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LisaWantsBSN

LisaWantsBSN

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LisaWantsBSN's Latest Activity

  1. LisaWantsBSN

    C.O.D LPN alternate list

    LisaWantsBSN replied to 2ndshot's topic in Illinois

    Adviser Jim Ryan can help.
  2. LisaWantsBSN

    Chamberlain College of Nursing - Addison

    LisaWantsBSN replied to icechick's topic in Chamberlain College

    Hi Jenners I am sorry I am not sure about Sallie Mae giving you more money or not but I would get a current credit check. The academic adviser I spoke to at Chamberlain said that one girl thought she had great credit and then was blindsided by some mess up on her credit. It wasn't her fault but she had to get it straightened out. I never heard about them being full or not. I got accepted about 3 weeks ago, I think. Your GPA is fine unless everyone has super high ones. I know they look at that as well as the HESI score. I only scored a bit higher than you on this last one. The first one I got in the 90s. That was a year ago and before I took the science courses. So go figure that one out. lol. I think you have a good shot. I only got on the alternate list at my community college. They are harder to get into because of the cost. I got a call from my adviser to tell me I was accepted and then he set me up with an appt with him to sign some papers and give him a check for a drug test, then appt with financial aid adviser, then went right to the drug test down the street. Then they are to contact me I think in January to set up my schedule. I have some of the pre reqs done so they will have to change it around but they do like to stick to the schedule they have online on their site. Good Luck and hope to see you. Let me know what happens. Lisa
  3. LisaWantsBSN

    Chamberlain College of Nursing - Addison

    LisaWantsBSN replied to icechick's topic in Chamberlain College

    Look at my post all about how the scholarships, loans, and grants work. It is an earlier post but pretty long to write again. Ask if you have any questions after you see it. Good luck!! It sounds like you don't need much. I don't think anyone can bomb the HESI test either.
  4. LisaWantsBSN

    Chamberlain College of Nursing - Addison

    LisaWantsBSN replied to icechick's topic in Chamberlain College

    Hi Lucky. You have a good GPA and that should get you in. No adviser will tell you for sure. The adviser you talked to doesn't even make the decision. He just knows what you need for a good chance. I do have a question. Does your university offer a nursing program? Are you at a state school or private? Chamberlain is very expensive. I turned them down the first time to go to a community college to get some of the science pre reqs out of the way and was accepted again a year later with a lower score on the entrance exam. I think you have a really great chance if Chamberlain is the way you want to go.
  5. LisaWantsBSN

    Chamberlain College of Nursing - Addison

    LisaWantsBSN replied to icechick's topic in Chamberlain College

    Good you don't have a degree because you will most likely be eligible for Federal grants and scholarships. All that money you don't ever have to pay back. You will for sure get loans and most likely you will get subsidized loans. That means you don't start accruing interest until 6 months after you graduate. I wasn't able to get any of those, only unsubsidized loans. That means I start accruing interest the moment I start. I was accepted 2 times. I turned it down the first time and this time I am to start in Feb. 2011. They go off your wages from the previous year. They looked at my wages (none) and my husband's and decided what we got. I believe if you aren't working and weren't working last year and are a single parent you will get the most of everything from FAFSA. You can do the computer worksheet and make an appt with Chamberlain 5 days later and find out exactly what you can and can't get. I think you will be able to finance your entire education. Yes, private loans are a little harder to get but can be done because Wells Fargo and Sallie Mae do collegiate loans. I can't say for sure because I don't know you or your income of last year but I can bet you won't have to deal with the private loans. I would say fill out the info online and talk to a counselor there. Have you taken the HESI test? I can't remember if I read that.
  6. LisaWantsBSN

    Chamberlain College of Nursing - Addison

    LisaWantsBSN replied to icechick's topic in Chamberlain College

    Working the FAFSA is easy to do on the computer these days. You need your last tax forms. Chamberlain will find out how much you get in about 5 days. If you already have a degree you are not eligible for federal grants or scholarships. Also the amount of loans you can get depends on how much money you made last year or your parents if you are under a certain age. Not sure the age. I was only able to get some in loans and the rest need to be private loans. Wells Fargo and Sallie Mae have some and the interest is based on your credit score. The federal gov't loans are at 6.8% right now. Let me know if you have any other questions.
  7. LisaWantsBSN

    College of Dupage - ADN pre-req questions - chemistry, anatomy

    LisaWantsBSN replied to chicagoing's topic in Illinois

    I know someone with a 3.5 GPA from her bachelor's degree and a 4.0 in all the ADN prereqs and got on the waiting list. It is all about the new PAX entrance exam. You need a certain score and there is quite a bit of physics on it. Good luck.
  8. LisaWantsBSN

