OHSU BSN PDX program applicants - 2010

U.S.A. Oregon

Published

Hi,

Anyone else out there getting anxious to hear from OHSU's Portland campus for their BSN program? They said they'll notify in early May which is still a month away, but I just want to know now! It's my first time applying and the only program that I applied to this year, so I'm not counting on it.

Good luck to everyone!

:)

Larisa,

I am curious about the financial aid information you received. Are you officially on the wait list for OHSU? If so, did you just call and ask them what your financial aid package might be? When do they send out official offers?

I only ask because I am also a post-bacc student and was offered admission to the Portland campus. Now I am trying to figure out how I will pay for it. I never had financial aid the first time around, so that part is all new to me. Of course I filled out the FAFSA, but I realize that for a second bachelor's I don't qualify for grants, only student loans.

So the $10K they tentatively quoted to you, was that for student loans/scholarships? Is it your perspective that they seem to offer enough financial aid to cover most (not all) of tuition costs?

Thanks in advance for any information you can pass on. I appreciate it. Good luck with your status and working out the finances!

Sku 1,

Yes, I called the FinAid office directly (I got it from OHSU website). I am not a post-Bac. I am on the alternate list (for sure, officially)for KFalls, OCNE BSN. I called the FinAid office precisely to find out about my FinAid package, and based on the info in my FAFSA, I was told that will get around 10K in loans, and it will probably increase to 12K for the 2nd and the 3rd years. I am prematurely terrified, because based on what she quoted, I will be short, as you have to add their quarterly fees and, I believe, their mandatory health insurance, and, not to mention, very expensive books (plus have money for Ramen noodles).

Since I am not officially accepted, i don't know if they will bother to sent an official offer (or break down) of my Aid at this point.

Since I started using FinAid 2009-2010 school year, I was never offered any grants (keep in mind, my husb. and I make 40% more than the last posted average US household income, and we do not have any children (dog does not count).

So far, my FinAid package for other schools, including WSU (which I will attend this fall in not accepted to any nursing program), consisted of about 50%subsidized and 50%unsubsidized loans, with 2K to spare (living/books) each term at CCs, and $1500 to spare per semester at WSU.

Financial Aid is tricky thing, as different rules apply to people of different incomes and family situations.

I hope this helps, but I would call the FinAid office directly, and ASAP, so that you can accordingly.

0 Votes

Here is a great onine e-book to tell you more about OHSU SON stats/ financial aide/ acceptance/graduation percentage etc. I found it interesting and thought I could share ;)

http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/student-services/upload/2009-OHSU-Academic-Fact-Book.pdf

0 Votes
Here is a great onine e-book to tell you more about OHSU SON stats/ financial aide/ acceptance/graduation percentage etc. I found it interesting and thought I could share ;)

http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/education/student-services/upload/2009-OHSU-Academic-Fact-Book.pdf

What a great book! It seems like for the last 2 years almost 70 accepted people didn't enroll at OHSU, which gives good chances for alternative students, like me. I was only confused about this line: "Add'l students who could have been accomodated", are they talking about alternative students?

0 Votes
What a great book! It seems like for the last 2 years almost 70 accepted people didn't enroll at OHSU, which gives good chances for alternative students, like me. I was only confused about this line: "Add'l students who could have been accomodated", are they talking about alternative students?

Folks who were qualified for the program, but didn't get in (they didn't even get an alternate letter).

0 Votes
Folks who were qualified for the program, but didn't get in (they didn't even get an alternate letter).

Too bad they don't state how many alternate students they have each year:crying2:. That would help.:mad:

0 Votes
Too bad they don't state how many alternate students they have each year:crying2:. That would help.:mad:

You should be able to get an idea of how many alternate students are accepted by subtracting the enrolled students from the admitted (if folks were admitted, but not enrolled they must have declined admission and since the programs were full each year, that's how many alternates were able to take their place).

CuriousMe

(AKA the gal who like reading charts )

0 Votes

CuriousMe,

I have seen a couple of your other posts about how you have enjoyed OHSU's 3-year program thus far. That is encouraging to hear. There are so many pathways to get to nursing, and so many schooling options in the Portland area. It can be hard to make a choice between several good options. I was accepted into Portland, and am leaning toward this option.

Have you spoken to anyone who has gone through/is on the Portland campus? I am curious about instructors and clinical sites. I know OHSU's hospitals are obvious sites, but I'm wondering about other clinical opportunities, as well. I remember you mentioned doing some community-based time in your first year. I volunteer at a local free clinic, so that is right up my alley.

I have a few other questions if you don't mind:

Are you satisfied with your level of clinical skills (what you have learned and what you anticipate to learn before finishing)? I know that regardless of our path to nursing, we will all learn exponentially so much in our first years of practice, but there is always the raging debate between associate's and bachelor's training, and who has more clinical focus. My humble opinion says it's largely up to the individual (I like to jump in and learn anytime there is something new).

Is there an honors or research option in the 3-year program?

Are there opportunities to participate in internships/externships over the summer?

Are there any multicultural or global health learning/service opportunities that you have heard of?

Do new grads seem to have the same kinds of trouble I've heard elsewhere on this site regarding finding new-grad employment in Portland/Oregon? I realize one has to be proactive and even start applying months before graduation in some markets, but is the program good about helping students with the job search?

I have looked into some of these things based on OHSU's site, but it is always nice to hear from someone who is in the thick of it. I know there are a lot of questions here, but I don't really know anyone in the 3-year program. It seems like a lot of the board members are hopeful students (nothing wrong with that, just not the kind of source I'm looking for).

