Ksfiles

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Some of your clinicals will be in SF, some might not be. The cohort gets 4 options every semester, some sites will be in SF and others include east bay, Marin county, and the peninsula/south bay. Everyone in the cohort registers for their clinicals at the same time so it comes down to who types the numbers fastest online for getting the site you prefer. I do not have a car, nor do several people in my cohort. I live in SF and even for clinicals that were not in SF we were ALL able to get there via transit or carpooling. Keep in mind, some semesters you might choose a site for clinical and then the hospital drops the school last minute....then USF has to scramble to find new sites, but it has always worked out (nearly 20 cohorts now have completed the program!) This is NOT USF's fault, it happens to ALL nursing programs bc there are dozens of schools trying to get students into sites in the bay area. Don't worry about that now :)

Our cohort was apparently 300+ apps for 34 seats...with many different backgrounds, ages, etc. Each individual brings a unique and complementary contribution to the field.

The Med Calc book we had to get is Medical Calculations by Kee and Marshall (not sure if it's still the same book the program requires, but that's the one we used). You'll get one single med calc exam (or a second or third if you don't pass with 100% on the first try) EVERY SEMESTER-- semester one not until the middle of the semester and then day 1 or 2 in semesters 2-6. I've used the heck out of mine so it's rendered useless and cannot be resold. P.S. However, I have some other books I will be selling in a few weeks (for cheaper than on Amazon) if anyone's interested. I no longer have all of my nursing/pre-licensure books but do have a couple CNL books I'll be finished with shortly....

The workload is doable. Some people in my cohort worked part-time while in the program. This was especially helpful for those who were working in hospitals because they are getting job offers where they'd been working. At times, semesters will be crazy busy intense and then not-so-much at other times. Profs (and classmates) are very helpful and supportive to ensuring your success of maintaining at least a B average to continue the program.

Hi, all. I wanted to let you know a couple things about the app process....I am finishing the program in a few weeks, and I remember what it was like this time 2 years ago waiting for the acceptance call or rejection letter. Two people in my cohort found out as early as Thanksgiving weekend, and then more and more people got letters each subsequent week, with most finding out by the second and third weeks of December. Some people even found out one week before orientation in January! It is true that they will call you if you get accepted (even if your application status still says "submitted" but hasn't changed from that screen ever since). Keep in mind, they are SO swamped with this app process that it might be different for every app cycle...this is simply my experience. It was AGONIZING to wait, especially after seeing others posting they got accepted or not. That being said, and easier said than done, I would recommend NOT reading this thread too often because it will only stress you out more. (Of course I continued to check everyday but in retrospect I wish I didn't). It is true that you can have pre-reqs in progress or a not-so-stellar undergrad or pre-req GPA if other areas of your app are strong. If you don't get in, try not to take it personally...remember that doesn't mean you're not a good candidate, it means there are hundreds of good candidates and if you're dedicated you will get in somewhere at some point. Regardless, through perseverance all applicants will be RNs someday. I hope this helps and congrats on making it this far! I am super busy finishing up my last few weeks of the program but will try and check back on here periodically for messages. Cheers!

I'm not sure who your path-pharm professor will be (the one I had is not teaching that course again). The book we used (almost a year ago) is Pathophysiology: The biological basis for disease in adults and children by McCance and Huether 7th edition. Every professor so far has allowed older eds up to 5 or 6 years old. I'm not sure if you'll be using the same book (depending on you prof), but you could find out via the USF bookstore (online) once the professor submits the book info to them. If it's the same book, I'd sell you mine for 10% cheaper than the cheapest price you can find on Amazon. PM me. Congrats, it's very exciting. I'd also recommend getting all of your health requirements (for clinical) done ASAP. You def have plenty of time, but it's still one less thing to deal with later.... PM me for more info about anything, cheers.

