lablover25

I think you are making a good decision. I was in your position this time last year. Now I am studying for the NCLEX. I am a very easy going, humor driven person, and it made this program much, much easier for me than the average Type A personality. Just constantly remind yourself, 9 months, 9 months and I will be a nurse! Expect chaos from time to time. I actually didn't find the program to be too difficult at all. . just disorganized. Keep a good sense of humor. . you'll be fine. And congrats to all of you! Random tips: -Don't buy the Pharm book you will receive ALL the notes, same with Med Surg I,II,III. . but, the Med Surg book is good for referencing for clinical paperwork -You will HATE care plans/maps (invest in a complete care planning book. . heck, just write your plans at the bookstore and never waste the 40 bucks on the book) -Go ahead and read up some on Fluid and Electrolyte Balances -Take the Hurst Review a few months after you start the program. . it will help you through. -I found some test questions came directly from the Saunder's NCLEX review book. (Blue book) -Don't pick your study partner until a couple weeks in. . when you start to catch on to personalities -The Med School cafeteria is better than the hospital cafeteria -There will be 50 of you and only one printer. . be nice. Have Fun!

Great. . I mean GREAT!. . thought process going on here. These are the questions you guys should ask. ~one of the 26

I haven't received my letter yet. I did receive an email notifying me that I would be receiving a letter soon. . possibly within the next couple of days. I think they wanted to give us a "heads up" to make sure we are getting or prereqs in order and our plans made. The email said we should have something from OLOL by next Wednesday, I believe that date is the 15th.

:balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: WHOO-HOO! Honestly I was very shocked to be accepted, after portraying myself as a sweaty babbling drunk during my interview. . . This time next year we will be Nurses!! Congratulations!!!

I recently received an email: "If you know of anyone between 18-28 years old, interested in the nursing field, University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is offering FREE tuition, FREE books, a $250 monthly stipend, and guaranteed job placement as a nurse at Providence Hospital upon graduation (it's a 3 year program) with a starting salary of $40,000." Can anyone tell me more about this program. . what's the catch? Or maybe what are the admissions requirements? I know with that kind of deal there must have been alot of people inquiring about it. . any information can help. Thanks!

:balloons: GOOD LUCK, GOOD LUCK, GOOD LUCK!!:balloons:

Well, my interview at Tulane was yesterday and hopefully this post will help some of you who haven't had yours yet. To sum up my interview: I really did not do a good job representing myself at all. The questions did make you think, but it is the atmosphere that makes the questions more difficult to answer. I have made a living as a public communicator for the past six years and you never would have guessed it from my interview yesterday. I sounded like I was under the influence, it was my nerves. My worst response was to the one question that is on every interviewers list, "Why should we choose you?" Instead of saying, I am a proven leader with excellent communication skills who always is the first to volunteer, and push the team through to successful completion. . . I went blank. Crickets started chirping. Then I started bumbling. Rambling. It was awful. My nervousness ruined it. I also am worried that they are not going to choose me because I do not live in New Orleans, even though I already have my living arrangements set up. And they were not impressed with the fact that I have not finished my prereqs. . I will be done in only a few weeks with my last class. MY BIGGEST TIP: Use proactive words. Instead of saying: I WILL NOT finish my prereqs until late July. Say: My prereqs WILL BE completed in a few weeks and I expect excellent grades. I also found a very good manual to prepare for interviews specifically designed for nurses. . I don't remember the website but google the title: The Complete Guide To Successful Interviewing For Nursing Students And Alumni. By Mary M. Somers/Johns Hopkins University. You can print the entire thing online. (Alot of the questions were similar to the format in this printout) The panel of three interviewers are very nice and it is nothing to get as nervous as I did over. You guys who haven't interviewed yet, go in there and rock out! Take your time if you need to collect your thoughts and do great! And Good Luck to you all! You are going to do wonderful! As for me, I think only a miracle could help me recover.

I can't believe that letters actually went out. . it is real. . we really will find out something. (Even though I am pretty sure there is no way I am getting in.) Good Luck to all!! And Sunshine, you may be a little crazy, but I currently hold the title of #1 crazy. Nakia knows me by first name from my repeated calls and emails. . they probably put a big X for lunatic on my application. So they told you yesterday that letters went out. . that means I should find out tomorrow, being in North Louisiana. I will post as soon as I find out something.

That was my thought too, hopefully you are right and the acceptance letter she received was for the regular program. The bad part is I am planning all of these summer school prereq's without even knowing if I am getting in. Was BSN program are you considering? Hopefully all of our patient waiting will pay off. GOOD LUCK!!

Got news yesterday that OLOL has not met yet to make their final decisions and they hope to get our letters out by the end of May. I finally broke down and emailed them, that is how I found out.

It looks like we should know something by the second week in May. You aren't alone, there are a few of us sitting on the edge of our seats. Good Luck to you. I did hear from another user here that there would not be interviews as usual, that the committee will make its decision based on our essays.

Has anyone heard anything from the Accelerated Program in New Orleans yet?

Sunshine, Did you read how OLOL informs you that you were accepted? I saw it on another post. Last year they sent out these nice metal cannisters with cookies, bubbles, and some other stuff in them. . so be looking for that cannister! Good Luck.