Rutgers Accelerated Nursing 2012 - The Good, the Bad, the "I wish I knew that..."

jsanowit · Jan 27, 2012

Hi,
Hi I also applied and I have some questions as well. How does the application process work, when do they notify you? also do they interview? If you look at the previous posts some of them mention how many ended up in the class I believe one year they only had 7 students. For location I know they switch off from New Brunswick to Newark so off campus housing may be easier and a car might be useful or even carpooling with someone would work.

2bEsqtoRN · Jan 27, 2012

I attended one of the informational sessions and this is what I gathered:

1. 100% retention rate. They accept people who they think will be able to succeed and graduate without failing or dropping out;

2. Wasn't discussed but I'd imagine nothing lower than a C;

3. Housing is provided both on and off campus via Rutgers University subsidized housing;

4. Similar to undergraduate costs to attend: Rutgers | Rutgers Admissions;

5. Financial aid is available for those who qualify;

6. It was relayed that challenging courses may actually be to your detriment and lower your chances of admittance. They recommend that if any courses are to be challenged, you limit it to one;

7. Cars are needed for clinical sites and they recommend car pooling with fellow students. Some sites are not accessible by public transportation;

8. Changes for the 2012 program includes offering their pharmacology and pathophysiology classes offline (previous cohorts complained about the online model) and increasing the size classes from 20 to 40. They are also considering raising the GPA minimum requirement from 3.0 to 3.3.

Overall, Rutgers seems to offer a great program with good placement options. I have no complaints based on what I saw.

DTWriter · Jan 27, 2012

Thanks, jsanowit and 2bEsqtoRN. I really appreciate your responses.

As for the application process,

the program uses a "first come, first serve" system. Basically, they review completed applications in order. The nursing school's priority deadline was January 15th; however, if the tranfers for May admission have to follow the same guidelines as transfers for September admission, I think that one has until February 1, 2012 to get all the required material sent to the admission office and will receive an online decision by April 15th. The following link provides info on due dates:

http://admissions.rutgers.edu/ApplyNow/ApplicationsAndTheBasics/WhenToApply.aspx#2

I don't think that Rutgers hold interviews. Interviews are not required for admission into Rutgers nursing program but it would not hurt to call and ask the nursing department if they would hold them this year.

chiasmus100 · Jan 28, 2012

@Esq2BSN Thanks for your post it's really informative. I'm wondering, did they explain why the challenge exams would lower one's chances of admittance?

2bEsqtoRN · Jan 28, 2012

@Esq2BSN Thanks for your post it's really informative. I'm wondering, did they explain why the challenge exams would lower one's chances of admittance?

Well challenging exams delays review of your application. The more challenges you have, the longer you have to wait to be provided a decision. In the interim, other applicants who have taken all the required classes are being accepted and seats are being filled. They aren't a big fan of students challenging anything. They highly recommend all courses be taken before they begin review of your application and if you do challenge anything, limit it to one.

chiasmus100 · Jan 29, 2012

Ok, in other threads people discuss being admitted and then registering for the challenge exams. So are you saying you now have to take and pass the challenge exam before getting a decision? I am going to e-mail Rutgers CON about this.

This is bad news for me since I took two classes at the community college which aren't transferring so I'm planning on challenging those. Hopefully, since I actually took the classes it will help as opposed to being someone with no background in the subject.

jsanowit · Mar 5, 2012

Hi Chiasmus100, I agree with you, if you look at previous posts the secretary sends you information that helps you challenge those courses that are starred on their website. It is possible they changed it but I would be surprised. April 15th is so far away I am hoping they contact us sometime this month it seems like it gets later and later each year.

moncha · Mar 28, 2012

I just spoke to someone from the nursing department in new brunswick and they're making decisions this week! Good luck everyone!!

chiasmus100 · Mar 29, 2012

Did she say if they were notifying people this week as well?

moncha · Mar 29, 2012

No she didn't say..but she did talk about challenging courses. She made it seem like challenging would be overwhelming with the 5 nursing classes in the summer and I actually have no doubt that it will be. She recommended that if accepted, to take the exam as soon as possible and to not wait til the end of summer. So I assume acceptance letters and rejections will be sent out ASAP so that those who still need to challenge courses can do so before the program actually begins.

jsanowit · Apr 1, 2012

I received my acceptance on friday! If you go to Rutgers status it should have the decision. Also I received an e-mail as well. Good Luck Everyone!