lifesdream

Hi LawyerRN2b, I'm sorry I haven't checked this post in a while. I'm in the evening program. Classes are from 5-9 pm. We meet on South Dakota St. instead of main campus. Parking is a lot better at the S. Dakota campus! Let me know if you have anymore questions. This post was very helpful to me when I started.

Hi Autumncree, I am in the UDC evening program. Our classes began October 2010. This site was extremely helpful to me. I learned so much from the students that were ahead of me so I'm happy to do the same for others. I will warn you that this school is very very very DISORGANIZED. I can't emphasize that enough. Just be prepared for it. Don't expect anything different. It's been like this since the beginning but somehow their still functioning. In my experience most (99%) of the instructors/staff are pleasant. The material is not difficult to understand but there is a lot of material. I work full time so it's been a big exercise in time management. So far we've lost about 3-4/40 people or so for various reasons but my class is extremely supportive of one another. It has been a very busy couple of months but I must say that I'm learning a lot and having fun. I think overall it will be a great experience for you as long as you know what to expect. Oh yeah we have a mixture in ages maybe the youngest is in their early 20's to 50's maybe even 60 (I'd say most are later 20's and up). Most people are career changers including myself. Let me know if you have any other questions, like I said I'm happy to help.

Hi Survivingn, I'm in the evening class :-( There are alot of people in our class too. We were all worried when the homework was announced because most of us don't have books yet. Let's keep in touch sounds like we'll be going through the same journey although at different times.

Survivingn, I hope that you received encouraging news from UDC. I was just there on Thurs. I'm also looking for a way to finance the program. I truly believe that if there's a will there's a way. I live in Md and the WIA process is 2-3 months. I hope that you'll be starting tomorrow.

Thanks Nursetobe745! I don't have anything at all and it's Tuesday! The first payment is due today also. My plan is to take a day off this week (or 2) and figure things out. I remember an earlier post from Spete39 that suggested that we buy our uniforms from Forman Mills and get the nursing shoes from KMART. This whole post has been priceless. I'm going to go back and read everyone's suggestions and go from there. One step at a time. I'll be there on Monday one way or another :).

Hi Everyone, I got my letter this weekend. I was accepted. Yay!!! but why am I feeling nervous and second guessing it? Maybe because I have a week to figure out how I'm going to pay for it and get all of my supplies within 1 week. Oh well bring it on I'm in and on my way. Thanks to everyone who added to this post. Your guidance really prepared me for the UDC pre-entrance process, I wouldn't have gotten through it with my sanity without you. Please keep us updated on your journey.

Spete 39, I sent a prayer to you for your exam. I hope all went well. Thanks for the encouragement about the interview. I'll see what happens from here. Nursetobe, If you're a DC resident there appears to be alot of programs associated with workforce development that will help if not cover your tuition. The people that were filling out the scholarships were submitting something for UDC I'm not sure how much they cover but I do know that a student was writing an essay while I was there. She was going to apply for the March 2011 class. Definately check with the LPN program because there are opportunities out there. I think Spete 39 sent out details about the DC workforce development program in a previous post. Check it out. You may get lucky!

Nursetobe, I'm going to put in a prayer that you passed your exam. Although I'm sure you did well on your own, a little more positive energy never hurts and someone as kind as you have been to us future UDC students deserves to get through and go onto your RN program with ease. Best of luck. I had my interview today and surprisingly I left feeling unsure and even discouraged about getting in. Most of my interview centered around me having a BA degree. I almost felt like that may have hurt me. The first question was about my degree and why I was trying to become an LPN :-( I was told that there are 800 applicants (from all over US/Canada) competing for 100 slots between day and evening. Is it really that competitive? Also I was warned about the 2 excused absence and tardy policy. Not that I'm planning to skip or be late but I hope nothing comes up that will cause me to have to miss class. I was also told about the payment schedule that would be due ASAP but some other students were filling out scholarship applications. Anyway I may just be stressing because I really need and want a chance to get into nursing. All I need is a chance and I'll run with it. I'm really surprised that the interview left me feeling this way ok enough of my pitty party.

