rocky16

Someone sounds bitter about getting rejected lol

omg no!! that would be too much...lol. just dont wear jeans and a plain ol' t-shirt and you'll be fine. i've gone to class in leggings, uggs, and a blouse and the instructor has been cool with it. basically, they want you to dress nice cuz you're gonna go to ucla right after skills lab to pick your patient for wednesday's clinicals...and obviously, you want to look presentable when you go to the hospital. :)

Dress code is NOT strictly enforced except for Tuesdays when you have your nursing fundamentals theory and skills lab....refer to BNice's prior post abt dress code (Nice, dressy clothes...no jeans, open toed shoes, etc...in other words, dress professionally and keep it classy). Other than that day, you can wear whatever you want on lecture days. they don't care about hair...they just dont want "unnatural hair color" (i.e. blue, pink, blah blah blah...just keep it lookin fresh and clean). girls have to keep their hair up and in a bun on tuesdays for skills lab and for clinicals (although the whole having it in a bun thing isn't always enforced..). your faux-hawk will be fine....just as long as it doesnt have any wild colors. :)

$45k-$50k for a private 12 month absn program (technically i think it's 11 just cuz we get a month off for vacation in december) in california...but i ended up getting $12k in scholarships, $24k in federal loans, and the rest in alternative loans. still hoping for the hospital debt forgiveness program that could be offered (pays $25k of your tuition as long as you work for them for 2 years). i'm 2 months into my program....9 more to go! and yes...it is worth every single penny!

I'm sorry you had such a "negative experience" at MSMC. I really find that surprising...I also find it really odd that you say the staff wasn't "supportive" of students. It's safe to say that my whole cohort right now would completely disagree with that statement. Personally, I find the staff, directors, and instructors extremely supportive of all of us. My dad recently passed away last month and I got nothing but support from everyone at MSMC. Our teachers would always email and call to make sure I was doing okay and emphasized the importance of having a strong, supportive cohort during this difficult time. Needless to say, my cohort, the entire ABSN nursing department, and even the teachers were there for everything...from the viewing to the funeral and all the days in between and all the days there on after. I even have friends who went to other nursing schools who were impressed and surprised at how supportive the entire school has been. I highly doubt that you would get that type of support from any other school. Also, there have been people who have been struggling with school or time management and they have also found the staff and instructors to be extremely encouraging and supportive. Trust me when I say that everyone wants you to succeed in this program and they will go out of their way to help you succeed. And I agree with Sugarlips...no private school is cheap. I can't emphasize enough how you get what you pay for. That's why MSMC really asks you over and over again BEFORE you even apply if you can go through this program financially. I've taken out loans up the wazoo just to pay for school but in the end, it doesn't matter because I know it is an investment and that we will all be getting a good education.

idk who that clinical director you're referring to but we're referring to the ones who told us directly that those sweaters are not allowed at all DURING clinicals. you can wear them BEFORE clinicals, DURING lunch, and AFTER clinicals. we had clinicals today so the "clinical director" shouldn't have been there.

FYI on that blue fleece jacket...you can't wear that during clinicals....the people who sell you the uniform will say you can wear it during clinicals, which is why everyone in our class got it, but during orientation for clinicals, the instructors said we weren't allowed to wear it during clinicals at all. so you can get it but can only wear it to school or on your way to clinicals but once you're on the floor, take it off! oh..and that goes for the white hoodie also. :)

concordia just started their ABSN program and i believe it's less than 3 years old (they started in august 08 and barely got accredited in october of that same year) whereas MSMC started their program over 10 years ago (early 90s). yes, MSMC is expensive. yes, MSMC has a HIGHER standard than concordia (75% is not "horrible") and even then, shouldn't that be ENCOURAGING anyway? it just says that they expect more out of their students, if not the best. yes, MSMC has a very rigorous ABSN program but what else would anyone expect? they crunch 3 years of nursing into 1 year so of course it's going to be rigorous, challenging, and sometimes a bit crazy. overall, MSMC still continues to hold one of the BEST nursing reputations out there with a high pass rate. i was like you and did think about applying to concordia but i didn't because MSMC has so much more to offer, has had the ABSN program for several years, and like i keep reiterating, MSMC has one of the best nursing programs in the country. everyone is entitled to their own opinion and i'm sorry you feel that way towards MSMC. it's an awesome school. i'm actually in the May cohort right now and they have been extremely supportive of our entire class. they really do everything in their power to help you and make sure you succeed. faculty, staff, and classmates will soon be your second family and i don't know any other school who is like that. seems like you're really worried about the cost of tuition...but regardless, if you want to BE THE BEST, you have to HAVE THE BEST and MSMC IS THE BEST.

congrats everyone! your may cohort welcomes you to the best time of your life! :)

hahaha...it's sometimes necessary. you'll understand why when you start school.

just think of it this way...a lot of hospitals are hiring people with a BSN only and not just an ADN. when you graduate from this program, you will have a BSN....a BSN from Mount St. Mary's College, which is a very reputable school.

you can't use calculators for the math exam. a lot of people also thought it was fairly easy...the people who did "fail" only missed it by 1 question and ended up getting an 82% instead of the passing 84%. anyway, im sure you all did great during your interview!!!!

there's a couple "solve for X" questions but real simple...for example: 42 = 5x + 2...x = 8. lots of addition, subtraction, division, multiplying of decimals and fractions. conversion of percents into decimals, decimals to percents, percents to fractions, etc. and 1-2 word problems.

Math test was very simple and basic math. When you're accepted, they'll give you a sample math exam, which is very similar to the math exam you'll be taking. you have to get an 84% to pass....if you don't pass, you have to complete tutoring at the school and you'll be allowed to retake the test again. if you don't pass that, then they can revoke your acceptance. the people who tutor you are VERY GOOD and will do everything to help you. people who have "failed" the math exam the first time get an almost perfect score the second time they take it. nothing to worry about

good luck w/ interviews everyone! we've been seeing A LOT of people getting interviewed the past couple weeks for either the absn or adn program. don't be nervous. don't over-analyze. don't over-prepare. just be yourself!