CLaker

The BACC2 director (for us it graduating in Dec. is Dr. Al-Arabi) will send out a Spring semester calendar sometime in the beginning/middle of December. Be aware that in January and March you will be there more often for Health Assessment and Adult 1 skills labs. Often the exact schedule for skills lab isn't given until the class starts. The good thing is that often they will only be a portion of the day. Also be aware that on the calendar it will list a clinical for a class every day of the week, but that only means that you have the option of scheduling a clinical that day, not that you will actually be in clinical that day. I will let you guys in on a secret word that you will hear almost every teacher use from day 1 -- Flexibility! Trust me, you will groan and roll your eyes after a few months of hearing it! But you can impress the faculty when they ask you what the #1 trait a nurse/nursing student needs to have! This also means that you can expect the calendar to change, so don't get your heart set on only going there a set # of days because things will change. They are very mindful of trying not to drag you down there for no reason, so they will often combine things together and extend a day longer instead of making you come back down an extra day. Don't stress about planning schedules, getting books, and things like that just yet. Relax, enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas before you start focusing on school. You will be so stressed out the WHOLE year, try to start off on a nice, relaxed, stress-free note (I'm am not kidding - honest)!

The days on campus really varies. Anytime you're starting a new course that has clinicals, plan to be there 2-4 extra days for skills labs. Also for Health Assessment, which you will take in January. So some weeks you will be there 3 (usually not 4) days in one week, and some weeks you'll only be there on Tuesdays for a test and seminar. There are a few weeks during the summer where you won't go at all, but you're trying to cram in all of your clinical time, so you'll need all the extra days you can get! I will tell you that you will hear this phrase from the faculty so much, it may make you sick - "Be flexible!" - and they mean it! I don't know how it is for the traditional program, but for BACC2 they send out a calendar before each semester that shows you exactly what you'll be doing every day. But that doesn't mean they won't change it on you at the drop of a hat! And everytime you'll hear them say "As a nurse you need to be flexible!". Ugh! So be prepared to be there a little more than what they will tell you in the interview, but it's still not nearly as much if you are in the traditional program. And a little note about online tests... There's only a few classes where you can take the tests from home and not go campus. You'll have one of those each semester, but all of your other classes will have tests that you either take in the computer lab at the library or a scantron test in a classroom. Also, every class that has clinicals has a 20 question math test you take before you can handle meds in Clinicals. You have to get 90-100% to pass and you have 2 attempts I believe. They really aren't that bad though, so don't fret too much about those!

I am also in the 2011 BACC2 class with JThig, and I just wanted to reinforce a few things he said to you guys. I would say the biggest thing you need to know about the program is the online format and how little interaction you have with the faculty for the classroom portion. It really is what JThig said, you log on to Blackboard at the beginning of each new class, you get a schedule of when the tests will be and what sections will be on that test, and then you are supposed do whatever you need to do to be prepared for that test. It was kind of shocking the first few weeks to see how different it was from my first time through college. Yes, some of your courses may have some pretaped lectures or audio to accompany the powerpoints. But, if you need that classroom learning experience to learn, DO THE TRADITIONAL PROGRAM! I'm not trying to talk anyone out of BACC2, in fact, I think it's probably easier than the traditional in some ways. You don't have to be on campus nearly as many days, so it gives you time to study when it is best for you. You do have group projects occasionally, but they tend to be powerpoint presentations that you can do via email. Also, there's not really "homework" assignments other than the group projects, the only one I can think of right now was in Pedi. I also think that because the BACC2 program is so short, they don't expect us to learn some topics as in depth as they would in the traditional program. Our Pedi and OB classes this summer were each less than 6 weeks long, seriously! You can't possibly learn every little detail in 6 weeks, and the teachers don't expect you to either. I know in Pedi, there was info for lab on hearing tests for kids and we didn't even touch that stuff. The teachers focus on what they feel will be covered on the NCLEX, so that does cut out some of those lesser priority topics. If you're reading this and stressing out about "Did I apply to the wrong program?" - don't worry! Interview with confidence and wait to hear about your acceptance. You can decide to drop down to the traditional program after you're accepted, I know several people who did that and are so happy with their decision. It's also not a bad thing if you have to switch to the traditional sometime during the first semester. Our class started as 80 and now we're in the mid-60's. The people who switch programs are not frowned upon. The UTMB staff wants everyone to graduate, so they will help you to do that in the way that is best for you! Just remember that you know yourself the best and are the best judge of your strengths and limitations. No matter the program, everyone will graduate with a BSN and be just as prepared as the next to become an RN! You can do it!

Yeah, it was just listed in the middle of the list of my loans and only said "Salute to Nursing". That is what the fundraiser is called that UTMB holds every year. From what I've heard/read, th "grant" is supposed to be given to all BACC2 students.

I was wondering if anyone checked the financial aide portal recently and noticed the "Salute to Nursing" grant that is posted? I'm assuming that this is the fundraiser grant that's given to the BACC2 students, but this year it only appears to be for $1000. I know in past years, students were getting $5000. I guess it's no surprise that the amount is lower now with the downturn in the economy. Did anyone else get $1000 as well?

Update on log in info for the Financial Aid portal: I emailed UTMB and was told that the man who is in charge of granting access is out today, but that they are switching over to a new computer system which is keeping him extremely busy. No date on when we might get the log in info though.

I'm in the same boat as greengold. Still waiting for my login info. Enrollment services emailed my form to security on Friday, so I figure if I don't hear back by this Friday, I'll give them a call and post if I find out any new info. FYI - On my first financial aid letter, they had awarded me money for Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 instead of Spring and Summer 2011. I had to call to have them change it and they emailed me a new one. Everyone may want to double check their letters to make sure the semesters are correct.

The non-disclosure form is the same one that is in the acceptance packet, so if you've already mailed that in they will contact you via email when they process it. If you haven't sent it in yet, either fax it to the number listed or you can call enrollment services and ask for an email address to send it to.

Vick English- Yes, UTMB has a United HealthCare plan. Go to http://www.utmb.edu/studentwellness/insurance/index.html more details.

Go to http://www.utmb.edu/studentwellness/students/ImmunizationScreeningRequirements.html.

Thanks lexi loo! I was just able to accept. I'm so excited to meet all of you in January! JThig and hrphan- Keep your hopes up! There will be many that don't accept their invitations, so hopefully you'll hear something from UTMB after Oct. 28th.

Hmmm...Legally, I don't think that there's anything they can hold you to at this stage, but I'm not a lawyer. It probably doesn't thrill UTMB when people do that, but I don't know exactly how much of an imposition it is for them. I'm pretty sure that the reason why they say the 28th is so that if you don't accept, they can interview someone else for that spot. Now does that mean if you tell them you changed your mind after the last interview date (beginning of Nov.) that they'll just leave that spot empty? I seriously doubt it. They are also a business, so they would like to get that extra $15k from someone! I know I've read in other threads that people have been called up fairly close to the start of the semester and are asked if they want to attend. So can you do it? Probably. Should you do it? I personally wouldn't, but I'm not you and I'm not in your situation. What's a big deal to some, isn't to others. Just think about what's right for you and go for it! :)

The background check was $48.71 back in July, so I would assume it would still be about the same. My econnect is still the same. Were you guys able to accept your invitation yet?

Threads from previous classes said that it took several days for the econnect acceptance to show. But when it did, it shows up as soon as you login. It takes you right to a screen that makes you accept or decline, so you don't have to hunt through the website to find it. Hopefully it will be up tomorrow, but I'm going to send my letter in as well. Doesn't hurt! :)

camo- Look at the little squares towards the bottom of the SON website. It's the one that says 2010.