UA MEPN 2019

U.S.A. Arizona

Published

Hey guys I know we have months before the application due date but I have just recently decided that I am going to apply for UA's MEPN program. I'm currently finishing up microbiology and will finish off my prerequisites once I complete organic chemistry in the fall. I am extremely excited and also nervous to be applying. I still have to take the HESI so if you guys can offer any tips on how to prepare for it especially the vocab section that'd be great! Does anyone know how many apply vs are accepted and the stats of those who are usually accepted into the program? Also I'd greatly appreciate any insight on how the program is from students that have graduated from the program or current students of the program. Thanks!

I'm from Los Angeles as my handle alludes. I finally took the HESI last week for the first time. I knew it wasn't going to be tremendously difficult, but took a huge chance anyway if I had a mental collapse. I found after the first section, that once you summit an answer you couldn't go back. I was going to take it back in November so I could take it twice but had a big class load. I was disappointed I didn't have access to the Anatomy section because the Arizona nursing website said I could skip it, so thought I could still do it for another program. However, Arizona is my first choice.

Anyway, my numbers are very similar to lemm916 and araew2129 and chose Tuscon preferred for the full college experience. My Pre-reqs are 4.0 (I retook two to bump it up), last 60 are 3.88 (1 non-A) and 95 on the HESI. I am sure based on previous history those numbers are good enough.

I believe the Phoenix location watches the lectures via a feed from Tuscon. I actually think online lectures are better than in person if we have access to re-watch at our leisure and other features. So hopefully in Tuscon, we will have the best of both worlds.

The biggest concern now is if my application was sufficiently completed and if there is any scholarship assistance or aid for the $53K out-of-state tuition. My last Fall Grade wasn't posted until December 24th and that school couldn't electronically sent the grades to CAS. So it was snail mailed January 4th cross country.

Anyway, as a reminded in the small print on the application, I sent in my fingerprints to Public Safety for the possible interview and you guys should too if you haven't already. That cost about $90 for the whole process ($65 app, $15 UPS fingerprint fee, $5 check fee, $3 shipping and handling)

If I get an interview, I am planning on driving and hopefully seeing the Phoenix facilities too. I believe there should be a tour and a meeting with current students Interview Day, Saturday, February 16th in Tuscson.

Even though I have finished all my pre-reqs, I'm planning to take a community college Pharmacology and a Pathophysiology class because I hear they are tough subjects in Nursing early on plus don't want to start classes cold. My Pharmacology class is online and a good amount of schools offer them.

Here's a listing from another school in case you are interested.

https://www.samuelmerritt.edu/nursing/suggested_patho_courses

Good luck to all and thanks for the previous writings. I look forward to the future ones.

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Specializes in MSICU.

I just finished pathophysiology (which is a prereq to another program I applied to) and found it super helpful! I am very glad I took it. I took it in person at Pima, but for anyone interested, Rio Salado also offers it online. Great idea on the pharmacology as well!

Yes, there is definitely a meet and greet with students from other cohorts on interview day. I know someone who got in last cycle and she said it was very helpful.

LAHammer, in your research on fingerprinting, did you find any info for those who already have a clearance card? Mine is level one and expires in 2020. I wonder if I need to do something with it to be re-endorsed by the university?

Are you applying to another program? In LA or somewhere else? I believe you can take the Hesi again if you need to. Only the U of A requires the 6 weeks between tests, not Elsevier (as far as I know anyway!).

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Hello Araew2129 and others,

I am applying to other programs around the country but not many as of now.

I think you should be fine, since on the application as you might have seen says:

Fingerprint Clearance Card

A level 1 Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card (FCC) will be required. In order to interview, a copy of your completed application or a physical card will be required. FCC cards can be obtained from the Arizona Department of Public Safety. If you do not currently have a FCC, we highly recommend applying for a card immediately.

Note: In addition to the Department of Public Safety Fingerprint Clearance Card required by the College of Nursing, separate agencies and clinical sites may require screening procedures such as background checks, resumes, references, influenza (flu), and/or fingerprinting prior to permitting student clinical placements in the agency or clinical site.

I am applying to other programs

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Thank you 918hopeful! That helps tremendously. I'm a single mom of 3 kids and I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to make it all work. :-)

I was told that they will start notifying people the first week of February for interviews mid month.

MY STATS

PRE-REQS: 3.8

LAST 60: 3.7

HESI: 98

Good luck everyone!

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I just found out that my transcripts have been verified and my application has been reviewed. Interview is 2/16, if chosen for one. Fingers crossed!!!!

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Thanks @tkelly11 for the heads-up.

I just got the same email this morning. I was a little concerned because I turned in my application the morning of the day it was due so knew it would take some time to get it verified.

I noticed NursingCas made two minor errors that affect my overall cumulative GPA. It won't affect my Arizona app but will try to get it fixed.

I'm surprised there aren't that many people on this chat compared to year's past, but I'm sure there are people that are reading this that haven't commented. I would love to hear from others.

Well, again good luck to all!!!

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Specializes in MSICU.

Yes, NursingCAS is a mess. They somehow lowered my GPA to 3.77 instead of 3.89 and they also have my university (Arizona State University) listed as "Not Listed Canadian." I mean... the name of the university literally states that it is a US school! Grr... I emailed them to fix it but they said that they will not change the grade/GPA thing due to the way they "standardize" everything and they also said it does not matter how they listed my university since transcripts are received and verified. Um, whatever. I hate their system.

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I talked to a NursingCas customer rep about it.

It has to do with Academic Forgiveness programs. The lady said NursingCas doesn't use it even though some schools might.

So if someone forgot to withdraw from a class and got a F (even many years ago), that's going to hurt the GPA probably like .03 to .05 overall, which can be somewhat significant if you are borderline.

One solution is do what companies do for people who have poor Internet searches on themselves; they pad information so the bad stuff is way back and the general public won't make the effort to see the stuff on page 10 or so. So someone can take classes until those low grades are out of your Last 60 range. But for programs that look at your cumulative grades since high school, there's not much to do except look for programs that best suit your numbers.

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Specializes in MSICU.

I never failed or failed to withdraw. I did an official withdrawal on 2, maybe 3, courses but they show as a W on my transcripts. Still I don't believe this should bring my overall GPA more than 1% lower. Oh well. Thankfully they do not hurt my last 60. I'm not going to stress about it too much.

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Maybe there aren't as many posts because there arr less applicants? I'll hold my breath lol. Just to give some perspective, I applied last year and these were my stats: last 60 3.2, prereq 3.6, and hesi 94. I was an alternate and never made it in. I retook some classes, and applied this year with: last 60 3.37, prereq 3.77, and hesi 94. I'm hoping since I was so close last year, this will be enough to push me through. I know my interview went pretty well. Nursing cas was a nightmare compared to applying last year! I really hope they didn't mess things up for us :( they said interview emails should go out on Feb 1st. Fingers crossed for everyone!

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Specializes in MSICU.

Nursing hopeful87, any tips for the interviews? Great job bringing up your GPAs btw!

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Specializes in ASU Nursing Student - May 2021.

I am so glad that nursing hopeful 87 posted about the interview emails going out on Feb 1st. I have not heard anything since I submitted my application, late on Jan 14th (24hrs before deadline). Also, I have not received any verification, which has become quite concerning because because I have 9 transcripts. Like a previous post, I was military family (spouse retired last year).

Stats: HESI-94%, Last 60-3.5 , Prereq-3.7

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