UBC BSN September 2019 Applicants

[mb96]

Hi everybody! I haven't found an active discussion thread for September 2019 applicants to UBC's BSN program yet, so here is one!

[Natalie Gould]

Wow Jen! Your application sounds incredible, I am sure you’re going to get in!

[Candace_K]

Hi Everyone,

I too have been lurking for a while, so I thought it was about time I introduce myself. Especially since we all seem to be in the same nail biting waiting stage together.

This is my first time applying to a nursing program. I got a BSc in microbiology from UBC years ago, and have been working in labs and industry every since. I decided to finally take the plunge and pursue my dream of being in healthcare earlier this year, and went back part-time to get some pre-req's done for application season.
I've been doing english, stats, and A&P through college this past year and have been getting straight A's, but I'm scared my very average grades from my last year of undergrad are going to hurt me. I was just a B/B- student back then.

Ah well. I'm hoping they see this past academic year as proof I've improved my study habits. I also volunteer at the hospital every week, so with work, school, and volunteering I'm hoping the supplemental outweighs those bad grades.

Good luck to everyone! And especially thanks for helping me prep for CASPer. Those quizlet cards from a few pages back were wonderful. Also, how terrible was the acting in those videos?

[yahjeh]

1 hour ago, Candace_K said:

Hi Everyone,

I too have been lurking for a while, so I thought it was about time I introduce myself. Especially since we all seem to be in the same nail biting waiting stage together.

This is my first time applying to a nursing program. I got a BSc in microbiology from UBC years ago, and have been working in labs and industry every since. I decided to finally take the plunge and pursue my dream of being in healthcare earlier this year, and went back part-time to get some pre-req's done for application season.
I've been doing english, stats, and A&P through college this past year and have been getting straight A's, but I'm scared my very average grades from my last year of undergrad are going to hurt me. I was just a B/B- student back then.

Ah well. I'm hoping they see this past academic year as proof I've improved my study habits. I also volunteer at the hospital every week, so with work, school, and volunteering I'm hoping the supplemental outweighs those bad grades.

Good luck to everyone! And especially thanks for helping me prep for CASPer. Those quizlet cards from a few pages back were wonderful. Also, how terrible was the acting in those videos?

I feel like we are in the same boat. I had to bring up my GPA as well. It's good the application process is not solely based on grades. ?

haha yes, the acting was terrible! I work at an acting school and we had a good laugh at the vids!

[mb96, BSN, RN]

On 4/5/2019 at 2:59 PM, yahjeh said:

Also it would be nice if a few of us got in and then we have a few friends before the program starts ?

It would be good for sure.

*cringes* I saw the new posts - HELLO guys - and I'm scared now because I truly think my extracurriculars/supplemental is so average compared to all of you with massive healthcare and/or stellar leadership experience. I do not have a Bachelor's degree and mostly dedicated all of my time to studying and picking up volunteering/leadership opportunities when I was able during school time (have no shifts at the hospital or majorly formal health organization experience -- simply Nursing Home + UBC Mental Health and Vice volunteering). Again, I'm not extremely eager to get in right off the bat (I have backup after all) and I'm lowering my expectations so that I'm not disappointed, but most of the anxiety about getting admitted definitely stems from the "perfect candidate" UBC looks for, and frankly, none of us have ANY idea. ?

[mb96, BSN, RN]

On 4/6/2019 at 6:41 AM, Jentheaspiringnurse said:

Hi Everyone!

I've posted on here before but I thought I'd introduce myself (since this forum is getting quite popular!). I am currently a fourth-year Health Studies major and Business Certificate student at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. I am applying with a 3.97 out of 4.3 (Queen's Scale), which converts to around a 4.0/4.33 or 86 on the UBC scale, and a 3.84 on the 4.0 scale.

For my experience, I have worked as a Social Change Specialist at Leave the Pack Behind (an Ontario tobacco control program that helps students quit smoking) for 3 years now, this is a paid position. I volunteered for the Queen's University Blood team, where I worked one-on-one with nurses in the blood clinics. For my fourth-year practicum placement (1 year) I worked with the Canadian Mental Health Association to market their Mental Health First Aid program to students and faculty at Queen's. I also volunteered for Peer Health educator's (organized outreach events with a healthy cooking club/run club/ residence yoga). Finally, I attended the Healthcare and Business conference as a delegate. My extracurriculars aren't really research or hospital-based like a majority of applicants on here, but I hope that won't matter! I definitely had a lot to talk about in this application.

My Casper test wasn't that bad. I didn't leave any questions blank which is good. It's always hard to judge how well you do on tests where you don't receive your results back!

I'm really hoping to get admitted here because I put a lot of work into my application and I know UBC would give me a fresh start! I also applied to U of T and Western, but my applications for those schools aren't nearly as strong. Fingers crossed for everyone, the waiting game is the hardest part.

