Stony Brook Accelerated BSN class of 2013

U.S.A. New York

Published

Hey all! Just wanted to lend my support to anyone else who is applying to SB next summer! It's a grueling process :-)):yeah:

Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
Which option allows you to chose so i try to get that one? Its probably bad but im dead set on what i want to do. Do you do your capstone at a stony brook affiliated hospital or any hospital?

I was dead set as well, but I had to go with the flow on this one, not stressing over it though. Some things change from year to year, not sure if the same options we have this year will be there the next ... but there will always be an option to choose where you do your capstone, any hospital Stony Brook has an existing agreement. Some people are hoping to do capstones in other states, because they are planning to move after graduation. For people that are in this option, you have to do your med-surg clinical @ SBUMC first. Too early for you to start doing anything about this now though, LOL, you will have a chance to address this in mid-fall. First things first: get through first 2 semesters :)

I am typing this on my phone so I will be brief :) You want to try to stand out and be remembered, in the sense that you are bringing something different to the table than most applicants. Stay away from canned and cliché phrases ("I want to help people") and highlight your personal story and personal strengths, in both academia AND as a potential nurse. Show the committee that you are more than just a GPA (no matter how low or high it is). Your recommendations should back up the caliber of a person your essay reflects. That's about it in a nutshell. Kmcg may have a different take on this, since we both bring very different qualities to the program. For starters, she is so much smarter than me!! :D

Thank you for you advice. You have really great advice and insights. I have seen many of your posts on this forum. Do you know anymore public school that have good BSN programs? I have looked up some private schools but they are very expensive. Also, I read that it is never too early to start practicing for the NUCLEX. What books would you recommend?

Dlam88,

When you're completing the application, they outline what you should discuss in your personal statement:

How to answer the essay question

The essay question or personal response, needs to address the following topics:

  • Why have you chosen to pursue nursing as a career?
  • Why do you want to pursue baccalaureate preparation in nursing?
  • What qualities do you believe you possess that will enable you to perform effectively as a student and later as a practicing nurse?
  • How can nursing address and improve global healthcare needs?

I think Paco said it best when he mentioned that your personal statement is where you sell yourself to the school. It's personal, so pour your heart out. Why do you want to be a nurse?? I also discussed some personal attributes that I think I posess as well as instances in my life and educational career that reflected these characteristics that will be helpful as a student and then as a nurse. I'm hoping that my letters of recommendations will support these characteristics and my success (hopefully!) in the program.

I hope this helped! I'm sure Paco and kmcg will be able to further address your question, as their personal statements resulted in their admission to the school!

Thank you for you advice.

Hello this is a question for anyone who is currently enrolled in the program. How did you go about finding off-campus housing? Also, are those places furnished?

So, after reading Jennyfurl's credentials...wow. I don't know what I'm thinking, planning on going to nursing school. It sounds like it's more competitive than med school. Nobody will take me with my non-honors GPA.

Anyway...I rent on LI, but we're a 4-person family and rent a 2br ranch, garage and small basement/crawlspace for storage, about 10 minutes from SBU campus. I pay $1650/month without any utilities included. I do know you can find a 1br for $1000-1100/month, often with utilities included. Look on Craigslist, there are usually a good amount of listings there.

Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
Thank you for you advice. You have really great advice and insights. I have seen many of your posts on this forum. Do you know anymore public school that have good BSN programs? I have looked up some private schools but they are very expensive. Also, I read that it is never too early to start practicing for the NUCLEX. What books would you recommend?

Thanks for your kind words, glad I could be of help!

If you’re referring to New York State, the other SUNY schools (Binghamton, Buffalo) both have very reputable programs from what I have heard. Have not heard too many good things about SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn. In NJ, Rutgers has a good program too, but if I recall from my research into schools when I was applying, most all the schools in NJ want organic chem as a prereq and I was NOT taking that! :p

Many people recommend Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN (author is Silvestri) as a good review for the exam, and I would have to agree. The latest edition has a yellow cover.

Hello this is a question for anyone who is currently enrolled in the program. How did you go about finding off-campus housing? Also, are those places furnished?

I searched Craigslist and the Stony Brook off campus housing listings online (they have a website, you can Google it). I ended up renting a place off the Stony Brook listings, I think those are pretty good. My place was semi-furnished, but not all of them are like that. You will find some that are, especially if they are just rooms in a house.

