roczn

Hi! I'm a current tradition VCU nursing student in my junior year. Just some background - I got wait listed the first time I applied as a freshman, tried again and got in the following year. I applied with a 3.6 GPA my first time but got wait listed due to a incomplete/late application (due to a "no submission" from one of my references). I got accepted my sophomore year, having completed all my pre reqs around that time with a 3.4 GPA (I got a C in anatomy!). I honestly think my GPA is a little low and people are surprised when I tell them I got a C in anatomy...but I think I got in also based on other factors, i.e. improved personal statement, better references, completed pre reqs, volunteering, and the fact that I was wait listed the first time and they considered me. It's different for everyone. Anywho, the program is great and I'm learning a lot. Majority of your clinicals are at Main Hospital which is a few min walking distance from the School of Nursing building. The nurses are great teachers, well a majority of them (some nurses have bad days lol). First year classes are easy...but then when you get to your second year in the program (junior year, the year I'm currently in), it hits ya hard and you don't think it's not so easy (well not for me at least)! Adults, Pediatrics, and Pharmacology are the hardest classes for junior year I think. You have to be proactive and make sure to review the material each day and not put it off the night before the exam. Always come prepared and just stay on top of the material and you should be fine....the grading scale is kinda crazy where a passing is an 80 C...Ideally I want A's and B's but I've learned so far in the program that I'm just grateful to have a passing grade sometimes on exams. Especially for Pharmachology, you have to make sure you are PASSING or else you will get dropped out of all your clinical courses that semester and be held back - this is a new policy they made so make sure you stay on top of everything! Sorry if this sounds scary but it's totally do-able if you do what you're supposed to be doing as a student. It is hard but will be worth it :) Since you applied for accelerated, your group should be going through all this material within...a year and two summers? If that makes sense, so it will be back to back classes. Same thing - stay on top of the material. I'm actually in classes with accelerated students (they mix accelerated and traditional students during the second year of the program) and they are super friendly lovely people. That's all for now, just thought I'd share. Good luck!!