PhoenixFyre

I hate to say it, but I think most people these days are at work to... get paid. A lot don't think they actually have to WORK to earn that money.

Some people literally can't help it. They may be stressed/anxious, happy or sad. Doesn't matter. They cannot control the physiological reaction. This is what happens to me. Any strong emotion gets me to well up, no matter what that emotion is. Usually, the tears have nothing to do with anything I'm thinking about - my body just takes over. I've worked for years on this, and thankfully it's getting easier to work through. I still am unable to stop it from happening. Crying isn't always manipulative or weak.

I need to find this FB page - I've been really busy at work and missed about 6 pages of posting!! Can someone PM me? I'm also looking for a parking spot to buy during the semesters, since I live in VA. Btw, I was at the 9/17 interview date. Anyone else go then? :) Lisa

My best guess is by the end of October. The application is due tomorrow, and I think we have to make our decisions about going by November 13, so it would almost HAVE to be out by then. Anyone agree?

Well that would be great!

I wonder if WHC will let us park in their garage for clinicals?

Yeah, can't say that I blame you. But Metro isn't TOO bad... most days... or some days... hmm... You could live in Reston and we could carpool!

Hehe, I'm actually from VA, right outside of DC (I work at the NIH). Phoenix for me is the mythical fire bird :) I won't have to move, but I'm not really looking forward to the commute, so I may buy a parking spot somewhere. Any ideas?

I'll be seeing some of you in January as well!!

Ack! I don't think I can wait that long! And I think I was the one that mentioned this forum at the interview...

The $70k is just tuition, nothing else. It's very high but that's one of the reasons I'm so interested in the 80% scholarship with the WHC. Also, keep in mind that only traditional undergrads get on-campus housing. The accelerated degree, grad students, etc have to live off campus. They have housing links to help people find rentals and roommates though. From what I understand, new BSNs get something closer to $30/hr in DC, but it's still a lot of debt to pay off. I've got my fingers crossed for the scholarship for sure!

It went really well! I felt very confident with it. Definitely be prepared for a lot of walking! They take you on a good tour of the Washington Hospital Center in the morning. Good luck to everyone who has yet to go!

I have my interview tomorrow. I definitely have a very nervous energy! What all are ladies wearing? As far as the heels question, I am definitely wearing flats. Heels look nice, but they're just not practical for a morning full of facility tours. Good luck to everyone who is interviewing!

I haven't been accepted yet, but Georgetown seems to want shadowing/volunteer work that demonstrates that you know what you're getting in to, rather than just telling them "sure, I'd love to be a nurse!" They want to know that you understand what a nurse is and does. My current experience is health-care related - EMT training, Pharmacy technician, home health aide, research assistant during my first BS degree, and now working in administrative sectors in NIH (NHGRI). I really stressed the fact that I've done a lot to learn about the different aspects of health-care to make my decision about becoming a nurse - which I have. If you don't have work experience, I'd say try to get in a local hospital somewhere to volunteer. I noticed that most volunteering in the VA hospitals that I've called seems to be greeting and carting patients around. If you can make contact with the ED nurse director, or a surgical nurse director, you may be able to shadow, which is what I did as an application for a job as a scrub tech and I'm now using as shadowing experience because I learned so much from those nurses! George Mason in VA is also a very good school and has an accelerated program, and they seem to have slightly less rigorous entry rules (min gpa is 2.75). I'd be happy to talk to you about the schools in my area if you want. I can also reply again by October 1 and tell you if what I have got me into Georgetown! [ETA] Oops, looks like I repeated advice from the poster before me, but I think it's good advice! Get to know why you want to be a nurse, and be able to back it up with volunteer work. It's really important to know you want this in order to succeed in these programs, from what I've heard!

I think it all depends on which situation fits you better, and only you can decide that. I am also looking into an accelerated program (actually I just applied and am waiting to hear about the interview), so I can totally relate to what you're going through. From my point of view, the timing is better for me to do the 16 month program at Georgetown than to wait the full four years and essentially do my college years over again. I have all my pre-reqs for the accelerated program, and I don't have much interest in doing them all over again in the traditional program. But that's just me. I have bills and life in general to consider. I'm also planning on getting married, but we have to wait until I'm done with school so that it doesn't affect my financial aid. You and your soon to be wife may have an entirely different situation that would allow for you to have a part time job for four years. I'd rather go through a 16 month program with no job and start working as an RN sooner. I think you've got the right idea about evaluating both sides. And I think your point about the grades is a good one... but if your wife is supportive there should be no reason you can't plug away - from what I can tell there isn't a difference in how much work the last two years of traditional RN training are vs. accelerated, since accelerated is just like entering into it as an upperclassmen with all the gen-eds complete. Just my two cents, take them for what they're worth!