mzpositivity

Hi! I just spoke with a faculty and heard a different stat. I heard that 93% of the class find jobs within 6 months of graduation from the MSN program so some students go an entire year (after pre licensure) without finding a job as an RN, which kind of worries me. Also, Western is not highly ranked so the reputation can be advantageous to those living and working in SoCal, but what happens when students move elsewhere? Any advice?

Hi everyone! Is anyone else debating between Western and Columbia? Both programs have a very different stance on what it takes to be a successful FNP. I am wondering if any current students can shed light on the distance learning portion. I definitely like how Western's distance learning portion allows flexibility to work, however I know that most hospitals prefer nurses with BSN or higher. Since we would only be certified as RNs without the BSN or MSN at that point, what happens to students who cannot find jobs despite intense efforts?

^I did too haha

I called the office of fin aid and found out that the tuition for the Master's portion of 1.5 years is about $75,000 alone. Does anyone know if this more reasonable price tag compared to the ETP portion of $87,000 for 1 year is because we have more clinicals and such for the Master's vs the ETP portion? Plus, if you notice the budget for room and board, the amount is $24,000 for one year so if you find a place that is less than $1000 a month, then that extra $1000 per month can be utilized for personal expenses :)

Hi everyone! So I had a phone interview in mid February and am currently waitlisted. I am wondering if conducting a phone interview instead of an in-person interview made a difference on that decision. Since I am from CA, I think they expected me to fly there, but it was not in the budget for me at that moment. Any thoughts?

I am actually wait listed this year for UCLA and my GPA was not as high as yours if that gives you confidence... haha but the MECN program is fantastic. I know someone who got in and their resume is completely different from mine so different schools are looking for different things and they want students who are the best "fit" for their program and mission statement. If you are really set on a program like the MECN, consider the MEPN program at USD (San Diego) or Entry Level MSN-CNL at USF (San Francisco). The Singapore experience sounds pretty awesome! I would definitely go. You always want to stand out in your applications, but the key is to stand out for the right reasons. Do not try to be "safe" by taking a hospital job because you think it will help buffer your resume. If it does not work out, you will have wasted your time and efforts. I wish you all the best and commend you for taking the time to research your future nursing career. It will pay off.

I received an email update earlier this week saying that they are still reviewing applications so I am taking this as good news Also, someone last year wrote that they were invited to interview 3 weeks after the first interview was granted. If interviews started early March or late Feb, we still have a chance!

Hope Visiting Day was enjoyable for everyone! Unfortunately, I couldn't make it. Is anyone else having an issue with their financial aid accounts? I am not able to see my award package, but I was able to log in to update my password and such...

I have not received any interview notifications so I am concerned that I am out of the running already. This is my dream program and I would love to go back to SoCal for grad schools. Is anyone else still waiting for an interview invite?

As a fellow bruin, I felt compelled to make an account to answer your questions and concerns. Graduated with my B.S. in 2013 and just applied to nursing schools last cycle. The primary issue I see is that you feel compelled to apply to nursing programs ASAP because you are a senior and you want to continue your education. I also went to the career center to talk to admission officers and get a feel as to what their schools were looking for. The best advice I learned from that experience is that the application you turn in when you apply to any nursing program should be the absolute best application you are able to generate. Period. If you do not get in the first round/time, then the next time you apply, your application has to be significantly better in many ways than your initial attempt. I have had admission officers tell me it must be twice as good as the first application. Let that sink in. Also, many ABSN and MEPN programs will require letters of recs and when you reapply, your recommenders will have to submit yet another letter on your behalf, and the letter has to mention your work and improvements since your last attempt, which might be burdensome for both you and your professors. (Sorry for the run on sentence). My intention is not to scare you. My honest intentions are to inform you. Knowing that information, I spent a year finalizing the list of all the schools I wanted to apply to, finishing all my pre-reqs for every school, took the GRE and the TEAS (most schools require one or the other), got clinical experience working in a private office, and basically spent 6 months applying to all my schools (some deadlines were as early as July and others as late as Jan). I was honestly praying for just one school to accept me (I had a pretty long list). So far, I have received good news from 2 schools. Do not feel compelled to put yourself out of the running because you have more research than volunteering experience. Many people in ABSN or entry level MSN programs come from business, law, teaching, and other backgrounds and their unique experiences and desire to now pursue a career in nursing makes them desirable to particular nursing programs. Your GPA is fantastic. I would know, I went to UCLA! haha. But do not apply just for the sake of applying. You can probably get in somewhere your first attempt, but it may not be the program you want. Take a year off, it was one of the best decisions I made in my young adult life. Finish all your pre-reqs (this will strengthen your application). Do your research on every school and try to volunteer in a hospital so you can see what nurses do and have to put up with on a daily basis. I interviewed for a few programs this past year and I learned that many of the people I interviewed with had more to say in the interviews and in their personal statements about the stuff they were able to do once they finished their undergrad studies. A huge chunk of my personal statement was devoted to a unique volunteer experience I was offered after college. You sound stressed. It's completely normal haha. Remember that you are young and not applying this cycle is not the end of the world. Taking one year off to make a decision that you will be devoting your next 40-50 years towards is not the worst idea in the world. Good luck.