NYU 15 Month Accelerated BSN - Please share your experience

Kelzy · Apr 28, 2009

Hello,
I am very much leaning towards attending the NYU second degree program over LIU in the fall and would like some insight as to what to expect. Please include any details you would like to share.
What are typical class hours during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters?
Is it 5 days a week, pretty much all day?
Were you able to do an externship?
How many students per class? Clinicals?
Is/was getting through the 15 months harder/easier than expected?
What were the easiest classes, if any? Any classes that we particularly challenging, difficult or confusing?
Any additional suggestions/details would be great.
Thanks again!!

Hey there! So, you should expect to be very, very, very busy for the next 15 months. In the fall you'll be taking classes every day, unless they've changed the schedule. You'll have clinical one day a week, every other week and the alternating weeks you'll be in a lab instead. The rest of your classes are lectures. You're in class a significant portion of the day throughout the week. Clinical and lab are all day. The professors are good about scheduling exams around each other, so there are never two exams in one week. There are however sometimes papers due and exams to take in the same week, which can be stressful. The classes are really full. I think we have about 200 students in our lectures right now. The labs are about 12 students and the clinicals are 6 students. And your health assessment lab will have about 16 students.

The Spring is much more difficult and you'll look back on the fall and think how easy it was. I'm about as stressed as I can get right now with finals coming up, but maybe in two weeks I'll have a different attitude about the spring. :) There are a lot of things going on right now in the college of nursing and it's been particularly difficult on my class, but things should be worked out in time for you guys. Classes are all week in the spring too. Although, you only have friday classes for half of the semester, so that's nice. In the summer and the last fall you won't have friday classes at all.

I am able to do an externship even though I'm taking classes this summer. NYU medical center offers an externship that starts in August (which is our only month off) and continues throughout the fall semester. If you're interested in doing that, I would suggest getting your application in as soon as you can next spring. I turned mine in two weeks early and I was offered one of the last spots. I don't know of any other hospitals that offer an externship that fits the summer schedule.

As far as classes go, I think Pathophysiology was the most difficult for almost everyone. It's a lot of studying, but it's definitely do-able. The professor for that class is entertaining, so it's not so bad. Right now, Adult Health is the most difficult because of the issues the college of nursing is having, but the content isn't too hard. Most people stress out about the Health Assessment final. You have to do a full head-to-toe assessment on your lab partner, in front of the instructor, but if you study and practice it's nothing to worry about. I wouldn't say any classes have been particularly easy. It honestly depends on your background and what you've been exposed to because some things that are easy for me aren't easy for other people and vice versa.

I think, so far, the program is about what I expected. It's difficult and competitive, but when you graduate you'll have a degree from NYU. I like to think of the program as kind of a marathon. It seems ridiculously difficult and long when you're in the middle of it, but once it's over I'm thinking it won't seem so bad. Although, I still have the summer and fall to get through, so what do I know? Haha :)

My advice would be to do what you need to in order to do well. Don't let other people stress you out. Do well in your clinicals because those instructors will remember you and be willing to write you recommendation letters. Say 'yes' to every opportunity that you are offered in your clinicals. Don't be afraid to do something, because you might never get the chance again. LOL I sound like I'm giving a graduation speech.

I'm happy to answer more questions if you have them. Good luck!!

jistravel · Apr 29, 2009

Thank you so much for your detailed response. I am so excited and nervous at the same time. I am finishing up A&P II and will take nutrition in the summer for my last prerequisite. I have to send my deposit in tomorrow...:)

serenity729 · Apr 30, 2009

Kelzy - what do you mean by "competitive?" I'm considering attending NYU, but because the experience is so intensive, I don't want to go to a school where the students aren't joining together, helping one another out, and nurturing each other. To what degree does this happen?

Thanks in advance.

Kelzy · Apr 30, 2009

Kelzy - what do you mean by "competitive?" I'm considering attending NYU, but because the experience is so intensive, I don't want to go to a school where the students aren't joining together, helping one another out, and nurturing each other. To what degree does this happen?
Thanks in advance.

