tiffini24

Thank you so much for this wealth of information. I was wondering what to expect and a bit nervous. I do not work but have 4 children and I am glad to hear that if you work hard it is durable. I got my undergrad this way and have found that I work better under pressure and you r right the time flies. Congratulation on your finishing the program and on your new job! Tiffany

Hi I am currently applying to nursing schools and have wondered about UIC when I go on the website is it very confusing about the process of applying. I have a friend that participated in the very first class but since that class they now force you to pick a concentration. Could you give me some tips on making the process easier and they do seem to be one of the few that don't force you to take these standardized test which to me are so ridiculous!

Thank u so much for the info! I had no idea that Depaul's program had been around that long. That sounds great that Pharmacology is now offered in two quarters because I hear it is a extremely difficult program. Congratulations to you I am sure u r very proud of this great acomplishments and I am sure the time must of flew. Well I have submitted everything and am waiting for a reply I am not in a hurry on when I can start I am pretty flexible at this time so please keep your fingers crossed :). Take Care

Hi, I am currently applying to different schools offering these types of programs (Rush and UIC) and I fgured that I would ask you your opinion. I am sure that you must be done or pretty close to completing this program. I wanted to know what was your take on it, was it really intense, how was the curriculum set up, and was there help (tutoring etc) for students who needed help in certain areas. Due to these being newer programs I have heard some horror stories about Rush some semesters were set up as only half days and the next semester it was all day, there did not seem to be any real structure to the program. Thanks, Tiffany

Thanks! I am going to get writing on my essay over the weekend and I had heard that some schools perferred a more technical type and some a more heartfelt one and I was hoping it would be more from the heart.

Hi out there! I was wondering if anyone knew what exactly Rush was looking for in the essay that you are expected to write when applying? I ask this because some schools want technical essays while others want your writing to be mostly from the heart. I also wondered if anyone could give me some pointers on the interview?

Wow, Thank you so much for the response, words can not express how grateful I am. Congratulations on your inpending graduation I am so jealous :-} I wondered about Rush because last year I was told to take one particular nutrition I took it and now they are telling me that it is not the right nutrition to take another one. So at some point they were having a problem with communication and I got kind of upset because I pay for classes out of pocket and I am sure we both know how difficult that can be especially in this economy. But as far as asking for help I don't mind doing that especially when you are going to school on your own dime/loans you definitely are not trying to waste anyones time.

I am applying for loans and schoarships for the program because as you may well know there are no more grants awarded after you receive your first bachelors. Most loans are not paid back until about 6 months after graduating from school. The pre-reqs that I have I am paying for out of pocket which is why I am attending a 2 year college at this time because it is cheaper to take the classes there.

Don't worry you will get in what is meant to be will be it just for some reason wasnt your time.

Thank you so much for your help that helps out a LOT! I did get the review book when I was at the school and have been looking it over I ordered a used kaplan nursing book and i have an old net book that I will be looking over. I hope you and I both get and I am sure that you will! Do you know what session you are going to start in? Let me know as soon as you hear something. Tiffany

I don't see there being a problem with your getting it that sounds like a pretty good score on the A2 Congrats and I believe the gpa req. is 2.75. I wanted to ask you a question though, how bad was the A2? I am studying for it now to brush up on my science and math was it really longer than three hours? Tiffany

I wish I had someone as well that I could get through the pre-reqs and program with. I had one friend but she has fallen by the wayside and I am determined and not willing to let anything or anyone stop me. I understand as well what you mean about your husband I told my husband about this website and all he had was something negative to say about people having to much time on their hands. Not saying that your husband is negative but sometimes I feel like mine says he is supportive but in reality really isn't. That is why in this journey I am so thankful to have a very supportive family and a couple of family friends that are willing to help me with my kids!

Congratulations Trudy! We women can do anything we put our minds to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brooke, Don't worry if I got through Chem anyone can :-} Congratulations and good luck I look forward to hearing from you on your journey. Tiffini

I dont think that this will be to hard. With my experience I love to take the harder classes in the summer they are shorter, intenser but in most cases if you approach your instructor and let them know that you are willing to work and attend every class you usually come out with a decent grade. I find that in the summer the instructors and the students are more relaxed and you study for what 5-8 weeks intensly and then it is over with? This is how I did my Micro, and the AP's and I am planning on doing the Organic Chem this way to (now I am nervous about this class). Let me know what happens and good luck!

