Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) BSN 2019-2020

NC_24 · May 9, 2019

Hey all! I wanted to chime in with my experience and hopefully it will be helpful to some of you. I applied before for the 2018-19 program by the priority deadline, but I didn’t get my acceptance email until second week of June. Someone else I knew got hers like a month before me. So stay patient and keep checking your emails! I was a transfer student from with a DTA and I’m not sure about the provost scholarship. Originally before starting I had a academic scholarship but last min applied for the provost and was rewarded with it. I think my GPA was like 3.7 ish. Also it was my second time applying to PLU since I didn’t get into the first round so I improved my application in a few areas before applying again. Good luck to everyone hope you all hear back soon!

Meuschki · May 9, 2019

Hi NC_24,

Thank you so much for the heads up. I think I check my emails every few minutes during the day, it became quite a habit by now ? So is it for sure that we will all receive an email or does that differ from person to person?Would you mind telling us a bit more about you? I think my weakest point on the application were my essays which stresses me out a bit. I think I definitely could have done much better. My GPA is good (4.0 on pre and coreqs and my recommendations I believe should be as well). I cannot pin down what they are looking for in a good candidate but I am still hopeful as of right now. If not, I will definitely try again next year.

onionbreath · May 9, 2019

Hi all,

I'm currently a student at PLU, I also applied 2018-2019. You will get an email when you're accepted. If you have over a 3.6 GPA, you should be able to get in just fine. I say this because I applied last minute as a transfer student. Although I had a 4.0, neither of my letter of recommendations had any extra comments. If you have any other questions, let me know. I really regret not asking other transfer students about the program prior to applying.

onionbreath · May 9, 2019

I didn't have my DTA.

First semester will be fun, you basically repeat your CNA course.

Meuschki · May 9, 2019

Hi Onionbreath( love the name, lol),

Thanks a lot for the input. So you are saying I could dial down a bit because I might have an actual shot at this? ? Would be awesome for sure. I still have no idea what they are looking for, but I do have the GPA and the CNA license.

I do not have my DTA quite yet either, but I am supposed to finish this summer. However I have three classes left (two humanities and tech writing) and my issue is that I am running out of time to make a decision. I have Concordia as kind of a backup plan, but they require pre-calc instead, so I would delay technical writing and get math out of the way first. Overall I just really really hope to get a decision soon so I can work on alternatives, or enjoy my summer instead ? How are you liking the program so far?

Meuschki · May 9, 2019

Oh, and I lack any volunteer work ( I am a cub scout leader and mom but that's about it..), so I wonder how much weight they put on that when deciding...

onionbreath · May 9, 2019

Thanks, haha. This is my first time on allnurses.

I think you will be fine. There are a lot of people in the program with lower prerequisite GPAs. Why do you think you're running out of time? I thought the same thing last year too, but in retrospect, I should've slowed things down. This was the first and only nursing program I applied to.

Second semester will be rough irregardless of whether you're a strong student or not. I don't have any kids. I got strong grades in my pre-reqs and I'm not failing, but I'm definitely struggling. A couple of people are failing currently. This is the norm every semester, apparently. Students in cohorts ahead of me are constantly complaining about how their professors are disorganized, but I can't really attest to that yet. The buildings are crusty. Unless you have a lot of scholarships, I wouldn't attend this school. In retrospect, I would've saved my money and gotten a similar quality of education at an ADN program.

Meuschki · May 10, 2019

Well, from your lips to God's ears (or however you'd say that over here, did i mention English was my second language?...ha ha)If I actually make it into the program I owe you a coffee, or lunch, or whatever, lol. I'm running out of time because I need to make a decision and work on a backup plan in case this doesn't pan out... I heard what you are saying before, and failing is definitely something I am hoping to be able to avoid. I have a bit of a background in Pathology and Histology from my first career in Germany and really hope that helps a bit....

onionbreath · May 10, 2019

Don't worry, english is my second language too. If you have a background in that field, you'll probably be fine.

Meuschki · May 10, 2019

Crossing my fingers! Thanks a lot ?

NC_24 · May 10, 2019

Meuschki,

Like the another user said you should receive an email, i think a letter comes in the mail a few days later. You should be fine with your GPA and recommendation letters! I had to repeat a few pre req's since my work/school life balance was a mess. I also submitted a extra essay explaining the circumstances in that quarter and the new grades for the repeats were WAY better. Additionally, I worked as a CNA so I submitted a resume outlining my work/volunteer experience in the medical field and got a recommendation letter from one of my nurses. As for the DTA you should be fine since you will be finishing up classes prior to your first semester. I know some who don't have their DTA but have to take extra classes as a result. I've known people who have gotten in on their first try, and many others like myself who have gotten in on their second round of applying and some on their third time.

Meuschki · May 10, 2019

Thank you, NC_24,

I hope we will hear soon. I am planning on trying again if it does not work out but I have not quite yet made a decision what I will do in the meantime. I am looking into the LPN program at Bates as well and Concordia is waiting on my official transcript (however this is an ABSN program and I am not sure if I really want that)... I had a recommendation letter also from one of the nurses that taught and supervised our clinical's during the CNA class, as well as from my Organic Chem Prof. I hope that will help me a bit.