Okay, here's to answer your questions. First of all, the scholarship is not tied into income. My husband is an attorney, so we would not qualify for any financial aid either. The scholarship is based on academics. I don't think it has to be too high to qualify for that, I know a classmate who had it who had around a 3.0. Also, as to the schedule. We did start the end of July, but ended the end of May, first part of June, like the school kids. That was the first year. The second year We did have one month of accelated Ped/L&D in July. Just 4 weeks! We didn't start again until Sept., then graduated in Dec! So, actually we pretty much had the summer off. Of course we had to have all the pre-reqs finished first. I did all those at the local Community college.
I talked to Linfield today. Their application deadline is February 15th. The lady I spoke to said that the 18 mo program is brandnew for them and what existed last year may not exist this year. She said that this year you will start in June go thru August have maybe two weeks off and then begin again and they expect that for the following year. I was beginning to think the program was doable but I am not sure. How did you feel about the class load and stress? I have a friend doing the 18 mo program at OHSU and she is a 4.0 student. She is doing great but it is VERY stressful and she is juggling a lot without having any children. She encouraged me to think about doing a two year program knowing that I work for OHSU and LHS and having children.
Thanks for the info about the scholarships though. I have a high undergrad GPA and they said that basically the scholarship is automatic for anyone with a 3.3 and above regardless of finances. That was new news to me; so thanks so much about that.
Can you tell me how you felt about the program, the clinicals and how stressed you were? If you want you can contact me directly at [email protected]. Thanks again for all your time and efforts on my behalf!
I had a great experience at Linfield. The faculty is very supportive to moms. They will arrange your clinicals to fit around your kid's schedule. I think that is pretty unheard of in most nursing schools! The faculty themselves all have kids so they know how it goes. For example, if you have kids in day care, they will give you choices of which times you would prefer for clinicals. I have children at home too and there were a couple of times a child was sick and I had a paper due. The teacher was understanding and gave me an extension on the paper. We had one situation where a classmate's brother was killed in an auto accident. The faculty kept her place open for her while she maintained a vigil at his bedside before he died (it took a couple months) they then assisted her in joining with the next semester's class. I thought that was very kind of them. Another classmate's father died and she had to fly back to Chicago to make arrangements. She was gone for 2 weeks, but was able to come back and get back in the swing of things with assistance from the faculty and graduate with the rest of us. Two girls got married, and one had a baby! Maybe that says something. I was really appreciative that since I lived in Salem, the faculty arranged for me to do as much as my clinicals down here so I didn't have to commute as much. They went so far as to open a site that had never been used before just so I wouldn't have to commute. Now that was incredible I thought!
Also, about the sites! I think Linfield has the most varied opportunities to do different things. For example, for my mental health rotation I was at the State Hospital here in Salem. I worked with the men in 32F (the criminally insane!) Now that was interesting! For my community health rotation I worked in healthy Start in Clackamas County. For my Chronic Illness I worked in Wilsonville at the women's correction facility. I also worked at St. Vincent's, Emanuel, and various other places. Huge exposure!
The workload, if you have all the prereqs out of the way, is doable. The most classes I had at a time was 3. Most of the time, I just had 1 or 2. Now they were intense classes, and paper intensive, but doable. The one I hated the most was Research Methods, Yuck!
The teachers are very involved and helpful. A couple boring ones, but that's normal. There is a good supportive system for help such as the library, a writing center, computer center, etc. The library is the Good Sam Library.
You get extremely close to your classmates. I was warned this would happen, and it sure did! These ladies are now my sisters. I will love them forever. You go through such emotional and learning experiences, that they will be part of my heart forever.
Sorry this is so long, but it was such a remarkable expererience and still fresh for me. It sounds like you are an older student as I was, and Linfield certainly values that. So, hope this answers more of your questions. I will just say one more thing which I think is really really important. Go for the BSN!!!! You will never ever regret it. Don't want to ruffle any feathers of those who have ADN's, but the BSN will be very well worth it. If you are going to do the time anyway, go the whole nine yards. Anyway, that's my take on it.
Good luck, and any more questions, I would be glad to answer.
Im not in Nursing school yet. Have not even started pre-reqs. I am considering going to Clackamas CC.
I loved clackamas - took the chemistry sequence there and nutrition - much more supportive than some of the classes I took at PCC - friendlier atmosphere -
I have also been accepted to Linfield and start June 17th, their Accelerated BSN program. I can't help you out since I don't know much but I would love to commiserate with you if you would like.
Congratulation to both of you being accepted to Linfield.
I'm on the waitlist so I'm not sure if I'm going to get in or not. Linfield wouldn't tell me how many were on the waitlist but I heard they haven't started filling positions for Fall term yet so I'm crossing my fingers.
I remember your name from before. I think you applied to Clark, Linfield, PCC and Walla Walla or OHSU? Anyhow, I was accepted to Clark for the Spring and attended the first week of class. Then I declined when I found out I was accepted to Linfield. I was also accepted to OHSU, but decided that Linfield was more family-friendly. After scholarships, it was in the neighborhood of OHSU. I also tried for PCC lottery (Sylvania is so close to my house) but was not drawn. I did not apply for Walla Walla because of their religion requirements and the distance. Ditto with Mt. Hood and CCC.
Have you heard from Walla Walla? A friend of mine that was accepted there, Linfield and most likely MHCC is planning on attending Linfield. The acceptance money is due by April 30th; so after that they should start contacting the wait listed people.
I hope you get in and thanks for your congratulations!
Yeah I was declined at PCC also because of the lottery. I'm on the wait list for Walla Walla (way down the wait list at 40) and Linfield. I'm just waiting to hear from MHCC any day now. I feel pretty good about MHCC because I have the medical experience, good work history and I've taken almost all my class for the BSN program. I would prefer to have a BSN but right now I'll take anything I can get into. My GPA is a little low because of anatomy at 3.31. I think that is why I'm having problems getting into the BSN programs.
Right now I'm attending Clackamas Community College, and they have a deal with OHSU that once you gain admittance into Clackamas' program, you are automatically accepted into OHSU if you wish to go on for a bachelor's degree. Some of the other community colleges may have the same kind of deal. One of my classmates was looking into Chemeketa, and currently they seem to have a good reputation.
As far as competiveness goes, at Clackamas I know they normally receive about 200 applications but only have 40 spots. This year there are only 28 of us because they increased the qualifications for applicants.
And to clarify about the OHSU deal, if I wanted to, after my second year at Clackamas, I could go straight to OHSU, attend only one more year, and have a Bachelor's degree. They have a few more pre-reqs, but if it's something you know you want to do, you have time to complete them before you transfer.
HI I attended CCC in 1997. The program there is great!! Is Jean Snyder still there? Troy Larkin? Currently I am finishing my nursing degree at University of Alaska Anchorage, and when I am done I want to move back to Portland. How are the jobs there?
Annaproblemma
12 Posts
Dear Spud,
Okay, here's to answer your questions. First of all, the scholarship is not tied into income. My husband is an attorney, so we would not qualify for any financial aid either. The scholarship is based on academics. I don't think it has to be too high to qualify for that, I know a classmate who had it who had around a 3.0. Also, as to the schedule. We did start the end of July, but ended the end of May, first part of June, like the school kids. That was the first year. The second year We did have one month of accelated Ped/L&D in July. Just 4 weeks! We didn't start again until Sept., then graduated in Dec! So, actually we pretty much had the summer off. Of course we had to have all the pre-reqs finished first. I did all those at the local Community college.
Any more questions, let me know!
Anna