GEM2010

Hi guys, I'll be starting the GEM program next month. I haven't met anyone else in the program yet so I can only speak of my background. My undergrad GPA was 3.8 (2002) and my pre-nursing prereq GPA was 4.0 (2008). I have close to zero experience in the medical field. This is a career change for me from education, but the program is designed to attract those who have degrees in other fields. I know this doesn't give you a whole lot, but I hope this helps in some way. Corraggio!

I was accepted into the program and will be starting in June. I didn't have to submit GRE scores because I had a cumulative GPA higher than 3.25. Rush will take all your GPAs into consideration and they'll take the average. As for experience in health care, I've been in education for the past 6 years with little health care experience. So to answer your question about what kind of candidates they are looking for, it's hard to say. I'm sure they will be attracting all types of people with varied backgrounds who want to have a career in nursing. During the interview they definitely asked what I thought nursing is about, what nurses do, etc.

Are you talking about the GEM program?

The distinction is a bit confusing because from Rush's website it says a MSN degree is conferred. Whereas Depaul says that it confers a MS degree. What's the difference?

I'm 27 and I'm changing careers from education. My advice is to start figuring out how you can get those prereqs done. I've been doing prereqs for two years part time at a local community college while still working full time. It's doable. Since I am in Chicago and I already have two bachelor degrees, I was drawn to two Chicago schools that offered a general direct entry master's program for those who already had a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field (Depaul and Rush). I chose Rush and I'll be starting in June. But if you don't want to go the masters route, there are a number of accelerated BSN programs in the country where it will take about a year to finish.

Rush's last class for accelerated BSN is this January. It's my understanding that they will no longer be offering undergraduate nursing degrees. My original plan was do an an accelerated BSN, but now they are offering the direct entry MSN, which I will be doing in June. If you have an undergraduate degree you might want to consider the direct entry MSN.

I have my interview with Rush University this Friday. I'm not sure which program you're looking into, but afterwards I could let you know how it went.

Thanks for the info. This certainly helps! I have one more question. After the interview, how long did you have to wait to find out if you were accepted?

Hi ktrinh, I was wondering if you could help me. I have my GEM interview next Friday. I was wondering what the interviews are like?