b00p

I just declined my spot in the upcoming UW ABSN cohort. Wishing you all the best ?

Do any of you guys still have a 'hold' on your account? I think it might be due to transcript processing, but I'm not sure!

Hello @nurslady182 & @TrishVan7, a good resource is the "University of Washington (UW) Housing, Sublets & Roommates" group on Facebook if you're looking for affordable off-campus housing. ?

@doglover.28 My interview is Tuesday, April 9th @2:30PM! Seems like there might be a 10 minute overlap between our interviews. ? I'm also wondering if this is going to be a group interview...

I think in an e-mail they mention a mandatory graduate student orientation on Thursday, August 1st + another clinical orientation sometime in September! Just other important dates to keep in mind!!

Lol I'm wondering if the estimated amount is guaranteed if we apply for scholarship in May/June though? Craig just gave me the estimate of 10k, but I'm not sure if this amount is guaranteed... But yeah, this is turning out to be much more expensive than I thought. ? hahaha I guess it's gonna be pb&j for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the next couple of years!

That's a lot of scholarship $$! I will definitely keep an eye out for scholarship opportunities! If everything works out with scholarship & living frugally, hopefully I won't have to pull out too much in loans. ? I have not received anything in the mail as far as I know! Seems like there's a hold on my account atm because of my transcripts though.

If there are any current/past UCLA MECN students frequenting the forum: how did you guys fund the program? I talked to the financial aid advisor and was estimated to only be offered ~10k in scholarship and like 44k in loans for just the first year alone. I'm carrying ~30k in debt from my first bachelor's and am scared I won't be able to dig myself out of it by the end of the program (30k + 43k + 43k = 116k). For future students frequenting this forum: how are you guys planning to pay for the program? I'm in a rut trying to figure out my finances. ?

I’m really sorry to hear as well and I hope you get into one of your other programs! I literally just interviewed today and Dr. Hinoki said she wouldn’t finish interviewing everyone until mid-March, so I’m really surprised you’ve heard back already!

I just got an e-mail from EVC!!!!!! Who else got in (I'm for Fall 2019)?

Does anyone know if it's possible to get a financial aid estimate for the program sooner? I know the financial aid package doesn't really show until August, but I'm deciding between the MECN program and pursuing an ABSN instead and the cost factor really comes into play in this decision.

Only a couple of more days--hold on tight everyone & good luck!!

I think it might just depend on the program? It's interesting that some schools wouldn't take an RN, MSN in lieu of an RN, BSN as an application requirement, considering that it seems like the RN, MSN covers everything in the BSN + more.

I think I will be getting some sort of financial aid for the master's program whereas for the ABSN I would have to pay it in full out-of-pocket (aka most likely private loans w/ high interest rates ?). Cost-wise, it seems like the master's will probably be better at this point! Thank you for your input!

I was offered an interview last Thursday, so it seems like Dr. Hinoki is still reviewing applications! The very last interview slot seems to be March 2nd.

A very valid point! I definitely shouldn't underestimate the MECN because it's a longer program. I didn't really think about the fact that some of the MSN courses could be transferable to a graduate degree later down the line 'til now. ? That's also very important to consider. Thank you for your insight!

I'm actually kind of in the same boat, where I would like to pursue the APRN/NP after working as an RN for a while! I'm pretty sure I've exhausted all the finaid I could get for undergrad during my 1st bachelors & am still in debt from the extra loans I took out to cover living expenses. I guess I will have to wait for the finaid package for graduate school to arrive before I can make a more informed decision on this!

@hakutai839 yes!! Exactly my dilemma in that the MSN is more costly both in tuition and time (in which I could be working as an RN sooner with an ABSN). I guess there are more pros with the ABSN, but I can't seem to let go the idea of getting an MSN-CNL instead of backtracking for another bachelor's. ? I'm wondering if there are any advantages of having an RN, MSN vs. RN, BSN? I'm fully aware that all new grad RNs (ADN, BSN, MSN) are paid the same when they first start, but I'm wondering if there are any advantages or disadvantages of having an RN, MSN during the initial hiring process... @Ohm108 I think the MSN-CNL is a general program? Like we don't have to specialize in any populations or anything, so I would theoretically graduate the MSN program, get my RN license, and work a couple of years as a bedside nurse before pursuing the APRN! In my mind, both the MSN-CNL and the ABSN grant the RN, with the MSN just offering the additional cert of CNL (which isn't that useful as a new grad anyway??). There are just so many different pathways to getting the RN, so it gets so convoluted in my mind. ? I'm also applying to an ADN program close to home as well, so if I get into that program, I'm in for another big dilemma... The particular MECN I got into is a 2 year program, so I don't think it's as accelerated as a regular 12-15 month ABSN. I'm wondering if it's worth it to pay more for a slower-paced program than to do a really fast program like an ABSN... But anyway, thank you for both of your insightful responses!! Giving me a lot of good points to consider!

I was wondering if anyone has any insight on choosing between a Masters Entry Clinical Nursing (MECN) program and an Accelerated Bachelors in Nursing (ABSN)? MECN is a 2 year program vs. ABSN being only 12-15 months. Both will grant an RN license at the end of it, but the MECN program also offers the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) cert, which I hear isn't very useful until you have years of experience as a bedside nurse anyway? Although I would love to go on and get a Master's instead of getting a Second Bachelor's (so I don't feel like my 1st degree is going to waste & that I'm not backtracking to get another Bachelor's), I find it hard justifying doing the Master's just for an RN. I'm also confused as to how I would go about trying to become an NP or an advance practice nurse down the line if I'd already have an MSN. Would I do a post-master's certificate or would I have to do a whole other Master's program for NP? Any thoughts?

Does anyone know how big the cohorts are? Aka how many students get accepted for Fall 2019/pushed to Spring 2020/waitlisted/etc?

Not speaking from personal experience, but a close friend of mine did a 15 month ABSN while working 2 per diem PCT jobs at busy hospitals. I think she worked twice a week, 12 hour shifts? She's currently doing her FNP while still working the same jobs (she just got another per diem job as an RN as well)! Not for the faint of heart, but yes, definitely doable.

UCLA MECN Class of 2021 Try the link above!

I also received an acceptance e-mail yesterday! My stats are as follows: - Undergrad GPA 3.313, idr my prereq GPA for this particular program but I think I had a C in chemistry, a B+ in physio, and A's in all the others - ~900 hours CNA work in a pediatric SNF at time of application - heavily involved in public health research in my undergrad + did a wet lab research internship this past year - LOR written by postdoc in lab, anatomy professor, & a charge nurse at work So far I've gotten into UCLA's MECN program as well as another ABSN program out of state (UW in Seattle). I was wondering if anyone's in the same situation where they're trying to weigh the pros and cons of doing a master's in nursing vs. just doing an accelerated program?

Has anyone started the post-bac program application process? Is this more of a formality or have any of you heard of people actually not being accepted to the post-bac program?

I was also accepted for the Fall 2019 start. Here are my stats: Undergrad GPA: 3.3 Prerequisite GPA: 4.0 (physiology & ochem are in progress) Proctored exam: pretty weak essay, but got all the calculation questions right Resume: ended up with a 3 page resume trying to really flesh out each experience Letter of Rec: from a charge nurse at my facility ~900 CNA hours at the time of application at a pediatric SNF; 1000+ total hours when considering CNA class clinicals