U of C Degree holder/Transfer Route Nursing Jan 2016

jmcl · Aug 27, 2015

Honestly, the wait to find out is the worst, and it seems U of C admissions is a little disorganized when it comes to this stuff. I waited for a long time with no change on my status in the student centre, and finally decided I'd just call and see what was going on when the nursing department actually called me and asked why I wasn't just going to finish my other degree since I was 3 years into it, and then apply to the degree holder route. I told them I didn't want to do that and the woman just said "ok" and that day I was accepted. It was very strange. Sooo basically be prepared to wait and don't worry about calling in and being a pain because that might be all it takes to get them to actually let you know you've been accepted!

The program itself is great, they really ease you into it. First semester is community, and you have zero contact with patients. You don't even need to buy scrubs for this semester because you will not use them. Personally, I didn't find first semester to be very challenging and it wasn't what I was hoping to be doing in terms of nursing, but I know a few people who really enjoyed the community aspect, and it was a nice way to learn some skills without being thrown right into things.

Second semester is family through the life-span, and most people I believe had clinical placements in long-term care, so you do get hands-on patient experience, but still no hospital acute-care stuff. I'll be in the hospital for the first time this September! I found second semester to be much harder in terms of lecture content and testing, but the practical aspects were quite simple.. we learned how to do the job of healthcare aides, basically.

DanSutherland · Sep 9, 2015

I heard The cutoff for this year is 3.7. Anyone hear anything different? It seems so high. Gonna be a tough year

mainurse · Sep 9, 2015

How did you hear?? It seems so highâ€¦ Admissions said the last year was 3.3...

DanSutherland · Sep 10, 2015

I heard it "through the grapevein". I'm really hoping what I heard was wrong. 3.7 is quite high.

DanSutherland · Sep 10, 2015

*Grapevine. Anyways, hopefully I'm wrong.

ultra_violet · Sep 10, 2015

Seriously?! If I had a 3.7 or higher, I'd be applying to med school.... :sniff:

deguidi · Sep 14, 2015

Hi everyone. I know from experience I was second on the wait list last year for the 2015 entry with a 3.38 GPA. The cutoff ended up being 3.40 and I did not get in. And the GPA before that was 3.30 in 2014. Currently I upgraded and have a 3.59 GPA, which hopefully will be enough. I really don't think that the grades will sky-rocket, if every year it has increased by 0.1 or below!

They start accepting people once the deadline for transcripts is complete, which is September 30. Therefore, I don't know what you have heard through the "grapevine" but nobody has been accepted into the program until after that deadline. They start with the highest GPAs, so yes they do start at 3.70 and above but they lower it and most people with 3.50 and above will be accepted by about the middle to end of October. I have a friend with a 3.70 GPA last year that didn't hear until mid October that she got in. So do not fret everyone!!! Trust me, I know from experience and pestering the admission department a TON last year. Like one of the previous posts said, don't be afraid to call and ask questions about your admission status and the GPA cutoff after September 30!!

Good luck everyone!

yyc123 · Sep 15, 2015

Hi everyone! I also applied for degree-holder accelerated nursing program. I talked to ***** in advising today and she said the first round of offers typically goes to people with a 3.7 or above...and then they subsequently lower the GPA until all the seats are filled. I believe the GPA was 3.42 last year, so I'm hoping it isn't much higher than that this year...but I guess it depends on the applicant pool.

Best of luck to everyone!

DanSutherland · Sep 16, 2015

That sounds much more reasonable. Thanks for the clarification!

soorieh · Sep 19, 2015

Hey guys,

Just wondering has anyone heard back yet? And if you did/got accepted do you mind revealing your GPA, just so I have an idea for my chances. Thanks :)

ultra_violet · Sep 22, 2015

youngjames said they're accepting 3.5 and higher for now.

youngjames · Sep 22, 2015

Hi, has anyone received admission for the BNDH at U of C? I called and was told that they have only just started accepting those who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.