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LaLaws, Yes, I am at the OKC campus. We do have actual classes we go to for Health Assessment, Pharmacology, Acute & Chronic etc. They are all pretty much optional because everything was designed to be done on line. However, in Pharm there were actual days that were were told were not optional and those were mainly for review prior to tests. I start out going to class, but usually by the end of the semester I stop going, especially if it doesn't seem to be very beneficial to go. Sometimes it just helps to get a brief overview of the material if I haven't started reading yet.

It has been a good experience. Get ready for a lot of work, but it will all be worth it in the end. I will tell you now that the instructors in the accelerated program are great; very supportive. It is a crazy schedule to keep up with, but it helps the program to go faster. You will have to definitely post if you make it in and I will probably be at the open house orientation. I would love to welcome you to the program. Good luck!!!

I am currently in the program and we got fall break off. There was a small break inbetween summer and fall. We had a winter break, but we had a intersession class during that time. We had almost a month off and the intersession classs can mostly be done on line. There was just an interview that had to be done in person. Between spring and summer I know that there will be two intersession courses that we have to complete. So, there are some breaks in there, but they aren't very long.

I did not find out that I got in until the end of Feb.

i am currently in the accelerated program. i started last june and will be graduating aug. 1, 2010. i heard that there were over 500 applicants to our program when i applied and 41 of us were accepted. two dropped out the first week. i did not have a 3.5 or 3.25 gpa cumulative, i had a 3.0. i did have a 3.5 gpa or close to it just for the prerequisites though. it is a challenging program, but completely doable. i am at the halfway point now. i work currently 40 hours plus a week, although i am only doing that until the beginning of the year. since the program has started i have been working 16 hours a week on the weekend, and i was told that i would not be able to do that by faculty. i did it last semester while maintaining a 3.5 gpa in the program. it is not true that the pass rate is not good for the nclex. several years ago (not at the okc campus mind you) there was an issue with the pass rate, but the issue has since been resolved. i believe that the pass rate now is close to 100% the first time around. overall, i have had a very good experience with this program and i love the instructors for the accelerated program. they really want to see everyone succeed. i have heard horror stories about other programs on this website, so i am very appreciative that i have not had any bad experiences. good luck to you and i believe that you will be happy with your choice. it is not easy, but it is doable. the time also goes by quickly.

AAnderson congratulations!!!! You have worked very hard to get to the point that you are at without giving up hope like many do before they succeed. You should be very proud of yourself. I start an accelerated program Monday. Good luck to you as well as everyone who has been accepted.

I love that Quote!!!

I just want to encourage you to keep your head up. I know that things look bleak right now but there is a brighter day on the horizon. The way that we all obtain success is by working hard and learning from our failures. Like others have said, everything happens for a reason and just trust and know that God is working it out on your behalf to put you in a better place where you will be happy and obtain job satisfaction. Good luck to you and stay positive!!!

Hey everyone. This is an encouraging thread. I am 36 and will be starting an accelerated program June 1st at OU in Oklahoma. I am very excited and have worked very hard completing the prerequistes to get into this program. I have two kids and am married. I'm nervous because the lack of funds coming into the household (I have virtually gone to not contributing to the mortgage due to working less) and this has made for a tense atmosphere at home. In addition, worrying about the eligible financial aid that I will be receiving because I have not gotten my award letter yet. I know that I need to just leave it in God's hands because he has brought me thus far. It is just bitter sweet to have been accepted into school but have this weight of finances looming over me. The courseload is going to be stressful enough I just wish. I didn't have the added burden of figuring out how it will be paid for. I have gotten off base with this thread but I guess I just needed to vent a little. I'm trying very hard to keep the faith. Good luck to everyone. It is great to know that being over 30 and starting nursing school is not a rare occurrence and is actually becoming more and more common.

I am starting the accelerated program at OU in Oklahoma. I have heard that it is very challenging but talking to the current students at open house it is doable especially if you have a cohesive group who are trying to help everyone succeed. There will be 45 in our class. Good luck to you. We will have to compare notes on how the programs are. I'm very excited.

This post has great information and a great insight as to what to expect when I start. I start an accelerated program on June 1st. Although I have heard and know that it will be a tough program, this thread really gives me a good perspective on what is to come. I will try to get ahead of the game as much as possible by learning how to do dosage calculations and such. Thanks for all the information.

I start an ABSN program in about a month now. I read every single post and it has given me a world of insight. I have already heard how difficult this time will be but these posts have really driven home about the true sacrifices that are made. I applaud everyone and hope that my experience will be a positive one. I know that my dependency will be on God to see me through. I can't wait until I am at the end of my program and can pass down my wisdom to those just starting out on this wild ride as well.

