It's a little less than a month-and-a-half from the application due date for both campuses, and I'm up in the wee hours doing my best to ensure all the requirements are ticked off on my checklists
I was unable to apply for the incoming Fall 2015 cohort, as I had more than three pre-reqs pending, but I'm hopeful to attend Rutgers' Newark campus in the spring. Anyone else excited/scared/unnerved with the application process (especially with NursingCAS; even with an upgrade to 3.0, it still does not seem any more intuitive), or has already completed it? Also, what are your interim plans while waiting for decisions?
After being a bit of stalker on the other threads (sorry!), I'm also hoping it won't turn into the debacle that has happened with the Fall 2015 acceptance letters... although,I might have just jinxed that, and maybe with an application deadline extension, to boot!
Here's to hoping this process goes well for all of us!
We are only in the first few weeks of classes, but many little pockets of study groups are starting to form. It all depends on what you prefer. If you find a few people that you study well with, it is definitely helpful to have a group of people to get after it with. I do most of my studying solo, but I will occasionally work with a few other students, or at least commiserate. Some people do prefer to work independently, but as a whole, everyone is here to help each other out. We're not in the kind of program that pits students against each other in order to pass, and we are starting to feel a sense of community in our cohort as we get to know each other. For me, cost alone was enough to rule out any other program in the area.
I don't know much about other schools in the area, because I only applied to Rutgers. I know aside from NJCU, which is similarly priced, this is the most affordable program for NJ state residents. At our orientation they dropped a few stats, saying we were like one of the best nursing schools in New Jersey if not the best. I don't remember the exact numbers but they love to brag about it at info sessions and things. One of the nice things about the Newark campus is the location (hear me out). Being a part of the RBHS circuit means access to everything all of the schools have to offer, including events and access to some of the medical and dental school buildings. You are pretty much surrounded with health care professionals of all different disciplines, which is a cool thing.
I am a mother myself and I am glad to hear that the work and school load is manageable. Like you said if you want this and love this badly enough you will do well. :)
Quick Question: How many classes do you have per day and how many days a week?
I am not a parent myself so I can't speak to how particularly challenging it is to be a parent and a nursing student, I'm only going off what I have observed. Don't get me wrong, the moms and dads in our program definitely have extra challenges and it will call for compromises and sacrifices. But as of now, they're all pressing on! Things come up and you will face obsticles, but like you said, if you want it bad enough it will happen. Fourteen months of struggle for a lifetime of fulfillment. Keep your dreams in sight! For this level it varies according to when you are assigned clinical. Level ones have class one full day, one half day. Then you have lab and clinical. You can have your lab scheduled during your half day which means you have 3 days dedicated to school in person. Others have their lab scheduled on a different day and are technically at the school or at the hospital 4 days a week. Everyone in my level for this semester has Monday off. I would plan to dedicate 4 days a week to being physically in class or at clinical. The amount of time you spend at each or the days of the week you spend at each varies between semester (sometimes Saturday's too, but for this level we have Saturday-Monday off).
Thanks so much for your insight! From what I understood from my conversation with the nursing recruiter, she mentioned that about 50-60 applicants are selected for both Newark and New Brunswick campuses, although I hope that stays true for this next applicant pool. The wait for decisions is now the unnerving part; all the rest that you've described sounds exciting (even with the program being unorganized)
I contacted the nursing department regarding when the admissions committee will convene to review applications, and the person who answered said that there was no set date for quite yet, but today was definitely the deadline for submitting the application. A reminder for all of us: if you have not received a Completed status (with a Completion Date) when checking on NursingCAS, it means that something is not submitted/verified... and that also your application will not be considered! However, she mentioned that until committee convenes, it would be imperative that NursingCAS is contacted to seek assistance in completing the application ASAP.
What are some of the Plan B's (and C's, and D's... and so on ) that you all have for nursing school?
Should I not make it in, I've looked into applying to Bloomfield College (local; only admits in the Fall, however), and LIU Brooklyn (familiar with the location; would dread the commute)... and, of course, applying for Rutgers ABSN Fall 2016 Funny, while looking locally, I also just discovered that Monclair State University has a nursing "program"... however, it's more a BS/MS dual-degree program--BS in biology, and an articulate agreement for the MS Clinical Nurse Leader at Seton Hall.
Good luck to everyone, and I hope we all get to take part in the Spring 2016 cohort!
I contacted the nursing department regarding when the admissions committee will convene to review applications, and the person who answered said that there was no set date for quite yet, but today was definitely the deadline for submitting the application. A reminder for all of us: if you have not received a Completed status (with a Completion Date) when checking on NursingCAS, it means that something is not submitted/verified... and that also your application will not be considered! However, she mentioned that until committee convenes, it would be imperative that NursingCAS is contacted to seek assistance in completing the application ASAP.
What are some of the Plan B's (and C's, and D's... and so on ) that you all have for nursing school?
