Texas Tech University ABSN - 2026

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Sup everybody ! knowing it's a bit early, but I just wanted to start this thread for those applying to Texas Tech ABSN 2026 program. Anyone here plan on applying? 

Specializes in Critical care.
sophiMA said:

Thanks for participating! 

I'm just wondering how you found the program overall, how were the classes, did you feel prepared for the NCLEX? Also how were your clinical structured and do you know how they've changed?

The program overall was OK. I don't think you're gonna find a single program that isn't chaotic. The classes were easy. A bunch of busy work as to be expected, I was well prepared for the NCLEX 100%. That would be a strength of the program as they prepare you starting from the beginning. My clinicals were less structured. We were assigned a clinical coach who was a nurse and one of the hospitals and that's who I followed all year long, once a week 12 hours a day 7a-7p for the entire program, my clinical schedule mimic my coach. I could pick any day I wanted as long as she was there.  From what I understand that model has changed and it's more regimented.  everyone shows up and you get dispersed throughout the hospital for eight hours and then you all come back together and talk about your day. Mine was very independent I came and went on my own.

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I have applied already...I'm still completing a few Prerequisites as well. 

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Will-1 said:

The program overall was OK. I don't think you're gonna find a single program that isn't chaotic. The classes were easy. A bunch of busy work as to be expected, I was well prepared for the NCLEX 100%. That would be a strength of the program as they prepare you starting from the beginning. My clinicals were less structured. We were assigned a clinical coach who was a nurse and one of the hospitals and that's who I followed all year long, once a week 12 hours a day 7a-7p for the entire program, my clinical schedule mimic my coach. I could pick any day I wanted as long as she was there.  From what I understand that model has changed and it's more regimented.  everyone shows up and you get dispersed throughout the hospital for eight hours and then you all come back together and talk about your day. Mine was very independent I came and went on my own.

Hi Will-1! By "easy" do you mean that it didn't require late night/ excessive studying? Can you still have a night or two a week to just relax or does it require utilizing every moment you can? For instance, I am someone who found pre reqs "easy" because it was straight forward and I knew exactly how to study for them. But I am just kind of wondering how you define easy. THANK YOU. Just trying to mentally prepare for it and also prepare for extra childcare since I have two little ones. Will I have any free time at all? (I am a good student that studies pretty efficiently and gets As in sciences)

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Specializes in Critical care.
heytherern said:

Hi Will-1! By "easy" do you mean that it didn't require late night/ excessive studying? Can you still have a night or two a week to just relax or does it require utilizing every moment you can? For instance, I am someone who found pre reqs "easy" because it was straight forward and I knew exactly how to study for them. But I am just kind of wondering how you define easy. THANK YOU. Just trying to mentally prepare for it and also prepare for extra childcare since I have two little ones. Will I have any free time at all? (I am a good student that studies pretty efficiently and gets As in sciences)

Easy is a bad way to put it. Some classes are harder than others. We lost 3 to grades in the first term. So it can be hard if you don't take it seriously. Pharmacology is in the first term and it gets some people. I'm a 4.0 student with over 25 years in healthcare. (Paramedic) and no kids at home, so it will be "easier" for me for those reasons alone. We had a few moms and 2 single moms so it is doable for sure. Pretty easy to take a day for yourself if needed. The best piece of advice I could ever give you is work ahead, work way ahead every time they offer you a chance work ahead. Look at the calendars and the classes and if they open the assignments do them. You may find yourself in a space where you were like, I'm done for the week, I can just coast. I will say look at the next week and do what you can and there will be time for coasting when everyone else is scrambling on that last minute assignment, they just opened up and forgot to tell you that's due in three days on top of all the other work you gotta get done but newsflash you've already done it because you worked ahead now all you have to do is work on this new assignment they just dumped on you. Yeah, that happens. 
 

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Hi, I am in the process of applying! I am super anxious currently. What locations are you all applying for? I'm doing Dallas.

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sophiMA said:

Thanks for participating! 

I'm just wondering how you found the program overall, how were the classes, did you feel prepared for the NCLEX? Also how were your clinical structured and do you know how they've changed?

Hi there! I am currently in the program now and thought I would throw some info out. Overall the program is well structured and organized. Expectations are laid out very early during orientation and the professors will stick to what they say. It is very much an individual driven program, and by that I mean you have to put in the effort to stay on task and keep up with the program. If you fall behind on assignments it would be difficult to catch up. I will say there are great resources provided, and all of the professors I have interacted with truly do want to see you succeed and are willing to help if you ask. 

In regards to the NCLEX I would I say I feel prepared for it. All of the exams and assignments mimic it to a degree. I am not worried about passing it in the future, but that doesn't mean I am not going to study for it. 

For clinical I know each campus is a little different. The goal of the program is to assign you to one preceptor to work with throughout the year, that way they know your skill level, which in my opinion promotes better learning. For myself I follow my preceptors schedule and have the freedom to pick which days I go to clinical. Thankfully my preceptor works 4-5 days a week so I have a lot of freedom in building my schedule. The other thing I really enjoy with this program is you are asked what area you are interested in for clinical and then are placed there. So for myself I wanted to do ICU and have done nearly all of my clinical's in the ICU starting the 5th week of the first semester. There are opportunities to go on other units and experience them, don't think if you get assigned ER that you are stuck there if you don't like it. At the end of the day, this program is designed to get you through as quickly as possible and onto a unit, and to be comfortable in that unit once you start working. 

