TWU Fast Track-Practical Info, Please!

jspacegirl · Aug 23, 2008

I guess the easiest way to answer your question is to type a summary of my schedule throughout the semesters, to the best of my memory:

1st Semester (Summer):

Lecture/Lab (and clinical during the second half of the summer): M-F 9a-5p

2nd Semester (Fall):

Lecture: M 10-11a, Th 9a- 3p, Fri 9a-12p

Clinical: Tu 630a-630p

3rd Semester (Spring):

Lecture: M 2-4p, Tu 9a-3p, plus an online lecture-only class

Clinical: W 12p-6p, Th 8a-3p, F 630a-1230p

4th Semester (Summer):

Lecture: M 8a-12p, and ocasionally a M 2-5p

Clinical: Thurs: 630a-5p, and whatever days I had free to fit in 168 clinical hours for my preceptorship

Basically, all of your lectures will be lumped together, and for each individual class (i.e., Psych, OB, MedSurg, etc), you will only have one long lecture day per week per course, instead of the traditional college schedule where you would go MWF for 50 minutes each day.

During the summer semesters (well, the first summer, anyway), school will feel like your full time job. During Spring and Summer, you will have a little more freedom. I don't know if I explained this clearly enough, so if you have any questions, let me know!

AggieNurse2B · Aug 23, 2008

A million thanks to you. That is EXACTLY what I needed. I just needed to know what to expect so I could start thinking about childcare. I now see that I'll have a little different schedule each semester...Provided I get in! :eek:

Thanks again for such a thorough answer! :bow:

Princess_WannaBe · Aug 24, 2008

jspacegirl would you happen to know that stats of your class?? I was wondering what gpa and NET scores would be competitive enough to get in. Thanks

BrittRN2b · Aug 24, 2008

You might also look into the accelerated BSN program at UT Houston. I'm currently in the program and all of the classes are online so you just come to campus for labs and tests. Also it is 12 months instead of 15 months. There are advantages to each program, but I'm glad I chose the one at UT because it fits my lifestyle better and it is 6 months shorter.

jspacegirl · Aug 24, 2008

jspacegirl would you happen to know that stats of your class?? I was wondering what gpa and NET scores would be competitive enough to get in. Thanks

I honestly don't know what the stats were. You might see if the nursing admissions counselor would be able to tell you that. What I do know is that I think that the accelerated BSN program is not as difficult to get into because there aren't as many people who apply to it because obviously not as many people already have a BA or a BS. All I know is that my GPA was 4.0 and my NET was in the 90s, so I'm not much help!

Princess_WannaBe · Aug 24, 2008

jspacegirl that's what I was thinking it would be less competitive to get in. I have a 3.5 and made a 88 on the NET. I know I threw my money away on the regular program but I will apply for the accelerated and weekend program and see what happens. I really wanted to go to TWU but I doubt I will make the cut. I will look into UT-Houston accelerated program. I was going to apply for their traditional program anyways.

AggieNurse2B · Aug 25, 2008

When I talked to the advisor in January, she told me that my 3.7ish GPA would've gotten me in for the last field of applicants, but she couldn't guarantee it would get me in during my application period (for Summer '09). Of course, it depends on the field of applicants in the semester for which you're applying. For that reason, I'm re-taking Chem this semester (shoot me now :banghead: ) to raise me up to a 3.85ish GPA. She said she still couldn't guarantee me admission (of course), but she did say that it would have to be one heck of an outstanding field of applicants for me NOT to get in with that.

Pray she's right, y'all. Pray. :specs:

Hope that helps.

Princess_WannaBe · Aug 25, 2008

Sounds like you should get in. I doubt I'll get into TWU. I'm retaking Micro right now for a better grade. I REFUSE :banghead: to take chem over. That was my minor in undergrad and I hated it. Good thing I'm applying to other schools but TWU was my dream school but I guess as long as I have RN at the end of my name it shouldn't matter

jspacegirl · Aug 27, 2008

Aggie: You should totally make it in!

And one thing I want to add (to all of you people who are fighting tooth and nail to get into non-second degree programs) is that just because it's "less" competitive to get into a second degree program does not by any means mean that those students are dumb or undeserving of getting into nursing school, or that it's not fair. Obviously since accelerated BSN students already have a bachelor's degree in another field, they weren't planning on going into nursing in the first place, so they didn't know they had to have a super perfect GPA.

For my first bachelor's degree, I had a 3.78 GPA, and graduated Magna cum Laude. Obviously that's nothing to sneeze at, but once I learned I how competitive it was to get into nursing school, suddenly that 3.78 doesn't look so good. I was stunned when I went to go register at the community college for some nursing pre-req classes, and the counselor told me "oh honey, you have to have a 4.0 to get into nursing school." Here I was, at a community college, I had graduated with a bachelor's degree magna cum laude, and this woman is telling me that's not good enough!?? Welcome to the crazy world of nursing school!

Princess_WannaBe · Aug 27, 2008

Aggie I really hope you do get in. I'm rethinking applying to the accelerated at TWU now. I guess it will depend on what I make after I retake this micro since it sounds like a 3.5 isn't good enough to gain acceptance.

AggieNurse2B · Aug 27, 2008

Not so fast, Princess! It's strictly dependent upon the GPAs of the other applicants at the time that you're applying. You could very well get in with a 3.5 and a decent NET, so don't give up!!! Don't let that 3.5 keep you from applying.