tkzv

Thank you for detailing this out for us. I am torn between studying the ATI materials our college has as part of our tuition or paying the extra for Kaplan. I really like how Kaplan helps you understand what the question is asking to aid in ruling out incorrect answers. I will definitely bookmark this post for re-review in May. Congratulations on passing and thank you for posting.

Hey everyone - I started a Facebook group so that we can keep in touch until our "classroom" is set up. If you would like to join, it is UWO Accelerated Nursing May 2011 Cohort. You should be able to find it just by putting that in the search feature. I have made this a closed group. Please share this with others that you learn are in our cohort. I was going to send an email to Sue and see if she could send out an email inviting all once the deposit date has past. Stay warm...Kimberly

I sent my friend an email today to see what she had to say on the reading for the first few courses. I will let you know what I hear. Did you already get the Math for Meds and Medical Terminology books? My Math for Meds book should be arriving today. I am ok at math so I think this should be pretty straight forward for me. I am wondering if we can get the email addresses of the other cohort'ers after the initial deposit date. I think it would be fun to get to know each other a little before April. Stay warm

Hi Amanda, I am friends with a current Oct 2010 cohort'er. I am not sure that she is on this board (I believe not). I would be happy to make introductions if you would like. I actually have an email out to her now, but she has not replied yet. I believe they are currently in the middle of boot camp so I am not expecting a reply until late January. Also, Sue in the advising office can put you in touch with current cohort'ers. I ordered the Math for Meds book yesterday off of Amazon. It was about $20 cheaper. The terminology book was about $15 cheaper earlier this week, but has gone up since. I am waiting for the price to go back down (hopefully) before I get that one. Take care, Kimberly

WHOOHOO!!!! Way to go fruitycandy!!! Welcome to the May 2011 Cohort! Kimberly

Don't give up hope fruitycandy!!!! See Cari001's post - she is not accepting so that may be your spot. Cari001 - congratulations on your chosen program...you will do GREAT! Evolvingrn - as always, thank you for your insight! Positive thoughts to everyone! Kimberly

Congratulations lisa2011! I am also! How exciting! Also received mine this morning. Lots of info to get through. Keep those positive emails coming! :up: Kimberly

Happy New Year Everyone!!!! Welcome to 2011. Three days down and no more than 28 until we hear. I hope all of you have lots to do this January to keep you busy and occupied until we hear. If anyone is lacking something to do I have a house to clean and organize. I just hauled over about 1500 sq ft of carpet out of my neighbor's basement to "carpet" our basement so I am pooped out for tonight. Keep us all updated on anything you might hear. Have a great week. Kimberly

Hello fruitycandy... Welcome to the board and yes it is never to late to join. It is very exciting to hear about all that you have done up to this point. I can certainly understand you wanting a "portable" career and I think nursing is an excellent choice. Yes we are all trying to be patient while we wait for a late Christmas letter from Oshkosh, WI. I think the holidays will go fast (at least for me)...it will be the cold long January that will drag, but we can keep each other company. If I may ask, where are you guys currently stationed? Do you plan to be stateside for a few years? As for my background, I hold a BS in Accounting. I have had a strong desire to join the medical field since I left college, but I guess I was never courageous enough to chase that dream. My family and I relocated a few years back and while searching for a new accounting job I found the courage to make the leap. I give so much credit to my husband for his encourage and gentle nudges (sometime shoves) off the ledges. This is also my first time applying. Here's to a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all (and something extra in all of our stockings). Kimberly

Hello Everyone, Finished my phone interview this morning. Now we wait until January 2010. I am just going to enjoy Christmas and save the worrying for later. Here's to a wonderful season to everyone. If you still have to finish your phone interview...best of luck! Kimberly

Hi AccelFacil - Thank you for jumping in on our group with the insight. Congratulations Cari001 and heathbar on finishing your phone interviews. I have mine next Tuesday. I know they are finishing up the interviews based on the phone interview email I received this week. Very exciting and can't believe we all should know within about 6 weeks. It seems like eons ago that the application was released in August. I have two finals next week, but feel pretty good about both. We have about 4 inches of snow coming this weekend so it should be a great weekend to enjoy the season. Take care...if there are any other lurkers out there for the UWO May Cohort, feel free to chime in. Kimberly

heathbar, I agree with evolvingrn about your opportunity for the May 2011 cohort. Glad you have joined us. I am hoping to do my phone interview the week of the 13th. Has anyone else done their phone interview yet? Stay warm! Kimberly

Welcome heathbar - I am so glad you have joined us. Feel free to ask questions or share. Are you finishing up classes this semester? Welcome, Kimberly

Lisa2011, Yes they have started the phone interview process. Basically, there is an email sent out twice a week (seems like Tuesday and Thursday) for a 2 hour time slot the following week (the slot varies with each email to try and accommodate different schedules). The actual phone interview is 20 min, but you have to commit to being available the full two hours because they cannot guarantee when they will call you. The first 4 to reply to the email are set up for the time specified. If you can't make the phone interview for the time stated don't worry because it does not preclude you from the list. They will get to all that they have selected for phone interviews eventually. They say this process takes 8-12 weeks and I have been receiving the scheduling emails since 11/3. I am not sure when they actually started the first set of phone interviews. I haven't been able to schedule mine as of yet due to scheduling conflicts. The May cohort has typically had the lesser quantity of applicants versus the October cohort which is why I pushed myself on classes this semester so that I could apply for May. Congratulations on completing the online interview. I am sure you did wonderful. Keep us informed! Best of luck...Here's to May 2011. Kimberly

Hi Lisa2011! Welcome to our discussion group. I am very excited for you online interview tomorrow. Just take a deep breath and you will do fine. For me the online interview was over before I knew it began. It is amazing how fast 30 minutes will go in a timed interview and how slow it can go in chemistry class. Please make sure to check back and let us know how it goes for you. I have talked with Sue about the program and from my discussions with her it does seem like they do try to look at the total person as evolvingrn said. Sue said in the past they have not accepted a 4.00 gpa student, but did take a 3.00+ student because of "experience" (this was not quantified as either CNA or prior degree experience). What I guess I am driving at is don't focus too hard on just gpa, but on you as a total person: gpa, cna experience, prior degree, prior degree experience, and teas score (this is new so I am not sure where this will truly fit in during the selection process). What classes are you finishing up this semester? evolvingrn! Thank you for chiming in on the board. I really do appreciate the input from former students. Can I ask which cohort you are from? Have a great evening! and Happy early Thanksgiving!

