Pinoy2.0

That comes out to what...$42,000 a year after taxes (factoring in 40 work weeks?) I wonder how much TJU would cost tuition wise if you go there for undgrad (undergrad (RN/NP)) cheaper? - and then work at the hospital.

I think ADD can be somewhat curbed through behavior modification. If you're in college, most 4 years have a mental hygiene or counseling you could go to that may help you. They would probably be the best to tell you. Note: Mental health isn't only for *looneys. :)

How hard (gpa) wise would you say it is to get into CCBC (also...isn't there a test (TEAS?) you have to take before entering? I wonder what score is good enough to get in)?

I did talk to those schools and ask if I would be 'competitive' with my situation and all of them said they couldn't say. Which makes me wonder if they really can't say or they just want my money from the application.

If you don't mind, I'd like some mucho advice here. Two tiers of questions: I started college with a poor gpa, but finished strong with a B.S. in Psychology. My overall gpa is a 2.81 with a 2.83 in sciences (including behavioral sciences like Pysch, Soc., ) and roughly a 3.06 in sciences excluding behavioral sciences. However I turned my last two years in college around to a 3.43 my last two years (60 credits) with my last year (post degree, mainly to make me look better - roughly 20 credits) was a 3.95. On most pre-req sheets, when I can pick and choose what electives I want and whatnot, my g.p.a. for that comes in around a 3.25. I'd say I'm a 3.4ish student from here on out, not the 2.0 or whatever I was early on. My problem is, even if I document that in my narrative or in some manner in the application, I'm afraid that some schools, especially the ones I may be applying for, won't look past the 2.81 cumlative or the C I got in Chem I and Medical Microbiology, which were taken during my 'turnaround phase'. All my other typical pre-nursing classes I have an A or B in. I goofed off my first couple years in college, so my options I believe are limited in some ways. I want to eventually (98% sure) become an NP, that is my eventual goal...but want to become an RN first. I don't mind the intensity of the program (accelerated vs traditional), cost, or length of time it takes - I just want to start a nursing program. Tier 1: Out of the three, which program would you say is harder to get into? 1.) An accelerated (~13 month) RN program. 2.) A traditional (2 year) BSN program 3.) Accelerated BSN-MSN 4.) Traditional BSN-MSN (~2 years + ~2 years) Tier 2: Is it even worth applying to these schools? Johns Hopkins - Traditional - RN - Accelerated - RN ( I just read on the MD board that they have about 1000 applicants for 100 seats...so I guess I would be out of the running for both of those programs?) Thomas Jefferson - F.A.C.T. (Accelerated - RN) - BSN-MSN for 2nd degree non-nurse students Drexel - A.C.E. program (Accelerated - RN) University of Maryland at Baltimore (UMB) - Accelerated MS - Traditional BSN - RN I know there are other programs out there, but right now I have very limited money (for application fee's and some exams certain schools want me to take) and would highly highly prefer to go to school in an urban environment. I believe that is also part of my problem...ubran schools tend to be near cities or in cities, which makes it more competitive and thus, hurts my chances. I also know there are other schools out there that fit my criteria, but those would be my top 4 schools...but I'm wondering if I have the application to even bother with filling out their application. FWIW I don't have any community service hours (most of my time goes spending it with my sick mom and researching all this stuff) and I did inquire about voluntering at the local hospital, but don't have enough money to go there (my car is about to die so don't want to put too many miles on it..plus the cost of gas to get there - it would be about a 40 mile trip each time if I did decide to do it). Please be honest, I got thick skin. :) It would help me money wise too, to not even apply for a school I have no chance of getting in (maybe like Hopkins).

So how many hours a day are you (avg) in class vs clinicals? How much will that be different next quarter?

For those of you who got in, if you don't mind, what's your cum. gpa/pre-req gpa? Or, if you don't feel comfortable doing that, what "may" be the avg.'s of those getting in.

Interested in these as well. What a typical day is like and, if you had to, how would you describe a nursing semester from undergrad (the equivalent of 3 science classes + 3 hour labs + 2 non-science classes)? A lot of people say no to take 2 or 3 science classes, but in the quarter, is it like you're taking 2/3/4...at a time?

Well, you guys answered some of my questions already, thanks! From what I'm told, a semester in college is 16 weeks and 15 credits is full time. In the ACE program, it's quarters which is 13 weeks and taking 21 credits. I'm still trying to get a grasp of what nursing classes are like and how intense the program really is. I believe 7 non-nursing classes (i.e. psych, communications, econ, etc...) would be as intense as 3 science classes (bio, chem) + a non science class. At least, they pretty much equal out hours wise (since science classes have labs - and it's really 3 hours you are in class for lab instead of that 1 measly credit (hour) they give you). I'd be in over my head if it was 21 full science credits, but have no problem with 21 non-science credits. Anyone else get what I'm saying? Charley, here is a webpage for Drexel's ACE program. $26,000. http://www.drexel.edu/em/undergrad/financialaid/tuition_hs.html I haven't found how much Jefferson's program is. Would you guys know anything about Drexel's ACE program incoming accepted applicant's overall GPA/science GPA/pre-req GPA? I know other things come into play, just wondering kinda ballpark figures.

