Texas state fall 2018

Published

I just wanted to start a thread for Those who have applied to Texas state SON for the fall of 2018 (:

Hello, all:

My name is David; I just ran across this forum and created and account and submitted a request for the Facebook group, if that's alright. I have also applied for this coming Fall semester. I hope everyone gets accepted. From what I can observe, there's not many people on this thread vs previous years.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

for reference, I got the email from St. David's saying my application was received on January 29th. I mailed my application on January 13th.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am currently a student at TXST and so many of my friends who are pre-nursing did NOT end up applying to St. David's because they either did not meet the minimum TEAS scores or had a very hard time getting a professor to complete the reference form for them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, everyone should have received notification that their application was received by now. If you haven't, I would advise emailing nursing @ txstate.edu.

I hand delivered my application on 1/12, and received notification on 2/1 that my app was received.

I guess I am glad to be a transfer right now, then! My professors at ACC we're more than willing to complete my references. Honestly, I contacted several hoping that one would respond, and they all did...which kind of sucked for me. My boss wrote one for me, also. She had agreed long before I ever even worked up the nerve to ask the professors. I just picked the ones I thought would look best. That was difficult, because they were sealed, and I couldn't read them first. LOL

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am currently a student at TXST and so many of my friends who are pre-nursing did NOT end up applying to St. David's because they either did not meet the minimum TEAS scores or had a very hard time getting a professor to complete the reference form for them.

I was going to mention this, also. The requirements for applying, including an essay and references, are much more daunting than what other schools require. I would assume this to be a reason for students being less interested in St. David's (or simply unable to apply in the case of your friends).

Future applicants who may be reading this, here are some tips for getting references. Try to get into small classes (maybe honors classes are smaller), or request a reference from a lab professor, as labs are usually much smaller (although many are taught by other students... I don't know what the procedure is there). Also, if you have courses that you are taking now or between now and next year's app deadline, go in to office hours to visit with your professor early on in the semester...even if you don't need help in the course. Just make yourself visible. Don't be afraid to ask them if they would be willing to complete references early on. It is better to do it in person, because they will have a harder time saying no. ;) Also, if you have a job, one reference can be your supervisor. They know you and your work ethic better than any professor, so they are great references (especially if it is in the medical field). I know working can be difficult while going to school, but a part-time position works.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I was going to mention this, also. The requirements for applying, including an essay and references, are much more daunting than what other schools require. I would assume this to be a reason for students being less interested in St. David's (or simply unable to apply in the case of your friends).

Future applicants who may be reading this, here are some tips for getting references. Try to get into small classes (maybe honors classes are smaller), or request a reference from a lab professor, as labs are usually much smaller (although many are taught by other students... I don't know what the procedure is there). Also, if you have courses that you are taking now or between now and next year's app deadline, go in to office hours to visit with your professor early on in the semester...even if you don't need help in the course. Just make yourself visible. Don't be afraid to ask them if they would be willing to complete references early on. It is better to do it in person, because they will have a harder time saying no. ;) Also, if you have a job, one reference can be your supervisor. They know you and your work ethic better than any professor, so they are great references (especially if it is in the medical field). I know working can be difficult while going to school, but a part-time position works.

Tbh, I don't think Texas States requirements to be all that daunting. I actually find it more appealing because of the fact they do ask for essays and references. That allows them to put a face to an application whereas other programs are solely basing their applicants off of GPA. That's all good and all if you have a really competitive GPA, not so much if you're a middle of the pack kind of GPA. I'm in this boat. I have an awesome pre req GPA of 3.78 but a bad Science GPA of 3.0. The essay allowed me to delve into my experiences and hardships throughout my life as well as my time in the military and to explain what exactly sets me apart from all the other applicants. To me this was huge because I wasn't all that confident in my science GPA. I look at the essays as if your presenting your final case to the judge before the verdict is made. It can either make you or break you. I feel pretty confident now, I scored a 89.7 on the TEAS, and I was able to get a reference from my biology teacher who is also the pre nursing mentor at Texas State. She is friends with the Director of the nursing school and this is pretty much what she told me. If you are a Texas State student at meet the requirements, you are pretty much guaranteed entry. She told me that the nursing school really wants more Texas State students applying to St. David's and that last year was a record low of Texas State applicants. Out of the 100 accepted approx 60% will be Texas State students. Now take that as you will, but this is what she told me and everything she has said up until now has been accurate. Good luck to everyone! I truly believe if you care enough to be on a forum, you're dedicated enough to get in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree that essays and references are a benefit to students like us with life experience, but that doesn't mean it won't deter other well qualified candidates. One of the other schools I applied to does rounds of applications, so it isn't unheard of. For that school, the first round is based solely on your scores, and the next rounds are essays and interviews.

I have a lot of other hypotheses, but since I can't actually test any of them, I won't even get into it. These are just thoughts and speculation! Haha!

The bottom line is, don't be discouraged, applicants! It will be worth your effort in the end.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I agree that essays and references are a benefit to students like us with life experience, but that doesn't mean it won't deter other well qualified candidates. One of the other schools I applied to does rounds of applications, so it isn't unheard of. For that school, the first round is based solely on your scores, and the next rounds are essays and interviews.

I have a lot of other hypotheses, but since I can't actually test any of them, I won't even get into it. These are just thoughts and speculation! Haha!

The bottom line is, don't be discouraged, applicants! It will be worth your effort in the end.

I get what you're saying, but if someone really wanted to go to St. David's SON I don't think an essay would discourage them. I do agree with the references as those can be difficult to get especially when you're in a class of 200-250 people. Everyone I talked to at Texas State that isn't applying to St. David's is due to one of three things. 1: they didn't meet the requirements. 2: they don't think Texas State's nursing school is all that prestigious and 3: they don't want to move to Round Rock/ want a nursing program that is closer to home. Those are the reasons I've heard the most. I'd say about 1/3 of the people I talk to from class applied to St. David's, and an even less amount have St. David's as their school of choice. So for all the transfer students who applied, don't get too worried because a vast majority of Texas State students didn't even apply to St. David's. I have a feeling you'll be competing more so with the other transfer students. Again, good luck to everyone and hopefully we'll all get some good news towards the end of March!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Very valid points. We can't speak for the experiences of other people. Geographic location, prestige, marks, essay and reference requirements can all be factors. All of the people I talked to in BIO 1330 and the accompanying lab last semester said that it had to do with not being sure that they would have prereqs done in time to apply for Fall, so they were choosing to apply for Spring starts elsewhere. Block start dates and a limit of two applications can really derail a graduation deadline!

There may be several variables, and we can't pinpoint any one reason without doing proper research. We obviously are not the experts.

I have heard the 60/40 ratio before, so transfers don't have much less possibility of being accepted than current students.

That being said, I wish everyone the best!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I wish we didn't have to wait until March :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Same.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well think of it this way... we find out next month! í ½í¸€

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion