Rejected-some thoughts and questions

casi, ASN, RN · Sep 19, 2005

*huggles* I'm so sorry to hear you didn't get in. I think for all of us our biggest fear is rejection. Don't let it get you down though. You know you'll make an amazing nurse, you don't have to let a small rejection get in your way. Keep you head up and keep turning in those applications.

Liddle Noodnik · Sep 19, 2005

This really crushed me...
First of all, I am sorry to whine about this, but I am a fulltime working mom and mother, who (I feel) sacrificed the last two years of my life to take nursing pre-reqs and volunteer here and there so that I could get into a direct entry masters nursing program. My GPA was passing but not top notch(3.2). The school did not require GRE's, which at first I was happy about. I have a BS in psychology, so while I don't work in the medical field, I have quite a bit of scientific knowledge relating to research, experiments, the human body, and human nature. I am am 40, and have a vast and varied life experience. I THOUGHT I HAD SOMETHING TO OFFER AS A NURSE!!!
I still do believe that I could make it happen, and although I felt like giving up, I realize that here in California the competition is great. But I know for a fact(and have read here in several threads) that schools don't always choose nursing students prudently, since there are many that drop out.
All that said, should I try to find out why I was rejected? Is that proper? I'm sure that they could tell me since there were only 40 applicants for about 15 seats. I thought the interview went so well! I would be blown away if they said it was on my GPA alone. I'm sure that even people with 4.0's would agree that grades alone could not possibly predict the success of a potential student....Or maybe they picked people who already worked in the medical field. Aggggghhhh.
I am going around now putting in my apps at local community colleges, which are mostly waiting list scenarios, which with the wait and program together, will take another 4 years. The masters program was only going to be about a year and a half. sniff sniff
I am soo sorry for the rant everyone. Good luck to all of you and any thoughts and advice about getting into school up here in SF bay area would be appreciated!

What about this: What if instead of saying "why didn't I get in", what if you say, "I'd like to reapply, can you tell me how I could improve my portfolio?" or something like that.

I bet if you got a year of working experience ie as a CNA, they might reconsider you. I would have thought two years of pre-reqs would do it too (there's a friggin SHORTAGE - but unfortunately the shortage is of good nursing instructors and schools!)

I wish you good luck! You sound very determined to succeed, and that alone is a stellar quality for a nurse!

Fun2, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2005

What about this: What if instead of saying "why didn't I get in", what if you say, "I'd like to reapply, can you tell me how I could improve my portfolio?" or something like that.

I agree with zoeboboey. Definitely find out if there is anything you can do to help you get accepted in the future. Just make sure your wording is not rude, and I'm sure you will get a helpful response.

Don't take this as rejection, just think of it as a postponement or detour.

DON'T GIVE UP! :) Good luck!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2005

Now, don't get mad at me for saying this because I really am trying to be helpful to you. Something in your post really sent up a red flag in my mind. You said you had "sacrificed the last two years of your life" to prepare for this. That's kind of negative thinking and if I were an interviewer and got that kind of thinking from you, I would be turned off. Is it possible that this attitude got transmitted to them during your interview? These interviewers are very skilled as they do hundreds of them, so even though you think you've done well at the interview, they, generally, are not giving anything away during their talk with you.

You already have one bachelor's degree, so I find it hard to believe that you don't know what is going to be required of you in a Master's program. They are going to be looking for people who are going to be leaders and thinkers, not followers. If you were unable to show them that you are a leader and a thinker along with a passion for nursing they wouldn't chose you. It's not so much the grades that are important. It is always going to go back to why you want to be in nursing and what you have done to get into it and what you are willing to do to advance it. At the level of Master's degree they are going to want people who are willing to do a research project and are able to work pretty much on their own--in other words, a thinker. Also, they are going to want to put out MSNs who are going to get active in the nursing profession and take leadership positions. I don't think they would want to put someone in such a high level degree'd program of nursing without knowing you are very passionate and committed it. Volunteer work isn't good enough for the Master's Degree level to demonstate a passion for nursing to my way of thinking. Sorry, it's just the way I feel. I'm not intending to be mean. I don't think it would hurt to go back, make an appointment with the interviewer and try to get some feedback. Don't expect them to talk frankly with you about any negative attitudes they picked up on your part. You will just have to figure that out on your own. It's hard to know what they place their priority on with regard to the applicants they pick. It might help to look at their mission statement to see what their view of nursing is.

If you decide to get your LVN, I would re-visit applying for this Master's program at another time. One bit of wisdom for you. . .education and experience is never, never, never a waste. Something positive can always be found in the worst disasters.

heatherp · Sep 20, 2005

I'm pretty sure I was rejected to the same program...(SSU right?!?).

Here is what I know about how they picked who they picked.

I was one of the last people interviewed, as my interview had to be changed due to a funeral for the interviewer. Durring my interview she outright told ME that they were probably going to do a lottery. They only eliminated about 3 people after interviews!!! So, if you got an interview, and are on the alternate list, they actually probably LIKE you, and WANT you. They just do not have enough spots (due to less clinical sites).

I have not found anyone who was accepted from the people I know that applied. No one can figure out what their criteria was. The 3 people I know had 4.0 in pre-req's.

