Vincent_

I'm a current student in the 2014-2015 class. This site has been quite resourceful during my admissions process and Just thought I could give back as time allows as my schedule seems pretty hectic at the moment. @mmrox92 87 is pretty solid, although many people in the program have scored well above 90s on it. Students from previous years scored lower and I would say to not stress too much about the TEAS unless you're a terrible standardized test taker. I used the TEAS book and two of the ati online practice TEAS exams. A 3.9 definitely puts you in a competitive range but I have a feeling the rec letters or background is a huge contributor. Admissions in the school get pampered with tons of questions and emails so don't be surprised if your emails are never answered within weeks. It is better to complete the application now rather than rush right before the deadline so you can address any needs or so the admissions department can reach you regarding the status of your sent transcripts, etc. Admissions won't cater to you really so you'll have to push the envelope a bit. I handed my application in about a week and a half before the deadline and got notice of acceptance in March. I am not sure what the deadline is for you guys but for my class it was in January. In my opinion, The earlier the submission the better, but some who have applied early were either waitlisted or did not get in.

@Nicole616: yeah i received it via ups so it's certified

@Lauren Bear &annapt Thanks! This thread has been informative and helpful. Looking forward to meeting you guys come june! @Lauren Bear: I sent you a PM because I couldn't find the fb page

Hi everyone so I received my acceptance in the mail! Surprisingly, downstate didn't send me an acceptance email. Good luck to everyone!

Hey everyone, my status changed to faculty screener 4, now im more nervous for it to be completed like for those of you who have already @nicole616 : we have the same one, I hope #4 likes me too lol

Hey everyone, just found out my application was sent to the committee. Apparently it was sent last monday and I only got an email yesterday about it after nagging the department couple times. My app says "application sent to committee" lists the recommendations complete, the official transcripts received, and under "other supporting documents" it just lists my resume. The other documents I sent were not listed. For anyone with faculty screener as their status, was your pre-req grid listed as well?

Hey did you take this pathophysiology course in a CUNY community college? As for me I submitted the app closer to the deadline so my status still says screening in process. wishing everyone good luck. The wait is definitely killing all of us. I'm curious, has anyone checked out the Downstate absn Facebook page run by students and kept in touch with a student in the program? Earlier December I contacted someone to ask about deadlines and was told she submitted her app on the last day and still got in. Most likely she had really good stats but, last years app was due November 15th, so that's plenty of time for app reviews. Since the deadline was extended this year, perhaps admissions is even more swamped than last year

I registered for the TEAS about a month in advance and took it at a testing site in queens. Registration cost me about 100. I called admissions yesterday and I was told since they're having technical difficulties they extended the deadline to thursday jan 16th at midnight.

