UBC's 2 yr Program or BCIT's 3 yr Program

Hamster84 · Jul 6, 2009

Wow, great. I appreciate the personal account.

springsheen · Aug 1, 2009

UBC's previous curriculum may be theory-based, but they have a new and revised curriculum that puts in a lot more clinical hours than before. It is now not far behind BCIT's total clinical hours, and I was informed that it places UBC second compared to all other nursing programs in BC.

September 2009 will be the first year with this new curriculum, so UBC is still worth looking into.

Valhalla_Pure · Aug 4, 2009

H-Dog,

Something else you may want to consider is the commute and possible clinical placements. Clinical placements at BCIT take place all over, including Surrey, New West, Burnaby, Richmond, North Van, and Vancouver. Its a little bit of a drag to live in Coquitlam and have to commute to LGH in North Van. But for the most part I was lucky and got clinicals that were a reasonably close commute to my place in Coquitlam (and I had to take the bus). But just be prepared for the possibility that you may have to commute for clinicals, and its not always possible to get the clinical placement closest to your house.

Can any UBC students comment on where most of your clinicals take place? I had heard that they were primarily in Vancouver, but that may be incorrect information. That may factor into H-dog's decision as well.

Good luck making a decision! Both schools are good, and you would get an excellent education at either school.

MPKH, BSN, RN · Aug 5, 2009

From the little blurb that was given after the interview, I got the impression that clinicals took place everywhere--Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond..etc. Some night and weekend shifts involved. The director of the program said that most (if not all) placements are easily accessible by public transport, so that's handy with the Upass.

springsheen · Aug 5, 2009

Ditto. I went to both the UBC & BCIT info/orientation sessions, and I got the impression that they were equally spread out. If applicants were hoping that UBC Nursing would only take place at the UBC Hospital, well, it ain't so, unfortunately.

I've also tried to ask the UBC Nursing staff about the clinical locations, since I do live quite far from UBC, but all they told me was they can't know for sure since it varies from year to year depending on instructor availabilities.

MPKH, BSN, RN · Aug 6, 2009

I'd imagine most of the placements will take place in the lower mainland area, but I do remember the director saying that there will be placements outside the lower mainland.

Fancypants09 · Aug 24, 2009

Hi everyone,

I'm a student at the University of Toronto, finishing my Hons.BSc in June. I am currently in the midst of searching for accelerated nursing programs around canada, and when I searched the UBC Nursing Program website under Admissions, it didn't state an admissions GPA. Surely one must exist?

Now I don't know whether to be anxious or hopeful, because due to some bad course choices (chemistry in 1st and 2nd year at UofT), my GPA is quite low and I'm scared that I won't be able to get into ANY nursing programs. Becoming a nurse is my dream, my motivation and determination are high, and if I can't make it into any programs, I don't know what I'll do.

springsheen · Aug 24, 2009

Hi Marina_stdnt,

Fortunately, your first and second year courses' GPA will not be counted, provided that you have finished 30 credits since then (which, I will assume, you do considering you're finishing your degree).

From the UBC Nursing website:

To be eligible for admission into third year nursing, you need at least 48 UBC credits. However, the GPA is calculated on the most recent completed 30 transferable credits. In cases where counting back 30 credits lands in the middle of an academic term, the academic average of that term will be used for the remaining required credits to reach the total of 30.

As for the academic average of admission, it hovers around 78-80%. Your GPA (worth 60%) will be weighted against a score given on your "extracurricular" experience and commitments, essay, and interview (worth 40%).

Fancypants09 · Aug 24, 2009

browning20, thank you for your reply!

As I understand it, 30 transferable credits = 5 full-year courses?

And you're saying that the GPA (worth 60%) is the GPA of 30 credits? Where does the cGPA (cumulative) factor in?

Sorry for these questions but I'm still somewhat confused!

springsheen · Aug 24, 2009

Marina_stdnt,

I'm not sure how UofT counts their credits, but at UBC:

A standard lecture course lasting 1 semester, either Sept-Dec or Jan-Apr) = 3 credits/course

Normal Winter session course load (Sept to Apr) = 10 courses, 5 course per semester

So, in a school year that runs from September to April, a UBC student would normally accumulate 30 credits (10 courses x 3 credits/course = 30 credits). Or, like you said, 5 full-year courses (5 courses x 6 credits/course = 30 credits).

I'm sure the UBC Nursing staff have a formula for converting UofT into UBC credits; you can e-mail them at [email protected]

And yes, as far as I know, the GPA they take into consideration is only the last transferable 30 credits that you have achieved. Everything from that point before, is not a factor. (cGPA = everything you've done in university? Then no, UBC Nursing does not care about your cGPA).

On a side note, make sure you have taken courses in Anatomy and Physiology, as it is their requirement, along with a first-year level English course.

Fancypants09 · Sep 12, 2009

Thank you!

to add: I do have physiology and anatomy courses under my belt. However, as for the English requirement, a BSc degree can be 'substituted' and thus the Eng req. is waived in that favour.

aintreallynotreally · Feb 21, 2010

Hi everybody,

anybody in the new ubc curriculum (starting 2009) that can comment on it? Also anybody who got into BCITs program that did not already have a bachelors (like myself?). I'm worried that they will not accept me because I don't have a bachelors yet.