Phillips Beth Israel Applicants

Kem215 · Apr 26, 2010

Hi OSuro. Thanks for the suggestions. I have some new black slacks and the perfect heels (not too high or slippery on bottom!) but I think I'm going to look for a new top. I keep hearing how competitive it is and I'm still pretty nervous about the whole process. I don't know what my HS GPA was but my BA was in Psychology w/a minor in Disability Studies (3.057 GPA), and I have an MSW (3.6 GPA). I'm still not 100% clear on these NLN scores but truthfully I've been so swamped with studying for other entrance exams and work that I have't given them much thought. I just kept telling myself - I studied hard, did my best & I can't change it now. My composite score was a 138 & my composite percentiles were a DI/98%, AD/95%, ALL/96%.

I definitely wouldn't stress too much just yet - admissions is never a black & white process. I've worked in admissions for NYU's doctoral program in psychology and I can't tell you how many times I think, wow I didn't see that admission/rejection coming. I don't want to give anyone false hope but even when you're waiting or if we get rejection letters - it's not over. There's always next year. I can't speak for PBISON but I know I always told applicants that their application was like a pinwheel. You need to look at all of the peices that make it turn round, not just one part. We've taken applicants and sometimes it's their 3rd time applying but in those 2 years after the initial application they've done alot to show they really want this. Whether it's volunteer work or prereqs or even just that particular pool of applicants, you've got to have the determination & hope to make it happen! Well, at least that what I keep reminding my insecure self of. :)

borisunflower · Apr 27, 2010

Hi OSuro I know that I did pretty badly:crying2: I will retake the exam in 6months. I studied the required book that NLN sells on their site. Math was my weakest area and verbal my strongest. Does anyone know any prep course for the exam?

Kem215 · Apr 27, 2010

I couldn't find any prep courses so I went through almost every sample question/test in the NLN book/disk. It took me about 3 months of studying. Usually an hour each night and 2-4 hours on each weekend. One of my friends who took the NLN test went to a GRE/GMAT math course at NYU. She said she found it helpful but felt it was expensive. http://www.scps.nyu.edu/courses/continuing-education/celp/all/205/mba-preparation

aah15 · Apr 30, 2010

Hi Everyone,

I've been following a few threads on all nurses for the past few months as I wait to hear from the schools that I applied to. I applied to Beth Israel a few months ago and I got a phone call today about my interview. I'm not sure what to expect with this interview, but I will post back here on how it goes if anyone wants to know. I was accepted into the College of Mount Saint Vincent's BSN program so I'm a bit torn on what to do. I'd rather get a BSN versus an AD, but Beth Israel seems to have great connections. If anyone has any advice, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Good luck to everyone!

Kem215 · Apr 30, 2010

First, congrats on CMSV!! When I interviewed with PBISON on Tuesday, everyone was SO nice. I'd even go so far as to say it didn't feel like a traditional interview. Yeah, they have a list of routine questions they have to ask but you could tell the goal was really to get to know you. They know your grades, have read your essay and want to see if it's the same person - make sense? What I really liked was how I got that reminder of how much they want you to succeed and care about your experience. They really want you to be the best nurse you can be. (sounds cheesy I know)

As for getting a job with the AS vs. BS. I've done a lot of homework on this one but let me preface it by saying: I don't know it all and I'm sure this changes on a daily basis. :) You can get a job with the AS in this economy. Is it easy? No. You have to be persistent and work at it. Friends of mine with a BSN didn't find it much easier to get a job than those with an AS. That's from folks who graduated last Spring. They all said the issue they kept coming up against was experience and of course, how does one get it w/o a job! I asked PBISON what the prospects were like for new grads. They told me they did a survey of last years grads recieved a 50% response rate. Of that response group - 75% had jobs and the majority of the 25% remaining didn't yet for "understandable reasons." Someone had a baby, someone traveled first and was just starting the process ... you get the idea. They told me the thing folks really need to do - and folks I've met in HR at NYHQ & LIJ/NSH have confirmed - you need to network when you do clinicals. It's how so many grads get jobs. When a nurse manager tells HR this is the person I want, it may not seal the deal but it carries a certain degree of weight behind it. The concern I have are the hospitals with Magnet status. They're harder to get into with an AS, some don't even take RN's with an AS, but most do take people with an AS/RN plus a BA in some other fields, like psych. I could go on but I'll leave it at that.