Wow. I don't know how to thank you for all of this valuable information. I appreciate and welcome all of it :). Nursetobe- thank you for the information on the new start date. I still haven't been able to reach anyone by phone so I'll have to drive to the new building one day this week. I hope to see you in the evening class!

Thank you so much for all of your valuable information. I appreciate you taking the time to answer all of my questions so thoroughly. You definately brightened my spirits about the program. I have been hearing so many horror stories and am going through my own just trying to get in touch with them for an interview. I hope that everything works out and I'll be able to get through the program. You made two interesting points in your reply. I also have a degree and was a little weary about having to explain why I now want to do an LPN course but I am willing to rise up the ranks if that's what it takes (given that the BSN/RN programs are like Ft. Knox to get into!) you also mentioned that you found a program that would pay for the course. Would you mind sharing more information about that program. I also have exhausted all financial aid and am looking for ways to pay for the program. I am a single mother and have to work full time during the day to take care of myself and my child. Thanks again for all of your help and good luck in your journey :).

Congratulations!!! Very inspiring story for all of us that are just beginning. I have one child and your story made me want to run and get started right away :). Still have a few weeks before the journey begins.

Hi Everyone, Thank you so much for your replies and stories. Reading all of them has been very inspiring. I hopefully will be getting started on my LPN next month and feel discouraged at times when I read posts related to finding work or bridge programs. I have been trying to get into a BSN or RN program for years and never stopped to consider the LPN-BSN route. If I would have thought of this track earlier I would have had my MSN by now! Such is life but I am really excited to begin my journey now. I am even more encouraged to hear stories from people have already done it or are in the same path. Finally, finally I can start living my lifesdream :-) Good luck to everyone!

Hi Everyone, Are there any LPN students or recent graduates that are using the LPN path to get to an RN, BSN or further and don't intend to actually work as a full time LPN? Has anyone been able to do this while keeping their day job? Should you feel bad about having that goal in mind? Thanks.

Hi Survivingn, Congratulations for getting into the program! It sounds like this program is very interesting :). Unfortunately I have to attend the evening program because I work full time during the day but hopefully we can still keep in contact and help each other through the process. Please try to contact someone from the program as soon as you can to confirm the start date. I wasn't able to reach them by phone yesterday but you may have better luck. I was told that Monday 9/20 will be their first official day at the new location so you may be able to reach them then. Good luck! and let me know how things work out. I'll let you know if I hear anything else. Can I ask how your interview went? Have you gotten your books and uniform yet?

Thank you for replying to the post! I was worried that no one from UDC was out there. I have so many questions. I must say that your timing is amazing. Just this morning I was at the Stables Building for what was supposed to be my interview, only to find out that the staff had already moved over to the new location. The kicker was that they've moved but are not accessible by phone and I was told that if I went there I would only find boxes as they haven't unpacked yet. The security guard was very kind and did all that she could to locate someone to help me. Long story short they are still in the process of moving and are really in a state of confusion. I was able to speak with an LPN instructor who sympathized and then told me that the new class was supposed to start at the end of Sept but will be postponed because of their delay in moving. I am so amazed that the start date is flexible and now have no idea when that date may be. This behavior is very new to me, so I appreciate the warning. I guess you get what you pay for! If it wasn't for the fact that the program is so cheap and they offer an evening schedule I would look elsewhere. It must be painful to pay for someone to treat you poorly . On another note congratulations for making it through the program! You should definately celebrate that accomplishment given all of the factors involved. Is is true that if you've passed the pre-entrance exam you're most likely getting in? What was the interview like? How many students are in your class? Are you in the day or evening program? How did you find the content/structure of their program? How were your clinicals? Sorry for so many questions but I'm just so happy to hear from someone who is actually in the program. Thank you so much!