but it gets Really cold in the winters. I don't think it would feel so cold, except that it's always windy. We get plenty of snow too. It's nice, though, because many of the campus buildings are connected with skywalks, or an underground tunnel. So, if you choose, you can really limit how much you're out side. We do have a ski slope/mountain thingy close by, but I've never been there.

I hear the program isn't too bad from girls who are 2 semesters into it. It's a 5 semester program that doesn't go into summers, unless you apply for the accelerated track. But only 10 people get into that. 1st semester clinicals (which is new...1st semester didn't used to have clinicals at all!) is at a long term care facility, I hear.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Thank you both so, so much for all the great info!:D :bow: I do come from the city, but hopefully if I can make friends and get involved at NMU, I can avoid getting too homesick. Good to know about the weather - my Mom insists I get snow boots and it seems she is right lol, but I'm glad to hear it gets warm at some point in the year. I'm thrilled to hear there is a Target. Again, thank you both for the info, and I will PM you back HyperSaurus. :)

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For sure get a winter Jacket, boots are good but if you are walking you don't need really big heavy ones. Also do your clothes shoping before you come, because it is very limited as far as good stores go. It is really a great place.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Great to know about shopping for clothes before I go. Thank you for all the info, I feel a lot more happy to going now! :)

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Specializes in NICU.

Your mom is right about the boots. Too big and you just can't walk in them. I'd recommend a longer coat though...Your legs need warmth too :) I'm glad that there's someone besides me on here that is going to NMU!

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Hypersaurus,

This thread seems to be rather old so hopefully I get a response. I am planning on transferring to NMU next fall to apply for the nursing program. Since you are already in the program could you please give me some insight as to if you like it or not? I am from Lansing and transferring from LCC to NMU. Is there any advice you can give for admissions processing or living arrangements? Any of this would be extremely helpful.

Thanks in advance,

abotz

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Specializes in NICU.

I'm still here and have a year left at Northern. It depends on why you want to go to Northern on whether you'll like it. The surrounding area is certainly...less developed than the Lansing area--not to mention much more hilly and cold. If you enjoy the out-doors and don't particularly care if the more popular stores are available, you'll enjoy being in the UP. If not, you may find just staying in Marquette a frustrating experience. Personally, I chose Northern because it is smaller and beautiful, not to mention the good reputation the BSN program has.

That said, have you got into contact with a transfer advisor to see what classes exactly will transfer for you? Do you have a lot of pre-reqs done or are you a freshman? Transferring to Northern is a pretty simple process (I am a former transferree, as well as Maria L, SN). Applying for the program is ridiculously simple--You just fill out an application and attach a transcript, make sure you have taken all of the necessary pre-reqs with a C or higher, and go from there. No interview, no essay, no letters of reference. You will have a decent chance of getting in if you have a 3.3 or higher. I'd shoot for a 3.5 or higher as a straight-shot. I think you're supposed to have at least 12 NMU credits though before you apply, so basically, one semester's worth of classes. Be careful with that first semester of classes, the nursing curriculum only looks at your Northern GPA.

I love the program. I am part of the first class of the updated curriculum. The program is two and a half years long, or 5 semesters. They added clinicals to the first semester, added a required advanced Pharm class, split Med/Surg into two semesters (with Med/Surg II having an emphasis on critical care), and added a 5 week internship, where you work 1-to-1 with a nurse at the local hospital on the unit of your choice. The professors at Northern are surprisingly helpful. I heard a lot of horror stories about nursing school in general before starting, but our professors here really WANT you to succeed and will do anything they can to help you. They won't however, spoon feed everything to you.

Feel free to reply with more questions, I am pretty unorganized tonight.

BSN Info Packet:

http://webb.nmu.edu/Nursing/SiteSections/StudentInformation/BSN_Info_Packet_s10.pdf

Transfer Equivalency Guide for Lansing Community College:

Northern Michigan University - Course Equivalencies

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