Regis College in Weston early decision due Dec. 7, 2009? Anyone apply?

[dreamagain18]

I just mailed out my application packet today to Regis College in Weston, MA for their Accelerated Master's of Science in Nursing (NP program). My packet is basically complete with sealed transcripts, sealed recommendation letters, my resume, cv, and essay. The only thing that is pending is my official GRE scores. I took the GRE yesterday. I was only 10 measly points away from the required minimum score of 1000. My total score was 990 (420 verbal and 575 quantitative), although on the upside I think I did fairly well on the Analytical Writing portion. My GPA is 2.8 (they require about a 3.0), but I have retaken most of the prerequistes to improve my science grades (got A's/B's in all of them). I do have about 4 years of clinical experience in research and my recommendation letters are excellent. Although my application is somewhat weak, I think overall I've done a decent job of improving myself. Hopefully Regis will take all of that into consideration.

I applied for their early decision deadline due Dec. 7, 2009. I wonder if this would benefit me in any way? Supposedly letters are mailed out by Jan. 11, 2010. I wonder how many applicants apply for early decision? Also, what is the actual advantage of applying for early decision as compared to waiting for rolling admissions? Is it less competitive or more? I went to one of their info sessions and learned that they receive about 200-300 applicants and 25% get accepted. Im just so nervous, the anticipation is killing me....plus Regis is the only school I'm applying to....so all the eggs are in one basket..lol

Anyone else applying for nursing schools in the Boston or surrounding areas for 2010?

[Jennifer0512]

Hi!

Congratulations to everyone who got accepted to Regis...and to everyone who is still waiting...HANG IN THERE!

I'm a current student (first year, second semester) so I just thought I'd open myself up to questions about what Regis is like! :)

Good luck!!

[allie2010]

Hi Jennifer0512-

I think you just opened yourself up for a bombardment of questions :) Can you explain what your schedule was like the first semester, classwise and clinicalwise? I'd also be interested in knowing if you were able to work a few hours a week and how many of your classmates worked. Why did you pick Regis over other schools if you applied to and were accepted to any? Thanks!

[Jennifer0512]

That's okay I enjoy answering questions :)

First semester we took three classes: Professional Nursing, Health Assessment, and Clinical Pharmacology. Professional Nursing also had a clinical with it.

I was in classes all day Monday and Wednesday (with breaks in the middle of the day where I usually went to the library) and I was only in class in the mornings on Tuesday and I had clinicals on Thursday (7 AM-3PM). I had Fridays and the weekends off. First semester especially there was a lot of variety in the schedules though, you can pretty much pick your schedule and there are a lot of options.

I do work and I did work last semester. Last semester I worked Tuesday afternoons, all day Friday, and all day Saturdya. I work about 10-15 hours/week as a dog walker. It's a very flexible job, so I am able to balance it pretty easily with school. I don't know the exact number of students who worked, but I would say there was a fair amount. Most people stayed within that 10-15 hours/week range.

I also applied to BC, Northeastern, and MGH. I did not get into BC or Northeastern. I was waitlisted at MGH, but I withdrew my application from the waitlist when I was accepted to Regis, so I don't know if I would have been accepted there or not haha.

However, I chose Regis for many reasons. I only applied to schools in MA, but Regis is the closest to where I'm living and I could drive there and not have to worry about parking or public transportation.

I think the campus is cute. I did my undergrad at a small school in a similar type of area and I loved it, so that was definitely appealing.

Regis is also a three year program vs. BC which is 2 (which I thought was too short) or Northeastern which was 4 (which I thought was kind of long).

The flexibility was definitely attractive. I like that I have been able to make SOME money while I have been in school. I have been able to pick my schedule to what works for me. And although I plan to continue full time into my masters once I get the BSN I like that there is the option to leave with your BSN (these days people aren't hiring as much without a BSN with the RN--I don't believe any of the other schools give the BSN, but I could be wrong about that) because let's face it...life happens!

When I applied there and I did my interview they were the only school out of all of them to treat me like I was a person and not a # on my application. This was very important to me.

Despite the fact that I was not straight out accepted to any other schools, the choice was pretty much a no-brainer. And since I've been here I get increasingly happy with the program. Not to say it's 100% perfect, no school is, but I love it and I think they are preparing me well!

