just.fran

I'm a little partial to CSULA, but that's because I'm an ELMN student there right now! Theoretically it shouldn't, because the science prerequisites are required for everyone who applies. What matters more is your GPA, and your grades in the science classes. However, some schools rate classes that are taken at a four year university higher than those taken at a junior college, but I don't think it makes that much of a difference. You don't need the GRE to apply at CSULA. The TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) is the entrance exam to most CSU nursing programs. It's MUCH easier than the GRE, but many schools require you to score in the 90th percentile, so don't blow it off. The NCLEX is the board exam to get your RN license. You won't take that until you complete your RN coursework (for most of the Direct-Entry programs, that is after your first year of school). Yes and yes.

Here are a few questions someone emailed me, and my replies: 1. Can I apply to attend Spring Quarter 2010, or are students only admitted in the Fall? Actually, the ELMN program begins SUMMER Quarter, and at this time it only starts once a year. 2. Are all of the prerequisites required to be completed prior to admittance or can I take the non-science prerequisites later? When I applied, all the science prerequisites needed to be completed prior to application deadline and the non-science pre-requisites needed to be completed prior to the start of the program. 3. Do you know anything about the program's accreditations? The nursing program is accredited by the California Board of Registered Nursing and The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Even thought the ELMN program is only on it's sixth cohort, the nursing program at Cal State LA is one of the oldest in California. Also, watch for a news bit on Channel 5 about the skills lab! I'm not sure when it's going to air, but they filmed last Sunday. 4. Can you give me a snapshot of what a regular week is like during the program? (I live in the Palm Springs area and I am trying to see if I will be able to do the long drive and clinical requirements realistically) My current schedule, which seems typical for the program, is: Monday: 9 - 2 PM Tuesday: 1-4 PM & 6-9 PM Friday: 7-1 PM & 2-5 PM Saturday: 7-1 PM 5. When can I apply to take the NCLEX after starting the program? You will complete all the courses necessary for licensure in 5 quarters, and you are encouraged to take the NCLEX as soon as possible (i.e. I started June 2009, I'll take the N-CLEX Fall 2010). During the Masters part of the program, you are REQUIRED to work at least part-time as an RN, so you'll want to pass right away! 100% of last years cohort passed the first time! 6. Can work as a student intern nurse count for clinical hours or do I have to complete them at particular locations? You will need to do the clinical hours with the class. However, if you can handle the load, it has been strongly encouraged to work as a student nurse during the 1st year to get your foot in the door when you start job hunting the year after.

Here's an email I wrote to a potential student who asked for advice on getting into the program: As for advice for getting in, I'm sure you have realized that this program is very attractive. This year, they received 140+ applications for the 20 spots and Ms. Hinoki (the program director) only interviewed the top 20% (28 out of 140+). I believe that top 20% was calculated by overall GPA, GPA in science prerequisites, GPA in last 60 quarter units. Furthermore, you have to score in the top 10 percentile on the TEAS. If you aren't competitive in these areas, they may not even consider your application. The second thing they are looking for is nursing experience. If you have never worked or volunteered in a hospital or clinic, start now. I worked as a CNA for a year while I worked on my pre-reqs, and even though it was a physically demanding job, I'm very grateful that I did it! I'm sure that is why I got an interview, but also it confirmed for me that nursing is the career for me. They are looking in your essay, experience, and interview that you are a person who really wants to be a nurse. The third thing that they are looking for is a team player. As you probably know, the first year of the program you will be working with your cohort extensively. If you are a person who doesn't work well with others or lacks social graces, this will be a very frustrating program (& career for that matter!). You need to demonstrate that you will be a good member of the cohort. The fourth and final thing that I should mention is they are looking for people whose career goals actually fit the program objectives. If you are looking to be a bedside nurse in a hospital, good for you, but go apply for a RN program. If you are not sure you want to do a MSN, do an accelerated BSN first. Also, a lot of people don't realize this, but very few graduates of this 3 year+ program will immediately work as advance practice nurse. Most work as RNs for a few years before they can get a NP position. However, if you are seriously interested in advance practice nursing, are willing to put in the hard work, and see yourself as a nurse practitioner, a nursing researcher, or possible doctoral student in the near future, then you are in good company. Demonstrate that you have considered this in your essay and your interview. All of this was covered in one of the informational sessions that I attended. If you haven't already signed up for you, you should call or email the office and sign up. If you can't make that for some reason, you can schedule an appointment with Kathy herself. I should note that she's a very busy person, and will more than likely refer you to one of the sessions, since most of your questions will be answered there. If you aren't accepted, get on the waiting list. In my cohort alone, we've had three people who had been accepted drop out, one person just a month before the program started! So even if you don't get in, it's not over until the start of Summer Quarter!

I'm a current student, and CSULA has the best nursing labs that I have ever seen. They have interactive mannequins, and lots of equipment. I'm not sure how it compares to a private school (like Mount St. Mary's), but I know they have invested quite a bit in making a modern laboratory.

Hello! I'm a member of Cohort 6 of the CSULA ELMN program (I began June 2009). I know how nerve-wracking it is to apply to nursing school, so I wanted to offer up my assistance at least with the program here. If you have any questions, please feel free to reply to this thread and I'll respond as soon as I can. Or you can send me an email to [email protected]. Just so you know, I may not respond right away (I'm studying a lot!), but I'll try to get you an answer in a timely fashion (no more than 7 days). A little disclaimer: I'm not an "official" representative of CSULA, so I can only really speak from my experience of applying and my first few weeks of school. Things change all the time, so take everything I write with a grain of salt. Good luck to all of you who are in the application process! Have peace!