Should I not make it in, I've looked into applying to Bloomfield College (local; only admits in the Fall, however), and LIU Brooklyn (familiar with the location; would dread the commute)... and, of course, applying for Rutgers ABSN Fall 2016 Funny, while looking locally, I also just discovered that Monclair State University has a nursing "program"... however, it's more a BS/MS dual-degree program--BS in biology, and an articulate agreement for the MS Clinical Nurse Leader at Seton Hall.
Good luck to everyone, and I hope we all get to take part in the Spring 2016 cohort!
Lacerti,
Thanks for the insight from the nursing recruiter. Is the recruiter still (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME)? I'd like to reach out to her personally and she's the only contact I have as recruiter for Newark Campus.
I made quite the discovery thanks to your post. I looked more into my application status than I thought I could and stumbled on an icon I could click on that didn't seem like a link. A pop up told me that they have not yet RECEIVED let alone VERIFIED 2 out of 3 of my school transcripts. I really hope there is some misunderstanding or lack of due diligence on someone's behalf because I sent those transcripts in mid-August. I sent them an email saying just that and that I would like to be notified of my status once someone looks into it. I intend on calling first thing in the morning and just to be safe since you said the committee has yet to decide on a date to convene, I will, AGAIN, buy my official transcripts and have them sent over to NursingCAS. This whole thing is absurd and pulling on my heart strings/sanity.
As far as my Plan B, I also hope to get accepted to Bergen Community College's associate program for Spring 2016. I also intend to keep applying to Rutgers every semester as it is my dream school. That includes their part time program (30 months long, summer start only). And NJCU ABSN program for Fall 2016. I wish Montclair had an accelerated program! Its locale and easiness to transfer transcripts would be my saving grace since it is my alma mater. I don't know if I could go all the way to my Master's just yet! I'd like to get myself out in the field first.
I looked more into my application status than I thought I could and stumbled on an icon I could click on that didn't seem like a link. A pop up told me that they have not yet RECEIVED let alone VERIFIED 2 out of 3 of my school transcripts.
Yikes! If you haven't received an email confirmation from the schools that you've purchased your transcripts, I'd say contact those schools as well; it may have been possibly misaddressed (were you given an option to select NursingCAS's transcript department's address, if your transcript request was online?). However, NursingCAS FAQ did state explicitly that it would take about minimum4 weeks for receiving and verifying transcripts and documents before clearing the application as "complete". I believe the old 2.0 version of NursingCAS FAQ mentioned that it could take from 4-7 weeks to "complete" an application! I'd feel worse for those who've just found out about the program and sought to apply last-minute! Mimi0914: do you remember how long it took for your application to be verified and deemed "complete"?
Also, I'm a bit in the same boat--I'm still stuck in "Verifying" status (3rd flag, yellow), and hoping that moves along in the coming week; I'll definitely be giving NursingCAS a call next week Monday, and Rutgers next Friday to ask if a date has been set for the committee to begin reviewing applications. FYI, Rutgers can already start viewing our information, but although they can peruse our submitted documents that have already been scanned to our application profiles (If the "Materials Recieved" flag is green [2nd of the 3 flags in the programs listed in the "Program Status" tab], you can download your submitted application sans personal references via: Program Selections -> Manage My Programs -> Program Status [tab] -> blue "download" icon), the department still uses NursingCAS as a clearinghouse to review and verify our physical transcripts against our manually inputted transcripts. I'm assuming so, as they wouldn't have the extra work in-house. Then again, Rutgers has incorporated UMDNJ because of legislation that was passed in July 2013, and everyone is probably still trying to figure out a more efficient way in going about doing things in the now-ginormous institution (further reading: Welcome to the new Rutgers: School makes history with UMDNJ merger | NJ.com). Side-note: I actually recall mistakenly receiving a postcard in the mail from Rutgers indicating the changes that were expected with the merger when it was happening... but, at that point, I was working on other academic pursuits. Thus, I can imagine how crazy it would have been only two years ago with the administration and the first group of cohorts that began post-merger (UMDNJ nursing students were probably afraid/angry about their prospects, as they unintentionally became RU students!); hard to believe it was only four regular semesters ago!
Based on our current timeline compared to last cohort and Mimi0914's experience, I would predict application review to begin mid October, and results by late November (or, if similar to Fall 2015, early December!). This leads me to another question that I'd like to direct to lte16 : was the NALC program offered to your cohort prior to beginning the semester? For everyone else, here's the flyer for the "preparatory program" that is noted to be offered 6 weeks prior to the first semester of nursing:
If I get accepted, I would love to take advantage of the NALC program... but the timeline we may be on appears a bit bleak with the possibility of it be offered.
Oh, how the waiting games have begun... ::cue Final Jeopardy! theme::
Yikes! If you haven't received an email confirmation from the schools that you've purchased your transcripts, I'd say contact those schools as well; it may have been possibly misaddressed (were you given an option to select NursingCAS's transcript department's address, if your transcript request was online?). However, NursingCAS FAQ did state explicitly that it would take about minimum4 weeks for receiving and verifying transcripts and documents before clearing the application as "complete". I believe the old 2.0 version of NursingCAS FAQ mentioned that it could take from 4-7 weeks to "complete" an application! I'd feel worse for those who've just found out about the program and sought to apply last-minute! Mimi0914: do you remember how long it took for your application to be verified and deemed "complete"?
