UCF Traditional and Accelerated BSN-2014

[missind33]

Hello!

The application window starts January 1st, which is a couple weeks away from now. I am excited to apply though and see what happens. Who else is planning to apply here?

I am planning on applying to both the accelerated and traditional pathways.

[Aquatica]

I agree with missind33, I have heard before that the overall GPA is their least concern. I'm guessing because this could be a whole load of different classes, some or many of which have no bearing on the type of things you need to know for nursing school. So don't stress too much about it. I've seen some people who posted here and were accepted in past years with low overall GPAs.

[IronMan2014]

I would also tend to agree. I work with a nurse that just graduated from the accelerated program and from what she said, that's about right. I really wouldn't mull over slight inperfections in our apps, there's probably a large handful applying that don't even meet the requirements. But still, it's going to be a long 8 weeks until we hear back

[missind33]

Ironman because you work with someone who graduated from the accelerated program, did she ever describe her experience with it? I don't have any nursing experience however because I currently have a b.s. From another area I am applying to the accelerated. I don't want to be overwhelmed that's all, this has me concerned.

For both tracks many applicants are not going to meet the requirements or their stats barely make it over the minimum. I've seen several students who posted stats that were accepted accelerated and not that had similar stats to us. Many other students that have higher gpas have also probably retaken a prereq class (which in fact they count the first attempted). So they may have a higher gpa because they retook it, but the programs don't particularly like too many withdraws, or C-Fs in the prereqs.

[IronMan2014]

Missind33,

i do have a pretty good grasp of the program. My girlfriend also graduated from the accelerated program so I know about as much as possible without actually doing it myself yet. It was an overall positive experience. There were parts that were frustrating and sometimes admin things would change without notice. Other than that she felt well prepared and surpassed her peers from other programs. I could go more in detail by term, but that'd be paragraphs!

[missind33]

A friend of mine said she heard complaints of lack of experience and lack of patient exposure in the program and that it is too accelerated. I got scared that I should instead go for the traditional path. Would someone without patient care experience be at to do well in the program? I go to UCF now and I understand what you mean about admin issues.

[IronMan2014]

First of all, I wouldn't be scared about the accelerated program. If I understand correctly, it's the exact same schedule as the basic program. The only big difference is we go straight through non-stop and the basic program gets summers off. So the time we're actually in class is very similar to the basic! So no excuses! The direct pt care experience is nice to have, but not needed to do well. Its just a steeper learning curve. For example, if you've never stuck someone with a needle, started an IV or foley cath, or had a serious conversation with a stranger about poop, it's no problem. There's time to learn, and classmates are a great resource!

[FutureUCf]

From what I've been told and read the basic program does not get summers off. It's 5 consecutive semesters.

[IronMan2014]

oh really? You may be right. I remember having a conversation about that, and could have sworn they had summers off. But again, I could very well be wrong.

[FutureUCf]

I am pretty sure that's how the basic program is. If you would like you can check the website for UCF, I think they have the curriculum for each program. :)

[IronMan2014]

Haha just did, and you're right. The summers in the accel. program are busier, but still not all that different overall than the basic.

[FutureUCf]

You're right as well. The summers in the accelerated program are more busy from what I heard.

[missind33]

I guess I'm just gonna talk to a nursing advisor if I am accepted into the accelerated pathway. While I appreciate that the accelerated starts in the summer and the basic begins in the fall, I don't want the program to assume I have a lot of experience and make the demands of the students impossible for me to succeed. You know?