So, after reading Jennyfurl's credentials...wow. I don't know what I'm thinking, planning on going to nursing school. It sounds like it's more competitive than med school. Nobody will take me with my non-honors GPA.

Jennyfur’s credentials are indeed exceptional, but they are not the prototype for everyone who gets into the program, trust me! I did not have an honors GPA and I got in. I will never know the rhyme or reason behind admissions decisions at this school, but it’s safe to say that everyone has a great chance of getting in provided you met the minimum standards. Like I say time and time again *sigh* … a 4.0 is not a guarantee to getting in!

Jennyfur’s credentials are indeed exceptional, but they are not the prototype for everyone who gets into the program, trust me! I did not have an honors GPA and I got in. I will never know the rhyme or reason behind admissions decisions at this school, but it’s safe to say that everyone has a great chance of getting in provided you met the minimum standards. Like I say time and time again *sigh* … a 4.0 is not a guarantee to getting in!

Can we please pretend I never posted that stuff? I really wish I hadn't. I never intended to make anyone feel like they won't be able to get in.

So, after reading Jennyfurl's credentials...wow. I don't know what I'm thinking, planning on going to nursing school. It sounds like it's more competitive than med school. Nobody will take me with my non-honors GPA.

Definitely DO NOT get discouraged. My undergraduate GPA sucked majorly! I mean I didnt even reach a 3.0. I now realize there were things I should've done differently as an undergrad, but as you age you mature. What I did to try to make myself competitive was NOT worry about what was out of my hands, and focus on what I was able to control. I banged out all my pre-reqs with A's, got some exposure to OR procedures (I work in the anesthesia office at NYU Hospital), got letters from people who I knew were going to write me the best letters, and took my time with the personal statement. It is a "personal statement", so make it personal. Don't BS your way around it.

Also, don't limit yourself to just Stony Brook. Do apply to other programs and dedicate just as much effort to all their other application processes. Don't close your own doors in front of you before they're even opened. I was registered to take an Anthropology course this semester because it was a pre-req for another program I had applied to. As soon as I received the acceptance letter from Stony Brook I dropped that class. I took an entrance exam for the 2nd time for CUNY Hunter a couple of weeks ago also before finding out from Stony Brook. The way I saw it, it was time for me to move on with my life and I was the only one stopping myself from doing so. If I was able to get in to a good reputable program with a sub-par undergraduate GPA, so can you.

Way to go Emer! Thank u for sharing :-D

Definitely DO NOT get discouraged. My undergraduate GPA sucked majorly! I mean I didnt even reach a 3.0. I now realize there were things I should've done differently as an undergrad, but as you age you mature. What I did to try to make myself competitive was NOT worry about what was out of my hands, and focus on what I was able to control. I banged out all my pre-reqs with A's, got some exposure to OR procedures (I work in the anesthesia office at NYU Hospital), got letters from people who I knew were going to write me the best letters, and took my time with the personal statement. It is a "personal statement", so make it personal. Don't BS your way around it.

Also, don't limit yourself to just Stony Brook. Do apply to other programs and dedicate just as much effort to all their other application processes. Don't close your own doors in front of you before they're even opened. I was registered to take an Anthropology course this semester because it was a pre-req for another program I had applied to. As soon as I received the acceptance letter from Stony Brook I dropped that class. I took an entrance exam for the 2nd time for CUNY Hunter a couple of weeks ago also before finding out from Stony Brook. The way I saw it, it was time for me to move on with my life and I was the only one stopping myself from doing so. If I was able to get in to a good reputable program with a sub-par undergraduate GPA, so can you.

Wow that is very true. I have a question How did you get into the anesthesia department at NYU? I would love to get exposure in the OR and to learn more about anesthetist but I don't really know where to go to gain that experience.

First job out of college, been here 6 years. The job itself sucks, but I've met some great people and made some great connections. It is not an easy opportunity to get by and I got it by pure chance, but i'm making the best of it. What I would suggest is try getting exposure in other settings whether that's volunteering at your local hospital/nursing home. Again, apply to different programs and your odds increase as well. PATIENCE is also key. I started taking pre-reqs 2 years ago. It bothers me that all schools have different courses as pre-reqs, but it is what it is....

Can we please pretend I never posted that stuff? I really wish I hadn't. I never intended to make anyone feel like they won't be able to get in.

Don't worry. I didn't get in and after looking at your credentials..I don't feel bad. You excelled through hard work and that's def. something to be proud of!!

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