My stats were good (and private), but I promise that's not all that matters. There are plenty of people who got Cs on pre-reqs and were still accepted to the program. My other experience was 1.5 years of hands-on patient care at a teaching clinic that served an uninsured population. I also tutored science subjects to an underserved population for 4 semesters. They look at more than grades-- they want to know what experience you have in life that ties into your goals and plans for becoming a nurse. Everyone can handle the classes, everyone might "want to help people," (please don't say that cliche in your statement...rather, prove it).... but not everyone necessarily has clear goals and relevant examples/experiences laid out in their personal statement. To stand out, applicants need to make it clear that they are sure about the decision to enter the field by really showing an understanding of the profession, the CNL role, the USF Mission statement, etc...and that has to be tied into experiences that let them know you really exemplify this. I hope this helps--passion, dedication, perseverance, and drive go a long way...and it shows. Also, keep in mind that they are looking at 350+ applicants, and at least half of them are going to be REALLY good and make for really amazing nurses, but unfortunately there isn 't enough room for 175 applicants. Cheers.

I applied in the fall of 2013 for Spring 2014, and I had my application in by Sept 30, 2013. My application said "submitted" until mid-December when I found out I was accepted (by phone call). I think only 2 people in my cohort found out in late-November, and everyone else started getting calls in mid-December. Hang in there, I know it's stressful trying to anticipate the outcome, but it's out of your hands now. Best of luck to you.

The first semester in a nutshell: Pathophysiology/Pharmacology ("path-pharm" we called it) required the most effort in terms of studying and prepping for exams, etc. The professor I had, that you might have, was thorough and you need to know your stuff. I didn't think it was any more challenging than the science pre-reqs by any means....If you made it through all of those, then you'll be okay with a little stress around exam time. Fundamentals of nursing was super easy, at least the professor we had (with a minor group project and 2 exams). Assessment was also easy, requiring a little bit of studying around exam time and one or two minor assignments (ie. an assessment video that took 30 mins to practice, film, and complete). Intro to CNL was a non-graded (pass/fail) class that was, again, easy (only 2 little papers and an essay based final exam that was more opinion oriented). Epidemiology was also pretty easy, a couple of exams and a presentation. Clinical was very basic and just tried to introduce you to patients (ours was mostly geriatrics at Laguna Honda and was a wonderful experience for me). There is this little thing called pre-labbing that you have to do before clinical. Depending on your clinical instructor, you might have to gather info the morning of clinical, or the week before since most patients are there for a while. (Med Surg in semester 3 is different--you HAVE to go to the hospital the day before your clinical day to do your pre-lab stuff). Anyway, pre-labbing is gathering all sorts of info the patient (from diseases, history, medications, lab values, orders, etc etc.) Until you get the hang of it, it can take a few hours. THEN, you have to do Care Plans after clinical, which also takes a couple hours until you get the hang of it. (For care plans, "Nursing Diagnosis Handbook"by Ackley & Ludwig will become your new best friend). Again, these things get easier over time and by Med Surg 1 you'll be able to pre-lab in 1 hour and do a care plan in 30 mins. As for books: I regret buying $800 worth of books my first semester bc I rarely used most of them all semester: Pathophysiology book, Nursing Diagnosis Handbook, and Clinical Calculations I definitely used frequently and do recommend them. The other books were helpful for some students, but I personally wish I did not buy them. Also, you may have different professors who might have different expectations. Also, I would recommend the book by Saunders "NCLEX-RN review" book, it's really helpful in reviewing info and gives plenty of practice questions that help you with HESI tests. (HESI is a required nclex prep that USF uses to prepare student for the nxclex--several classes integrate HESI into the curriculum so using the Saunders book as a review and practice for test-taking questions / strategies has been very helpful). At times the semester was stressful (ie. exams, presentations, papers, etc all pile up at once), but overall it was very manageable if you stay on top of it and do NOT procrastinate. I quit my job before starting and kind of regret that...I wish I worked 1 or 2 days a week my first 2 semesters (semester 3 maybe 1 day a week but semester 3 is when "sh*t starts getting real"....then semester 4 is apparently the toughest of them all...I'll find out in the Spring). Hope that helps.

