Rush University GEM Fall 2016

CoreyAlan1 · Dec 24, 2015

Hi there,

I also have applied to Rush's GEM program for Fall 2016. I was comletely done with my application at the end of September. I did get the email for the interview, but no set date, only just the email stating that an email will be sent out after the deadline for the actual interview date. I did confirm to go to the First Look. Would you mind me asking what your stats were like?

I received all A's in the prerequisite courses at a community college here in Philadelphia. I had a 3.3 cumulative GPA, so I do not have to take the GRE(thank goodness!). My original degree in undergrad was Criminal Justice and I have been an adult probation and parole officer for the past 2 years, working with sex offenders and offenders whom suffer from HIV, AIDS, severe diabetes, cancer, and hepatitis upon their release from custody to make sure they receive health insurance, healthcare, and follow up care. I did a year of social work graduate school where I worked with HIV positive inmates to link them to immediate health care services upon their release. I also have extensive experience in evidence based practices and motivational interviewing to encouarge my offenders to change their thinking patterns to more positive outcomes. I AM SO READY AND EXCITED FOR NURSING SCHOOL. I actually have a job interview tomorrow for a patient care associate where I get to work directly with a nurse in a neuroscience ICU. I am so very thrilled and am very passionate about nursing.

I came out to Chicago in August to visit the school, and Molly was extremely nice and informative and was able to meet with me in person to talk about options with the program. Also, I fell in love with Chicago. It was most certainly a fantastic city.

I wish you the best of luck! Are you going to do a Skype interview due to the travel to Chicago? I am thinking about it since I am still working full time and may take that route since it is easier, but I wouldn't mind going to Chicago via another flight either.

Best of luck! Hopefully we will both be accepted!

crescendo88 · Jan 6, 2016

Hi, guys. I, too, submitted my application back in Oct. and received an invite for an interview a few hours after submitting my supplemental. I wonder if they interview everyone who meets the GPA requirement... My stats are cGPA 3.5. BS in Psych. and MA in counseling. 10+ years of experience working in behavioral health field here in Chicago. Kinda similar to you, CoreyAlan.

I'll be at the first look on Feburary 13th, as well. I was told that they will start to schedule our interviews in mid January, and the skype interviews will be on the day before the first look, and all other interviews will be held on the week of 15th.

I live in Chicago, and it is a wonderful city with great culture and lots of great restaurants. Very diverse, too, which I love. People are very friendly here. KO_1219, just be ready for the harsh and long winter in midwest!! Summer is so much fun, though. :yes:

KO.SRNA, MSN, RN · Jan 12, 2016

Wow you both have excellent experiences! I almost feel intimidated by them haha, as I'm sure you both will have plenty of patient care experiences to discuss in your interviews. My background is a BS in progress in health sciences (to be completed by March 2016), current cumulative GPA is a 3.46 and prerequisite GPA is a 3.76 (@crescendo88, I think you're right spot on regarding automatically getting an interview if you met some sort of requirement through the application). I have been a paid intern at the US Department of Veterans Affairs in Palo Alto CA in Mental Health Administration, and I also volunteer locally at a Kaiser Foundation Hospital in their Emergency Department (About 200 hours and counting).

The admissions director also told me about the first look on February 13, and that out-of-state applicant interviews will be held on February 12th. My girlfriend and I plan to be there on both those days and spend a weekend in Chicago to get a feel for what it's like. I've heard several great things about Chicago and can't wait to see it for myself! Any restaurants, museums, places to go, etc would be greatly appreciated =) I wish you both the best of luck too!

CoreyAlan1 · Jan 12, 2016

Hello! Just curious to see if anyone has received the actual email for the interview details yet? I know that the interviews are being held from February 12-18th, but haven't gotten the email yet. Does anyone know when this will happen? I am trying to make arrangements to fly out and want to buy a ticket soon. Wishing all the best of luck!

KO.SRNA, MSN, RN · Jan 12, 2016

Hello! Just curious to see if anyone has received the actual email for the interview details yet? I know that the interviews are being held from February 12-18th, but haven't gotten the email yet. Does anyone know when this will happen? I am trying to make arrangements to fly out and want to buy a ticket soon. Wishing all the best of luck!

Hey Corey. I'm also waiting for the email that allows us to schedule our interviews. I also would like to solidify my interview date to start planning my itinerary, but I'm not exactly sure when they will send it. I saw it said mid-january somewhere... so hopefully soon.

CoreyAlan1 · Jan 12, 2016

Hi! I just spoke with Jennifer Thorndyke on the phone in the office just to get a general idea. She said they plan on sending out the emails this Friday for the scheduling of the interviews! She was super friendly. I am getting kind of nervous. I am gonna fly out on the 11th and stay for the First Look program! I guess I will see you there!

crescendo88 · Jan 13, 2016

When I emailed last week & asked about scheduling the interview, I was told they will email us "in a few weeks". So this Friday sounds good! I remember reading something about interview process being only 30 min. in the first email I received. The First Look, on the other hand, sounds much longer (8am to 2:30pm)... I'd love to know what to expect in that one, too. Any info?