Also, I'm a bit in the same boat--I'm still stuck in "Verifying" status (3rd flag, yellow), and hoping that moves along in the coming week; I'll definitely be giving NursingCAS a call next week Monday, and Rutgers next Friday to ask if a date has been set for the committee to begin reviewing applications. FYI, Rutgers can already start viewing our information, but although they can peruse our submitted documents that have already been scanned to our application profiles (If the "Materials Recieved" flag is green [2nd of the 3 flags in the programs listed in the "Program Status" tab], you can download your submitted application sans personal references via: Program Selections -> Manage My Programs -> Program Status [tab] -> blue "download" icon), the department still uses NursingCAS as a clearinghouse to review and verify our physical transcripts against our manually inputted transcripts. I'm assuming so, as they wouldn't have the extra work in-house. Then again, Rutgers has incorporated UMDNJ because of legislation that was passed in July 2013, and everyone is probably still trying to figure out a more efficient way in going about doing things in the now-ginormous institution (further reading: Welcome to the new Rutgers: School makes history with UMDNJ merger | NJ.com). Side-note: I actually recall mistakenly receiving a postcard in the mail from Rutgers indicating the changes that were expected with the merger when it was happening... but, at that point, I was working on other academic pursuits. Thus, I can imagine how crazy it would have been only two years ago with the administration and the first group of cohorts that began post-merger (UMDNJ nursing students were probably afraid/angry about their prospects, as they unintentionally became RU students!); hard to believe it was only four regular semesters ago!
Based on our current timeline compared to last cohort and Mimi0914's experience, I would predict application review to begin mid October, and results by late November (or, if similar to Fall 2015, early December!). This leads me to another question that I'd like to direct to lte16 : was the NALC program offered to your cohort prior to beginning the semester? For everyone else, here's the flyer for the "preparatory program" that is noted to be offered 6 weeks prior to the first semester of nursing:
If I get accepted, I would love to take advantage of the NALC program... but the timeline we may be on appears a bit bleak with the possibility of it be offered.
Oh, how the waiting games have begun... ::cue Final Jeopardy! theme::
I just finished sending my SECOND copy of both "missing" transcripts. Going to call them now. I did everything "by the book" and finished my application in August. The address I am having them mailed to is:
NursingCAS
P.O. Box 9201
Watertown, MA 02471
...correct? This is on the admissions page on the Rutgers website.
I hate that everything is so disorganized. The trials and tribulations of a nurse start even before she's a nurse, huh? Will keep you posted on what they say. Also, if your transcripts change to "verified" status, please let me know!
I think the nursingcas application process is ridiculous. I called them yesterday and asked about my application being verified and they said maybe in another week even though I submitted more than 4 weeks ago. So after I called a later received an email stating my application was undelivered because of missing material. I don't understand why do they wait until the deadline day to tell you that you are missing things although on the application status it doesn't say so. So yesterday I had try to get my transcript sent in and the quickest they can deliver it is 3-5 business days. I just hope this nonsense does not affect my chances on getting in.
I'm going through your same situation. Hopefully this doesn't reflect negatively on our potential to get in. This whole process is so frustrating.... keep us posted on your status !
) that you all have for nursing school? 
Funny, while looking locally, I also just discovered that Monclair State University has a nursing "program"... however, it's more a BS/MS dual-degree program--BS in biology, and an articulate agreement for the MS Clinical Nurse Leader at Seton Hall. 
Then again, Rutgers has incorporated UMDNJ because of legislation that was passed in July 2013, and everyone is probably still trying to figure out a more efficient way in going about doing things in the now-ginormous institution (further reading: 
Will keep you posted on what they say. Also, if your transcripts change to "verified" status, please let me know!
lte16
63 Posts
We are only in the first few weeks of classes, but many little pockets of study groups are starting to form. It all depends on what you prefer. If you find a few people that you study well with, it is definitely helpful to have a group of people to get after it with. I do most of my studying solo, but I will occasionally work with a few other students, or at least commiserate. Some people do prefer to work independently, but as a whole, everyone is here to help each other out. We're not in the kind of program that pits students against each other in order to pass, and we are starting to feel a sense of community in our cohort as we get to know each other. For me, cost alone was enough to rule out any other program in the area.
I don't know much about other schools in the area, because I only applied to Rutgers. I know aside from NJCU, which is similarly priced, this is the most affordable program for NJ state residents. At our orientation they dropped a few stats, saying we were like one of the best nursing schools in New Jersey if not the best. I don't remember the exact numbers but they love to brag about it at info sessions and things. One of the nice things about the Newark campus is the location (hear me out). Being a part of the RBHS circuit means access to everything all of the schools have to offer, including events and access to some of the medical and dental school buildings. You are pretty much surrounded with health care professionals of all different disciplines, which is a cool thing.