I was wondering if there are any Summer 2009 Rush GEM applicants out there and if you have heard anything back from RUSH at this point? I applied for early decision and don't really know how competitive I am as an applicant... My undergrad gpa is a 3.6 with the last 60 hours being a 3.8. I have research experience at Northwestern at the medical school, have been published once in a peer-reviewed journal, have been a vp and pres of BBB national honor society. I have a year of full time EMT experience and about 1,000 hours in volunteering at a nursing home. I am just really worried because I keep reading that people are like 3.9 GPA's with tons of clinical experience and what not.
If anyone is out there who is applying let me know how your process is going.
Most of the financial aid is in loan form -- most of mine were Stafford subsidized and unsubsidized loans, which a pinch of Perkins (like $1000) and a nursing loan of a small amount and a small nursing student grant.
I'm not sure who gets GRADPLUS loans and who doesn't. I have a friend who did get GradPLUS loans but she had been out of school and working for a couple years. I had just graduated from undergrad before going to Rush so I'm not sure if that's why I didn't get GradPLUS loans.
Just about everyone in our program is paying for it with loans! :-( You're in good company.
Also - sorry about the apartment! My friend and i are both girls and looking for another gal -- sorry!! But when searching for apts - on craigslist look for Little Italy, Rush, UIC, Medical District, taylor.
And the "unsafe" areas are: West of Damen, South of Roosevelt and north of Harrison and East of Racine. So if you want to be in walking distance, be somewhere within those border streets and you'll be safe!
First quarter (which would be your spring quarter, currently my winter qtr):
M: theory class 9-12, lunch, nursing lab 1-3
Tu: core concepts 9-12; and only 3 tuesdays during the quarter health promotions meet - the other weeks it is online
W: Clinical for 6 hrs (time depends on instructor and site)
Th and F - free!
BUT - informatics is an online class - which you really don't have to do much for other than 2 group projects and post each week to the discussion board - most of us did ZERO reading for this class.
For the June cohort you might have health assessment the first quarter, so maybe informatics would be moved to 2nd quarter. so you might have another day of class first quarter which wouldn't be bad. This first quarter we have so much free time, and next quarter we're going to be super busy. a balance would be nicer and it's likely you'll get that for your cohort after they get our feedback.
2nd quarter (for my group, but health assessment is likely to be 1st quarter for the june 09 group)
M: health assessment 9-12
Tu: pathophysiology 10-12 and 1-3
W: pharmacology 10-12 and 1-3
Th: lab (not sure what time)
F: clinical for 6 hrs
So our second quarter we're in class much more but as I said it might change for the better for June 09 group.
I really don't do much homework to be honest! I know some others do. Really, all you have to do is the reading for Core Concepts. No one reads for health promotion - we have to post to the discussion board twice a week which is annoying but not hard - it's mostly online. Informatics - i don't read for that either! just post some BS on the discussion board.
Theory, we all started out reading because it's a discussion class, but half way thru we all kind of stopped.
The big class first quarter is core concepts which can be challenging. I've luckily done well in it and the class as a whole seems to have done well, except our 3rd test the majority did a lot worse (like C, low B). But the profs are making the final so that it should help people boost their grades.
Tests in nursing school are based on NCLEX questions so they aren't your typical multiple choice. That's what mostly throws people in the exams because we aren't used to taking these types of tests. There's no "right" answer and "wrong" answer per se, the questions are more "choose the BEST answer" -- so all the answers could be right but you have to think which is best. But it's good they are preparing us for the NCLEX this early on.
Thanks for the great post! This information has helped out a lot. I just found out today that I was accepted for the June 2009 GEM class!! I was wondering if I was going to be able to work this summer, and from your post it seems like I still can (I am a nanny). That is great news that I can still make some money and not be totally broke! Keep sending information about the program this way, it really does help :)
Yeah, thanks for all of the information. I, too, found out that I was accepted today to Rush. I still am pretty torn about Rush or DePaul. Does anyone have firsthand information about DePaul's program?
I just got a call from Rush to set up an interview date and time. So I have interview for the GEM program on the Mar 30th. I dont know if I should be happy about it or not cause I heard that everyone gets an interview, is that right??? Also if anyone can tell me about how I should prepare for this interview, I really really want to get into this program and start in June.. does any one know the stats of how many gets accepted after the interview round. do they select almost everyone that they interview, or just few??? I am trying to register for the Child Psychology class thats required by the GEM program and I have to pay them the fees today and only down part is that they dont have refund policy.. so if I dont get accepted into the program, I will be wasting lot of money. Any kind of advise would greatly be appreciate..
I'm not sure if everyone who has an interview gets in, I guess it depends on how many spots are left and how many people are left to interview. The women who interviewed me were really nice. They asked typical questions like "Why do you want to be nurse?" "What do you think a nurse does?" "How do you deal with stress?"...
I'm taking a class right now that I don't need for Rush. I only took it in case I didn't get into Rush and got into another program. I know it stinks to waste the money for it, but a child psychology class isn't really a waste if you think about it!
But don't be nervous about the interview, they are really nice, laid back people. Just be yourself and I'm sure you'll be fine. I found out I got in to Rush a week after my interview so it was really quick!
do they ask you questions about your grades? ex: why did you get a C in this class? or stuff like that? what about anything from your work experience??? do they ask, anything about your previous jobs?
Can you please also tell me some of your responses to their questions.. When they ask you how do you deal with stress?, what are they looking for in your answer?? I mean how do you answer those type of questions?
I haven't had any school interview experiences yet, so I have no idea of what to expect, and thats what makes me so nervous. I just hope that I get in.
I had my interview last year so things may have changed but to answer some of your questions....
They didn't ask me about grades. And believe me - I had 2 C's in chemistry, a C in organic chem, 2 C's in physics (not a prereq). Luckily all my other science grades were much better. But they didn't ask.
I didn't have a previous job b/c I was coming right out of undergrad, but I'm guessing they would ask why you wanted to change careers, etc.
They didn't ask me how I dealt with stress - that's kind of weird! I guess because the program can be intense (I'll be experiencing the "intense" quarter this spring!).
If I recall correctly, I think they asked me about what part of my background might be useful in nursing or what experiences I had that might stand out. My response was that I was a global health minor and studied abroad in South Africa so I talked about how my background might be useful.
Rush had been my one and only interview ever! I never had a job or school interview before it -- and I got in, even with C's!
I had one more questions that I wanted to ask you guys before my interview. Do you ask any questions to them at the end when they ask you if I have any questions? If I do, What kinds of questions should I ask them? Can anyone please provide some information. I know ananda and chicagochicklett have been very helpful. Do you guys have any tips for me on this one...
hereandnowiamu
26 Posts
Hi Chicagochicklett,
How well does RUSH do with financial aid packages, I really do not want to take out a GRADPLUS loan, seeing as I would probably need a co-signer.