Anonymous RN

I really hope I see you this spring & you have been accepted! My actual name is my screen name here (yep, Newby is my real name LOL), so if you see me stop & say hello! My heart really goes out to the waitlisted students and those struggling to get a seat, because I have been there! My application was easily not one of the most competitive, and I had to repeat classes too both (failed one, & had to withdraw from another.) MSU is very much a GPA driven program, which is not so much the case with all other accelerate programs. Since a GPA essentially "is what it is," what you CAN change and improve is your healthcare experience. If you are able to get a job as a CNA it will improve your chances of acceptance and also help you a LOT in being successful as a nurse. In the clinical setting I can run circles around some of my classmates with 4.0s all because I was an Alzheimer's CNA for 3yrs. They are gagging and have no idea how to maneuver a patient in bed with ease because they frankly just don't have the experience. The students that have been CNAs are vastly more prepared in my opinion. Also, when writing your essay, focus on selling them on all the ways that you KNOW you will be successful in this program. I used real life examples demonstrating areas that I have been successful even against adversity. I think it helped. If you need any more help, please reach out!

Hi Teddy, I think it depends on what your previous application looked like - as in, one would have to see that in order to make any recommendation on what could be "beefed up" for a better chance this next year. Also, keep in mind that those of us in the program cannot definitively say why we were chosen, we can only speculate given what we know of our own applications and the credentials of our other classmates. If you tell me a little more about yourself and application I'll do my best to point you in what I view to be the right direction.

I already spoke to you about my situation, Sparty, but just wanted to say that I do know of a few of us that are in the cohort that were taken from the waitlist. The program is INTENSE. Sometimes it seems like expect the impossible out of us, given the amount of material we need to master and the short amount of time to study and practice.

No problem, I wish I had somebody in the cohort last year to give me updates. Last year I was #9 on the 20 person waitlist for East Lansing, & I never made it in. They aren't supposed to tell you where you are, but somebody in the office made a slip-up and told me. Now, that is just the Rast Lansing waitlist, because last year they separated the Detroit waitlist from EL. This year is all together, so that could work to your advantage. I was told that in they normally run through the waitlist quickly & literally offer almost every last person on it a seat, but every now & then - like last year, in my case - they don't hardly make a dent. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Hi Nursey, We just had our first orientation. (There are two: Apr. 5th & May 10th) Last year I was on the waitlist & was told the same thing as you regarding accepting people off the waitlist up until classes start. I postponed other plans as a result. Here is what I know about the current status of the cohort due to what we were told at orientation. Both the East Lansing & Detroit cohorts are currently full. Now, that doesn't mean that everybody will necessarily end up attending, because finances may become an issue, family things come up, waitlists at other schools could open and people could drop their MSU spot for a spot at another school etc... But, as it stands, I think they are done pulling from the waitlist, and will only start pulling again if people forfeit their seat (which, as I mentioned, could happen).

Jacksonville University Keigwin Scholol of Nursing (Second Degree Accelerated BSN Program)

Well, I actually like being a CNA. I hope I love working as an RN too when I finish school! I can imagine, as previously mentioned, that one's reasons for not liking CNA work would be the determining factor as to whether nursing would still be reasonably enjoyable for the individual. The thing about working as an RN is that the options and scope of potential jobs is so vast that even if one hated long term CNA work, they could find an RN position that would suit them. Ultimately it it is important that an RN be intelligent, compassionate, & hard working. If you have those skills, being an RN will be rewarding IMO. Being a CNA is backbreaking at times & it's not for everybody, or even most.

On JU's waitlist or MSU's? I've not been on JU's waitlist- I received a letter of acceptance on March 3rd & paid my deposit with them as well as enrolled in summer classes. I was #9 on Michigan State's waiting list as of February 14th (May program start) so I should be hearing something soon I would think!

Hello fellow JU ABSN students! I accepted my spot & paid my deposit, but living in Michigan, I also applied to Michigan State University, and was waitlisted there. If I hear nothing back from MSU before May 1st then I will definitely be attending JU! I am currently just a few spots from the top at MSU, so hopefully I know soon. I couldn't turn down MSU as it's only 25 minutes from my house, & I'm married & have a mortgage. If MSU doesn't work out & I attend JU, I will be living with my mother as my husband cannot relocate due to his masters program in Michigan. I'm actually originally from St. Augustine, so I'm feeling both eager to go to JU to return to my roots, but also worried because it would take me away from my husband for over a year...

I'm still waiting to hear back from the programs I applied to (accelerated BSN) but wanted to say I would love to work on a SCI floor someday. In fact, I'm very open minded in terms of where I'd like to work. I just love patient care (current CNA).