It's not competitive like someone will throw you under the subway to get ahead. It's competitive like everyone wants to do well. It's just like any other school you go to where you have those certain people that just have to know everyone's grades. Honestly, I ignore those types of people because there's no point in stressing out about how everyone else is doing. You're going to school for yourself, so why does it matter how everyone else is doing?

And on that same note, you'll definitely find your niche of people. My friends that I've met here and I all study together and we tell each other clinical stories and complain about instructors together, and laugh when we need to and it's a much happier experience that way. And really, everyone in the program can relate to everyone else because we're all going through everything together. It's fine, I promise :)

m2theRZA · May 11, 2009

Kelzy - Thank you so much for sharing a bit of your experience in the accelerated program at NYU (there arent many threads with this specifically) - it was very insightful!

I read in another thread that you were choosing between NYU or Georgetown. Can you please share what lead you to pick NYU? I'm going through this exact same predicament (even moving from California!) - I know both are really great schools, so I can't lose either way. But I've been back and forth every single day! I just absolutely fell in love with GU's program when I went in for the interview and even put my deposit down the day we received our email. Lo and behold, the very next day I received my NYU acceptance letter, and ever since then I've been leaning towards NYU more (even though I just feel GU has the better program).

Its really stressing me out. I don't know much about the NYU program since I don't have time to make a trip out there before the deposit is due (May 20th) - but if you would be able to give more insight as to why you chose NYU over GU - and anything else about the NYU program you can share with us- it would be extremely helpful

Thank you!

Kelzy · May 11, 2009

Kelzy - Thank you so much for sharing a bit of your experience in the accelerated program at NYU (there arent many threads with this specifically) - it was very insightful!
I read in another thread that you were choosing between NYU or Georgetown. Can you please share what lead you to pick NYU? I'm going through this exact same predicament (even moving from California!) - I know both are really great schools, so I can't lose either way. But I've been back and forth every single day! I just absolutely fell in love with GU's program when I went in for the interview and even put my deposit down the day we received our email. Lo and behold, the very next day I received my NYU acceptance letter, and ever since then I've been leaning towards NYU more (even though I just feel GU has the better program).
Its really stressing me out. I don't know much about the NYU program since I don't have time to make a trip out there before the deposit is due (May 20th) - but if you would be able to give more insight as to why you chose NYU over GU - and anything else about the NYU program you can share with us- it would be extremely helpful
Thank you!

Okay, so I know exactly how you're feeling. It sucks and it's not easy! The good thing is that they are both great schools so you really can't lose either way. I got my Georgetown acceptance and was totally, completely set on going there... and then I got the letter from NYU. I have always wanted to spend a few years in New York and I couldn't imagine myself saying "No" to NYU, so I picked them.

This is a crappy answer, but you really have to decide which program and which place is better for you. When I was deciding, this is what I thought about: Georgetown's program is smaller so classes are smaller, etc. It's in Washington D.C. (obviously) and for me, that meant I would keep my car and drive it out there because there are no subways that run to the Georgetown area of the city and I knew I wouldn't be able to afford to live close to campus. I was going to have to take philosophy, religion, and sociology or something like that because I didn't have those, but I had other credits that were transferring for nursing classes.

And then NYU meant that I would have to sell my car because there was no way I was bringing a car out here. I knew that I wanted to live in Manhattan in an apartment so I thought about how difficult that was going to be to find a place that was affordable, and a roommate and all that stuff. The tuition is about the same for either school, but i had heard that NYU's financial aid can be a pain (which it can be, but not if you stay on top of things) But, it's NYU and New York and everything that I thought about as being a "con" to choosing NYU just didn't seem that important to me. And when I sent my deposit it felt right and I didn't wish I had chosen Georgetown.

And I've heard great things about GU, and I've heard some not so great things, so I don't really know how their program is. Their NCLEX passing rates are pretty good, but so are NYU's... I feel like I'm not helping! Sorry!

I think that if you listen to yourself and your responses to other people's opinions, you'll know where you want to go. I found myself disagreeing with people that said I should go to Georgetown and I think that said a lot about where I really wanted to go.

I can answer specific questions about NYU if you have any. Maybe things that you like about GU that you're not sure if we have at NYU?

serenity729 · May 11, 2009

1) How many accelerated students are in your class? Are your 200 person lectures all second-degree seekers, or are you mixed in with the undergrads?