Hey everyone, I took the TEAS V this week and got a solid score! Prior to registering and taking this exam I looked at this forum to see what others have said as well as their input. Now that I've taken it I'd like to give back by sharing my experience. I know there are better threads that outline the TEAS V review but it can't hurt to share right? 1) Buy the ATI book and the 2 practice assessments A & B from the online website. The ATI book will help familiarize you with the content you are expected to know on the exam. There are two comprehensive exams at the end of the book with corresponding answer explanations. However, these two exams are significantly easier than the online practice assessments and the real exam. Nevertheless, it will help drill in some content and get a feel for pacing yourself. The online practice assessments are your friends. They are most representative of the real exam, and provide feedback on the topics you need to review! Others have said the McGrill book with the 5 TEAS V exams is good as well but in my honest opinion the ATI online practice assessments are more difficult and better indicators of your performance on test day. You may purchase the mcgraw hill book or another source if you want more practice questions to help solidify content. 2) The ATI manual doesn't go too in depth with the science section. It will outline topics you need to know and cover them on the surface. I found I needed to go over some scientific reasoning problems and just review chemistry a little bit. I took higher level science courses and the TEAS V usually asks more fundamental questions; questions you typically see in high school bio and chem classes. You just need to familiarize yourself with the basic content again. If you are weak in this section I highly recommend supplementing your review with other sources. There are other threads on this site linking other resources such as khanacademy. You can also study from an a.p science book (bio or chem) if you feel you are weak in certain areas. On my exam I found myself spending a little more time on the scientific reasoning section. Usually these questions didn't give me a problem on the practice exams but they were slightly harder on my exam. Be able to deduce the proper way an experiment should be carried out and if an answer choice helps to improve an experiment or further support the hypothesis being tested. 3) Math section just takes practice. You don't have a calculator so get comfortable answering long algebra problems quickly but efficiently. Try to answer shorter problems in a minute or less. 2 minutes is too long and that should be reserved for longer problems. If you're confident enough you can even work backwards on some long division or manipulating fractions (after you have added/subtracted them). When you have answered a lot of practice problems you can start predicting what the answer may be. For long division you could even look at the answer choices and use a number from the answer choice to figure out the quotient very quickly. Sometimes there are big numbers to divide by and you don't want to sit at the exam and think "hmm okay how many times does this number go into this number..okay multiplying this number by 2 doesn't work, now lets try 3, or maybe multiply by 7". It sounds like trial-and-error but I only recommend this for those who are very strong in the math section. If not, stick to regular process of answering problems. 4) The reading passages on the real exam are longer than the practice questions. I know people who have ran out of time on this section because they spend too much time reading slowly, looking at the question and looking back at the passage to re-read it and search for the correct answer. Don't do this. If you focus you should be able to read the passage carefully once, and only skim it again quickly if need be to answer questions. Everyone has a different approach but this is what helped me the most. If an answer choice was something never mentioned in a passage or is not in line with the author's thinking then it is most likely the wrong answer. Be able to mentally switch gears from paragraph to paragraph. One part may discuss a problem, another may discuss a solution. Be able to critically think quickly and connect ideas in your head as you read through a passage. Think of the passage holistically as well. If you read for the sake of reading you will find yourself constantly re-reading the passage slowly. What I found more time consuming were the "better-buy" questions. If you are confident you could do the calculations in your head you can go for it but I suggest doing the calculations on the scrap paper you are given. 5) Informational Source comprehension on the real exam was very straightforward, there were no surprises. If you're given a label, map, letter, email, chart, just look at it carefully and pay attention to what the question is asking. Most mistakes occur because you rushed the question. 6) The english section I didn't study as much. I only used the ATI manual to familiarize myself with it and scored well on it. You can use purdueowl or another source to help supplement your english review. 7) Make a schedule for yourself while studying. Everyone juggles different roles such as school/work/relationships..etc. Even if you study for an hour a day be sure it is quality study time. 8) When taking practice exams be sure to time yourself, and take it in a place with no distractions. Treat it like the real-exam. The real exam has an additional 20 questions, most of which are experimental. As a result the real exam is longer, and each section is longer. I almost ran out of time on the math because I got stuck on these two questions. Don't panic, there will be questions that require more thinking than others, and also ones you may not know. Skip a question if you feel that you are taking too long. You can always come back to it later. For the other sections I had a good amount of time to review all of the answered questions. My proctor let me take a break between math and science sections just to use the bathroom. 9)When beginning your review a couple weeks before the exam, take a practice exam to see what areas you need to work on. Review those topics and be sure to review ones you are strong in as well. Then take the next practice exam. Nearing your test day, be sure to re-take these exams, as they will help establish your pace and help you think how the test-makers want you think. Most of all, focus and be confident. Get a good amount of sleep before the exam (7-8hrs), don't cram anything the night before as it will just pressure you. Eat a solid breakfast on exam day. When answering questions, have good posture, don't slouch back, it promotes lax thinking. If you put the work in you will be fine. A lot of schools let you re-take for a 2nd or 3rd time but aim for doing well the 1st time. It should motivate you enough to study and take the exam seriously.

