JHHarten1

Hi all, I'm wondering how I should respond if asked or inquired about disabilities during the nursing admission process? I'm registered with the schools accessibility office and I have testing accommodations and a loaned tape recorder, which means that my disability could be found out easily via internal resources that the colleges might use, so omitting the fact seems to be a poor option (which I'd like to avoid anyway). I'd imagine the best way would be to contact a certain power to assure that my rights are not violated. I've not yet applied but am concerned that I might be conveniently passed over if they find out I have learning disabilities. I know this is totally illegal for them to do per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but I've heard cases where sometimes people operate within the "gray area" of the spectrum regarding this matter and still discriminate based on disabilities. I'm just scared that people will not give me a chance despite the fact that I'm more than capable to do the work and despite how hard I've worked to get where I am. I put forth double the effort and study time of my friends to get the A's I've earned. I'm by no means dumb or incompetent. As a child, (before the ADA applied fully to children with ADD), my teachers often criticized and belittled me, both in public and private. So I guess a certain stigma seems to apply to my situation. What can I do or with whom should I speak to protect myself fully in this event? Are most nursing colleges required to allow a certain number of disabled students in? Thank you for any support and advice offered, it means more than you know.

Thanks for the kind words of support! I feel a bit better about it and a bit more confident. My adviser stated that its best to just focus on my GPA right now as volunteering and letters of recommendation are no longer used in the admissions process, but I'll definitely take your advice and retake a course I should have aced, in which instead I earned a C (English 101 here I come!!). I also plan on volunteering and shadowing anyway just to make absolutely sure. Although being that I'm an adrenaline monkey and that I took a basic-EMT course a few years back and loved it, I'd imagine I'd love nursing just the same :) (Especially in the ER).

Hello kboylan09, Thanks for the support and helping put my mind at ease. :) I spoke with the senior academic adviser for the CON, Sam Roth, regarding the change in the admissions process. He stated in an e-mail response to my inquiry that, "The application points will now only be based upon GPA. So anything you're doing in the way of volunteer work will be good in terms of how it benefits you, but it won't impact your application... Starting this September, the BSN application will no longer require letters of recommendation". However, it's definitely good to gain multiple views in preparation for my application, so thank you. I'll definitely double check this through him and other advisers to be safe though, but its likely I'll volunteer anyway just to do so. I saw in another post that you were accepted this summer, big congrats!! I hope you do well.

Hello all, I'm new to this community and I've seen so many helpful, practical and caring people post here -- its great. I'd like to get a little feedback and some opinions on what I might consider doing to make myself both more appealing and competitive for the college of nursing for UNM (Univ. of New Mexico). I've posted a similar post there for more locale based views, but I value all views in general. I'll be able to apply for the BSN program here for the Fall. By then, our program will have fully changed from a letter of recommendation/volunteer/GPA based admission system to a strictly GPA based system. My GPA will be 3.34 cumulative and my science GPA will be at 3.9. I'm transferring from the college of engineering and bringing with me Calculus I & II with both a B and C respectively. (not sure if that matters at all). So, I've seen people with lower GPA's accepted to other schools and that makes me feel a little better about my own, but I'm wondering if you guys think my GPA is moderately competitive when our school admits 40 people out of 300 or so a semester. Have any of you been accepted to a BSN program with a similar GPA situation with equal to or more competition? Also, I feel a bit self conscious about my GPA as my engineering adviser, upon my leaving the engineering school, told me that my GPA "sucked" and that I really need to work on getting my GPA even higher. What say you? What else can I do to maximize my chances based on the info given about my shcool? (I plan on asking my adviser here tomorrow as well). Thanks for reading this and any views you express :)

I spoke with an adviser at UNM COM and, apparently, by fall 2009 they will no longer be accepting letters of recommendation or volunteer experience as part of the admissions process. Now it is solely reliant upon GPA. I'm about to apply (when I next can) for the standard BSN program, but I'm a bit concerned about my GPA. By the time I apply, my GPA will be cumulative (both CNM + UNM) at 3.34. My science GPA will be at exactly 3.9 (This of course including Bio123, Chemistry, A&P I, A&P II, microbiology and their respective labs). I've done a bit of reading and it seems that some people were accepted with higher degrees and extra science courses. I decided to change my major from engineering to this right after the completion of Calculus I and II with both a B and C respectively. Do you think this might help my chances? If I am not accepted, then I was thinking about going down the EMS path, but then again I might just retake some classes in which I earned C's. I'm quite stressed about this process, and while I'm working with my advisor, I just don't feel that my GPA is competitive enough. My former engineering advisor, upon my leaving their program, told me my GPA "sucked" and that I would likely not get into nursing. I'm determined to become an RN, though. Have any of you been accepted with lower GPA? Thanks for reading this and any peace of mind you might be able to offer!! haha :)