This depends totally on the type of instructor that you have. I took it in the summer for 4 weeks M-Fri and loved it. I had a super instructor that went the extra mile she was a microbiologist working on the Herpes virus so you can imagine the brain power. We had a test every Friday but she would review every Thursday. I passed with a A and believe me this was not my first atempt at taking this class.

I have both in my family an Associates degree and a BSN. I was told that the difference is .50cents to a 1.00. Especially with there now being a nursing shortage you have to decide which is best for you. Do you have family, mortgage, etc. Are you willing to start out repaying debt. I personally would if I was single without a family would go the associates route and bridge right away to the bachelors in order to eventually obtain the masters. This way after obtaining the associates you can get started working and I believe that most hospitals help pay for you to further your education and you cut down the amount of debt you start out with. These excelerated programs are cool but they can be pretty expensive I guess because they are excelerated. Let me know what you decide and the best of luck! Tiffini

LOL that is hilarious.:-}

First off I will say that this particular patient is lucky to have someone such as yourself that truly cares. I myself decided completely and totally to further my education in medicine after watching my father at age 59 get killed by an area hospital and no one seemed to care not Drs. or nurses. They lied to us for months about his condition at first it was he was in a coma then it was maybe there is brain damage maybe there isn't and then they kept asking us about herpes virally and all he had when arriving at the emergency room was a fever. Now thinking back I know it was just a flu and he was incoherent due to the high temp that he had. I now have to live with the guilt that if I had of pursued my dream of being a doctor that maybe I could have been able to help my father instead of standing there helplessly and watching him be murdered. So kudos to you and thanks for renewing what little faith I had in the medical system.

Thanks so much for bringing up this topic. I had the same question but now reading your posting and the responses it helped clear up a lot for me.

Hello, I am applying to this program as well but I am now about to tackle my last pre-req (organic chem) which is totally terrifying! I wanted to know was the program really hard to get in I keep hearing these horror stories at least with UIC of being waitlisted and such. I was wondering with this program if there was a strong support systems such as tutoring available and or open door policies of beeing able to go and talk to an instructor as help is needed. I know you may not be able to answer these questions as of yet because it sounds like you have had a great 1st qtr but classes like that Pharmacology terrify me. I have three kids and am trying to do whatever necessary to improve our quality of life and with the amount of money I will have to come out of pocket and apply for in loans this is a program that I am intent on exceling in. Congratulation on a great accomplishment and I look forward to hearing from you. Tiffany

I know you were told to call the school but make sure that when you do you right down the name of the person that gives you permisssion to take a course. I took a course per their ok and am now being told that it was the wrong course and I now have to retake another course so therefore I have wasted time and money. I can not remember the young ladies name who gave me the permission to take the course and I had the vm saved but changed home phone service providers and lost the message.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! For confirming what I already suspected. I have been a westsider for over 20 years and have never heard good things about the nursing programs located at the hospital. It was always said that the nurses there did not learn anything and I never much cared for the hospital after having my oldest child there due to that very same reason (the care was horrible). Except for one nurse(Monique) who is still there whom at the time was a LPN but is now a RN and I do not believe that even she attended the hospitals nursing school. But I thought that the program would be better because of the hospital now being associated with I believe Resurrection and I was thinking of applying. Well I did and they gave me such a run around and so much BS that it was unbelievable. I came from a Ivy League school having already obtined a Bachelors with a GPA of 3.6 and they wanted me to take certain courses over like college algebra which did not make much sense I would call and call and could not get anywhere. Well I decided to not waste my time and moved on and I am so glad that I did!

Hi Does anyone know much about UIC'S Nursing GEP (Graduate Entry Program). I knew of one person who participated in this program but it is when the program first started a couple of years ago and it now seems different. Can anyone provide me with some insight how are the classes, instructors, is there a huge support system and how hard is it to now get into this program? Thanks