2) If someone likes a more nurturing environment, might it be a bad idea to go to NYU? Is it easy to sort of "get lost" in the shuffle?

3) How are the simulation labs? What sort of aids do you have?

4) Do you feel like you have time to take advantage of everything that NY offers while you're in school?

5) Do any accelerated students have time to take part in student organizations, community outreach, or study abroad?

Where were you originally from, coming to NY?

Thanks SO MUCH in advance for helping me out. When I visited NYU, there were multiple students who told me that they weren't so enamored with the nursing program, particularly the quality of teaching and how impersonal it feels.

Kelzy · May 11, 2009

1) How many accelerated students are in your class? Are your 200 person lectures all second-degree seekers, or are you mixed in with the undergrads?

I'm not sure what my class size is. I'm going to guess it's around 150, but I don't really know. The 200 person lectures include second-degree and traditional students.

2) If someone likes a more nurturing environment, might it be a bad idea to go to NYU? Is it easy to sort of "get lost" in the shuffle?

You're going to get the kind of experience that you want. If you want to get to know your lecture professors they are very approachable, they all have office hours, and they're very willing to help if you need it. If you'd rather sit in the back and just listen, that is completely fine too. The labs and clinicals are much much smaller and you will get plenty of attention in those classes. Personally, I get more out of clinicals than I do anywhere else, so it's not important to me to get personal attention from my lecture professors. But I do email or go in and talk to them if I need to.

3) How are the simulation labs? What sort of aids do you have?

I'm pretty sure we are the first class to actually use the simulation lab consistently. It was a learning experience for everyone, including the instructor... and I don't mean that in a negative way. It's nice to get to practice on a patient that you have no chance of actually hurting and I think the labs will keep getting better with more practice. And I'm not sure what you mean by aids? Sorry :)

4) Do you feel like you have time to take advantage of everything that NY offers while you're in school?

I don't really feel like I get to take advantage of everything there is here. The program is intense and it's difficult to find time to really enjoy everything the city has to offer. I do what I can though. I've been to several shows and explored the city and everything... I guess I'm just missing out on the nightlife. The program is only 15 months, so I'm sacrificing my social life in the mean time and I'm okay with that.

5) Do any accelerated students have time to take part in student organizations, community outreach, or study abroad?
Where were you originally from, coming to NY?
Thanks SO MUCH in advance for helping me out. When I visited NYU, there were multiple students who told me that they weren't so enamored with the nursing program, particularly the quality of teaching and how impersonal it feels.

There is time to do student organizations if you want to. I know plenty of people that are involved with different things on campus. I don't think the accelerated program is very forgiving for study abroad. I think that if you wanted to do a winter session abroad you probably could, but I doubt you could do it any other semester and still graduate in 15 months.

I'm originally from California.

I think the problem that people are having with the school right now will not be a problem in the future. As far as it being impersonal, you can make it as personal as you want. My first undergrad school was small and had very small lecture classes and I think some of those were impersonal, so I think it depends on your perception and your preconceptions about how you think a class should go. I don't expect my lecture professors to know my name, so I'm not offended that they don't. But again, if you want that personal experience with a professor, I don't think there would be anything stopping you from getting that at NYU.

Happy to help :)

m2theRZA · May 11, 2009

kelzy, wow, thank you for your response! ah, i am so glad i found you here because your experience sounds exactly what i'm going through right now!

a major con i have for GU is the fact that I will have to drive cross country because I would WANT a car in DC, but would not need in in NY. Also, GU doesn't offer student housing, and having to secure a place beforehand (in a place i don't necessarily want to stay in) was a little daunting to me. I love GU, I love the prestige, I love the faculty/administration and feeling like they genuinely care about their students, and I love the organization of the program, but I guess when it comes down to it I would choose NY over DC.

And the fact that you mentioned you just couldn't say "no" to NY --- is exactly what I'm feeling right now! I really do feel GU's program is more appealing (academically), but I just feel like NY will just offer me more "life" experiences - and feel that I will get out so much more by living here. I also feel like the experience will just make me a better nurse in general (working with different populations in different sectors of NY, etc etc). Its just such a wonderful opportunity to grow physically, emotionally, intuitively. That's why I feel I can't pass it down.... the only thing that really intimidates me is the fact that classes are with 200 people (opposed to GU's 65) - so I feel like it will be a rather impersonal learning experience.

