nolamor

My advice - and I'm in the program now.... 1) take anatomy at lsuhsc - its awesome and unforgettable - it'll help later on. even if you've taken anatomy. 2) take abn psych before you get to lsuhsc 3) enjoy every moment of free time you have now

I dont think that necessarily matters. Big factors also include your interview and your personal statement. Also keep in mind that the GPA they are talking about is not your cumulative, but your GPA of the required prerequisites. So if you failed art history, (for example), it won't affect the GPA that they are looking at. I think you should apply bc it sound like you really want it. But have some backup schools. Good luck!

Thank you NOLARachel! I just called Concentra and they can do my TB (PPD screen) and Tetorifice no problem. No appointments, just walk in anytime before 3pm. Great tip. Thanks again.

I looked through the insurance. It looks good and costs are reasonable but I decided to go on my husband's plan instead. My biggest worry about the LSUHSC plan is the max of either $50,000 or the buy-up at $250,000. From what I understand, catastrophic accidents can easily blow those maximums out of the water. And then what do you do? File bankruptcy? The vaccination stuff has been a pain. Anyone know an easy place to go get a tetorifice? ppd screen? I wonder if maybe an urgent care place would do that for a reasonable price. I don't have a regular doctor and my ob-gyn can't do it. Maybe my ENT?

Yes! Thank you!

Just sent an email to the folks at the business office to see if they will send more detailed info on the plan. But any general info from anyone out there would be great. thanks!

Hi - I'm looking at some of the paperwork we'll need to bring to our advising date. Can someone advise me on where to find more detailed information about the LSUHSC benefits plan? I don't see anything with regards to what it covers, co-pays, etc. Any general advice on the student health insurance would be great. Thanks!

I"m in! I got my letter yesterday. It says my "advising session" is scheduled for June 23. Good luck to everyone still waiting to hear!

All I can say is, HOLY MOLY. After all this waiting, and checking, and hoping, I'm now terrified to see what's in my mailbox. I'm totally going home at lunchtime.

A few weeks ago before my interview I went crazy and took the time to go back through all the years of posts on this thread. After a couple hours of doing so, I came to the conclusion that every year has been different. Different interview questions and format, different dates for sending letters, different formats for sending letters/phone calls, and so on. Sometimes different students had different experiences even within the same year. I remember reading one post from someone who had been put on the waiting list and then was accepted to the program the day before orientation. What I did gather is that if you do get put on the waiting list, that there's a decent chance you'll still get in the program. Ug. What a process. I wonder how many applicants they had this year.

Thanks NolaRachel, I'll assume you meant to say early May(?) via snail mail. Ack.

So now all the interviews should be over right? Does anyone have any info whatsoever on when they will begin to send out letters/make calls/etc? I'm so tempted to call over to the office to see if they can give me any info but I'm sure they are quite busy at the moment and probably don't need the added annoyance of hundreds of applicants calling to ask for a 'status update.' Did anyone who interviewed this weekend get a sense of when we will hear something? Thanks!

I don't have any backup schools either (eeek!). I'm specifically interested in attaining my BSN and the number of schools in the N.O. area that offer that are very limited. I know Dillard offers it and William Carey but those didn't really fit my interests. I found it unfortunate that you can't apply to both CARE and the traditional LSUHSC BSN program at the same time. So my plan, if I don't get into CARE, is to apply for the traditional next semester and go from there. I've heard some CARE students say that between now and the day classes start is a good time to TAKE A BREAK. They said don't worry about studying now, worry about getting in a final vacation, reading some good books, spending time with family etc. One the program begins, there is very little time for those kinds of things so take advantage now. I'm like you in that I thought I'd begin studying for some of the harder courses, but instead I think I'll take the CARE students' advice and relax before the school begins (hopefully) in August.

That is really unfortunate. I know that part of why I felt I did well is because my interviewers were able to put me at ease so I felt less tense, so I was able to talk more clearly and put my thought together better. I'm sure if you feel you are being judged, rushed, and critiqued on every word, it was probably a much more challenging interview. Makes me think about how I would want to act if I were ever put in the position of interviewing someone. I did feel one question was a little from left field but I was able to take a breath, think for a minute and respond. That would have been far more difficult if my interviewers weren't as easy going as they were. I'm so sorry for anyone that had the tough interviews. Hopefully they will look at the average scores from each and maybe see a 'pattern'.

I was also under the impression that your pre-reqs had to be completed but who knows. Hey I was wondering if maybe LSUHSC CARE does rolling admissions? As in, maybe they will make decisions on people even before the second round of interviews? I'll look back through some of these old posts to see if I can find out. If anyone knows the answer please do share. Thanks!

