UCLA MECN Fall 2019

Nursing Students School Programs

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It's that time of year again! I am planning on applying for the Fall 2019 quarter. The summer 2018 information sessions are now open. Who else is applying ?

Hi all,

I'm so looking forward to applying to this program and I'm going to an info session on September 11th. I'm trying to narrow down the schools I'm applying to, but I know how competitive it is, so I don't want to limit myself too much! I'm also hoping to become a NP (I want to do primary care) and I'm wondering if any of you who are also interested in the NP route have any recommendations for schools to apply to? I know UCLA's program for MECN has graduates ready to take the NCLEX, but do you all know any other advantages that come with this program and going the NP route? It's a great program, and I'm excited and nervous to apply! Wishing you all good luck!

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Hi all,

I'm so looking forward to applying to this program and I'm going to an info session on September 11th. I'm trying to narrow down the schools I'm applying to, but I know how competitive it is, so I don't want to limit myself too much! I'm also hoping to become a NP (I want to do primary care) and I'm wondering if any of you who are also interested in the NP route have any recommendations for schools to apply to? I know UCLA's program for MECN has graduates ready to take the NCLEX, but do you all know any other advantages that come with this program and going the NP route? It's a great program, and I'm excited and nervous to apply! Wishing you all good luck!

In my opinion, if you're set on becoming an NP, I would apply to Azusa Pacific University and Western University of Health Sciences. APU results in a NP after obtaining the accelerated BSN and Western has an option to do the NP program after completing the EMSN program. To be quite honest, I don't think there are advantages that come with this program. ALL nursing programs are geared towards one goal: Passing the NCLEX. Maybe the only advantage of going to UCLA is the networking.

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Thank you so much for this! I wouldn't have even thought to apply to those schools! Good luck with your applications!

Warmly,

Hope

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I'm mostly pursing UCLA due to their clinical sites for rotations...I've looked everywhere and can't find a list of where Cal State LA ABSN does their clinicals. I'm worried it would be at less than stellar hospitals. Anyone have any insight on this?

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@j24og You have to keep in mind that this is nursing, not medical school. If it was medical school then yea, being at the best hospitals, specifically those that are teaching institutions would be most important. For nursing, it just matters that you're getting the training; yea if you can get into the better programs associated with the best hospitals then great!

I had the same views as you when I applied for 2018 cycle and had a rude awakening. Take a look at CSULA's forum for last year, it's incredibly competitive as well. So unless you're coming in with 3.5 + undergrad gpa, 3.8+ prereq GPA, 300+ hours volunteering, AND 1 year + CNA or EMT experience on top of that, then I would apply to as many schools in the geographic area you want to be in.

I was rejected by CSULA and had a meeting with the director regarding reapplying. She explained some candidates contact her years prior to applying to build their application. This is the reality of how competitive these programs are today, especially in California. I can say they do clinicals at USC/LA County , and since I volunteer in Cedars Sinai cardiac ICU, I have seen CSULA students there too.

Obviously, this means UCLA's standards are even higher. They really prioritize the personal statement since they don't interview. I decided I am going to just accept CSU San Marcos for spring because I don't want to wait any longer. I actually by chance ran into the former dean of UCLA's SON when on campus and discussed all of this. To quote him, "As long as the program is accredited, then you're good. If it's a state university, even better. At the end of the day, the only difference with a program like UCLA is maybe the person who wrote the book is your professor." He encouraged me to accept CSUSM.

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@inkabruce, that's insane how competitive it is here! I do have great grades and test scores but definitely don't have 1 year of CNA/EMT. I feel like that's crazy to expect when it's nursing and not PA school. Anyway, thanks for the insight on clinical sites. Makes me feel a little better.

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I got admitted to Fall 2018 MECN cohort but I had to decline. This degree makes no difference in pay from an BSN or ADN. Make a reality check and browse through the job openings from Cedars/ USC or Kaizer and you will realize that the basic job requirement is a BSN. No hospital will hire you at MSN rate doing bed side care to say the least. UCLA is great but the cost (52k for tuition plus give or take 40K for books/ room and board/ fees etc.) is not something that I personally want to deal with knowing that there is a cheaper route to being a nurse. A nurse is a nurse, school does not matter as long as you are licensed. So this is my unsolicited advise: Take the cheapest route, look for nursing schools that are CCNE accredited and you are good to go. Nursing is one of those professions that you need actual practice and experience to earn your laurels. Experience over school (great or small).

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@buboy911 I just messaged you. Let me know if you got it.

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Hi everyone! I've had my eye on UCLA's MECN program for a while and am extremely excited (and a little nervous to be honest) to be applying for the Fall 2019 entry. I'm worried about the competitiveness of it all because I do not have a great undergrad GPA by any means (I'm talking really low) but I feel as though everything else on my application will be very strong according to what has been said so far. Does anyone have any advice on this?

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Hi everyone! I've had my eye on UCLA's MECN program for a while and am extremely excited (and a little nervous to be honest) to be applying for the Fall 2019 entry. I'm worried about the competitiveness of it all because I do not have a great undergrad GPA by any means (I'm talking really low) but I feel as though everything else on my application will be very strong according to what has been said so far. Does anyone have any advice on this?

Did you go to the information session? They had some recent graduates speak after and most of them said that they also did not have great GPAs as well (one of them implied it was below a 3.0). The presenters emphasized the statement of purpose and personal history numerous times which means that is more important. They are really looking at those, post undergraduate courses taken, and hands on work or volunteer experiences.

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@justin123560 Thank you! I viewed one of their info sessions that they posted on their website. I did hear someone mention that their GPA was not the greatest so that made me feel a little bit better. I have a lot of patient experience and volunteer work so I hope that plays in my favor!

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Does anyone know when the application will open?

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