UBC Nursing

MPKH, BSN, RN · May 15, 2009

Ah that makes sense. But she was rejected and not wait listed, so that just seem odd to me that's all. As well when I visited UBC today, they said they do not retain applicant information from past cycles...so I don't know. Maybe it's just one of those internal things they don't tell us.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · May 15, 2009

Was she rejected or not accepted? There is a difference. If they have 100 seats and 200 qualified applicants they might waitlist 25 and "not accept" 75. That doesn't mean that they were "rejected" just that there wasn't a seat for them. And perhaps they don't keep applicant information but if you interviewed someone who really impressed you, it's possible you'll recognize that name a year later when it crosses your desk again, especially if the application includes a photo. I interviewed for a position several years ago that I wasn't able to accept for nearly a year. The manager who interviewed me didn't recognize me when I showed up for work until she realized that I had cut a foot and a half of my hair off. But she remembered "me" the person she had interviewed. That is probably what's at work in your scenario.

jamnyu · May 15, 2009

Hi all,

I received an offer from UBC this past Wednesday. YAY! If you are wondering if an offer is "real", it is 4 pages long. However, I have a friend working in the UBC-Okanagan school of nursing and she tells me they absolutely do NOT carry over applications from previous years and everyone has to interview each year. But if you feel something unfair happened you should talk to UBC...just make sure you have facts, not rumors.

However...the real reason I am posting. If you REALLY want to go into nursing why not relocate? The University of Calgary GUARANTEES admission to the 2 year accelerated BSN if you have a gpa of B (3.0/4.0) or better!!! It is a very good school and very nice city to live in. The website takes some time to look through but the prerequisites are quite standard. Take a look. PLUS, the job market is still pretty good in Alberta.

I applied to both schools, accepted to both, but will be attending UBC. But that doesn't mean I think any less of UofC. Good luck with your plans!

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · May 15, 2009

The job market in Alberta right now is actually pretty dismal. There's a province-wide hiring freeze in place at the moment, although the official word is that there's just a slow-down. Surgeries are being cut back by 15% at the Royal Alex in Edmonton, there are rumours of rural hospital closures and downgradings and 100+ managers are looking at layoffs in the next few weeks, many of them nurses who will be looking for work. Of course I don't have a crystal ball and can't predict what will happen two years from now, but six months ago I never would have foreseen this state of affairs.

jamnyu · May 15, 2009

That is all true...but you have to remember just how much Alberta grew these past few years...so a bit of correction is to be expected. Anyway, oil is on the way back up...hopefully the conservative government will do a better job of managing the next boom. Why do they always cut education and health-care when times get tough? Not too creative. At least a person might be able to afford a house in Calgary if they chose to go there...LOL!

BTW...University of Alberta may also be a good option. I hear the University of Saskatchewan also has an accelerated BSN for university graduates. Lots of options if you are mobile.

MPKH, BSN, RN · May 15, 2009

@ janfrn, she was rejected. She got a rejection letter last year (not waitlisted, the usual we are regretful that we can not accept you due to high competition, but do try again next year kind of email). I am not sure how to bring it up to the admission committee--It seem to be rude to just go "I know someone who got in without an interview" and I would be pointing fingers. And I wouldn't want to have to name names. And it's not even my business, really. Her admission doesn't really affect my chances of being accepted from the waitlist--people will still decline their offers regardless, but I just thought it was a bit fishy that's all. I understand what you said about remembering people because they made a positive impression on you. It makes sense. But for now, I think I'm just going to not think about it--I have other things to worry about, such as waiting for a spot to become free. :)

I really was just venting last night.

jamnyu · May 15, 2009

hi

did anyone else here get accepted at UBC at is also waiting to hear about rez?

i am # 79 on the list right now.

anyone know how quickly this line moves?

thx

jamnyu · May 15, 2009

hi simplicitygirl

i don't know if it was helpful, but did you look at UofCalgary?

i noticed someone else on this thread has decided to move to alberta (uofc).

if you are interested for this september the deadline is June 30

good luck

MPKH, BSN, RN · May 15, 2009

Hmm, thanks I'll look into it. I think I'm going to finish up my bio degree if I don't get in this year, and then apply to more places next year =)

springsheen · May 16, 2009

Hey SimplicityGirl,

Unfortunately UBC does have the habit of sending out acceptance letters to applicants who were not qualified.

Case in point:

Last year, an acquaintance of mine applied for UBC Pharmacy and was not offered an interview. The applicant has failed prerequisite courses before, so it was not necessarily surprising.

After the rounds of interview had finished, the applicant unexpectedly received an acceptance letter for the Pharmacy program. The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences denied the applicant's request to register for Pharmacy courses, because they believe that the applicant was unfit, having not even received an interview. The Faculty, however, did admit that the acceptance letter was sent by mistake.

The applicant then went on to appeal to the AMS Senate, under the premise that the acceptance letter is a legally binding document, and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences is required to allot a spot within the program to the said applicant. The Senate ruled in the applicant's favour and is now fully accepted in the program.

Ridiculous? Yes. It happens.

Is this an exactly identical case to which you are referring to? Maybe, maybe not. I share this story only to inform you that these things happen, and are kept quiet.

MPKH, BSN, RN · May 17, 2009

Yah, I was quite baffled she got the acceptance letter at all. To me, I just found it to be rather unfair to the rest of us. I'm not saying this because I'm bitter that she got an acceptance with no work at all, and I'm stuck waiting for a spot to open; I'm not. I just think that, to be offered acceptance like that, it's unfair. I understand if the applications were carried over from year to year, or if they had a waiting list, but that's not the case. She was rejected last year, and was not offered an interview this year...and I don't see how or why she should be getting an acceptance letter.

I am really thinking about telling the committee about it, but I don't want to come off as accusing, or pointing fingers. I wish there were some ways I can tell them discretely (rather like those anonymous store evaluation sheets), but even then, it's not like it's gonna do anything. You can't un-accept someone after you accepted them. But still, I just feel that it's unfair to the rest of us who actually went through the procedure and are on pins and needles waiting for a spot.

Am I correct to assume that Nursing isn't going to notice the mistake on their own? And if they are, they can't do anything about it? Ridiculous much?

springsheen · May 17, 2009

Well, the Nursing staff may or may not notice their mistake when it comes time for course registration. She could be on the class list depending on how the error was made, in which case they will not realize it.

However, as a person who also holds a spot in the wait list and as an applicant, I am definitely curious as to how she received an acceptance letter without going to the interview. I believe we definitely deserve an answer here, so I highly encourage you to bring this to the attention of the admission committee. For me, either they made an honest mistake or there was an alternate way of evaluating applications that we don't know of. Either way, I'd much rather know what happened than to be left pondering for the rest of the summer.