It's a great program and I have learned a ton in a short amount of time. I will say if you are not coming from a previous medical background like myself, be prepared to put in a little extra work to try and figure out terminology and the basics of medical field. If there are anymore questions I will do my best to respond to them in the future! 

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TTU Hopeful said:

Hi there! I am currently in the program now and thought I would throw some info out. Overall the program is well structured and organized. Expectations are laid out very early during orientation and the professors will stick to what they say. It is very much an individual driven program, and by that I mean you have to put in the effort to stay on task and keep up with the program. If you fall behind on assignments it would be difficult to catch up. I will say there are great resources provided, and all of the professors I have interacted with truly do want to see you succeed and are willing to help if you ask. 

In regards to the NCLEX I would I say I feel prepared for it. All of the exams and assignments mimic it to a degree. I am not worried about passing it in the future, but that doesn't mean I am not going to study for it. 

For clinical I know each campus is a little different. The goal of the program is to assign you to one preceptor to work with throughout the year, that way they know your skill level, which in my opinion promotes better learning. For myself I follow my preceptors schedule and have the freedom to pick which days I go to clinical. Thankfully my preceptor works 4-5 days a week so I have a lot of freedom in building my schedule. The other thing I really enjoy with this program is you are asked what area you are interested in for clinical and then are placed there. So for myself I wanted to do ICU and have done nearly all of my clinical's in the ICU starting the 5th week of the first semester. There are opportunities to go on other units and experience them, don't think if you get assigned ER that you are stuck there if you don't like it. At the end of the day, this program is designed to get you through as quickly as possible and onto a unit, and to be comfortable in that unit once you start working. 

It's a great program and I have learned a ton in a short amount of time. I will say if you are not coming from a previous medical background like myself, be prepared to put in a little extra work to try and figure out terminology and the basics of medical field. If there are anymore questions I will do my best to respond to them in the future! 

How was the interview process last year? Do you remember any of the questions? & how soon after the application deadline did you all get the notification that you would be moving to the interview round? 

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Kelj23 said:

How was the interview process last year? Do you remember any of the questions? & how soon after the application deadline did you all get the notification that you would be moving to the interview round? 

Interview process was very simple. It is all virtual and you record your answers and send them in. I do not remember the questions but they are direct in that they do not want that info to be given out. Im sorry I really do not remember exactly when we were notified about moving onto the next interview round. If you are willing to search the forum from last year, I would bet the dates are in there. I recall that interviews started around the beginning of August, and acceptance emails were sent out around the first week of September. 

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Will-1 said:

The program overall was OK. I don't think you're gonna find a single program that isn't chaotic. The classes were easy. A bunch of busy work as to be expected, I was well prepared for the NCLEX 100%. That would be a strength of the program as they prepare you starting from the beginning. My clinicals were less structured. We were assigned a clinical coach who was a nurse and one of the hospitals and that's who I followed all year long, once a week 12 hours a day 7a-7p for the entire program, my clinical schedule mimic my coach. I could pick any day I wanted as long as she was there.  From what I understand that model has changed and it's more regimented.  everyone shows up and you get dispersed throughout the hospital for eight hours and then you all come back together and talk about your day. Mine was very independent I came and went on my own.

Do you know how soon you recieved the ATT to schedule NCLEX? What is the soonest we will be able to take the NCLEX and start working? Thanks for helping!

TTU Hopeful said:

Interview process was very simple. It is all virtual and you record your answers and send them in. I do not remember the questions but they are direct in that they do not want that info to be given out. Im sorry I really do not remember exactly when we were notified about moving onto the next interview round. If you are willing to search the forum from last year, I would bet the dates are in there. I recall that interviews started around the beginning of August, and acceptance emails were sent out around the first week of September. 

Do you know how soon you recieved the ATT to schedule NCLEX? What is the soonest we will be able to take the NCLEX and start working? Thanks for helping!

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heytherern said:

Do you know how soon you recieved the ATT to schedule NCLEX? What is the soonest we will be able to take the NCLEX and start working? Thanks for helping!

Do you know how soon you recieved the ATT to schedule NCLEX? What is the soonest we will be able to take the NCLEX and start working? Thanks for helping!

I'm sorry I don't know yet! I'm still in the program currently working through the Summer semester! My preceptor it is common to begin applying for jobs at the end of the Summer. Once I know more about the rest of your question I'll try and remember to come back and comment. 

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Specializes in Critical care.
heytherern said:

Do you know how soon you recieved the ATT to schedule NCLEX? What is the soonest we will be able to take the NCLEX and start working? Thanks for helping!

Do you know how soon you recieved the ATT to schedule NCLEX? What is the soonest we will be able to take the NCLEX and start working? Thanks for helping!

Graduated December 18th ish, I received My ATT on Jan 5th (Sunday) and scheduled the exam for the 10th. Knew the answer on the 11th at exactly 11pm (that's when the BON website refreshes for the day.) All the data that was imputed for the day will be displayed by 11:01pm and yes they were putting out scores on the weekends! 

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I applied for the Dallas location! I'm nervous with the competitiveness. 

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