CC10479

Got it--asked to join--thanks!

I can't find the facebook group...does it take a day to get it approved? As far as the textbooks I went with the alumni textbook w/ ebooks option. Yeah they're more expensive, but everyone I've talked with has said the e-books are a life-saver when looking for information quickly and making study guides.

I'm pretty sure that like someone said in an earlier post, no news is good news when it comes to the background reports or specimen reports. I think I sent mine in the same week we received our letters and I haven't heard anything, so I assume all is good!

Scott--would love any advice you have. A few things specifically..do you have any of the syllabus's or the reading assignment lists for the first summer? I know once we start it'll be crazy, and I'd like to have some of the readings completed. Did anyone make any notes or handouts in addition to the materials purchased that were helpful? Anything we should start practicing now? I'm open to all advice! Congrats on being in the home-stretch! Comcast189: I did mine, but haven't checked to see if OU's received it. I'll call this afternoon.

I honestly didn't know for sure if I'd want the OU slot, but when I opened the acceptance letter I knew OU was the best choice. However, both are great programs so deciding between the two wasn't the worst problem to have. Hopefully us giving up our slots at OCCC will open it up for some alternates (but from what I understand there aren't any???). And as far as football season goes, I am from Alabama/heart of the SEC, and don't want to get disowned from my family by saying "Boomer Sooner" too often. :-) Congrats on your decision!

I am in the same situation. Can't write too much now, but my advice would be OU if you have the time and means. If you want to talk feel free to send me your number. My husband and I are out right now but will be back later. The clinical director I work with highly encouraged OU and I feel good about my choice.

Congrats to everyone who was accepted and made the alternate list! I hope you alternates get great news soon--I was an alternate last year for the traditional program, and I remember how hard it was waiting--hang in there! I was never told where I was on the list. I think someone said Tulsa has a lottery? They may choose the alternates differently depending on campus and program (traditional vs. accelerated). I would just call and ask how they determine who gets a spot, and if there is a list, where you are on the list. The one thing that they kept repeating when I talked with them is that they really have no way of knowing how many alternates will be selected. Some years all of the alternates have received a slot, other years, no one has received a slot. It really depends on the applicants and if OU is their first choice. I think someone also asked about the list of things we have to do before orientation? I was planning on printing everything off and getting it done this week. Based on the fact that our acceptance letters were so late this year, I don't want to wait for them to send me more documents. :-) Congrats again everyone!

Congrats to everyone who got in! I too received my acceptance letter to the ABSN in Oklahoma City! I'm about to place my deposit and start checking off items on our to-do list!

Pedioncodreams--I was finishing Chemistry and Statistics. Of course I have nothing to do with the nursing program decisions, but if OU doesn't accept you they're crazy. I wish OU had told me how much priority they place on residency status last year; I probably would have been less disappointed if I had known. Just got home from a long road trip with the hopes of finding a letter in the mailbox...sadly only junk. I noticed on OU's website that they extended some application deadlines for other programs. I wonder if something happened within the administrative staff. Here's to hoping the letters come tomorrow!

I too wish OU would factor experience into their decision. I assume OU wants to maintain their reputation for being a solid nursing program, and nursing students with prior healthcare experience seem to me like they would increase the retention rate. When I asked why they rejected me last year, they said it was based on my RESIDENCY status and the fact that I was still in the process of completing the pre-req's. The pre-req's I somewhat understand, but the fact that they put so much weight into residency seemed odd to me. Letters aren't out yet so don't get too discouraged--hopefully there will be great news for everyone in a few days!

Here's an email I just received from the OU advisor, "I just checked with your Admissions Coordinator. She said the letters should leave campus tomorrow. They are inputting decisions today." I think the operative word in this email is "SHOULD." Hopefully we will all know by the end of the week as many of us need to make life/career decisions.

Check out www.customtrainingsolutions.net. They're located in OKC, and are certified through the American Heart Association. The class only took about 3 hours. My certification is good through Aug 2013, but I feel like I need to review it because I haven't participated in an actual code yet--all of my patient's who coded did so about an hour after my shift.

I'm so sorry for freaking you out about that from last year! I hope it's not the case this year! But if anyone does not get accepted this year, my advice would be to get a job at one of the hospitals in the area as an aide. (I'm partial to Baptist, but just because I work there--I've heard great things from other hospitals!) I'm SO thankful I was rejected last year because the floor experience you get as an aide will make nursing school much less scary. And if I had been able to start working as an aide sooner, Baptist would have paid for me to become an AUA after six months and then I would be able to d/c foley's, draw blood, etc. And if you're an AUA it's my understanding that you get checked off on some of the first semester clinicals earlier and get to do more in clinicals. The other good thing is that Baptist is going to pay for the majority of my schooling AND guarantee's me a job after nursing school--really can't beat that! Also I don't know how many of you have heard about the accelerated ADN at Oklahoma City Community College. It starts in June, but they graduate in March of 2013. Obviously you'll still need to do the RN-BSN if you want to go further with your nursing, but it's a phenominal program and actually has a higher NCLEX pass rate than OU. The application for OCCC was due the last week in January, and they let us know our acceptance status TWO weeks ago--I think OU should take some pointers from them. :-) But, I sincerely hope we all hear great news tomorrow!

The date for the orientation is the 18th of May. When I dropped off my acceptance and clinical preference list the advisor stated they will be sending out another letter correcting the mistake. I'm holding my spot in the OCCC class in case things with OU don't work out. Yep, one of the nice things about this area is that they don't discriminate ADN vs. BSN. Sadly that's not the case in most areas of the US and because my husband is in the Air Force and we'll most likely be leaving here in the next few years, I'll need to get the BSN completed sooner rather than later.

Also, I checked OU's Master's program requirements and they currently don't allow ADN's to go straight into a Master's program, so maybe that's changed recently. At OU you have to complete the RN-BSN before you can start a Masters. Vanderbilt does an RN-MSN, but I can't remember how many additional courses you have to take before you can start the actual Masters. Vanderbilt also offers a distance option for some of the programs after you've been an RN for two years. Great school, but it can be pricey.