Toomuchcoffee

Finally. My cohort and I have finally made it through the gauntlet and to the exit of the labyrinth known as nursing school. We wrapped up our last final only a few days prior, and last night celebrated our 2.5 years (5 semesters) of hard work and dedication in the nursing program with the time-honored tradition pinning ceremony, and what a night of emotions it was. My cohort consists of 28 people in a baccalaureate program, and all throughout we remained in the same lectures with rotating around in clinical groups, but otherwise on the same schedule for the last 2.5 years. The conditions and stress with which we were put under created a camaraderie of us vs the program”, and upon triumphing resulted in what will be eternal bonds of friendship between people. It wasn't until last night when celebrating and going through the speeches and watching a movie montage of clips from our first to our last semester did it hit me what we had created as a cohort, and with that came a barrage of thoughts. As I sat there I reflected on all of the work we had done for the past 2.5 years. The countless hours on those forsaken careplans; the hours spent sitting in lectures; the stressing out over completion of group projects before the deadline; the sometimes poor clinical hospital assignment where the culture is toxic; the snarky nurses who hate students; the endless studying for exams and ATIs!! All of those were things I wouldn't miss, but at the same time feeling a small sense of loss, because say what you want, they were a part of your life and helped mold you into a better person. The real heartbreak though came when I thought about what it meant to not have to return next semester because we were finished. No more us; no more cohort; no more struggling together; no more gathering at the same place on the same day with amazing friends; no more BSing around to pass the time; no more practical jokes; no more laughing till we're crying; no more sharing crazy clinical experiences; no more seeing the most amazing and supportive faculty; no more celebrating together after defeating the evil ATIs; no more. The bitter sweetness of it all. Hearts felt heavy as we all sat there watching the video and reminisced for what felt like would be the last time as one entire unit under the same roof. Most would describe me as the tough guy” who won't show his true emotions in public, but I'll be damned because someone was definitely cutting onions around me last night and at the same time I didn't care because everyone knew what I also knew this meant, and you could see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices as we hugged and parted ways. I write all this I suppose as a way for me to decompress and digest what has been an experience many never have, and something I hope everyone who is in nursing school feels upon graduation. Because if you feel similar to this than that could only mean your experience was also impactful and meaningful on your life, and very well resulted in a stronger, wiser and better person. I encourage those who are still in the process to keep trucking along; even in your lowest moments do not give up and reach out for support if you have to, and the same applies to even those who are currently practicing. I and many others had to lean on each other several times during this journey, and the result was having the experiences, memories, and now friendships that will last a lifetime.

Long time lurker here who is about to finish up my BSN this Fall semester looking for honest input whether it be from firsthand experience, or you know someone who has experience on the matter of post graduate education. As I said I am about to graduate and will be entering the real world very soon which I am insanely excited about, and while I know I have a few years of needing real world experience prior to advancing my education, I do have ideas of where I want to head with my career (maybe CRNA, NP or PA route) at some point in the future. The dilemma I am having over this final semester of my school is should I focus more on improving my overall GPA, seek out volunteer opportunities, or even work on a certain skill, such as trying to become more fluent in Spanish (I currently can butcher a basic convo together), in order to become a more competitive graduate school candidate in the not too distant future (maybe 2-4 years). I currently have an overall GPA of 3.45 at a reputable CSU school with a roughly estimated GPA of 3.2 in my core nursing courses. I got an F my first semester in a 3 unit class that was just taken to reach my required units for graduating; however the following semester they changed my graduation requirements and I didn't need to bother retaking the class, so it has remained an F which I know is weighing down overall GPA by about .15-.2 points. As for my volunteer experience; I don't have much, but when I think about volunteering right now it seems like it could be a waste considering graduate school isn't even an option for a few years, so maybe I should hold off until a little more time has passed so my volunteering is more current when I apply. I have read up quite a bit about graduate school, and know they look at the whole package (volunteer, certifications, committees, shadowing, etc) and not just one criteria, but I guess my biggest fear is that my GPA will be below the cut off mark to where they don't even bother looking at the rest of me since they have so many other applicants who are above the required GPA criteria. That is why I think my best option would be to get a part time job at a hospital to get have my foot in the door for when I graduate and can get a new grad position, and to also focus on improving my GPA (my BS education is free so this is my last semester to improve any grades without paying). Any input is much appreciated!!

Hello hopeful Fall 2014 students; I am currently a 1st semester (Spring 2014) nursing student at CSULB and can hopefully clear up some of the questions I saw on here....trust me it's confusing and it really doesn't get any easier. Acceptance into the program is STRICTLY merit based, meaning they send out acceptances starting with the highest scores and work to the lowest. They do NOT have reserved spots for transfers/current/males(sorry guys)/girls/disadvantaged/etc students. If the top students were all transfers then all the 1st semester nursing students would be transfer students, they will not favor their own over others. And if you get into the nursing program than you are going to be accepted into the university, that's a given. However since you are applying to BOTH the school and the nursing program you could be accepted into the school and NOT the nursing program. As for how many spots they have I couldn't answer that as looking at their prior years the numbers sometimes vary and I don't know what determines that (budget maybe). The best you could do is get in contact with the correct people and just ask, trust me they're VERY helpful, kind, and understand the stresses you guys are experiencing. Also as for how classes are scheduled, you will NEVER get to pick the nursing courses dates/times you take them, they are assigned to you. However that being said the times for your classes are generally reasonable. For example my main nursing lecture and nursing comm class are same day with an hour break between, so I'm at school from 9am-2pm. There doesn't appear to be any SUPER early classes nor evening classes. Any general ed courses you need though you can sign up for through the school and pick whatever you want as long as it's not conflicting. Clinical is 1 day a week for first semester students and appears to be on either Mondays or Fridays (for us at least) depending on which group you get tossed into - and clinical is from 7:00am to 4:00pm although it usually ends around 3:00. That's all I can think of offhand, let me know if you have any other questions or concerns I can maybe help with. I hope everyone who wants this gets in, it truly is an amazing and beautiful school and the nursing program staff is so helpful and genuinely wants to see everyone succeed. Also clinicals are much more fun than stressful (just keep up on studies, this aint general ed anymore). Oh yea if you're in trimester than your first few semesters you'll be at long beach memorial and if you're basic than they'll put you in other local smaller hospitals. I'm trimester btw.

You don't, they give them to you which I have yet to check the student email to see if they sent out our schedules yet. The only thing you have to do after you receive your schedule is go and sign up through MYCSULB for those assigned courses.

Likewise I also got accepted. I had a 9.06 to give others who are curious an idea of where the cutoff may lie.

@ TU RN I didn't read through EVERY post so maybe someone threw out an unwarranted comment, but the few I read saying "I thought it was easy" stated things like learn how and what to study better and to not work herself up too much. Yes that's not a blueprint to surviving nursing school, but it's ideas to get her brainstorming on how to be better (if that's what she wants). Those sharing that nursing school was easy for them aren't doing it in a demeaning manner from what I read, and by them telling their experience give the OP a chance to ask what made it easier for them, or to realize she could be doing something differently to be more efficient and start thinking about alternative study methods. Just because everyone doesn't baby her telling her comforting words about how rainbows and sunshine are just around the corner doesn't make them wrong, and it doesn't make you right. -- Some people vent just to be heard, it's not that they want the cure to their problems.

That seems a little absurd milkpearl....I don't believe that to be true (unless they're specifying for CSULB students) because I am a transfer student and most certainly have applied WAY past my 5th semester, and I did not take stats my first semester. I mean to be 100% sure that's not the case you could always go see a counselor...but if it was 95% of the people here would not have qualified. To my knowledge the only requirements are you have all the corereqs and golden 4 completed when you apply, with the exception of being allowed 1 corereq course in progress being taken as a C grade. There is an expiration date on your science courses...I don't remember how long, I think they have to be taken within the past 4 or 5 years.

Man now I'm kind of nervous wondering if my score is high enough to be admitted or if I'm just on the alternative list....9.06 is too close for comfort lol. Luckily I have parents in Mission Viejo so I can just drive down there Tuesday (from Sac) and will be staying through the weekend (mini-vacation!).

See that's what I'm trying to find out. Do you know if that 50% is CSULB students because they guarantee that 50% of the students admitted to the program will be CSULB undergrads and the remaining slots are for transfers to duke it out amongst themselves? That's why I say the ranges they post really aren't accurate if that's the case (thus why I worry my score may not be suffice and I'm being called in as an extra alternative) and they should post the overall score ranges for CSULB undergrads and transfer students separately. - and yea I am a transfer student :)

@nrsing2014 - Damn nrsing2014, sadly that is on the low spectrum for CSULB nursing program, even for spring admittance. I don't know if it's because of an in progress course or just because of your grades? Either way keep your head up (hard to do I know) and look into ways to bump your score for the next round if at all possible. I want to say 9.06 is a guarantee as well looking at past admission point ranges, but I have to wonder if they for sure save an allotted # of enrollment slots for CSULB students regardless of transfers having higher points. For example say 60 slots can be filled by transfers and 30 by CSULB students (transfers usually have better scores overall), thus the range is not the ranges of transfers admitted, but takes into account the CSULB students who don't score as well as transfers. Thus the cutoff is actually higher than what is being posted for transfer students. I know that seems really shady and not right but I came across a post talking about this from like...Fall 2011 admits. I dunno, I mean I got an interview so of course I'm going to go...I just hate wasting my time (I have to drive from Sac). Did you get an interview invite nrsing2014? And yes that's the # I called. Sometimes they answer, sometimes they don't.