Just giving this thread a bump! I know they are in the process of the phone interviews, but I have not been able to schedule mine as of yet. Anyone scheduled theirs? Anyone complete it yet? Only 4 more weeks of class and 1 week of final...whoohoo! Take care and keep in touch, Kimberly

Sniffum35 - Thank you for being a mentor to this thread. I apologize that you read my post incorrectly, but I agree with you and so does my 2008 cohort mentor - UW-O is awesome at financial aid help. I did not know that they had a dedicated representative. That is great to hear.

My TEAS V score was 93% (Adjusted total individual score). My email interview sounds very similar to the phone interview. I wonder if they have changed things up or if they just want to make doubly sure you know what you are getting into. I did ask Sue how many applicants there were for May 2011 and she didn't know exactly, but thought there were around 85-90. I thought that more people would have been on these boards because the October 2010 thread was very active. Do you know if many of the October 2010 applicants were going to reapply for May 2011? I think I have most of my ducks in a row. I am finishing up the prereq this semester with chem 2, micro, and a&p (only 5 more weeks). Our biggest hurdle is the finances and finding the best sources. I understand from a graduate of the October 2008 cohort that UW-Oshkosh does work with you regarding scholarships and financial aid available. Cari001 - Will you have another phone interview for this round? Did you talk with Sue before reapplying and did she suggest ways to strength your application? When I spoke with her last Spring she mentioned that she would meet with reapplicants to help them with their application. Keep in touch. Any other UW-O online accelerated nursing applicants out there? Stop lurking and join us... Kimberly

Hi Sniffum35, Thank you for the reply. I did have my email interview and it went fine. The timed part is definitely the kicker. I did hear this week that I have been selected for the phone interview, but have not scheduled it as of yet. That is great news regarding the job placement for you and your cohort. This is definitely a positive for this program. My TEAS V score was fine. I just think we have to sweat all of the details until we get the acceptance letter. Thank you for providing input from a prior cohort. I am hoping more applicants will join as we go through the selection process. Kimberly

Hi Sniffum35, Thank you for jumping in here. I have the online interview this Thursday and was wondering if you have any advice for this portion of the application? What worked well to help you manage the time? Were the questions typical interview questions like: 1. Why do you want to be a nurse? 2. What are your strengths/weaknesses? 3. How do you handle stress? 4. Tell me about a time when... I have 4 months CNA experience in a LTC setting and was just hired as a CNA at a local hospital. Are there any questions asking you to related any experiences as a CNA? Also, I know you guys did not have to take the TEAS test prior to application, but this is a new requirement this go round. Did you guys take TEAS IV or TEAS V when you when for your orientation weekend? And do you know what range of scores they are targeting? And finally, have you been able to secure a position post-graduation? If so, was it at the hospital where you did your clinical rotations? Thank you for being willing to jump in and help.

Thought I might start a post to communicate between those of us who have applied for the May 2011 Cohort. Feel free to join in and let everyone know if you have heard anything. I would imagine we will not hear much until December as we get closer to grades for the fall classes. If you are lurking from a prior cohort, we (ok at least I) would love to hear your experiences (both good and bad) and how you might have approached things differently. Best of luck to everyone! Kimberly

SarahBanana, I am taking the TEAS 5.0 this Saturday and have both the McGraw-Hill and the ATI books. Can you tell me if there was the geology/rock portion to the TEAS 5.0 on your exam? I am fairly comfortable with everything else. I may go ahead and purchase the online exams based on your recommendations. Thank you, Kimberly

I am taking Chem 2 this fall and quite nervous. I received the syllabus early and can't even get my head around half of what we will be doing. I took Chem 1 20 years ago (that hurt to say). And to top it off, I will be missing 3 lectures and 1 lab due to an ill timed vacation. Any help from this board will be more than appreciated and I will try to return the favor. I will also be in Microbiology and A&P I so I am sure I will be on those posts as well. Here's to a GREAT semester!!! Kimberly

Hi - Just found out that I need to take the TEAS V this fall also. Can those of you who have recently taken it tell me what you studied from? Was the McGraw-Hill still applicable? Also, what is this about know the periodic table numbers? Did you have to memorize it (the frequent ones)? I will definitely have to brush up on chemistry because I am rustier than a nail in a water bucket (and I am sure that is a chemical equation). Thank you, Kimberly

I don't have all the specifics on my friend, but here is what I have gathered: Her first degree is in natural resources. She has worked about 16 hours a week (or every other week) in a skilled nursing facility for about four months. From just the time I have spent in class with her, I am assuming her grades are very good. I would guess she is in her mid-20s. As for me...yes, I have to take 3 classes this fall to complete my classes by December (yes I will have no life). I just started a CNA position here in Madison working 16 hours a week every other weekend. I am really striving for the May cohort because there are normally less applicants (at least in the past). We'll have to start a May cohort board in a few months. Take care, Kimberly