Dress REALLY warm coming here, you two. We've had pretty mild start of the winter having some 40 degrees days, but it dropped drastically in the past few days. We had 9 degrees (-14 with windchill) today. It's so hard to breath in this cold weather. Will you be driving or taking public transportation? Chicago is a very convenient city having great public transportation, CTA (Chicago Transit Authority - CTA Buses & Train Service - 1-888-YOUR-CTA), but when the temp gets this cold, it is really brutal to walk outside.

Ko_1219, here is some recommendation of places to go... Will you be staying near Rush? West Loop is not far from Rush, and there are many great restaurants there. Girl and the Goat (hard to get a reservation), Au Cheval, the Publican, and Ramen Takeya are all pretty good.

If you're not too cold to get out to do some sightseeing with your GF, Art Institute is on Michigan Ave. Millennium Park is just north of the museum. They have the famous "bean" and an ice skating rink. If you go north on Michigan Ave. from the museum, you'll hit what is called "the Magnificent Miles", which is a shopping area. A tapas restaurant, Purple Pig, is good and fun on the Mag miles.

As you can tell, I love to eat....LOL so if you have any preference in types of food, let me know. :) Greek town is near Rush, and there is Chinatown in the south. The neighborhood of Wicker Park has also many restaurants.

If you guys have any questions re:different neighborhoods, let me know.

See you both at the First Look!

KO.SRNA, MSN, RN · Jan 13, 2016

Ko_1219, here is some recommendation of places to go... Will you be staying near Rush? West Loop is not far from Rush, and there are many great restaurants there. Girl and the Goat (hard to get a reservation), Au Cheval, the Publican, and Ramen Takeya are all pretty good.
If you're not too cold to get out to do some sightseeing with your GF, Art Institute is on Michigan Ave. Millennium Park is just north of the museum. They have the famous "bean" and an ice skating rink. If you go north on Michigan Ave. from the museum, you'll hit what is called "the Magnificent Miles", which is a shopping area. A tapas restaurant, Purple Pig, is good and fun on the Mag miles.
As you can tell, I love to eat....LOL so if you have any preference in types of food, let me know. :) Greek town is near Rush, and there is Chinatown in the south. The neighborhood of Wicker Park has also many restaurants.
If you guys have any questions re:different neighborhoods, let me know.
See you both at the First Look!

Hey thanks for all the recommendations! I'll check those places out on yelp and try to hit as many as I can when I go there :). My girlfriend and I will most likely be there from the 11th to the 14th, and I'm looking for a hotel around "the loop?" We heard the public transportation system is excellent, so we plan on just flying without obtaining a car rental. Also, good looking out on the cold weather warning. I already go crazy over here when its sub 30 degrees, so I can only imagine how cold it is out there. Us californians are super spoiled with the weather, so I'll make sure to dress extremely warm! Do any of you know if we can have a plus one at the "First Look?"

vpet · Jan 17, 2016

Hi all,

I received that email on Friday as Jennifer Thorndyke promised, but I believe it's the same one you guys had received already. It just says the new email will be issued on 18th, so tomorrow, with the details on how to schedule an interview. I was a bit nervous hearing that you all have already been invited...I feel better now :) Can't wait to meet everyone on the First Look.

Corey, I am a career changer as well. It is going to be quite a change for me going from architecture to medical field though. My grades are similar like yours but I have close to zero medical experience....which, I guess, make me the strongest of candidates...hahaha, we'll see how that goes. It was not a requirement!

KO_1219, coming to Chicago in February, I am afraid you and your GF are going to be terrified. Temp right now is 3F, seriously, bring all the clothes you own...I assume you don't even have a heavy winter coat. Chicago is a wonderful city and so many to do and see, but walking around at these temperatures is rough....I'd recommend some indoor activities. Btw I agree with everything Cresscendo88 mentioned above, so I'm not going to repeat, just to add. Field Museum has free admission most of February. Do NOT skip The Signature Room, it's on 95th story of Hancock Tower, it has a wonderful lounge with incredible views. I take all of my out of town visitors there for drinks.. If the weather is cloudy then scratch that, you'll be sitting in a cloud and not be able to see anything. Right across the street from Girl and the Goat is newly opened Bar Sienna, one of my favs. If you are into sushi, I recommend Union Sushi on Franklin Street and there are many restaurant along the River with beautiful views, as well as T. J Parker if you decide to venture to Lincoln Park area. Also, there are bus and trolley tours that take you to all Chicago attractions so you get the idea of what you would want to see. If you ever need a ride I use Lyft and Uber all the time...

Best luck to all of you, and see you soon.

vpet · Feb 11, 2016

Hey guys,

good luck on your interviews tomorrow and pls let us know how it goes. See you Saturday!

KO.SRNA, MSN, RN · Feb 13, 2016

Hey guys whose here at orientation?! Interview went well I think and I was surprised that they actually asked me questions about what I wrote in my personal statement! So be prepared :)