I'm sure every interview group was different, some may just have been less chatty than other groups. Don't take that as a sign that you didn't do well. What time did you interview? I'm sure they had soooo many people to talk to today and they may have felt rushed. I'm sure it was exhausting for them. I was lucky to get some really nice folks in my interview. I think it went about 30-40 minutes. Now hearing from those students I feel even more positive about the school than I ever have. It sounds like students really study together a lot and that everyone leans on each other. And that when you graduate you'll be really prepared for nursing which is the most important thing. As for 'when we'll hear', the million dollar question, the website says that we will hear a decision one way or the other by May 30. Oh lord I hope it comes sooner than that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jschex6 - THANK YOU. After reading your post I checked my cell voicemails and there it was, a message from LSUHSC calling to set up an interview. If you hadn't posted that I probably wouldn't have listened to my voicemails for a few days - I'm terrible about that. I'm sure you'll be getting a call soon. I bet they have tons of apps to get through.

Thanks Cpkrn. Don't ever hesitate to give it to me straight. : ) I guess my concern is that getting into a masters program might be just as selective as the CARE program. If they look at grades in the same way as CARE does, then of course I'm going to need to graduate from CARE with high marks if I ever want to specialize further in the field. Also thanks for the scheduling info. It definitely sounds hectic all the way around but with ebbs and flows. Looks like there's a bit of room for breathing here and there.

A couple more questions started bouncing around in my head last night. Thanks in advance for anyone who can help answer these questions. Once a student is admitted into the CARE program, and begins, if they decide that the program is just too much, too fast and that they can't handle it, do they have the option to apply to the traditional BSN program and drop back into that? Have you seen any students do that? Also, in the past I was given a great description of what the class hours will be like first semester - three light days and two long days a week. Then you noted that from January to April things really picked up and got much more intense. Can you give me an idea of what class/clinical hours are like, in the most busy blocks that you've experienced? Thanks so much.

Good Morning all, I know I'm getting ahead of myself but does anyone have an idea of when they will conduct interviews? Or when we'll hear if we get to interview? Reading back on old posts it looks like folks were being invited to interview in March, with interviews scheduled in April. This whole waiting process is going to be brutal for me. All my eggs are in this one basket, mostly because I want a BSN as opposed to an ASN and options for quality schools in the N.O. area are limited. My backup if I don't get accepted into CARE is to apply next semester to the traditional LSUHSC BSN program. I'm not the most patient person if you didn't already pick that up. = ) Best of luck to all!

So it sounds like a lot of it is picking the right job, and the right hours. From what I gather from posts, hospitals pay more but are less flexible with shifts/time off, while doctors offices are more flexible but less pay. Is that correct for the most part? I have been intending to go to nursing school for about 3 years now and finally have finished my prereqs and applied....just in time to get pregnant (surprise). I'm due in June and school starts in August, if I'm accepted. (Am I crazy?) This will be my first child and obviously I'm worried about 1) nursing school + caring for an infant and 2) finding a job after nursing school that will offer decent hours to allow me to also be a mom. My husband has a good job and is supportive but he can't just up and leave work all the time either. We don't have any retired family members who live here. I'm worried about what we'll do if the baby is sick and has to be taken home from daycare and I can't leave school and he can't leave work. For us, it seems, the problem will be less with making ends meet financially and more with those unexpected kid-is-sick days. I'd love to hear more from nurses who have gone through school with infants. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Wow! I cannot tell you how helpful your post was. And I'll apologize in advance for bombarding you a few more questions... Have you or any of your classmates begun working as a nurse tech in your off-hours? It sounds like that would be tough. I was told its a good idea to get at least a little work experience in because the job market is tough right out of school. Still true? As far as the "block schedule," so sometimes the block is a few classes at once, sometimes its just one class, and sometimes the blocks overlap, is that correct? What do you think is the reason for so many last minute schedule changes? Also I noticed from the link you sent that a few courses are offered online? I would imagine the number of classes online is pretty much few to none right? I appreciate all your tips and hints. Now I just need to apply and get accepted. I've read through all these posts and it sounds like a crazy time when acceptance letters start going out. My pre-req GPA is in great shape but I guess you just never know. I know the interview and personal statement account for a lot in addition to grades.

Hi everyone, I'll be applying for the LSUHSC Care program this winter. My husband and I are having to do some long term planning due to some family issues. Could someone please post what this year's block schedule looked like? For example, the date class starts, how long is each block, how much of a break there is b/w each block? What kind of time off do you get for xmas? t-giving? etc. I know its very accelerated so I'm expecting those are very short breaks. Also, how did everyone's first year go? What can I expect if I get in? It would be great to hear a typical-day/week-in-the-life-of-a-1st-year-Care-student. What have been your biggest challenges? Hurdles? Thanks for your help and thoughts.

Please excuse my ignorance - what is the difference b/w a CNA and a PCT? I've actually never heard of a PCT? I'm pretty sure a CNA is typically a 3 month certification? How many months is the PCT? What is the difference in roles? Duties? Thanks,

Thanks newgrad! Were you a CNA before you went to school? Do you think it helped a TON? I'll be taking about a 50% pay cut to do the CNA thing but from what posters are saying, its probably worth it.