I know you're still in the program, but do you feel that the administration/faculty care about their students, or are you sorta left in the dark? Is there anything in the curriculum that helps prepare for the NCLEX (I know GU has a course devoted to this). Also, how many hours of clinical experience do you have at the end of the program? How many clinicals do you have each semester, and has the commute to any of the sites been difficult? How many sites do you get to choose from? Are NYU nursing students more reputable in NY over other nursing students in NY??

Sorry for all these questions - and thank you so much for your help!

Kelzy · May 11, 2009

kelzy, wow, thank you for your response! ah, i am so glad i found you here because your experience sounds exactly what i'm going through right now!
a major con i have for GU is the fact that I will have to drive cross country because I would WANT a car in DC, but would not need in in NY. Also, GU doesn't offer student housing, and having to secure a place beforehand (in a place i don't necessarily want to stay in) was a little daunting to me. I love GU, I love the prestige, I love the faculty/administration and feeling like they genuinely care about their students, and I love the organization of the program, but I guess when it comes down to it I would choose NY over DC.
And the fact that you mentioned you just couldn't say "no" to NY --- is exactly what I'm feeling right now! I really do feel GU's program is more appealing (academically), but I just feel like NY will just offer me more "life" experiences - and feel that I will get out so much more by living here. I also feel like the experience will just make me a better nurse in general (working with different populations in different sectors of NY, etc etc). Its just such a wonderful opportunity to grow physically, emotionally, intuitively. That's why I feel I can't pass it down.... the only thing that really intimidates me is the fact that classes are with 200 people (opposed to GU's 65) - so I feel like it will be a rather impersonal learning experience.
I know you're still in the program, but do you feel that the administration/faculty care about their students, or are you sorta left in the dark? Is there anything in the curriculum that helps prepare for the NCLEX (I know GU has a course devoted to this). Also, how many hours of clinical experience do you have at the end of the program? How many clinicals do you have each semester, and has the commute to any of the sites been difficult? How many sites do you get to choose from? Are NYU nursing students more reputable in NY over other nursing students in NY??
Sorry for all these questions - and thank you so much for your help!

As an outsider to your situation, it sounds like your leaning toward NYU... pretty much for all of the same reasons that I was last year.

I really do feel like the adminitration and faculty care about their students. Your lecture professors might not know your name, but if you need help they are more than willing to make time for you to come in and talk to them. Same thing goes for your advisor. Well, most of the advisors. All of your clinical and lab instructors will get to know you because they deal with very small groups.

I'm not sure about NCLEX prep. I vaguley remember hearing about one of the classes in the last semester being partially devoted to NCLEX review, but at the time it wasn't important to me so I wasn't fully paying attention. I honestly think that if you do well in the program and learn as much as you can from all of your clincial experiences, you won't have a problem passing the NCELX.

I don't know the number of hours we spend in clinical. You start clinicals in your first semester. You go to the hospital for 8 hours every other week. The second semester you have the same thing plus half of the semester you do a psychiatry clinical every week, and the other half of the semester you do maternity every week. And then you have two clinicals for both of the last two semesters. I have no idea how that compares to other programs, sorry.

The sites are easy to get to and all accessible by subway. I haven't had any problems with the commute. I know some people who had to travel further, but it was just a difference in time. You don't typically get to choose your exact site. You pick a clinical sectino by whichever neighborhood it's in. They'll tell you before you register what area the site will be in and you choose that way.

I don't really know about NYU nursing student's reputation. I've heard several nurses tell us how good we are, but maybe they tell everyone that. All of my clinical sites have been very friendly to us and very willing to let us experience as much as we can. I think there's a certain prestige that comes with the name of NYU and I don't think you'll have any problem finding a job when you graduate.

turtles432 · May 27, 2009

Hey Kelzy I keep on hearing about changes w. the school of Dentistry and how its caused a lot of issues for the College of Nursing. Do you have any info on what the specifics are?