Having money set aside is very good advice. I was told about having money for immunizations etc. by another friend who had recently been admitted into a program. Although my intentions were good I pinched off the money I had initially set aside until there was nothing. When I got the call that I was in the program I had applied for I was thrilled, only to have reality set in after reviewing the checklist of things that I needed to have taken care of and the money that I needed prior to any financial aid help. :icon_roll This was a burden of stress that I could have avoided entirely by heeding the advice I was given prior. I even thought about throwing in the towel because I can not financially afford the expenses. However, after going to open-house and speaking with financial aid I have been comforted and know that everything will work out. God has blessed me to make it this far and he will surely see me through, but we also have to help ourselves out by being wise in the decisions that we make.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I was just curious because most of the limit for my Stafford was used up during this current school year completing my prerequistes, and although I should still have some left over for this summer there is not very much left at all. I will check with financial aid.

Okay, thanks I will do that. I was thinking that it was standardized. I will check with them tomorrow. Thanks again.

I have a quick question about the FAFSA. I am going to start an accelerated nursing program on June 1st. My question is: Does the 2008/2009 FAFSA cover this summer? Or does the 2009/2010 FAFSA cover the months during this summer? I have tried to figure this out on my own but I am not sure, so if anyone knows I would appreciate the answer.

Taking all three might be tough but it just depends on you and the amount of study time you need to invest. I took Chemistry and Physiology at the same time and did fine. I had only had one semester of chemistry in high school and that was 20 years ago. I am now about to start an ABSN program in June. If you already have a nack for Chemistry then I think that you will be okay taking all three. I probably could have handled all three at the same time, but I am glad that I just took those two because I had to really work at Chemistry.

I am about to start nursing school too and I just ordered a Littman 3000. I saw that it was recommended on another post here. A gentleman who was hearing impaired said that he has the Littman 4000 and once his classmates heard the difference his made they got the Littman 3000 and are very happy with it. The Littman 3000 cost $259 whereas his Littman 4000 runs about a little over $500 I think. I just know with the cheap ones that I have used in school I can't make out whatever I am supposed to be hearing. I am excited about trying the Littman. I am sure it will be great.

I was an alternate for an accelerated RN program at OU in Oklahoma. I was notified that I made the cut two weeks after I got the denial letter and was told that I was an alternate. So, yes it is very likely that you will get a call in my opinion. I was not the only alternate who made it into our program as well. Good luck to you. I just went to our orientation today because class starts June 1st. I am totally hyped and excited about starting.

Keep faith and everything will work itself out. That is what I have to keep reminding myself. I start an ABSN program in June, so there is no time to save for school. This will be my second degree so I am not eligible for grants. I know that God will work it out for me and make a way for me to finace my education. He has brought me this far.

CONGRADULATIONS!!!!! :yeah:I too am on the bandwagon of giving GOD all the praise for my success. He has blessed me to be accepted into nursing school. He blessed me to make it through my prerequisites and to get accepted. I know he will bless me to make it through to the end. Yes, we have to do our part but we cannot be highminded and think that we have gotten where we are without His grace. All praise and thanks be to the Lord.

Diver Dude is right about the tutoring. That has helped me out tremendously in my prerequistes and I plan to take advantage of free tutoring services in my ABSN program as well. Use all tools available to you.

Anything worth having is worth fighting for. I know that what you do in the past in regards to GPA follows you no matter how long ago it was. To bad we don't have the option to start with a clean slate. I know that now I have more of a drive and now having a family, more reasons to succeed. My overall GPA when I got my first degree was 2.98. After talking to nursing student I was advised to maybe go the route of going for LPN and then RN. I knew that I had the determination and what it took to achieve my goal of getting into a BSN program. I completed my prerequistes with a 3.5 GPA in the prerequistes and I have raised my overall GPA to at least 3.1 or 3.2. Don't let people discourage you. Only you know what your drive and determination is. Anything is possible if you work hard enough. I have heard some programs judge you admissions on the last 60 credit hours or your prerequistes GPA. If you can find a program with that criteria and put your heart into doing well in your prerequistes, then you can make it. Good luck to you. You can do it.

I feel your anxiety. I too had the euphoria of being accepted into an ABSN program. Now the reality of finances is setting in. I am trying not to worry and just rest in the comfort that God has brought me this far. It will work out some how. I am working occassionally parttime at night. I don't qualify for grants and so I will be dependent on what I can qualify for as far as student loans. I pray that it is enough. I had a dissapointment yesterday when I got notification that I did not receive an $8000 scholarship that I had interviewed for. I am thinking about signing a work commitment with a local hospital for a year in return for a $4000 stipend to help out with expenses. It isn't a lot for a year work commitment, but every little bit helps and if I get it I will at least be assured to have a job after I finish nursing school. I will definitely pay attention to this thread to see if anyone else has suggestions. I start school June 1st so time is of the essence.:icon_roll

I don't start in August, but I am still including myself in this. I am starting an accelerated program at OU in Oklahoma in June. I will still post on how my first day and experience went. Good luck to all!!