OHSU's Accelerated BSN 2015 cohort

katgreen · Oct 13, 2014

Hi there, thanks for posting! I almost had a mini-heart attack the other day when I went to look at the essay questions again and realized the format has completely changed for this year's ABSN application.

I feel your concern - my undergrad GPA is not stellar (definitely lower than yours) and I was looking forward to hopefully writing some great essays to make up for some of those grades from 10+ years ago! In regards to your GPA, though, I have read from previous year's threads that a 3.6 was not bad at all and did not rule someone out, especially with good experience, etc.

Have you been to, or are you going to, an info session this fall? I am planning to attend the Oct session later this week, so if I hear any details or good info about the new interview/ proctored essay rigmarole I will follow up with a post here.

Good luck with Micro and your application!

lmmccauley · Oct 16, 2014

Hi Katgreen! I went to an info session last fall. Of course, things are a bit different now that there is no essay. I too was looking forward to conveying my personality and experience in an essay. Oh well! Hopefully we both get interviews!

Let me know if you hear any interesting information at the info session! I just submitted my application... :nailbiting:

Good luck with yours!

FunkySkunk · Oct 19, 2014

Hi everyone,

I noticed that NursingCAS has sections that are not required to submit an application but may be required by the school. When I called OHSU, they seemed confused by my inquiry. Do any of you know if we need to fill out the optional sections, such as "Parent and Family Information" or "Professional Experience"? I can't imagine them not wanting to have our work background, but I suppose they never really asked for a resume or anything. Let me know! Thanks!

katgreen · Oct 28, 2014

Hey FunkySkunk,

I actually asked about filling out the "Professional Experience" section of NCAS after the info session and the woman I spoke to told me they do not look at it at all. Even so, it seems so strange to not provide any background info or experience, so I am still a bit conflicted. I have been considering adding some things to that section just in case...

lmmccauley - since you already applied, what did you do about that section?

I will say that it seemed to me that they really hammered in the fact that (at least for ABSN) it is all about cumulative GPA and essentially nothing else (although I assume interviews would ask more personal questions?). She even made a point of saying that last year the lowest GPA from the first round of those accepted was a 3.5, but this may have differed from some who got in later from the alternates list, I guess.

She also commented that she knew it was frustrating for some people who didn't do as well in undergrad 10 or 20 years ago, but that they've found nevertheless that cumulative GPA is really the best indicator for those who will succeed specifically in the ABSN program because it is so intense. I am still applying and I figure if it doesn't work out this time around, I may wait and apply again next year.

lmmccauley · Oct 28, 2014

Hi katgreen and FunkySkunk! I was confused about the professional section as well...After reading the application instructions about a million times and emailing OHSU, I pretty much gathered the same thing, that the professional section is not even looked at and definitely not required. I didn't add anything in there, I figured they might ask about it in the interview (fingers crossed I even get one!).

Also, I noticed that after submitting my application, Nursing CAS calculates your GPA and the did not include my courses from study abroad. So, according to them, my GPA is a lot higher. Does anyone know if OHSU uses the GPA calculations from Nursing CAS or if they make their own calculations?

Good luck with your applications!

katgreen · Oct 29, 2014

Ok, glad you came to the same conclusion about the Professional section. It still seems so strange to me, but I would guess that they save any interest in our actual lives for the interview. : ) Which I'm sure you'll get!

And hmm.. Regarding the study abroad - That's interesting. I have sent in my transcripts but they haven't posted yet. I know it says NursingCAS doesn't look at grades from foreign institutions. Was your study abroad through a school in the states, though?

And I believe OHSU only asks for their own copies of transcripts once you are admitted, so I would guess they do in fact go off of what NursingCAS says until then. If that's true, then it sounds like it's good for you!

In any case, now begins the dreaded waiting game! We won't hear about interviews either way until February it sounds like. Good luck to you all as well!

Portlander3 · Oct 30, 2014

Hi guys!

i was also planning on applying for the absn but got pretty intimidated by the info session. I felt like they were talking people out of applying if they didn't have a stellar gpa. I think they said the average accepted was a 3.9 first round last year??? I'm proud of my GPA but it's not that high....I've been debating even applying since then and have been focusing on applying to out of state programs. What others are you guys applying to?

ajw414, ASN, RN · Nov 5, 2014

Hi all! You definitely don't have to fill out the sections that are not required. There's a little key at the top of the Nursing CAS page that points out which colors mean what. I did fill out a few extra pieces of info, but you have to be all in with it. I added only SOME info on my parents, and it made me either erase it all, or fill in all fields. Anyway, just be prepared for that. I do have a question about the supplemental application though. As far as the short essay questions, it says you have a 350 word maximum, but I can't seem to find any way to edit that stupid thing to allow for more than two lines of writing! Any help on that??

mwpdx · Nov 6, 2014

I feel the same way, like my application may be futile because of my GPA. I have been to several schools and have not made an official calculation yet, but I think it is somewhere between a 3.4 - 3.5. However, I figure it is always worth a shot! Someone above mentioned a 3.5 as the cut off from last years cohort, and that is what I heard in the information session as well. So, you never know. I do have a 4.0 in my pre-req's and would probably have a better chance with their 3 year BSN program, but that is such a long time commitment when you already have a bachelors degree... Are any of you planning to apply to the 3 year program as well? I'm limited to the Portland area, but will be applying to UP, PCC, and CCC as well. So exciting to finally be at this step!

katgreen · Nov 6, 2014

Hi curlygrl,

Did you figure this out yet? When I worked on mine, it seemed you have to type directly into it what you want to say - it won't let you copy and paste into it, or even cut and paste out of it, if you want to save it. Kind of a pain, but oh well. I think the only one that allows 350 words is the first one about adversity maybe (I can't remember entirely now) - the others are all limited to the two lines that they show. Hope it's working for you now!

katgreen · Nov 6, 2014

And mwpdx -

I also started considering the 3 yr BSN after the info session, but I feel exactly the same way about it - and if you notice in the section online about fees, it costs quite a bit more, too! So I'm on the fence at the moment about whether to add that to my application or not. I'm still waiting on my final transcript to process - had to request it through the mail whereas the others were online so it feels like it's taking forever.

I'm also planning to apply to an accelerated program in Colorado, where I currently live, but the application cycle for that doesn't begin until late spring, and I would still need to take one extra pre-req for that one. Of course OHSU is my dream school, but I am trying to not feel too attached to it right now!