Jen

That's an absolutely jaw-dropping application, Jen!! Here's to hoping you get in (and I'm sure you will).

I didn't leave any questions blank either -- only if I already answered what the next questions were asking to save time i.e. See question 1, See question 2 etc.

[Jeunesse LaFrance]

17 minutes ago, mb96 said:

It would be good for sure.

*cringes* I saw the new posts - HELLO guys - and I'm scared now because I truly think my extracurriculars/supplemental is so average compared to all of you with massive healthcare and/or stellar leadership experience. I do not have a Bachelor's degree and mostly dedicated all of my time to studying and picking up volunteering/leadership opportunities when I was able during school time (have no shifts at the hospital or majorly formal health organization experience -- simply Nursing Home + UBC Mental Health and Vice volunteering). Again, I'm not extremely eager to get in right off the bat (I have backup after all) and I'm lowering my expectations so that I'm not disappointed, but most of the anxiety about getting admitted definitely stems from the "perfect candidate" UBC looks for, and frankly, none of us have ANY idea. ?

Yes I was brainstorming what the perfect candidate would be! Who they choose also depends on who applies but here’s an example of how I think it works:

If someone has a B average but then years of healthcare experience, they would be chosen over someone that has an A+ average but little to no work experience. 80-85% of chosen applicants all have their bachelors as well.

[mb96, BSN, RN]

1 minute ago, Kathleen L said:

Who they choose also depends on who applies but here’s an example of how I think it works:

If someone has a B average but then years of healthcare experience, they would be chosen over someone that has an A+ average but little work experience. 80-85% of chosen applicants all have their bachelors as well.

I think it works that way too -- it was on the info slides. I had a friend who got in with an A- as an undergrad (no bachelors) (there's a few of them) so I'm simply praying.

[sss29]

23 minutes ago, Kathleen L said:

Yes I was brainstorming what the perfect candidate would be! Who they choose also depends on who applies but here’s an example of how I think it works:

If someone has a B average but then years of healthcare experience, they would be chosen over someone that has an A+ average but little to no work experience. 80-85% of chosen applicants all have their bachelors as well.

Does anyone know whether they want paid or unpaid health experience... I have zero unpaid because I wanted to get a 4yr bachelor's degree I know that BCIT likes paid health-care work! So hopefully i have better chances at UBC

[neuronurse25]

On 4/6/2019 at 12:36 PM, Natalie Gould said:

Wow Jen! Your application sounds incredible, I am sure you’re going to get in!

4 hours ago, mb96 said:

That's an absolutely jaw-dropping application, Jen!! Here's to hoping you get in (and I'm sure you will).

I didn't leave any questions blank either -- only if I already answered what the next questions were asking to save time i.e. See question 1, See question 2 etc.

Awh thanks so much! I really hope so ❤️ I hope you guys do too! If we all get in, we all need to go out for drinks and celebrate at UBC haha.

That's a good idea! I heard that answering multiple questions in one happens a lot since they're all so similar. If only we knew how we did on the Casper, then we could judge our chances of getting in more!!

[neuronurse25]

4 hours ago, sss29 said:

Does anyone know whether they want paid or unpaid health experience... I have zero unpaid because I wanted to get a 4yr bachelor's degree I know that BCIT likes paid health-care work! So hopefully i have better chances at UBC

I don't think it matters tbh! As a nurse, I believe it shows a lot if you're willing to dedicate your time in any way possible to help others ?

[mb96, BSN, RN]

2 hours ago, Jentheaspiringnurse said:

Awh thanks so much! I really hope so ❤️ I hope you guys do too! If we all get in, we all need to go out for drinks and celebrate at UBC haha.

That's a good idea! I heard that answering multiple questions in one happens a lot since they're all so similar. If only we knew how we did on the Casper, then we could judge our chances of getting in more!!

Thank you! ? And 100% — I’d love to meet you guys before Nursing School starts!! We’ll definitely need a support network to get through the grueling curriculum together!

Yeah it was a common thing I saw people talking about on past CASPer forums! I didn’t think it was too difficult - the acting was so bad it made me laugh, and I giggled out loud a few times during some clips, with the webcam/supervisors watching me LOL

[mb96, BSN, RN]

2 hours ago, Jentheaspiringnurse said:

I don't think it matters tbh! As a nurse, I believe it shows a lot if you're willing to dedicate your time in any way possible to help others ?

Seconding this — I don’t think it matters! What I’ve learned from talking to people already in the program is that UBC tries not to discriminate on things such as one applicant having ‘unpaid experience’ vs another having ‘paid experience’. As long as your passion for helping others shines, you should have an equal chance as everyone else!