Since it seems that there's quite a bit of interest, I'm attempting to start a new thread devoted exclusively to the OU on-line RN-BSN program that will hopefully build on the comments on assorted previous threads.
I'd like to ask nevergonnagiveup, mtsteelhorse and babynurse73 - all of whom (I think) are either already in the program or have applied for admission - to post about their experiences. I just sent in my application and plan to post periodically about relevant issues. If we can populate the thread with good material, it could become a very useful resource for both those considering the OU program and students already in it. Once that happens, I'd hope we could prevail upon the forum moderators to make it a sticky thread.
As indicated, I've only recently applied to the program. So far, I'm happy with the support and information I've gotten. I've been contacted by an OU "enrollment specialist" who was somewhat helpful (I suspect that they have dual roles, one being to provide basic information to prospective students and the other to follow-up with the prospects and help to fill the roster for the program). This person e-mailed me, followed up with a phone call and was able to provide some useful, if basic, information about the program. I also sent a lengthy e-mail to OU with quite a number of specific, detailed questions. This too resulted in both an e-mail and telephone response, this time from an academic advisor in the OU School of Nursing. Again I received some useful and quite helpful information. All in all, my early experience has been pretty positive.
As indicated above, I plan to post about relevant issues that come up as I work my way through the admission and evaluation process. I'd very much like to hear from others about their experience with OU and I'm sure that there will be a lot of interest by others in our collective experience with the program.
It might have been said in the post somewhere, but I read through several pages and didn't see...
Is this school Nationally AND Regionally accredited?
Yes to both. OU has been around for a very long time (I think over 200 yrs) and is a state-affiliated brick-and-mortar university, primarily focused on traditional classroom rather than on-line programs.
U of WY is on my list (inexpensive is the top priority right now), but the only thing holding me back is the 120 hr. clinical aspect. Ideally, I would like a program that does not have a clinical component.
Is the only clinical in the RN-BSN program at UWy was the one associated with NURS 4975 - Professional Practicum: Community-Focused Nursing? If it's really 120 hrs - which would be ~8 hrs per week for a 15 wk semester - that's significant and may actually make the program not viable. There are 23 nursing programs in my area and most of them are finding it increasingly difficult to schedule clinicals with quite a few hospitals either sharply reducing the numbers of nursing students they will allow or in some cases, refusing to allow students at all (or at least those from the area's ADN programs). The chances of individual students getting hosted are slim to nearly non-existent.
Just following up with any potential students planning on starting with the first summer session on 20 June: Has anyone heard anything from OU?
The one and only e-mail I received stated that I'd hear back in late May (which I would think 24 May qualifies as) but that due to their new process and system, that may be pushed back to June. I'm really curious to see what the evaluation looks like but after waiting for more than 4 months, it would be good to hear something, anything at all from OU.
Still waiting to hear myself. Altho Sheddrick said it would be "late" May ... I was just thinking about how much later it was going to be. I will be glad when then get their new system up and running efficiently! Holiday coming up - so I figure it will be the 31st??
I'm not sure that the "enrollment advisor" that you reference really knows any more than you or I do. He had absolutely no idea about the new system or that applicant decisions were pushed back to May/June until I sent him the e-mail I'd gotten.
Based on the way things appear to be working (or more correctly, not working) at OU right now, my guess is that it will be the 2nd week of June before we hear back. I'm gonna say 10 June. . . but I'd be happy to be wrong.
Good luck rninme and let us know when you hear something!
I sent a message to my enrollment advisor to touch base and get an idea when I may hear anything about acceptance about two weeks ago. I recieved a phone call in return and was told I should hear something the last week in May or first week in June. I too am hoping to hear sooner rather than later...
I sent a message to my enrollment specialist today asking the following:
1) Is OU still on target for admissions notifications either this week or next?
2) Do you know if the university plans to provide the transcript evaluations at the same time as admission notification?
3) If not, will the evaluations be available in time for the 20 June semester start?
4) Is there anything new regarding OU admission for the summer session that you can share?
Here is the response I received:
The notifications of Acceptance should go out the beginning of June. Mid-May would have been the earliest they would have gone out. Once you receive your Acceptance notification, then shortly after that is when you would receive your DARs report which tells you what you have been credit for and what you need to take.
So it looks like May is no longer an option for the acceptance notifications. While I can't be sure, I'd be willing to bet that "the beginning of June" translates to something like "the end of the first full week of June", which is the 10th. Unless the DARs report follows immediately, that means you won't have an evaluation prior to the start of the summer semester. I really don't like that idea but the alternative, which is to delay starting, is also pretty unappealing.
I think it's appauling to make students wait until 2 weeks before the start to find out if they are actually accepted and beginning class. That leaves no time to prepare, buy books, etc. If they don't get it together I'm looking elsewhere. I was screwed out of the June start date because I was never notified of my missing information even after multiple inquiries. You must be proactive!
Sorry to hear about that michelemybell. I know it's small consolation but I went through exactly the same thing - multiple unanswered inquiries only to find out that they were waiting for transcript - but from a school that I didn't attend (long story short - someone made a mistake and coded the wrong campus of one of the schools I attended - I had to get a letter from that school stating that I never went there).
It's worrying that as of today, there are only 25 calendar days remaining until the start of the summer session. Even more worrisome is that subtracting weekends and holidays leaves a net of 15 days until the 20 June start date and so far, no one has received either their acceptance or their evaluation.
Given the Memorial Day holiday Monday and the shortened work week that follows, it seems highly unlikely that this information will available until the following week (seemingly still considered "early June" by OU). If it's the end of that week, that leaves 5 working days for all new students to contact advisors, set up electronic accounts and e-mail, register for classes, go through orientation (assuming that there is one) buy books, etc. I'm not sure that's realistic or even viable. I guess we'll see though.
I'm actually worried FOR you guys! It's way too close to start date. You didn't get to speak to an actual person recently? I have a phone number that I used to get my answer......a live person in fact.
I'm actually worried FOR you guys! It's way too close to start date. You didn't get to speak to an actual person recently? I have a phone number that I used to get my answer......a live person in fact.
Please send me the number (PM if you prefer). I'd like to see if it's the same one that I have - and at which no one picks up and the voice mail says essentially: "Go ahead and leave a message if you must but we're really busy and probably won't get back to you and by the way, you really should consider trying e-mail."
... I was just thinking about how much later it was going to be. I will be glad when then get their new system up and running efficiently! Holiday coming up - so I figure it will be the 31st??
chuckster, ADN, BSN, RN, EMT-B
1,139 Posts
Yes to both. OU has been around for a very long time (I think over 200 yrs) and is a state-affiliated brick-and-mortar university, primarily focused on traditional classroom rather than on-line programs.