Thanks for the input everyone, the program I'm applying for is asking for only the reading and math scores so I'm guessing this has to be the adjusted individual score. @NeoNurse2Be thank you! I was a little nervous too but you just need to focus. If you put the study time in you'll be fine!

I took the TEAS V this past wednesday and I did very well! I highly recommend buying the ATI study manual and the two practice assessment forms A & B from the ati testing website. The ATI book will outline the content you need to know but I suggest supplementing another source purely for science section if you dont feel confident in that area. The practice assessments are most representative of the exam. You can take them online and treat them like the real exam. In addition, the assessment explains correct and incorrect answers, as well as provides a score report and a list of topics you need to review. I know people who have used the McGraw Hill book containing the 5 TEAS V practice exams and they have told me the ATI online practice assessments are more difficult. Perhaps if you just need more practice questions to drill content in and develop a pace then you can purchase the McGraw Hill book but I do not believe it will be a good indicator of how you will perform on test day. This is my opinion but anyone can feel free to disagree. The math section is very straightforward and it takes practice. You should be able to answer math questions very efficiently and not take too much time on any one question. The algebra can be a bit tedious because you're not allowed to use a calculator but you should be fine if you put the time into studying. There were no surprises on my exam. Just expect the real exam to be longer since there are additional questions

Hey everyone, I took my TEAS V yesterday and I did pretty well! I have a question about the score I received. Per section, will programs look at the adjusted individual score or the mean 'national and program' scores? Or does the total adjusted individual total score matter? Thank you, Chris

Hey everyone, Are there breaks in between each section of the TEAS V? how does that work during the real proctored exam? I took the two practice exams so far in the ati manual and I timed myself but I was not sure if there's a break needed between sections or not. I took about a 2 minute one between math and science. Any ideas and suggestions would be great. I'm aware the practice exams have less questions than the real exam and that the real one is longer. -Vincent

@bratty477 thank you! I'll consider buying the mcgraw practice tests too so I have more exams to work with. It can't hurt to get more practice in.

Thank you everyone for the replies. @trish_pkh I have only purchased the ATI book and I have bought the online exams. I did practice test 1 in the book just to gauge where I'm at. @milkpearl that sounds like a great idea, I was actually thinking of doing that, taking more of the practice exams two weeks prior to my test date that way I have reviewed more content by then. I'm pretty good with all the subject areas and I'm currently brushing up on some science concepts. I have to admit though, the math gets tedious although the algebra is relatively simple. @trish_pkh is the mcgraw practice book good? they only have practice exams right?

Thanks @Don1984 , the school im interested in takes the higher of the two scores. I've read their application and it does not note anything about having the result sent right away. To be sure I'll probably give them a call sometime this week.

Hey everyone, I have the ATI study manual and I plan on buying the online exams as well. I just started studying for the exam this week. For those who are currently studying or have already took it, when you first start studying, did you take a practice test right away to see where you're at? Is this a good idea? Or have you read through a good amount of the book before attempting a practice test? I just wanted some ideas since all I would have for practice exam questions are just the two exams in the book and the two online exams from ati

Hey everyone, I'm currently trying to register for the TEAS V exam. I got to the purchase page on the website and it's asking to list which institution I want to send my TEAS V transcript to since ati gives you one free transcript upon registering. After that there are additional costs if one wants more transcripts to be sent out. Thing is I wouldn't want my initial score to be sent right away to the school of my choice if I choose to re-take the exam. I'm taking it early but of course I'll be giving it my best so I hopefully don't have to do the re-take. So my main question is, where would the score go if I choose to not have the free transcript? Would the schools care whether or not I sent my score out right away?

I find that doing compound movements and keeping your workouts simple makes it easy to define what your goals are, as well as change or tweak parameters such as rep schemes/amount of weight/intensity. In addition it helps to save time. I like using a blend of barbell/bodyweight/kettlebell complexes. Kettlebells really help me save time too if I have a busy day.