[allie2010]

Jennifer0512-

Thanks for all the great info. I'm glad to hear you were able to work a few hours a week, besides bringing in a little extra cash it would be nice to have a few hours a week to let your brain focus on something else besides all that studying. Do you enjoy the clinicals? Do you think the sites are welcoming to students or see them as just being there to do the work no one else wants to do?

I do like the aspect of being awarded a bachelors degree after the RN portion. While I hope to go all the way through, you are right, life happens and you never know what could come up that would cause the need to take some time off school or have to start working full time.

Do you feel the students are competitive with each other or just themselves? Do you think the faculty is there to just teach or are the really invested that everyone do well? I know there are always a few who don't fit the norm but having accessible and supportive professors seems key in programs like this.

Thanks again!

[Stephieee]

Has anyone had an interview with Regis and gotten rejected?

[Jennifer0512]

Allie2010-I love the clinicals. They are my favorite part of school. That's where you really put your skills to use. And the patients are AMAZING. Almost all patients love having students. The sites that I have been at have been very welcoming to students. We're like an extra set of eyes and we take some load off. I have run into a couple nurses that would rather not have students, but in general everyone is very welcoming!

In my class I actually do feel like most people are only competitive with themselves. I haven't seen much catty-ness at all! Which is good considering you're being put in a field as a whole that has somewhat of a reputation for that. Most people are MORE than supportive.

Faculty are awesome. They are really helpful and really informative. As you said there are always the exceptions. I've had professors I wasn't wild about, but the majority of them have been amazing instructors/nurses and do want to see you succeed.

Cam2006-Everyone gets an interview, so yes some people do get rejected even if they received an interview.

[soleiletoile]

I posted on a different thread, but I applied early decision, got accepted, and sent in my deposit, so I too am interested in meeting fellow classmates for Fall 2010!

To Jennifer0512 and anyone who might know- when should we hear more from them about our next steps? More specifically, I submitted my financial aid forms (FAFSA and Regis') at the end of February, and of course I'm nervous about how to pay. Also, I believe the acceptance letter mentioned something about mid-April for information on course registration and uniforms. Does this sound familiar? I would prefer to know about courses asap as I need to work out my job schedule.

Does anyone have prereqs left? I'm planning to take courses over the summer.

Thanks for any info!

[Jennifer0512]

Soleiletoile-

Congratulations on your acceptance and welcome to the Regis family :)

I don't know the exact answer to your question, but I do have a general idea.

Mid-April is when I found out last year about course registration and uniforms and some other fun things like getting CPR certified and what you are required to get as far as electronics (PDA with some applications on it-I have an iPod touch). And once you email your schedule pick you get a reply pretty quickly (within a day or two if I'm remembering correctly) if you got your first choice or not

I don't really remember when I found out about financial aid, but I don't think I waited too long for the information since they give you enough time to figure out any additional/outside loans (if needed).

Hope that helps!!

[soleiletoile]

Thank you! I'm very excited.

Those answers are helpful, thanks. That's interesting about a pda too- this is the first I've heard of that!

[Stephieee]

:-(

I just went to Regis today for my interview to find out that the class for Fall 2010 is full and they are only interviewing for the waitlist. They filled all their spots by the first week of March I was told. Completely disappointed.

[Jennifer0512]

soleiletoile- the pda is used in clinicals to look up meds, information, etc. I use it all the time, so although it can be an investment at the beginning it's well worth it. I hadn't heard of the requirement either until I received that mid-april mailing, so don't be concerned about that aspect!

Cam2oo6-Sorry to hear you're so disappointed! There is still a chance you may get accepted off the waitlist and even if you don't there are other options. You could apply to MCPHS for the accelerated BSN which has January admission so there still should be plenty of time to apply and then after you get your BSN transfer to Regis for the BSN to MSN route. It would take about the same timewise. Or you can take a year off and beef up your GRE scores, pre-req grades, resume (whatever it is that needs improving) and be a shoe-in for next year! Chin up :) If this is what you want to do it will happen!

[Stephieee]

I understand that there is still a chance I can get in from the waitlist ... it's just frustrating and upsetting for me because she said there is a 0.5% chance of getting in off there waitlist .... whereas if you apply before the early decision deadline there are 65 open spots available

I didn't apply by early decision but I applied in January, I was under the impression that I would be contacted when my application was complete for the interview, but that never happened, and by the time I called in early March, all the spots were already filled....

I am keeping my hopes up for the waitlist... But if I don't get in I will apply to Regis again and maybe some other accel BSN programs that I didn't apply to this year ... we'll see .... I'm still so bummed!