    Chamberlain College of Nursing

    LisaWantsBSN replied to Roxy0628's topic in Illinois

    All that sounds just like my community college, power points and not really needing to be there. Got on alternate list with a BA and a 3.4-3.5. They treated us like garbage. The school was cheapo and you could tell. The teachers are ****** because they aren't making as much $$. Not sure about other states but here in Illinois you cannot get a job anymore as an RN with only an associates degree so that part about hospitals paying for you to get the BSN is really pretty much over now. They can hire what ever they want now. Pay to play is kind of the game here if you want to go to school to be a nurse in my county. I will have almost every prereq done and the other little gen eds. But I can understand it is expensive if you can't get financial aid like I cannot. I worked a job I hated and saved up as much as I could and we are able to live off my husband's salary. It won't be easy but what is easy that's really worth it. I have heard some really cruddy things about some of the community college nursing programs here, not sure about down there. I'm not the biggest fan of either really. Just want the degree and to get out of there.
  9. LisaWantsBSN

    Chamberlain College of Nursing

    LisaWantsBSN replied to Roxy0628's topic in Illinois

    KSPAZ, I think you are going to be okay. I was accepted last year and turned them down because so many of my BA classes weren't accepted. I took a year to take the science classes. I was going to take the HESI again and go for the summer. Then I decided I better get some more classes cheaper at my community college. I still have micro and took chem and Chamberlain has them put together and I would have to take chem again. I really didn't want to do that. So I decided on taking it at night and then starting in October. I thought that would be tough to do day at Chamberlain and nights doing micro but doable. Then I found that my math wasn't going to be accepted and I had to take 3 of them. So I then decided to take a couple of other fall classes outside Chamberlain and try for March. I wouldn't worry so much about the GPA. I have about 160 credits with a 3.4 or 3.5 and got a 92.7% on the HESI before I ever took a science class. You will probably do better the next time because you know what to expect but your 85 is good from what I heard. Listen, they take students 3 times per year. You will get in! Take what ever gen eds you can take now and even if you take one at night in the fall it will only be cheaper. I understand your frustration. I got frustrated having a BA from an Illinois State school and it was like I never even went. lol. It will work out. Good luck. I think you will do just fine.
  10. LisaWantsBSN

    Chamberlain College of Nursing - Addison

    LisaWantsBSN replied to icechick's topic in Chamberlain College

    I read it was 75%. i went back to my junior college and got some more prereqs done and am finishing them up in the fall and applying again for March. I got in last year but there were too many classes that didn't transfer from my bachelor's in criminal justice/minor psychology. I have to take the HESI again. I got the new book and Kaplin's book is great to get. I got a 92.7% last year before I ever took any of the science. I have somewhere between a 3.4 and 3.5 gpa. So I just have to take the exam over again before November. Is there anyone going next year?
  11. LisaWantsBSN

    Chamberlain College of Nursing

    LisaWantsBSN replied to Roxy0628's topic in Illinois

    REBM, Sorry I forgot the name for the HESI A2 but if you look up Chamberlain they have the book and you can look it up at Barnes and Noble. I know they have it in stock at the Bloomingdale store. Also the Kaplan book I used was Nursing School entrance exams book, 3rd edition. REALLY good book. Good luck to you and don't freak out because I did that and it was all for nothing because it was much easier than I thought. Lisa
  12. LisaWantsBSN

    Chamberlain College of Nursing

    LisaWantsBSN replied to Roxy0628's topic in Illinois

    HESI A2 is super easy. I took it last year at Chamberlain without taking any science classes and got 92.7%. I bought the HESI A2 book but it is much cheaper to buy from Barnes and Noble instead of from Chamberlain. Also got Kaplin's book there. Both were good. I just gave myself 3 weeks and it was nice and easy. I just took the PAX test and that was hard with a lot of physics.
  13. LisaWantsBSN

    Clinical Nurse specialist???

