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Hi there -- my husband got a job at LSU and we will be moving to Baton Rouge in a couple of months. I graduated from a solid second degree BSN program in Washington DC in May and have been working up here as an RN since July at the big regional hospital here, splitting my time between a neuro floor and a neuro IMC. My hospital has an RN residency program, so I've been getting some extra learning in as I've been working but still feel like a new grad in a lot of ways! I'm excited to move down there but really nervous about getting a job in BR with only about 6 months of experience. Can anyone offer some advice about which hospitals to apply to, what to include in my resume, etc? Thank you!!

ProfessorT - see comment above :)

Hi! I'm happy to help - I spent a lot of time on this website when I was applying to nursing school. I could never get a thread going on here - we were a small cohort and I don't think it was the competition that kept people from posting. Our group interview was more of an information session on the first day, and then the WHC interview on the second day was a group interview followed by an individual interview with one of the faculty. Make sure you've got some good questions prepared! They have students come in, and I think the more questions you ask the more you'll be remembered. Definitely dress very professionally - suits, etc. I wore a black dress and a cardigan and then a pant-suit. I'd wear flats over heels because you do a bit of walking both days - but if you're comfortable in heels it's definitely doable. Make sure that you have really thought about what made you want to become a nurse and why Georgetown in particular is your top choice - they will definitely ask you about this. If you're interviewing for WHC, make sure you familiarize yourself with the scholars program (eg 3-year commitment, no pediatrics, mental health or community/public health there, etc) and can articulate some good reasons why you'd like to work there. It all seems intimidating, but everyone is super friendly - from the other applicants to the faculty to the staff at GU. I love the program so far, and am so happy I made the choice to go to GU. There's quite a bit of pressure to do well (mostly that we put on ourselves because we're a bunch of type-A personalities), but our cohort is incredibly supportive and the faculty really emphasize that they are there for you and will help you when you're having difficulty handling the pressure/stress. Happy to answer any other questions, but they have to wait until at least Monday night - we have a big exam on Monday !

@ chele and all others not admitted... I was also rejected today, but I had already accepted another offer to a great program and been admitted to many others, including other SUNY schools and some great private schools. So don't beat yourself up over this! Stony Brook seems to be the most competitive. I would definitely suggest looking into some other options, and please feel free to send me a private message if you want to chat about those other options :) I stressed myself out for quite some time with regards to getting into a nursing program and can definitely relate to how you are feeling.

What is the name of the facebook group? I can't find it! I'm looking for an apartment!

The upside is that new nurses do make a decent starting salary in NYC - I just know of some people that had hard times finding work there because it is so saturated with nurses. A good friend of mine was from NYC, but went to nursing school at UVM, and it took her months to find a hospital job and she took one way out in central New York. For me, that adds some real pressure! But, I also know of a few people that were able to get great jobs at great hospitals because they made some good connections in their clinicals. We're going to have to do some serious networking in our clinical rotations if we want to stay in NYC. We just have to justify the crazy cost as an investment! Lots of people have student debt. It took me a while to get accustomed to managing my loans after my undergrad - I didn't understand the terms well and was so young when I first agreed to the loans that I just signed the papers without knowing what I was getting myself into (it was also before the economy tanked and young people weren't having as much trouble getting jobs)! I just recommend understanding the terms of your loans and how the guarantors operate. I have some loans through Sallie Mae, and they can be frustrating - even calling them can be such a pain (auto telephone operator, long wait times, staff with very broken English, no deferrals, etc). Missacheung -- the Army is a great option. Our director of clinical ed at the hospital I work at was an Army nurse for many years, and you get some serious experience under your belt by doing that.

Thanks for the tips on stuy town. I thought it was strange that there wouldn't be a security deposit, and could find no info on utilities, deposits, etc on the website. I also might be the only person that isn't on facebook -- I had it through college but went through a phase where I felt "over it" and deleted my account completely, ha.