I'm also currently in the program. Let me know if you have any questions, but I must admit that PinkRose34 summed it up quite nicely. I put my app in Oct 1 (of last year), 2 weeks before the deadline, and got the phone call mid-December. Most people in my cohort got "the call" by mid-December (1 or 2 people before then and 1 person in January, literally days before orientation). I know it's incredibly stressful waiting to hear, I remember, it was torture. But if you want it and don't give up, you will be a nurse someday. With that in mind, you've done what you can for this app cycle, and it's now out of your hands. I personally would recommend not reading this forum bc it will only drive you crazier once people start to post "I got in!" or "I got denied" etc. Breathe, right? Hope that helps. PM any questions. Oh, about jobs: it seems like a handful of people are lucky enough to get a job in SF /the SF Bay Area after graduation--it also seems like the people I know that get those jobs are already working at the location they got the job at. Ie. "Yeah, I've been working as a unit coordinator at xyz hospital weekend nights for 2 years. When I graduated, I was able to get an interview to their New Grad program. Crazy, right? They had 15,000 applicants for the new grad program, I'm so glad they knew me ahead of time and got me an interview." If they don't know who you are (and like you), you are far less competitive in the pool of new grad applicants. Otherwise, there are tons of jobs outside of the Bay Area (like the central valley of CA, the Mid-West, Texas, other countries, etc). cheers.

Congrats!! I'm in cohort 17, and I have a few books for sale: 1) Fundamentals of Nursing (Potter 8th ed). 2) Epidemiology (Gordis 5th ed). 3) Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (Bickley 11th ed). According to the USF bookstore they will be the same books for this upcoming summer semester (Cohort 18). Private message me--I'll be on campus tomorrow (Monday the 12'th) taking my last 2 final exams for this semester. I'll sell them first come/first serve OBO. (I'm selling them for way cheaper than the bookstore and 20% cheaper than Amazon). -k

Not sure if USF offers scholarships, but I do know there are outside sources of scholarships you can apply for. There are over 1000 hours. The last 2 semesters are different bc: semester 5 is lighter to help you start prepping for the the NCLEX which you have to have pass before beginning semester 6. Semester 6 is also fewer credits bc you are in a hospital doing your final project for most of the semester. I sent you a PM with more info :)

To those who didn't get in (yet), you've gone so far and this whole process is tiring, but maybe see this as an opportunity to step through another door that will open. You only have a bit more to go...it will happen, and you will become an RN if you want it. If you are set on this program: make certain your personal statement is PERSONAL: Why a nurse? What's relevant in your history, both personally and academically? What background in school or at work or volunteering translates to why you want to dedicate your life (and $ to USF's program) to nursing? What will you bring to the table? ...not just "I want to help people." They also want you to talk up the CNL role a bit (review the CNL White Paper) bc that shows you've done your homework why you want USF over any other entry-level MSN program. For those who got in: Congrats, I'd recommend getting started on your "Health Requirements" checklist ASAP. School of Nursing and Health Professions Health Requirements - University of San Francisco (USF) and scroll to Graduate Nursing Students section. Oh, and all the financial aid stuff was really easy to do at the One Stop Office on Lone Mountain....they know you are pressed for time and will not drop you for not paying tuition already. They are very helpful...as is everyone in administration and the SON. Get those "official transcripts" in as well bc your record will have a hold on it when you try to register for your clinical rotations for semester 2 (and those are first come first serve until each location fills up)--don't sweat over semester 2 yet, just make sure you get those official transcripts in. Mainly: Focus on Health Requirements check list/ Worksheet thingy...and One Stop if you need financial aid. PM me if you have any quick questions....end of semester is busy so I might not get back right away. Enjoy your last few weeks before your first semester begins. -k

The "submitted" thing freaked me out too ("Have they not reviewed everything yet? Are they missing something?! Did they skip my application?!" hahaha), but no worries...it will say that until a day or two after you've received a phone call or letter. Remember: Deep breath in and out.