    LisaWantsBSN replied to Lee2584's topic in CNS

    Thanks a lot for the information D. It looks like I won't be able to get a job at any hospital in Chicago as a nurse with an ADN and I can get an MSN but no one would hire me without any experience. My only community college ended their ADN program because they lost their accreditation. No hospital will pay for anyone to go there so now they got together with a 4 year school so when you are done with the first 2 years, you can do another year and get your BSN. I really didn't want to get another bachelor's but I am finding out that even with a BSN it is hard to get a job in Chicago without experience besides clinicals. I did leave that college. I was kind of upset with the way they handled things. I am applying to other schools for my BSN and will be able to get it done in 2 years because I got a lot of prereqs done. I hope at that time I will know if I want to continue with my dreams of getting my CNS or if I am burned out with school at that point. I think talking to someone is a great idea. I never got that advice before. I wish you the best of luck. It sounds like you have your stuff together and are going to do fantastic. Good luck. Lisa
  14. LisaWantsBSN
    Valerie, I think you are making some wise choices. I know what you mean about all these schools wanting different pre reqs. What a pain. It might cost more for a private school, like Chamberlain. Have you gone to their open house yet? They have one coming up on Thursday the 22nd I believe at night (don't quote me, check out their web site or you can call over there. I went last year and I was impressed compared to COD but I really liked West Suburban too. I live so close to Chamberlain. I liked the people. I liked that the Gen ed classes are taught by DeVry. That's a pretty good school. I am in COD now and I don't feel like I have received the best education. It has been pretty easy for me. That's another reason to be scared I won't do as well at Chamberlain. I am working at getting a syllabus from SIU from a math course I took in 1996 (WOW, hard to do). If I can't get it I am going to get the info from my adviser at Chamberlain and figure out how to test out or take some sort of math testing to get out of at least one of the math tests. Then in the beginning of June I should have this semester's grades in and I am going to send them to Chamberlain. They have the rest of them. At that point I can pick when to take the HESI test before the middle of July and apply for the Fall (October) semester. I think I am just going to do it. My adviser doesn't see any reason why I wouldn't get in again. I just have a few more classes done and a higher GPA. If I do get in I will just have to see what is the bottom line, money wise. I think you will make the money working full time after graduation anywhere you work to pay back loans anywhere. I just get cold feet since I have my husband doing all the work for the 2 years. It feels weird, I'm used to working. I'll let you know what happens. If you know how to "friend me", do so. I am such a dope when it comes to computers. lol If not I will keep checking to see where you are. That would be kind of fun if we both ended up at Chamberlain. I won't be a stranger to everyone. Good luck!! Lisa
  15. LisaWantsBSN
    hi there, yes, they are accepting my nutrition class. i was quite surprised since the one at chamberlain has a lab component. (not quite sure what that would be!) i am finishing it up right now with a&p 2. i considered cod because well, it's cheap. makes life easier. i have a ba and i remember paying off those loans and at siu it was cheaper. i have a 3.8 gpa but keep questioning myself on whether or not i have what it takes to make it through chamberlain. i would hate to get so far and then have any problems. i am a little afraid of all the math i will most likely have to take. they have a deal at some adn programs where you can go straight to an msn program and skip the bsn if you already have a bachelors in something else but i have yet to find one. i figured just get the bsn and if i want to move up down the road i would do that. when were you thinking of applying to chamberlain? i remember getting accepted last year and they really made it simple. all the instructions are on their website on what to do and when. i did like that. i just wasn't that happy with the price tag. lol. but i haven't been working and we have been able to live on my husband's paycheck so hopefully i can get in, pass, and get a job and pay off the loans as quick as possible. that would make it worth it. the only part i am not sure about is financial aid. i know i am not eligible for any grants and the federal loans would start accruing interest day one. i really never spoke to anyone about that part. i wonder if i would have to wait to get accepted before discussing with anyone in financial aid. not sure about that. i think you are making a good decision with going for the bsn. they aren't going to be hiring as many rns with adns. there are a few big hospitals that have stopped hiring them. good luck to you and kit and let me know how it's going. i'll do the same! lisa
  16. LisaWantsBSN
    yes I have. They have accepted my A&P 1 and 2. You need to have both because they put them as one class in Chamberlain. Also they will take my chem 1105, contemporary chem but only if I have the microbiology with it. They put those together as one class too. BUT the best part of that is that you can get accepted and take the micro at night at COD and they will take it. They took everything from COD I took but had a hard time with my math from SIU. I went there a long time ago and it looks like I can try to "test out" of the math but I haven't had it in so long I might have to take it again. It's probably a good thing. Before I took any of this science and nutrition and developmental psych I got in Chamberlain. I turned it down because they really wouldn't take much from SIU so I needed to spend another year at COD. I am finishing that up and I am going to take the HESI A2 again for October. I will still be in the end of Micro but they are okay with that. I will have most of the Gen Eds and all of the nursing to go. It cuts out almost one year. I got a 92% on the HESI with no math or science. Now I have the science and the math is doable. I have to take the HESI again but it should be easier since I took the science classes. It isn't as hard as the PAX test at COD AT ALL. I got on the Group A waiting list at COD but decided against it. After seeing Chamberlain, there is just no way to describe how COD doesn't have their stuff together. They are NOT accredited. They will tell you that they WILL BE accredited but they ARE NOT and HAVE NOT been for 5 years. People who work at hospitals and want to get the hospital to pay for college are not paying for COD because it is just not accredited. They used to be. But they cannot promise they will be. I can't take that chance. Chamberlain is much more expensive but I am finding that you get what you pay for. If you have any other questions, let me know. Good luck!!! Lisa