Rush GEM Fall 2012

anitadoula · May 2, 2012

I just got an email notifying me that I've been waitlisted. Oh well, better than being rejected. At the "First Look", we were told that all waitlisted candidates were automatically offered a spot in the winter cohort. But the following lines from the email I got make me think differently. What do you guys think? ...."Based on what has occurred in previous years, though there is no guarantee of admission, many waitlisted students have been admitted to the class to which they applied or the following term of entry.* Please be aware, however, that waitlisting does not provide special consideration for subsequent admission cycles. If there is any change regarding your ranking you will be notified immediately."

spoon · May 3, 2012

I got an email offering me admission to the Fall GEM program today. However, I've already accepted a spot at Johns Hopkins. Hopefully you can take my spot anitadoula!

cubbieblue2012 · May 3, 2012

I got waitlisted too! bummer :sniff: But it does say that you are guaranteed a spot for the January term if you don't come off the list for the fall class, so I guess that's okay. I've still got other programs I am waiting on though, so keeping my fingers crossed.

anitadoula, are you waiting on any other programs still, or are you in for rush?

anitadoula · May 3, 2012

Spoon: congrats! That's an awesome program.

Cubbieblue: I'm still waiting for 1 school but Rush is my first choice. Did your email

specifically say "guaranteed" admission for the spring? My email was not worded that way. I'll probably give Molly a call. Hey, maybe we'll start together in the spring. Is Rush your first choice? Are you waiting for other schools?

slong2 · May 3, 2012

I was also wait listed at Rush, and the email made it seem that you are not guaranteed acceptance in the Winter Session. I was accepted at DePaul for the MENP Fall 2012 so I will be going there! Anyone else?

cubbieblue2012 · May 3, 2012

I just went back and reread my email and realized that I think everyone else is right- we are not "guaranteed" admission on the wait list. Guess I was so excited I just didn't read the email all that well. Oh well....but I do remember Molly saying at the first look people on the wait list were going to be given guaranteed spots for the spring, so I don't know.

anitadoula, did you call Molly? Did she say anything else about the waitlist?

UPDATE: OMG!!! Just found out I was accepted at UIC!!! It's not Rush, but at least I have an option now!

dwoodberg · May 3, 2012

Hey all,

I found out that I was accepted for the Fall 2012 cohort yesterday! I know that we have to mail in a response within two weeks, so hopefully you will hear if you come off of the waitlist in that time. I'll keep my fingers crossed :)

Anyone else who will be starting in the fall?

mkuzel · May 4, 2012

i was wait listed for fall but guaranteed a spot in the spring. i emailed molly back to clarify and she told me i was guaranteed a spot for spring. i got into uic, but i am leaning toward rush. my letter was stated as follows

due to the competitiveness of the fall admission pool, we are not able to offer you a guaranteed spot in the fall 2012 cohort. but because of your qualifications and our desire to have you admitted to the program, we are pleased to guarantee your admission to the spring 2013 class, which begins in january.

does anyone have thoughts on uic vc rush?

cubbieblue2012 · May 4, 2012

mkuzel: here's my take on UIC vs. Rush, and its based only on what I was told by friends who also had the same decision. I have been accepted at UIC and waitlisted at Rush.

BOTH UIC and Rush will give you a good education and will get you to be a licensed RN. UIC is a tad less in program length in terms of getting your RN (15 months vs. 24 months) but at the end of 24 months of Rush you already have your MSN. Depending upon how long you take to complete the NP portion at UIC, it could take another 1-3 years. And BOTH programs are very roughly even in price.

UIC will allow you to pursue a terminal degree (i.e. NP) without having to reapply to a terminal degree program- which means you don't have to take the GRE again, you don't have to be as worried about what your nursing grades may or may not be, you don't have to go through this stupid admission process again. But, you do have to choose a specialty before ever stepping foot into a hospital or classroom. I am accepted into the adult acute care and I think its where I want to be, but I don't really know. Maybe I will like the babies by the end of all the clinical work? RUSH will give you an MSN and that is that. You have to apply to a terminal program after working a few years as an RN, which also means it will probably take longer than UIC too.

UIC is a state-funded school, and Illinois is not in great financial shape. The professors are all competent and experienced in their field, but (according to my friend) they are not always that thrilled to be teaching and don't seem that excited at times (and the same can be true anywhere). Rush is a private institution which means the way professors are handled can be very different than in a state run and state funded institution. I know a few people at Rush already, and they all love their professors and classes and feel really prepared for their upcoming NCLEX. My UIC friend does not feel the same way about her professors and is not as confident about her clinical skills.

UIC has less clinical time before taking the NCLEX than Rush. Some say this matters, others say it doesn't, I guess its just personal taste.

So, I guess if you want to boil it down leaving only what do you get when you come out of it thinking- Rush will give you a MSN and RN with lots of clinical experience and the ability to choose what terminal degree you want to go for. UIC will give you a terminal degree without having to reapply later but you are stuck with the speciality track you chose when you started.

I don't know if this is fair and accurate or not, its just how friends at both UIC and Rush have explained it, so i guess its more "opinions" than anything else but anywho, hope this helps!

PrayToTheUnicorn · May 8, 2012

Another point to consider is after completing your nursing coursework at UIC and sitting for the NCLEX, if you pass and become an RN, you are an RN with no degree behind it. UIC does not confer a degree upon you until you finish the master's program. That can be a difficult issue to navigate with getting hired as a nurse somewhere, as you can not work at a facility that requires a BSN. My friend has found she has had a hard time getting a "good" nursing job and she is too proud to take a position in LTC or in an underserved community hospital, as that experience in her mind doesn't "match" her eventual outcome as an NP in XXX specialty.

swcochran · May 17, 2012

I got in for fall 2012! I found out a week or two ago. @dwoodberg: see you there? Do you know of any good way of getting in touch with People from the cohort? Good luck all with the waitlist, Hope to see you there!

feel free to contact me!