Hi guys! I was accepted as well. I have to give my deposit and accept the offer by Tuesday, but did not get much in the way of financial aid and now I am freaking out about the costs. How are you all handling this? I have debt from my first bachelor's, and am very hesitant to take on substantially more. I looked at those stuy town apartments, and they look really nice. They have a five bedroom option that, split 5 ways, comes to about 1,400 a month. That's expensive, but it is right in Manhattan (close to campus) and it doesn't look like you have to pay any utilities or even a security deposit (they are "no fee" apartments). I have a gmail address that is the same as my user name at gmail dot com - :) Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you're having - I'm likely having the same ones. Hope to hear from some of you soon!

Hi knh339 - don't worry about the check. They took a month to deposit mine.

I am too! Feel free to email me - I have a gmail account with the same user name (eliz7854) at gmail dot com :)

I'm in too!! Let's hope we hear about whc soon! Congrats everyone!

I haven't heard anything yet, either! I'm dying!! Hoping we'll hear today...

I would think by Wednesday... I'm glad to hear you felt the same about the interviews. I'll keep you posted :)

Hi mcobbey, Thanks for your encouragement :) There were only about 16 or so people in my group - it was the smallest they've ever had. I was so nervous the entire time, but overall everything went well the first day. I don't feel confident about my WHC interview - it felt pretty short and generic and I didn't get to make a lot of the points that I had been going over in my head. I'm glad that this part is over with, and I hope that we hear back soon! Good luck to you!!! Eliz

Hi mcobbey, Congratulations to you, too. I really appreciate your response - it was incredibly helpful. Perhaps there will be slightly fewer applicants at this next round of interviews... I'll respond with my thoughts on everything sometime Sunday as we await the final decisions. I'm surprised no one else has chimed in yet, but I am glad to have heard from you! Eliz

Hi Chele, Thanks for your response and good luck in your third go-around! I am cheering for you. Your dedication will pay off this time!! Its my first application cycle and I am nervous that I won't get into any of my top choices - which are mostly the SUNY schools with ABSN programs. They are so much more affordable, I just can't imagine taking out $70,000 to go to NYU or Rochester. With regards to the two-year application, I wish there was a way they could just copy your reference letters to the 2-year program as well. It was like pulling teeth getting my recommenders to get their letters in on time.

Hi Mindylane! Good luck to you, too. Where else have you applied? I have applied to a ton of schools as well - the application fees are killing me. PS: You can still make a change to your application, you just have to email hscstudentservices (at stony brook dot edu). I just realized I had to fix something, and they were able to help. It is probably worth something to say that you're reapplying.

I applied to the spring 2013 program, too :) I got my application in on 9/25, but my recommenders are taking FOREVER to get their letters in. Best of luck to everyone applying!!! We'll have to support each other through this waiting process.

Hi everyone! I've applied to Stony Brook's ABSN as well :) I've been creeping on these forums since last year, and now it is time to begin the waiting game. Question: I've read others' posts about applying to the 2-year as well as the 1-year program -- do you have to submit a completely separate application (including recommendation letters) and pay a separate fee in order to do that? Is the deadline the same?? If so, I'll have to hurry up! Thanks for your help, everyone :) We'll have to support each other through this torturous waiting period. Did anyone apply anywhere else? I also applied to NYU to start in the spring, but I'd much prefer Stony Brook.

Good luck to all of you! Are any of you Georgetown University ABSN grads? I've applied for the Spring 2013 cohort and would love your feedback if you are :)

Hi mcobbey, Thanks for your post! That was helpful, but I'm just curious to hear something more recent. I haven't received any feedback yet, other than yours. I am attending the information session and WHC interview the weekend of 10/19, and I'm really excited/anxious. Georgetown is my top choice, and I'd love to know how many people applied, were invited, will be accepted, etc. Which date are you attending?

Would anyone currently in Georgetown's accelerated BSN program like to share some tips about the interview for the WHC scholarship? Any other general comments or tips about the program are also welcome!!!