Personally I havn't decided what to do. There are pro's and con's to every program. One of my friends thinks that next year, all we have to do is tell them we are still interested, and we will be put back into the lottery without any futher interview or application. But, that is another year away, and I'll be done with pre-req's. I'm thinking about just going for the BSN.

Anyway, sorry so long, but I know exactly how you are feeling. Send me a personal message if you want!

Heather

Micci · Sep 20, 2005

That is true about the GPA thing. I know someone who had a solid 4.0, got into the nursing program and quit after a month. :uhoh3: Grades are not always an indication of ability.

It doesn't seem fair that someone could take all their classes and then not finish out their degree due to nursing school limitations.

Are you on a wait list of some sort for the master's program? Someone may drop out before it starts.

cincin1 · Sep 21, 2005

Now, don't get mad at me for saying this because I really am trying to be helpful to you. Something in your post really sent up a red flag in my mind. You said you had "sacrificed the last two years of your life" to prepare for this. That's kind of negative thinking and if I were an interviewer and got that kind of thinking from you, I would be turned off. Is it possible that this attitude got transmitted to them during your interview? These interviewers are very skilled as they do hundreds of them, so even though you think you've done well at the interview, they, generally, are not giving anything away during their talk with you.
You already have one bachelor's degree, so I find it hard to believe that you don't know what is going to be required of you in a Master's program. They are going to be looking for people who are going to be leaders and thinkers, not followers. If you were unable to show them that you are a leader and a thinker along with a passion for nursing they wouldn't chose you. It's not so much the grades that are important. It is always going to go back to why you want to be in nursing and what you have done to get into it and what you are willing to do to advance it. At the level of Master's degree they are going to want people who are willing to do a research project and are able to work pretty much on their own--in other words, a thinker. Also, they are going to want to put out MSNs who are going to get active in the nursing profession and take leadership positions. I don't think they would want to put someone in such a high level degree'd program of nursing without knowing you are very passionate and committed it. Volunteer work isn't good enough for the Master's Degree level to demonstate a passion for nursing to my way of thinking. Sorry, it's just the way I feel. I'm not intending to be mean. I don't think it would hurt to go back, make an appointment with the interviewer and try to get some feedback. Don't expect them to talk frankly with you about any negative attitudes they picked up on your part. You will just have to figure that out on your own. It's hard to know what they place their priority on with regard to the applicants they pick. It might help to look at their mission statement to see what their view of nursing is.
If you decide to get your LVN, I would re-visit applying for this Master's program at another time. One bit of wisdom for you. . .education and experience is never, never, never a waste. Something positive can always be found in the worst disasters.

Dont worry, I'm not at all offended by what you are saying. In the interview, I told them that nursing was my life dream, and that I was willing to give everything I had to it. Even though every one of my prereqs were difficult, I was passionate about doing my best and getting the most out of each one. My degree is in Industrial Psych, which basically gives me an edge in leadership, specifically how to bring about productivity in the workplace and satisfaction of clients(patients). Any negativity in my message was me just venting. And believe me, and am not big-headed enough to think I am the best there is out there, especially now :chuckle . In my life I have often have had to be "knocked down a peg", but I have always brushed myself off and gotten back on the horse-in fact I just got a waiting list letter from a local community college, hey I am number 367! woo hoo. It is almost too funny. Take care.

cincin1 · Sep 21, 2005

I'm pretty sure I was rejected to the same program...(SSU right?!?).
Here is what I know about how they picked who they picked.
I was one of the last people interviewed, as my interview had to be changed due to a funeral for the interviewer. Durring my interview she outright told ME that they were probably going to do a lottery. They only eliminated about 3 people after interviews!!! So, if you got an interview, and are on the alternate list, they actually probably LIKE you, and WANT you. They just do not have enough spots (due to less clinical sites).
I have not found anyone who was accepted from the people I know that applied. No one can figure out what their criteria was. The 3 people I know had 4.0 in pre-req's.
Personally I havn't decided what to do. There are pro's and con's to every program. One of my friends thinks that next year, all we have to do is tell them we are still interested, and we will be put back into the lottery without any futher interview or application. But, that is another year away, and I'll be done with pre-req's. I'm thinking about just going for the BSN.
Anyway, sorry so long, but I know exactly how you are feeling. Send me a personal message if you want!
Heather

Hi Heather, I am so sorry to hear you didnt make it this time either! I think I met you in the parking lot the day of one of the info sessions maybe; I don't know I guess there were a few different sessions. I am a really tall blonde girl-can't miss me.

Anyway, how could it be a lottery? that is so weird...How do you know if you are an alternate? My email didnt really say; it just said sorry and best of luck, blah blah blah. If I remember correctly the wording was like they had many applicants that passed minimum qualifications(that would be my category) and there are people with much more to offer. I wonder, were some of them already LVNs or had some medical work in their history? I am going to email them and ask-Are you applying to Merritt in Oakland, they have a Accelerated BSN that only takes 12 months, and they accept two times a year I think... I am going to try it-make sure you take pharmacology and pathophysiology(their add'l prereqs) or just go check out their website. I am getting on tons of waiting lists at community colleges, and Contra Costa has a lotto so trying there to. Will only be ADN but hey, better than nuttin! Hey girl keep up the good fight! Ill let you know if SSU tells me anything new about the selection process they used...