mj0710

The disorganization that you are all experiencing throughout the application process is only the beginning of the nonsense that you will have to deal with at UMDNJ. I am well into the ABSN program and have been MISERABLE for the past year. Of probably 12 professors that I have had there so far, I have learned from 2 of them. I cannot believe that I am wasting a large sum of money and getting the absolute minimum in return. I am certain that I could have purchased and read the textbooks and reviewed powerpoints without ever coming to class and would have been just as well off upon graduation. I will also warn you, if you were used to things running smoothly at your undergraduate schools, the ridiculousness at UMDNJ will affect you even more!! I am not sure about others' experiences, but I remember being consistently impressed by my professors at my undergraduate school. In the ABSN program at UMDNJ, I find myself feeling bad for the professors. They read their powerpoints word for word and it seems as though they are forced to lecture in subjects that they are sometimes unfamiliar with (which I actually know is the case as the patho professor is a women's health nurse practitioner). It is not uncommon that a student asks a question and a professor is unable to provide an answer. I am sorry for ranting, but I feel like it's only fair that applicants know the truth about this program. I cannot think of one instance in the four years that I was at my undergraduate university that I experienced the frustration that I now feel on a weekly (if not daily) basis at UMDNJ. If you have the option to go elsewhere, DO IT!!! You will be more respected, and you will receive a better education. I cannot think of anything worse than this.

I started the accelerated BSN program in May and unfortunately they do not make any exceptions for being unable to reach deadlines etc. Also, they are extremely strict about the 3.0 GPA requirement - when I was applying I understood that they didn't even look at applications with lower GPAs (which is also unfortunate because you could have a 2.9 from an Ivy league school and will not even be considered). Also, I empathize with you all regarding their lack of conditional acceptances. I quit my job in June 2010 and took 16 credits of science courses in the fall (the remainder of my prerequisites) assuming that I could apply for the Spring 2011 start as long as my professors sent progress reports indicating my standing in each of my classes. I maintained "As" in each of my courses throughout the semester and despite hand-delivering components of my application, changing my CPR course to an earlier date to make sure I would be certified on time, and calling on a daily basis to ensure that my recommendation letters and transcripts were received, I was e-mailed in November and was told that the application committee was unable to make a decision. After calling a number of times, I was finally told that because I had more than two prerequisites in progress at the time of application, I was not considered a "serious" applicant (apparently taking A & P I, II, Microbiology, and General Chemistry at the same time and getting "As" in each of these classes didn't prove to them that I really wanted to start in January). Anyway, I hope I am not discouraging any of you, I just think it's only fair that everyone understands that there really aren't any exceptions made in this process!