^should have used http://www.ratemyprofessor.com :)

Whoa, you are retaking classes you've already had and got B's in? I did take a class over (kinda). I was told that my medical microbiology wouldn't count as their micro requirement (Forget which school) so I had to take micro...which, to some schools replaced my med micro grade © which was good (since i got an a in micro later on)

My post probably won't help much, because I tend to be 'everywhere' when it comes to explanations, but here goes! lol... I took A&P I, Medical Microbiology and Chemistry II one semester. Got an A, B, C, respectively. I had to quit my 8 hour a week job because I wasn't doing too hot in the beginning. I really didn't know what I was getting into though. No one told me what it would be like taking 3 science courses until I got in them and the other students were like, "Are you crazy?!?". However, I think I have mild ADD and I can't study straight through, I have to play video games or run or go to the mall or workout or...just do something where I'm not a "spectator", but a "doer"...if that makes any sense. So even though I quit my job (technically just postponed it until next semester) I still did the stuff that keeps me sane or takes my energy away - and those activites are about 2 hours long a day...so I needed them more than a small job for small money anyway. My schedule was: Med. Micro lecture - 10-10:50 mwf Med. Micro lab - 3:30-4:45 (but almost always stayed till 5) mw A&P lecture and lab - 6-9 mw Chem lecture - 11-12:15 t/th Chem lab - 8-10:50 t Keep in mind, I don't consider myself a smarty pants and everything I get grade wise I have to work for it. I'm more of a don't do anything all week then cram the entire night before. I think if you don't need the 'goof off' time like I do, then it's very doable. I guess just look at my schedule (minus one class) and see if you could do it. If you are a person who studies for 20 mins a day everyday (like I think you are supposed to) then I would say it's no problem for you. Maybe add another 20 mins in addition since a lab is basically another seperate class (at least that's the way I feel.) But like I said, I only had to quit my job because I can't sit still for more than 3-4 hours really bc I go crazy. :) On a side note, some colleges (if not all) have credits which relate to credit hours. For example, a 3 credit communications class is 3 credit hours. Well if you do the math...I've calculated (using college semesters, not quarters) that a 3 credit class is technically 2.5 credits (time wise) and a science class is not really 4 credits but 5 (2.5 for lecture 2.5 for lab). So, to me taking 5 3 credit psych classes is 15 credits, but you only really spend (instead of 15 hours in class) 12.5 hours in school. For science, instead of taking 3 science credits equally 12 credits, you're really in school not for 12 hours but for 15. I figured this out bc some of my friends who don't take science classes just think I'm only taking 3 classes or what's one more credit? Well, that 1 more credit is really 2 and half hours a week! ...told ya I'm everywhere.

Do you guys know the answers to these questions: Are all your ACE classes at Hahnemann? How intense do you think the program is? If you could compare to a normal undergrad semester (i.e., I don't understand quarters...I've always had semesters) ...but would it the equivalent of like, 3 200 level bio's including labs and 3 normal classes for a total of 21 credits? I see the curriculum online, just wondering if that's what it is really like. I mean, would you have any free time at all? If it's on quarters, that's 21 credits in 3 months right (as opposed to 4 months to 21 credits a semester)?

Well, not so much NO desire...but are there any NP's out there that wanted to become (and had their sights set on being an NP from day 1) an NP with no real 'drive' to be an RN first? My cousin is finishing up her RN-MSN program and never really wanted to become an RN, but she really wanted to become an NP, so she went the RN route to become an NP (which I know you have to do). I know this is somewhat rare, but wondering are there any other NP's out there that looked at RN as kinda pre-NP school/clinical stuff in order to become an NP? Like, they may not be real thrilled with what they are doing (RN) but they know they have to do it in order to become an NP. Keep in mind I'm not saying you would hate being an RN or hate RN's or anything to that affect, but you dream has been to become an NP and RN school/work is a sort of necessary 'not the most enthusiastic' hurdle?

Hmm, ok. So, for the most part, as a FNP you have most roads open, even in some specialties. It's up to the employer, for the most part, to determine if in their speciality requries that a specialist is needed or a FNP would be fine. However some specialites may be restricted by law and you won't be able to practice in them unless you have a speciality in them (i.e. NICU-NP's)? Sorry, but this is all confusing!