Hey all, I'm a pre-nursing student as well. Currently dealing with an injury I got mid-may while I was out of the country so had to drop my workout volume for now. I usually hit the gym 4x a week, focusing more so on compound movements and general movement patterns. Can't beat a good deadlift or squat to bounce back from a stressful day.

Hey thanks for replying everyone. Couple things I would like to note: I went to Hunter for their info session on the A2DP program. Seemed like they were just regurgitating what is already on their website. Was looking for more info about current students and alumni experiences, a bit of info about clinical sites..however I know what they discuss are just on the surface so to speak. @ebinbrooklyn: yes you're right, one can only apply to one CUNY nursing school at a time. Hunter only allows you to apply to one of the programs at a time too; can't apply to both their generic and A2DP. I'm sorry to hear hunter gave you such a difficult time, thanks for the heads up. Thanks for linking me to the transfer course equivalencies. @Dogoodthengo: I was also considering private colleges but they are last on my list simply because of the price tag. Thankfully, I had the full scholarship during my undergrad years so I don't have to worry about loans at the moment. There definitely needs to be some review of the CUNY system nursing programs or even another program added but I dont know if that would change the level of tightness on the requirements for applicants. Could possibly be stricter lol I would definitely not put all my hopes in getting into the hunter program only. For the A2DP, they added two new pre-reqs: Nutrition and Genetics and at the info session they were really specific about which schools had the specific nutrition and genetics class that they would like one to take. If one is considering to take it at another college, they would like to see a summary of the course for review to see if it is acceptable. Pretty strict.

Very insightful post! Thank you for sharing your experiences. My mom's been a CCRN ICU nurse for many years now and she often tells me various stories of the so called 'drama/events' that go on there, especially with new ICU nurses or arguments with other nurses from med surg. What struck me the most about your post is when you mentioned how a 3.9 GPA won't thoroughly prepare you for what is to come with the challenges presented in ICU. It highlights a bigger issue how some people think learning ends when a program ends and the truth is you never stop learning.

Hey there! I went to that info session too. I too want to know some honest opinions about the accelerated program. I have a friend who just got in the generic pathway starting this fall so I'll be asking her questions when I get the chance. I'm surprised they're requiring an NLN score of 150, although that score is possible to get. personally ive heard gpa is weighted more than nln but i don't want to get lazy studying for the nln lol. I have a lot of friends who did well on that exam but only scored in the 140s range. I could PM you if I find some more info about the program

Hi everyone, I was wondering what are your thoughts on the Hunter's accelerated program vs generic pathway. I'm attending an information tomorrow (Thursday July 25, 2013) at 10am just to get an idea of the program and perhaps the folk there could answer my questions. I hear the accelerated program only has about 30 seats, and they interview you? I have a solid GPA and wondering whether or not it's too early to start studying the NLN right now. I plan on applying for the program that begins next year. Just not sure if applying to only accelerated programs this year is a good idea, or if I should also apply to Hunter's general pathway as well. @sesiliachan I took a year's worth of Orgo and personally, upperclass men gave me their old orgo exams and it helped give me an idea of the professor's testing style. It helps a bunch to do homework questions and to write down reactions/chemical structures on flash cards. At one point I went to a tutor just to get her practice exams because the professor I had at time was pretty tough (she had the same professor during the time she took it). It definitely helps to study in a group, especially when you get stuck on synthesis questions or mechanism questions. However, this is just my opinion and I hope I don't get a bad rep for this but orgo chem in my college was a class that weeds out students. From what I have seen, a lot of the students are competitive because the professor grades based on a standard curve. Basically anyone below or above a certain percentile gets a specific grade by the end of the term. Therefore, there was a lot of quarrel and division among students in terms of sharing ways of how to answer problems, finding older exams, appointments with the professor or a TA for help..even help during lab (lab partners would fight too for a couple of points). I am in no way trying to scare you or anyone taking orgo! Just be sure to invest your time studying it, pick the right friends that will stick with you in class and do your best =] Thanks!