lilikoi

The question is very standard. Why you want to be a nurse, etc. Nothing to trip you up, they only do it proctored to be sure you wrote it.

Hi Ash, Thanks on the congrats. I did feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to choose between three such excellent programs. I did decide on Linfield and just completed my first term and I am extremely happy with my choice. I love the school and their program and I look forward to completing my degree in 2011. I do know I would have been just as happy at OHSU or UofP. To answer your questions, I did all of my prereqs at PCC Sylvania. I did not have any prior health care experience but I did have a 4.0 GPA. My advice to you is to look at anything that you can improve over the next year and try again. If any of your science prereqs have lower grades, you may consider retaking them as I am pretty sure that is what's most important to all the schools as far as GPA goes. Also, if you do not have any prior health care experience, you may want to consider volunteering at a hospital or other health care related organization. I do not have specific advice on getting into OHSU other than making sure you know why you want to go to nursing school, what you plan to do with nursing, and what strengths you have that will positively contribute to your program and nursing itself. Having those goals and values clearly defined in your head will help you tremendously when writing the proctored essay. I hope I have been of some help. Keep at it, I know it is not easy but perseverance is key to not only getting into a program, but surviving one. Best of luck to you:)

Don't lose hope Nichelle. There are several people in my cohort that got in off the waitlist and my cohort is much smaller than most. Congrats to the rest of you!! Linfield is a great school.

Hello again GI-RN, I am starting Linfield's program on Monday. If you have any advice to offer please let me know. Congrats on the new job!

From what I remember it was in February. I will track down my acceptance letter and give you a more accurate date unless someone beats me to it:)

Hello GI-RN. Did you graduate from a school here in Portland?

Just a note on Linfield and UofP. You don't have to have all of the additional requirements to apply, as long as you could complete them before starting the programs. They both do Fall and Spring start admission (from this application period) and you can note on your application when you would complete the additional classes you need. I needed 5 courses for Linfield and like 8 for UofP but I was still accepted into both of their Spring start programs. If you are aiming for a fall start, you would have spring and summer to finish your prerequisite courses, and if you start spring, you would have fall quarter as well. So if you think you can do it, go ahead and apply!!

Thanks. I figured that out after a few:)

I think that may have been me. Yeah, I get people wanting to remain anonymous if we end up ******** about each other later:) But I am really not that concerned. I was on the red team. Hmm, I am trying to think of how we can figure out who we are without announcing it here?

I am taking Ken's class as it was recommended by a friend in your cohort. It sounds like it will be really helpful. I won't be living on campus as I have a child. I am doing my best to keep stress at a minimum and will hopefully continue to do so.

Do you have any words of wisdom for us?

Hello Everyone, Orientation was great yesterday and I am really excited to start our program. I don't know if I met any of you or not, but here's to a great start to our next 2+ years together!

Many congratulations on a job well done. You are an inspiration to all!

You're right 2princesitas, I forgot the orientation info was in our acceptance letter. It does also say (now that I am re-reading it) that detailed information regarding advising, orientation, and registration will be mailed to us in late fall, which I would imagine would be pretty soon. I am getting so excited as the time gets closer. I totally agree that I never thought I might see this day back when I started pre-reqs! Well, perhaps linfieldnursingguy, or anyone else can give us some idea what to expect from orientation. . .

Legacy Emmanuel in NE Portland also has a Level 1 trauma center. I don't have much experience with the hospitals yet because I don't start my BSN program until February but I am sure someone else will post some useful info. I do know that all of the hospitals in Portland are pretty competitive because of the amount of nursing programs we have here. But I wouldn't let that discourage you if you are set to move. It just might take a bit more tenacity:)

You would have no problem commuting form the Hawthorne area up to OHSU or the VA. You could ride right over the bridge to the South Waterfront area to take the tram up the hill, or you could take public transit. Either way, you would have an easy time of it and be living in a great neighborhood!

Hello everyone, I just happened to be checking through the Linfield website last night and saw that our orientation is January 9th. You all have probably already found this but just in case . . . See you then:

I completely agree Marachne and I thought your original reply was right on the money. Everyone's experience will be different and I can only speak to my own.

Obama baby! Already voted.

I have to throw my two cents in as well. I am African American and moved here to Portland in 2006 and have had no problems. It may not be the most diverse city around, but very liberal and tolerant. I spent time in Corvallis at a Oregon Students of Color conference and I have to say it was a bit awkward. I don't think people there were used to seeing people of color in pairs or groups! I can't speak for the city, just my one experience. Anyway, I think your friend would find Portland to be a great, liveable city with lots of open-minded tolerant people.

Thanks for the update LinfieldNursingGuy. We actually graduate in the Spring of 2011 so I guess we are the May or June 2011 cohort. The spring starts do not attend school over the summer, which for me is a very good thing. I am looking forward to having some real time off with my little girl as she has endured 10 straight terms with no break so far! I hope your journey is going well so far!

What a coincidence, I am an older student too (38) and I also have a daughter who will be 4 on Thursday. I have the same concerns and misgivings too. As a single parent it has been hard to even get this far but I am hoping that the effort will be worth the sacrifice down the line. I also find that she is great motivation to keep going!! We'll be fine and I am sure we can keep up. We made it this far which was no easy task for us, or our fellow cohorts, or anyone who has gotten into a program for that matter given the competition. We should meet up for coffee or something before classes start so we have a familiar face walking in? Take care.

Hi 2princesitas, Your post showed up just fine so you must be doing it right:nuke: I am scared as well. It is the great unknown and it has been doing a number on me lately. I even keep second guessing my path even though I have worked so hard to get to this point. I am chalking all of it up to nerves. Anyway, I just keep reminding myself that we will all be in the same boat and that it is normal to be afraid of new things. I think once we get to orientation (which I have heard nothing about as of yet) and have a better idea of what to expect we will feel alot better. Well, nice to "meet" you and I am glad you found this thread. It's nice to have some moral support from those in the same boat.

No problem:wink2:

I will be using scholarship money to pay for books and I am not sure when financial aid disbursement is, but I am sure it is probably closer to February so I wouldn't be able to purchase anything until then.