Thanks in advance for any of your replies, I appreciate it. Good luck with finals if you are heading into them soon!

0 Votes
CuriousMe,

I have seen a couple of your other posts about how you have enjoyed OHSU's 3-year program thus far. That is encouraging to hear. There are so many pathways to get to nursing, and so many schooling options in the Portland area. It can be hard to make a choice between several good options. I was accepted into Portland, and am leaning toward this option.

Have you spoken to anyone who has gone through/is on the Portland campus? I am curious about instructors and clinical sites. I know OHSU's hospitals are obvious sites, but I'm wondering about other clinical opportunities, as well. I remember you mentioned doing some community-based time in your first year. I volunteer at a local free clinic, so that is right up my alley.

Sorry, I have no experience with specifics to the Portland campus. I think there is a link on the OHSU site that lists clinical sites for each campus....that might help a bit?

have a few other questions if you don't mind:

Are you satisfied with your level of clinical skills (what you have learned and what you anticipate to learn before finishing)? I know that regardless of our path to nursing, we will all learn exponentially so much in our first years of practice, but there is always the raging debate between associate's and bachelor's training, and who has more clinical focus. My humble opinion says it's largely up to the individual (I like to jump in and learn anytime there is something new).

I agree that it's largely up to the individual to take advantage of their clinical time and be proactive. Being the one to jump in there will serve you well no matter what program you attend.

I disagree that we get less clinical time than ADN's...well primarily because we have a full extra year of clinicals (and 2 terms of preceptorship instead of one). We don't spend all our time in hospitals, but hospitals aren't the only place to learn how to be an RN. ADN programs may be more focused on hospital skills, however our program doesn't have less of that, it just adds more context to it. I didn't believe it going in, but the skills I learned outside the hospital, made me a much better nursing student when I got back in the hospital again.

I don't know that I'll ever be satisfied with my level of clinical skills, I know what all my weaknesses are and what I have to work on. The RN's I've worked with on the floor have given me great feedback on my current clinical skilss. But other than course competencies, I don't have an objective measure to give you on that one. I've said this before, but truly I think the physical skills are the easiest part of nursing since, with repetition, any one can be taught these skills. Making the judgement call to do or not do the skill....that's a far harder skill to develop. That judgement is not only developed in the hospital and I think our program does a fantastic job of helping us develop those skills.

That being said. We were introduced to most (75%?) of our clinical skills in our first year...so we have two more years to use them in lab or clinicals. Also, I don't think anyone can really generalize which programs get to do more by degree type, as I have friends who started at an OCNE CC at the same time I started my program and we learned to insert IV's a full year before them.

Don't know if that helped....sorry. It's just really not a clear-cut thing. From my experiences so far, and my conversations with friends who graduated last year....I fully expect to be a competent graduate nurse. I plan to apply to, and be a competitive candidate for, critical care residencies at the nation's top medical centers after I graduate.

Is there an honors or research option in the 3-year program?

There's the 4 year honor society Sigma Theta Tau, and you can graduate with Latin honors....but there's not a separate honors curriculum. Everyone in your cohort takes the same classes at the same time (for the most part). There are opportunities to participate in research, but you'd need to be proactive in making that happen. A couple of my Prof's have ongoing studies of different kinds.

Have no fears though, you'll be challenged :)

Are there opportunities to participate in internships/externships over the summer?

I have yet to find an internship/externship (not counting ones for new grads) in the state of Oregon. If you know of any, please let me know :)

Are there any multicultural or global health learning/service opportunities that you have heard of?

There's a club on campus called Nursing Students Without Borders, that participates in multiple activities throughout the year (internet video conferences with nursing students in Guatemala, running health fairs--blood glucose screening, BP screening, vaccinations--for under-served communities, etc) They organized a trip to Guatemala last summer, but had to cancel at the last minute due to in-country situations.

new grads seem to have the same kinds of trouble I've heard elsewhere on this site regarding finding new-grad employment in Portland/Oregon? I realize one has to be proactive and even start applying months before graduation in some markets, but is the program good about helping students with the job search?

Honestly, I don't know of anyone who was looking for employment in Portland....so I can't comment there. I know that our new grads have found work here and in top medical centers around the country. I don't know of any help that is given in the job search other than professional advice on resume's and such.

have looked into some of these things based on OHSU's site, but it is always nice to hear from someone who is in the thick of it. I know there are a lot of questions here, but I don't really know anyone in the 3-year program. It seems like a lot of the board members are hopeful students (nothing wrong with that, just not the kind of source I'm looking for).

Thanks in advance for any of your replies, I appreciate it. Good luck with finals if you are heading into them soon!

Happy to try and help, hope it actually was helpful. Congratulations on your multiple acceptances!!

0 Votes

Hey everybody! I was just wondering if any of the alternate students for OHSU (any campus) got an offer for a spot? Please, let me know even if you are still waiting like me. It would be helpfull to know:)

Thanks

0 Votes

Nope. I don't think we will hear anything until after the June 15th deadline....doesn't it seem like the days just drag on! Hang in there ;)

0 Votes

Yes the days do drag on!!! I'm waitlisted for Monmouth and am wondering how I'm supposed to get down there if I don't get called until right before term!! Anyway...I hope I get a call June 16th!! Haha! :) Good luck to everyone! Post if you get a call in June or anytime after!

0 Votes
Nope. I don't think we will hear anything until after the June 15th deadline....doesn't it seem like the days just drag on! Hang in there ;)

Yes, days just go by slow. That makes sense that we would hear after 15th. Thanks!

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment