littleone126

Hello future nurses! Congrats to those who've been accepted! I am currently wrapping up my first semester at TWU Houston campus in their nursing program. Another student and I were chatting yesterday about how far our entire class has come in the last four months and how familiar we are with everything you all are going through. I remember how lost I felt and how happy I was getting my acceptance letter and how relieved I was when a current student reached out to us, so I put together a few pointers for those accepted (I've also requested access to your facebook group). 1.) Immunizations, background checks, and drug checks-- I did my immunizations at UTHSC health clinic. It was the cheapest option for me since I had to do titers and all kinds of work (couldn't access my childhood records). It was a little expensive, but most students went that route. You will be asked to complete your fingerprint background check on your own time on your own dime. Please read this next part carefully: if ANY of you have ever been in even the slightest amount of trouble (i.e. something stupid you might have done even ten years ago) I recommend getting started on your declatory order with the Board of Nursing ASAP. We had about six students forced to drop our clinical class because this process takes so long. Our drug test was done on orientation day. They may do it different for you all, but there was an incredibly long line, so be prepared to stay for a while. You're also going to need to show proof of health insurance when school starts, so if you don't have it, get it. 2.) Schedules and books-- This was a big question for me before I started so here's the layout of my schedule. Keep in mind that everyone's schedule is slightly different (clinical days and lab days vary), but lectures are all the same in the same room. They might put you in a Saturday group too, so be prepared. Monday: 9am-12pm Concepts lecture and 2pm-4:20pm Assessment lecture, Tuesday: Concepts lab/clinical 6am-2pm and Pharmacology lecture 4pm-7:20. Wednesday Assessment lab 9am-1:30 pm. Friday Pathophysiology lecture 8am-12pm I know it looks like a lot and that's because it is. If you work like I do, serious time management skills will be required. As far as books, there is a huge list of them, but my opinion and most of my fellow classmates will tell you not all are needed. EVERYTHING you can possibly buy for Assessment, BUY IT. Concepts, I'd say yeah, buy that giant book, you'll use it. As far as Patho and Pharm? You don't need the book. You might use them for reference so if you have the cash it doesn't hurt, but don't worry about those classes right now. 3.) People at your disposal-- You will be assigned an advisor (faculty member), a mentor (J2 like myself), tutors for every class (usually seniors) and all of your fellow students. Use all of them. Your advisor is mostly there to keep your degree program in check and help you with any special circumstances you might have (they can also help you find work in the summers). Your mentors are there to give you their personal experience (basically exactly what I'm doing), they are incredibly helpful. You will get to know your tutors as you will most likely be attending all of their sessions. They are just there to help and they do a great job. As far as all the other students go, they will be your support system. I'll write a little more about your use to each other in the following paragraph. 4.) Difficulty level-- Okay, this is the part I've been waiting to write about. I know everyone is feeling exactly what I was when I found out I was accepted. Jubilance. And you should. But you should also be warned and prepared about the difficulty level of this program. It is ANYTHING BUT EASY. I probably spent more hours studying this semester than I spent on my entire associates degree. Class difficulty level in my and most students' opinion is as follows from most difficult to easiet: Assessment, Pharm, Concepts, Patho. Do not attempt to read the material the weekend or night before the exam. Nursing school does not work that way. On your first day of Assessment class, your instructors will give you a pie graph of hours studying needed, they are not kidding. You know that awesome GPA you have that you're so proud of? Things are going to change. I have no right to tell you that none of you will make straight A's, but I can tell you I don't know of a single person in my class that has. Make friends. Form a study group and use them to your advantage. The students in your class will become very close to you in a very short amount of time. You will laugh with them and cry with them. You will watch some drop the program and some do better than you. No one will understand what you are going through better than them. My husband still doesn't understand what the word 'check offs' mean! 5.) During semester costs-- Mainly parking and lunch. There is a parking garage right behind the building where most people park because of it's convenience that costs either $9 per day or $80 a month. You're most likely better off getting the pass since you will practically live on campus. There is also another parking lot across the street that's $5 a day but it's slightly inconvenient and out in the open. There are tons of fun places to eat for lunch within easy walking distance (Starbucks, Chipotle, Subway, Salata, a sushi place and a grill) but prices add up. Most students bring their lunches and store them in one of the refridgerators we have on two different floors. You'll also spend a little money in the cafe/student store on the first floor. Little things, like coffee or pens or snacks or whatever. Our Student Life center on the 2nd floor often offers free coffee and breakfast for students, so use it. Also, if you join TNSA or Student Government you'll get free lunch twice a month. Please note that I do intend to frighten any of you. Your achievements thus far are incredible, and that's why you've been accepted to one of the best nursing programs there is. The payoff when you've finished the semester or when you finally get a good grade on that exam or check off you worked so hard for feels like you just won a marathon. You will meet people in all different walks of life and they will be there from registration to graduation. I just remember how confused I was when I was exactly where you are and I am just trying to help. Bottom line is to be prepared for what is ahead of you. If you can gain access to your assessment book and start reading it this summer, do it. That book will become your new bible. But have fun this summer! It'll be the last of your social and family life you'll see in a while! If you have any questions at all, please feel free to ask. I just finished my third round of exams and kicked butt, but have finals coming up soon, so I need to study! Congratulations again to all those accepted to for those that weren't, don't give up! Best of luck to everyone.

Has anyone started a Facebook for those accepted in Houston?

I GOT IN!!! This might be the happiest day of my life. I've been on hold for the last year and got rejected into UTHSC last semester, now I'm IN!! Top of my class here I come!!

No holds, no changes. No nothing. I never received a transcipt eval. Never. I called and spoke with someone today; she told me whether I received an eval or not does not hinder my application. She further explained that they send out more than 100 evals per day and get 20 back for various reasons. Doesn't really make me feel any better. My stats: 3.87 overall 4.0 science 92 Hesi 840 CT

Link's up! No change, though.

Nothing here. Still haven't even received my transcript eval.

Thanks for the correction!

I bet they're shutting it down so they can upload all the acceptance/denials at once so it's not like it has been when students are constantly pressing refresh waiting for their status to change one by one.

THANK you so much! I made the hugh mistake of not taking my TEAS in time, so now I'm stuck with only UTHSC. It's okay though, because I know if I don't get in, I'll just continue taking courses in case I want to back after I graduate nursing school for my master's. I also think if I don't get in, I will apply to Baylor as well as UTHSC for next spring just because they have such a competitive program as well. EVEN if means moving to Dallas, I guess you gotta do what you gotta do, right? Anyways--congrats again. Remember that whichever school you end up at, you're still one of the lucky ones who got in. Think of how many people who applied who didn't get in? The competition is outrageous.

Oh yeah--April 15th for sure? Woah. It's a little more than two weeks and I know that's not long, but three months ago I was telling my family I should have known something by now. So it still feels like so long considering everytime I call them to say hello the first thing they say is "tell me the good news". You know something funny is I rarely check myUT. I always check here first for something new and assume since none of you have said anything then I must not know either! hahaa!

Hey everyone. I was just reading through all of these comments and remembered someone from one of these threads last semester who was put on the 'wait-list' and was BEGGING anyone who got in and decided against going to decline acceptance ASAP so he would know if he was going as soon as possible. Congratulations on all of you getting in to other schools, but if you have made your mind 100% that you are not going to UTHSC, please please PLEASE do those of us without other options the same you would want for you and decline your invitations so that makes our chances just a little better? I might just be nervous and feeling insecure because it's been so long without hearing anything, but you can all understand what I'm saying, right? Congrats again on your acceptances! You're all going to make GREAT nurses, I know it.

Hey all. I remember doing this a while back and thought it might ease some nerves knowing where we all stand with each other. Here is the most updated list of everyone's stats that I could find. Please update if you are not on here (I know there are many left out) Gladiator_80 Overall gpa: 4.0 HESI overall: 98.29% A&P: 100 Math: 100 Comprehension: 97.2 Grammar: 96.7 Vocabulary: 95.85 CT: 930 Hemphia Pre-req gpa: 3.65 Science gpa: 4.0 HESI overall: 87.86% A&P: 80 CT: 860 KRR2009 Pre-req gpa: 3.30 Science gpa: 3.0 Overall gpa: 3.28 HESI overall: 93.3% meghana09 Pre-req gpa: 3.6 Science gpa: 3.0 desjt3 Pre-req gpa: 3.2 ktdidit Pre-req gpa: 3.885 Science gpa: 4.0 Overall gpa: 3.43 HESI overall: 96% A&P: 92 Math: 100 Comprehension: 98 Grammar: 98 Vocabulary: 92 CT: 850 Warning-Sign Overall gpa: 4.0 HESI overall: 95% A&P: 92 Math: 100 Comprehension: 87 Grammar: 98 Vocabulary: 98 CT: 830 nici0513 Pre-req gpa: 3.6 Science gpa: 4.0 HESI overall: 88.5% A&P: 90 spring hopeful Science gpa 3.75 Pre-req gpa 3.83 Overall gpa: 3.5 HESI overall: 95% CT: 820 jaybird2009 Pre-req gpa: 3.45 Science gpa: 3.66 HESI overall: 97% CT: 870 saraiish Pre-req gpa: 3.35 Science gpa: 3.0 Overall gpa: 3.2 HESI overall: 92% A&P: 96 CT: 830 heavykevy Pre-req gpa: 3.65 Science gpa: 4.0 Overall gpa: 3.77 HESI overall: 90.7% A&P: 85 Comprehension: 90 CT: 880 littleone126 Overall gpa: 3.72 Science gpa: 4.0 HESI overall: 91.9% CT: 840

Do you all really think we might hear something early next week? I don't expect to hear anything (if they update our links at all before the letters go out) until early April.

I haven't received mine either and I'm not freaked out. Hang in there Meghana09! We will all get evaluations, even if we are not accepted.

Thanks heavykevy. You've been so helpful.