I'm pretty sure it's June 22nd, which is the start date for Summer Quarter. However, there is a mandatory orientation on May 2nd.

To those with the sad faces... I'm sad that we won't be classmates, but please hang in there. I hope that we will work together sometime down the line. Please keep me posted on what you decide to do!

Thank you for posting this thread. I think ageism, no matter what direction, is an issue in any profession, but certainly in one such as nursing which has so many onramps (ADN programs, A-BSN programs, ELMN programs, etc.). The overwhelming number of nursing applicants makes the whole process stressful for young and old. I think it is important to see how both a younger candidate and an older candidate have advantages and disadvantages. There is not one that is better than the other, they are just different, and like others have posted, the diversity in your nursing school cohort will work to your advantage. I agree with mom35 that those women are probably feeling very insecure about starting over in a new field and competing with people who are much younger than they are. Perhaps they are bitter that they didn't go into nursing earlier! I would think that they would be "mature" enough to be self-aware, but alas, that is not the case for all 30-somethings (I say this with my tongue-in-cheek, for I am in my 30s). Imagine what a shock these women are going to feel when they begin their clinical rounds being preceptored by a nurse 5 years their junior with 10 more years experience! Furthermore, I think it is wonderful that you know what you want to do with your life at such a young age. My sister got her RN at 19 and she has been nursing for over 20 years. She even earned her BSN while working, and her employer paid for it. I think you have a potential for a long and satisfying career. Don't let the insensitive remarks of others make you feel bad about where you are in life and your career goals. Their bad attitudes will hurt them more in the future than they will hurt you. I appreciate your boldness in starting this thread. You go, stephaniieee! Perhaps all of us can learn to be more sensitive of the "others" rather than demonizing them.

Ms. Hinoki told me that she's in the process of notifying everyone of their status right now (Wednesday). So keep your cell phone handy and check your email often.

Hello! If you've been accepted and have decided to go be a member of the 2009 Cohort for the ELMN program at CSULA, I'd love to connect with you. I am very excited to start nursing school this June, and I'm looking forward to working with all of you. If you are, please reply to this post or email me at [email protected]. I'd like to start a Google group (or Yahoo group, I'm not picky), so we can start connecting. If I don't hear from you, I guess I'll just meet you in May!

I was kind of the opposite: I started off really comfortable, then I got really nervous, but thankfully I calmed down toward the end. Ms. Hinoki is nice, but I was just a little anxious. I think the interviews are usually around 30-45 minutes, but mine was about 50 minutes. She had an interview scheduled right after mine, so I could tell she was moving things along towards the end. If I'm not mistaken, there will be probably 2 people on the waitlist. But I think a lot will depend on how the rest of the interviews go. I'm sure you'll do just fine! My advice is to just relax and be yourself! I hope you can get some good sleep before Wednesday -- I kept having funky dreams about nursing all this week!

Levoila & others waiting for your interview... I had my interview this morning. I was very nervous! Ms. Hinoki is very straightforward, but she's really nice. I got their early, so her assistant had me wait in a small conference room. I'm not sure if she asks everyone the same things, but her questions were basically along the lines of why you're going into nursing, your experience in health care, and how you plan to handle the intensiveness of the first five quarters. I actually asked if she were going to invite more people to interview, and she was a little ambiguous. But she reiterated that everyone will know if they are rejected, waitlisted or accepted by April 1st. Good luck everyone!

In this season of interviews, I thought I'd share this helpful link. These articles give some good advice, as well as sample questions, to prepare for your interviews. Even if you haven't gotten your interview invitation just yet, it can't hurt to spend time practicing! You've probably already seen these, but for those who haven't, I thought I'd share this resource. My friends and family have been kind enough to role play with me these last few days! When I met with Ms. Hinoki before, she said what makes a good candidate is someone who will work well together in a cohort. After interacting with folks on this thread (although not as much as some of you), I think you all are aces in my book. I would be very happy to be a nursing student with you (and if that's at CSULA, even better!). And if not that, perhaps we'll be on the same unit or working in the same clinic some time down the line. Blessings and peace in this time of waiting!

Congrats levoila! That's great news! To those who are still waiting...remember, it's not over until it's over. You haven't gotten a rejection letter, have you? Well, then you are still in the running! Most people are applying to more than one school, and CSULA isn't everyone's first choice. Just hang in there! We won't know anything for sure until April 1st. And just to encourage you, there are MANY ways to get your MSN. Even if you don't get into CSULA ELMN program, you can still do a BSN or A-BSN (12 months) and then apply for the normal MSN (2-3 years). It will only be a difference of a few months. (Also, I hope this doesn't come across too harshly, but if you are one of those people who have been accepted in multiple programs and are waiting to hear from other programs, please be a little compassionate to those who are on the waitlists. If you know you're not going to accept, let them know ASAP so they can give the spot to someone else, I can understand the importance of having a safety school, but more than one is a little excessive!)

As many folks have mentioned, what your degree is in is not as important for Entry Level MSN as having the prerequisites completed. Most programs have similar requirements, so if you have to choose between taking those classes or getting a dual degree, I'd go for the pre-reqs. From what I can tell, a very important consideration is how much experience you have in the health care setting (volunteer, paid or otherwise). I'd use your time volunteering in a hospital, getting as much patient care experience as you can. Another real question to ask is whether or not you really want an ELMN program. This is for people who are interested in advanced practice nursing. If you want to do bedside nursing in a hospital, do an A-BSN. It's a shorter commitment, there are more programs and there are more spaces in the programs. It's also the "equivalent" of the first year of a ELMN. Then, if you really want to do a MSN, it's much easier to get into the regular program. Plus, a lot of hospitals will help you with your tuition.