morri082

@Danceluver, the process of applying to UAB SON is rather tedious! First you apply to the University. You'll have to have all your transcripts sent in. I got my UAB acceptance letter rather quickly. Once admitted, you will need to call and set up an advising appointment with a "pre-nursing advisor." During that meeting you will discuss all your pre-req courses that you need to complete or show that you have completed and they will fill out your GPA score sheet. You get your application to the UAB School of Nursing from your pre-nursing advisore! It's NOT on any website, you can't just find it and download it yourself. They will email it to you once you have been advised! You will fill it out and submit it electronically. I also had to print out a copy of the application and bring it to an "application acceptance" session. Our session for the Spring 2012 term was early September, and I was explicitely told that the letters regarding acceptance would be sent out "on or before OCT. 31"! What they should have said was "ON OCT. 31, no earlier!" because I checked the mailbox frequently expecting something a few days early, but it came on Nov. 5! That should give you some idea of the time frame you are looking at (obviously it will be different months for your enrollment term). As for funding, I don't mind telling that I will be using student loans. The timeframe for applying for scholarships came and went before we even knew if we had been accepted, and as such, I never knew about it! I was pretty ticked off about that too! I believe there are quite a few scholarships though. My advisor mentioned something like 50%, or a little more, get some scholarship help! I hope some of this info helps! Good luck!

Thought I would reply since I was just accepted to the Spring 2012 BSN class as a 2nd Degree student (actually a 3rd degree, B.S. Management & MBA). I combed through just about every post on this board as I applied to UAB's SON and came to the conclusion that I had not shot. This is why: 1) I had not finished any of my pre-req science courses (I am currently taking them all in this fall semester). 2) I was not a native UAB student. 3) I had 0 volunteer experience (I have two business degrees, why would I need hospital work experience !?) I applied nonetheless and I was accepted. I write this just to prove that GPA is not an absolute killer for applicants. I had a 3.54 in grad school. I did feel, however, that I wrote a killer interview essay! I honestly feel that it was the main contributing factor to my acceptance! Hope some of this helps in your daughters decision.

No offense taken! Honestly I didn't think I had a chance in h*** at getting in. Strangely enough I was not accepted to Shelton State Community College's ASN program but was accepted at UAB. Every school has some different method for making their decisions. I honestly would prefer to go to UA's nursing school in Tuscaloosa because I live in Tuscaloosa, and I am not looking forward to the drive to B'ham everyday, but I couldn't take the chance of not getting in at Alabama either. They say they take 96 students on a strict GPA criteria in which the average GPA is between a 3.6-3.8. I honestly think those numbers are BS, based on a few friends who are currently in the program and knowing the type of student they were. In a perfect world, I think all programs would have the same acceptance criteria, and I really think all should require a face to face interview. I also have somewhat mixed emotions on programs like UAB that explicitly tell candidates that all honor students at UAB that wish to apply to UAB SON are automatically accepted granted that they maintain the proper grades. I don't think its fair to hinder a non-UAB student's chances just because they went somewhere else but wish to pursue their RN at a better program such as UAB. I don't know if I would reconsider not choosing a program based on someone elses acceptance situation though (mine for example - because they may have some different factors for 2nd degree students, who knows), especially when it is such a well known and respected program. I didn't mean to sound like I was bragging in my first post, just merely wanted to share a different perspective to those questioning whether or not they should even bother applying. As I previously stated, I had already convinced myself I would not be accepted, but applied regardless. There is no harm in it, just a few dollars worth of transcript requests. I realized after writing it that it may have come across in that way. I should have used some emoticons!

I was just doing some searching for UAB clinical sites because I would like to try and do clinicals in Tuscaloosa, where my wife and I live and I came across this post. I know its a few months old, but I thought my situation was a little different than the ones already posted. I just received my acceptance letter from UAB for the Spring 2012 semester. I applied without having Microbiology, A&P I, A&P II, or the Developmental Psych classes completed (I am currently enrolled in all of them this semester, because I'm either that stupid or that brave!). I also had no volunteer experience. I believe that the essay helped boost my chances, and possibly the fact that I am a second degree student (3rd degree actually, B.S. and MBA) If you factor in all the missing classes that I haven't completed yet, then my GPA would probably not be very competitive, so I have this suspicion that GPA is important, but not as much as some people would like you to think. I also did all of my previous school work at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, so I would not get the preferential treatment a UAB student would get during the application process. I hope this information helps anybody interested in the UAB SON program!

I have discussed my plan to work part-time with my adviser. She actually somewhat discouraged the idea of trying to work while in the program, but then followed that up by telling me that most of the students to still work, and do well in classes as well. With my program, thankfully I have the luxury of being full-time student, although I'll only be in 2 classes a semester (thanks to all my undergraduate and graduate coursework applying towards the program), so working part-time should be reasonably doable.

Thank you for the encouragement! I also believe that having a business background could potential lead to other career opportunities in administration as well. As far as the nursing profession taking a toll on you through out the year, I completely agree that it can, and probably will. Thankfully I have the benefit of being in a family that is used to the work (Dad=OBGYN, Mom=RN with 30 years experience in NICU, Burn Units, Orthopedics and OGYN), Aunt=RN, 2 Cousins=CRNA's). Anyway, I do appreciate the support!

Thank you Kateoh82, i was wondering the same thing? and btw, this "she" is actually a "he"! I probably should have described myself better in my first post, but I thank you for the support nonetheless!

Hello everyone! I'm brand new to this forum, but I'm not a novice when it comes to getting advice from specialty forums such as this. I think they are all great resources! I have two business degrees, B.S. Management and a M.B.A., but the desire to work in the field of medicine and healthcare that I had previously blocked out of my mind can't be ignored any longer! I will be starting nursing school in the fall going after an ADN from a very respected community college program, then continuing on for the BSN through my alma mater's RN-to-BSN program (it will take less time to achieve the BSN this way, rather than starting after the BSN from the get go). I am however, getting married in June, and my fiance will be working full time and I plan on working part time (as I have already had most of the elective courses in the program, I will only be looking at taking 1-2 classes a semester) so I think working part-time will be very doable. I just don't know what types of jobs I should look at. I know I could probably work in the business side of any Dr.'s office, or hospital, but I want something that will allow me to gain some experience with patients. Have any of you been in this situation, or have any advice for types of jobs that I could potentially look for considering my background? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!