sk57 · May 3, 2010

how were everyones interviews? how long did they say you'd have to wait?

newyorkstar · May 4, 2010

Has anybody heard from Beth Israel today? We were told that we should be hearing from them by the begining of May. Have they called any new people for interviews? I see that someone had an interview last week. Were they scheduled for before or have they been calling people eventhough they told everyone they are not working on any new admissions till the begining of May? :confused:

OSuro · May 4, 2010

I called MG today and she said that they're making/mailing decisions starting this week and she said that she only knows who's getting called in for the interview like a few hours before and someone else mails out the letters. So, of course I still haven't received an answer, and I know it's unprofessional to give decisions over the phone. The waiting game continues...

newyorkstar · May 4, 2010

Thanks! I sure hope we hear from them soon! I'm afraid to go to my mail box now!! Please keep me posted if you hear anything.

sk57 · May 4, 2010

i was told the committee was meeting next week to look over apps, as well as decide on those that have been interviewed.

Kem215 · May 4, 2010

That's what MG had told me at least two months ago - the admissions committee sometimes has meetings up until mid May. It just depends on how much they can get done and when they receive the application materials. That makes sense. I know when I do admissions here I try to put most, if not all, of my other work on hold. Unfortunately though, there are days when I don't even get to the pile of transcripts, test scores or apps that came in because my regular duties are getting in the way. It's a juggling act to say the least.

@ newyorkstar - They set up the interview really quick. I was surprised. MG called at 8:55am on Mon right as my bus approached the midtown tunnel :uhoh3: and she asked if I could come in for the following Tues. I just told my boss, sorry for the late notice but nothing is stopping me from getting there! :)

aah15 · May 5, 2010

First, congrats on CMSV!! When I interviewed with PBISON on Tuesday, everyone was SO nice. I'd even go so far as to say it didn't feel like a traditional interview. Yeah, they have a list of routine questions they have to ask but you could tell the goal was really to get to know you. They know your grades, have read your essay and want to see if it's the same person - make sense? What I really liked was how I got that reminder of how much they want you to succeed and care about your experience. They really want you to be the best nurse you can be. (sounds cheesy I know)
As for getting a job with the AS vs. BS. I've done a lot of homework on this one but let me preface it by saying: I don't know it all and I'm sure this changes on a daily basis. :) You can get a job with the AS in this economy. Is it easy? No. You have to be persistent and work at it. Friends of mine with a BSN didn't find it much easier to get a job than those with an AS. That's from folks who graduated last Spring. They all said the issue they kept coming up against was experience and of course, how does one get it w/o a job! I asked PBISON what the prospects were like for new grads. They told me they did a survey of last years grads recieved a 50% response rate. Of that response group - 75% had jobs and the majority of the 25% remaining didn't yet for "understandable reasons." Someone had a baby, someone traveled first and was just starting the process ... you get the idea. They told me the thing folks really need to do - and folks I've met in HR at NYHQ & LIJ/NSH have confirmed - you need to network when you do clinicals. It's how so many grads get jobs. When a nurse manager tells HR this is the person I want, it may not seal the deal but it carries a certain degree of weight behind it. The concern I have are the hospitals with Magnet status. They're harder to get into with an AS, some don't even take RN's with an AS, but most do take people with an AS/RN plus a BA in some other fields, like psych. I could go on but I'll leave it at that.

Kem215, thanks for the very thorough post!