Saint Marys University

Hilda74 · Jun 5, 2009

Hi..been reading your chat and thought I'd quit eves dropping and make a post. So I interviewed at Saint Mary's on May 22. My interview was also short...this has made me wonder too. I had 6 or seven questions to ask my interviewer at the end and it was still only about 15 minutes. I have been talking with someone who just started the program and he says that shouldn't be the decider since he has heard a lot of the interviews were short. I look at the bright side..it may have kept me from hanging around too long to say something really stupid. I also have heard that the waiting list automatically gets in the next year, even asked the question at my interview, and yes this is a fact. I am from Rapid City and hoping to relocate to MN, have some family there. Looks like most in the class are from MN with a few others sprinkled in. The waiting is horrible! Going over the interview in my head is making me crazy too. Just gotta hope for the best and start praying!! Hope to see you all in person next may!!!

Suen · Jun 6, 2009

Hi..been reading your chat and thought I'd quit eves dropping and make a post. So I interviewed at Saint Mary's on May 22. My interview was also short...this has made me wonder too. I had 6 or seven questions to ask my interviewer at the end and it was still only about 15 minutes. I have been talking with someone who just started the program and he says that shouldn't be the decider since he has heard a lot of the interviews were short. I look at the bright side..it may have kept me from hanging around too long to say something really stupid. I also have heard that the waiting list automatically gets in the next year, even asked the question at my interview, and yes this is a fact. I am from Rapid City and hoping to relocate to MN, have some family there. Looks like most in the class are from MN with a few others sprinkled in. The waiting is horrible! Going over the interview in my head is making me crazy too. Just gotta hope for the best and start praying!! Hope to see you all in person next may!!!

Welcome Carisa, Its nice to hear from you. My interview lasted 30 min plus the tour!!! I guess this is norm. Now that the interviews are almost over, i hope more pple will participate, just for fun. At this point, we are well winners, whether you get in or not. I am over replaying the interview tape in my mind. Now i am at the point of, bring it on!! Am ready. One way or the other, the day is coming to wear one of this faces:beer:or:chair:. Its out of our hands. SUEN

Rocco78 · Jun 9, 2009

Welcome Carisa; glad you joined the discussion. That is good to know that the waiting list automatically gets you in the next year, but that seems like along time (like 2 years away). Tomorrow is the last interview day, then its decision time. How exciting!! I wish everyone good luck and hope to see you next May when we start!

Best Wishes,

Rocco

Hilda74 · Jun 10, 2009

I was looking at the newsletter and it looks like 7 students are coming off the alternate list from last year. I think this is a great way to do it, but darn it it harts my chances a little more! Would b kinda cool if we all got in! What ever happened to the person who started this chat?

allischalmers1977 · Jun 22, 2009

Looks like the letters are out... My wife called and told me I have a letter at home from St. Mary's that came Friday. I work a week on, then a week off three hours from home and am dying to get home and open it tomorrow. My wife wanted so badly to open it for me, but I wouldn't let her! I was half tempted to call in sick tonight and go home early.

Best of luck to all of you,

tom

Suen · Jun 22, 2009

best of wishes. Suen

APNgonnabe · Jun 22, 2009

Oh my gosh I bet that was killing you. Good Luck!!!

Hilda74 · Jun 22, 2009

So did anybody here get in? Not me I'm afraid! I sent an email to try to find out what they were looking for, but have not heard back yet. Sucks..I thought I had everything I could possibly need, guess I need even more.

Rocco78 · Jun 23, 2009

I got my letter today from Saint Mary's! I got accepted!! I'm so happy!

Let me know what you guys hear. I hope to hear from you soon!

Good luck

Hilda74 · Jun 23, 2009

Rocco congrats! I didn't, but would like to increase my chances for next year. Would you be willing to tell me your stats? Years experience, certifications, all that stuff? The rejection letter said the average years experience was 3 years. I do not have quite that but will by the next go around. Maybe it was the interview? I guess I must of messed it up? Don't know. But happy to hear a success story!

allischalmers1977 · Jun 23, 2009

I was also accepted. I have never been so happy to see a large envelope before! Now I just have to get ready for two years of extreme poverty and coursework like I've never imagined! Congrats Rocco, I look forward to meeting you next May!

Best of luck to the rest of you applicants!

Rocco78 · Jun 23, 2009

Hi Hilda74,

I'm sorry you didn't get in this time around, just keep trying! I know what it feels like not to get accepted into a school; I was rejected 3 times before finally getting in. Just keep a positive outlook and keep trying; you will get into school.

I work in a high acuity SICU (critically ill/challenging heart patients with LVADs, IABP, lots of vasoactive drips, major traumas and other big surgical cases) for 3 years. I started teaching classes, precepting, and doing charge/resource nurse for at least a year.

Also, I joined several committees, such as ICU Nursing Practice Council, Publisher of AACN, and member of other smaller hospital based committees. I have CCRN, Trauma cert, ACLS, BLS, getting PALS right now. My Nursing GPA is 3.6 and Science GPA is 3.86. I also shadowed a CRNA several times.

My best advice is to keep trying, be motivated and stay enthusiastic. It will come when the time is right. Maybe take some core science classes or graduate level classes to increase your GPA, get all the certifications out there, take really sick patients to get experience, start precepting, mentoring and doing charge. I hope this helps; good luck and keep me posted.

Best wishes