Just a heads up I started the other thread (a mod butchered it to death cause I accidentally violated a few TOS rules lol) and yes I have a 9.06 and also received the email inviting me for an interview. So in terms of the interview, does anyone know if they actually interview a few past the 90 they plan to enroll as a sort of buffer in case others decide to drop? I only ask because yes I have a 9.06 which while I feel good about (especially for having my A&P2 in progress being taken as a C) I still feel uneasy in terms of where the cutoff lies. All of my own research points to older threads of people postulating that they interview a few extra from the top of the alternative list...I don't know if this is true, I certainly hope not! This interview does not concern me in terms of being admitted; I just need to know if an interview means you made it within the cutoff range for admission and now they just need to make sure you're socially adept. Anyone who would somehow know and could shed light on the fact would be much appreciated. Oh and lets get one thing straight, I'm a DUDE!!!....so be on the lookout for a tall, handsome, funny guy at the interview....especially you single ladies :)

Thank you beachside and grntea. My real concern isn't really, am I better if I go here vs here. My concern was with continuing advancement as well as continuing education. I just don't want to end up going for some position/specialty program and be turned away based heavily on the fact I went to a CSU instead of a UC. My brother who is going for a bachelors in computer science is trying to get into UC Berkley and is trying to convince me to do the extra time to go to either UCLA or UC Irvine. But as I keep doing my research I come across how its not where you got your BSN, it's your experience in the field. I guess I'm just looking to reinforce that thought. That doesn't mean I won't accept any other answer, I just want opinions from people to see what the vast majority think as well as any personal experience with such things.

But that's just your own stereotype about that school based on the students that have come from it. And obviously I wouldn't pick a school that was known for producing incompetent students. However my real question was would a potential employer see on my resume that I went to UCLA and feel like I was more competent for employment/advancement, as opposed to if I went to CSU Sacramento. While in fact CSUS has higher passing rates for the NCLEX then UCLA does. EDIT: @ nurseygurlie I knew someone was going to try and say that. You don't have to LOVE your job to be able to do it competently, but if you plan on staying in the same position for a long time then yes you better love it. I do not and have NEVER enjoyed doing the same thing for too long, seeing the same walls, the same people. However I do enjoy a challenge, problems, and I do like helping people; probably not enough though to do it all my career. But that's why I picked the medical field, because from what I gathered there are MANY opportunities to change gears and work elsewhere. Even if it requires me doing something I possibly won't love, but not hate, for a little while in order to do something I enjoy, I'll do it.

I'm coming to a junction in the road now where I've almost completed my prereqs at a community college I attend, and need to decide between going to a state college or UC. A little about me; I'm a 22 year old male living in California and am debating between attending a UC or state college in order to get my BSN. The biggest difference between them for me at the moment is the amount of prereqs the 2 school systems require. It appears to be UC's want more prereqs completed, as well as more advance courses than state colleges do. This would require me to go to my CC for an additional year, as opposed to if I went to a state college. What do I want for a career goal? I don't know honestly, I picked nursing because I enjoy science a lot, it fascinates me. Nursing seemed like a realistic goal that could be achieved relatively quickly. I enjoy human interactions, but not necessarily in love with the idea of taking care of someone who's in the worst state ever, don't get me wrong, I can do it but I don't think I'll love it. Nursing also seemed like there were MANY MANY different paths I could take once acquired a BSN and gathered some experience. I defiantly want to try travel nursing once out of college, assuming it's everything its cracked up to be. I eventually would like to see myself in a management position or a teaching position (at a college). I am not afraid to continue my education where necessary in order to achieve my goals. That's just me in a nutshell, so now I come to ask you with all I have said in mind, does the college make THAT much of a difference in terms of jobs/pay/future advancement? I am aware some careers it can make a difference at the get go, however it tapers off as time goes on. Should I really just be looking at NCLEX passing rates? The sad part about that is CSUs are mostly 93%+ passing rates, while no UC broke 90% for 2010/2011. My head is spinning 360 degrees right now; I'm at a point where I feel very lost (our counselors are worthless). Any guidance is appreciated.

No this is not about what handed are you, this is about me coming to a junction in the road now with me almost completing my prereqs at a community college I attend, and needing to decide between going to a state college or UC. A little about me; I'm a 22 year old male living in California and am debating between attending a UC or state college in order to get my BSN. The biggest difference between them for me at the moment is the amount of prereqs each requires. It appears to be UC's want more prereqs completed, as well as more advance courses than state colleges do. This would require me to go to my CC for an additional year, as opposed to if I went to a state college. What do I want for a career goal? I don't know honestly, I picked nursing because I enjoy science a lot, it fascinates me. Nursing seemed like a realistic goal that could be achieved relatively quickly. I enjoy human interactions, but not necessarily in love with the idea of taking care of someone who's in the worst state ever, don't get me wrong, I can do it but I don't think I'll love it. Nursing also seemed like there were MANY MANY different paths I could take once acquired a BSN and gathered some experience. I defiantly want to try travel nursing once out of college, assuming it's everything its cracked up to be. I eventually would like to see myself in a management position or a teaching position (at a college). I am not afraid to continue my education where necessary in order to achieve my goals. That's just me in a nutshell, so now I come to ask you with all I have said in mind, does the college make THAT much of a difference in terms of jobs/pay/future advancement? I am aware some careers it can make a difference at the get go, however it tapers off as time goes on. Should I really just be looking at NCLEX passing rates? The sad part about that is CSUs are mostly 93%+ passing rates, while no UC broke 90% for 2010/2011. My head is spinning 360 degrees right now; I'm at a point where I feel very lost (our counselors are worthless). Any guidance is appreciated.