Blackhawks

Yeah, it is hard to tell what exactly they are looking for since they don't give a reason as to why or why not you were selected. It feels as if they went more towards the way of taking people that have experience or will have their license relatively shortly. I mean in the past(5-6 years) it seemed like they took everyone that was qualified, but now with the cutbacks and people staying in longer they are taking people that they can call up right away. For someone that can apply and will graduate in May 2014 and get their license sometime that summer, it seems like it's almost impossible for them to get selected at this point. They are only taking 30ish people, so it felt like they selected people that could all attend COT before January and be ready to go. It just seems that having experience or your license is what they are looking for right now. So I'll apply again next year after I graduate and have my license and hope for the best.

So was everyone that was selected this time around have some prior experience or have their license already?

I hope the results come out on August 16th, I wouldn't be surprised if they were the week after that though. Also, 240 applicants does sound like a lot if that is the correct number, but according to the info that my recruiter gave me on past years, 240 is well below what they normally get. He said they usually average around 300, so at least the odds are a little better this year.

I'm applying for the boards at the end of this month(NTP) and the results coming out sometime in mid August. I haven't went to MEPS either. What I was told by my recruiter is that due to downsizing and budget cuts they are starting to do it differently. My interview wasn't in person on a base it was over the phone and I just filled out a pre-screen medical form filling out if I had any conditions and answering around 70 yes or no questions about my health. My recruiter said that after you are selected is when you would go to MEPS. Hope this helps.

From what I have seen all the services require a minimum of 3.0 when applying for the new grad slots. This may not be 100% accurate, but it is what I have come across when looking at the programs they offer to new grads.

May 10th, 2014

I was told by my recruiter(Chicago) that last year they accepted 46 total(40 for med-surg and 6 for o/b) and a little over 300 people applied. This year he said they are accepting 35(30 for med-surg and 5 for o/b) and he expects around 300 applications again. I'm not sure if this is all correct, but it is what I have been told.

Hi all! Just turned in my packet and finished my telephone interview for the boards in July. A little about myself; I am going into my senior year of a BSN program and will graduate in May 2014. My current GPA is 3.49. I'm prior service Air Force(4 years). I have worked in the ER for the last 13 months as a Clinical Assistant(basic CNA stuff, but we can do phlebotomy, EKGs, and Bladder Scans). My references were two doctors(O-6(sel) in the Navy Reserve and a O-4 in the ANG) and a NP(Ret. O-4 Army reserve), I'm not really sure how much weight they will carry in the actual boards process. For anyone that is wondering, the telephone interview followed the format that your recruiter should provide you with. It started out just by introducing yourself and since I was prior service my interviewer skipped over the part about informing me about the military since I have already been in. Then she just asked me questions about critical thinking, evidence based practice, and an ethical dilemma I have faced. The interview was pretty straight forward and not much at all like an interview. She went on to ask about my future goals and how I'd be a good fit for the Air Force. It pretty much followed the guideline that my recruiter gave me to a tee. Now I just have the long two month wait of seeing if I am selected or not! Good luck to everyone else applying!