UCLA MECN 2021

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Hi everyone!

I am planning on applying to UCLA's MECN program for 2021 and since I did not see a thread here yet I wanted to get one going for us to share questions and concerns. Good luck to everyone!

Specializes in psych.

Hey guys! Stay positive and keep working hard, we're all more than qualified to be nurses & will get there someday. I know comparing stats doesn't help but just thought I'd share. I didn't have any volunteer experience at all, and I worked in the field for 1 year (no CNA/EMT). I did have really strong LOR and really good essays as to WHY I want to be a nurse and had a 4.0 GPA. I still don't know how I got in since it was my first time applying.

Don't let rejection define who you are, I got rejected from other schools this cycle. 

 

Best of luck to you all ❤️ 

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Congrats to those who got in! I didn't get into UCLA but I did put down my deposit for another school and I'm glad I did. 

Good luck everyone, wherever you may end up!

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Specializes in CNA.

My undergraduate GPA was not great.  However, my prerequisites were mostly A’s and a few B’s.  I have approximately 1000 hours of hospital/health-related volunteer work, and one year of full time paid experience as a CNA.  I work at a well known, highly respected hospital, and have very strong letters of rec from supervisors (charge nurses) at the hospital where I work & where I volunteered.  I was actually very proud of my personal statement & statement of purpose, and am still confident in my reasoning as to why I want to become a nurse.  I am going to retake 1 prerequisite & maybe rework my statements and move forward.  Congratulations to those who got in & to those who didn’t- keep trying.  The world needs more than 70 nurses:)

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4 hours ago, cdonkor said:

I love this! I just started the nursing program at JHU 3 weeks ago but got rejected from UCLA today. Makes no sense but God really does work in mysterious ways. I’m happy at this school and am excited to be living in the East Coast. Are you going to be attending JHU? 

How is JHU like? are the classes online? Im thinking of attend for the fall semester. Thanks!

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Does anyone know if UCLA will give you feedback on your application if rejected?

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Rejected as well. They didn’t send the email (yet?), but I also checked the portal. At least I’m starting at UVA in the Summer, still grateful! 

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3 hours ago, FuturePsycNurse said:

How is JHU like? are the classes online? Im thinking of attend for the fall semester. Thanks!

I like it! The professors are very nice and helpful. It is very challenging (obviously) but it’s worth mentioning because the rigor caught me off guard LOL. From day one you're all over the place so just be prepared. All of the lecture classes are online but labs are in person and Clinicals are in person as well. So this past week, I only had to go physically twice. But next week, I’ll have to go in 3 times. If you want, you can follow me on IG @chantssssssssss. I’ll be documenting my entire nursing school experience there ?

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Congratulations to all of those whom got into UCLA, and to those who did not get in this year, please keep your head up! 

I have created a facebook group called UCLA MECN Class of 2023 for those who have been admitted into the program. It will ask for the first paragraph in your acceptance email as proof. looking forward to meeting you all! 

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Specializes in Mental Health.

Congratulations to all those who have gotten accepted!

For those who have been accepted, I have a few questions:

What was the word count on your essays? How many pages was your resume? 

How early before the deadline did you submit your application?

Was this your second time applying? If so, what changes did you make to your application/essays for the 2nd time? 

What type of work or volunteer experience do you have? If this was your 2nd time applying, did you gain additional experience to add to your application?

Did anyone take Epidemiology before applying to the program?  Did anyone take additional science courses that are beyond the required prerequisites that you feel strengthened your application? 

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Specializes in pharmacy technician.
2 minutes ago, 325_FutureRN said:

Congratulations to all those who have gotten accepted!

For those who have been accepted, I have a few questions:

What was the word count on your essays? How many pages was your resume? 

How early before the deadline did you submit your application?

Was this your second time applying? If so, what changes did you make to your application/essays for the 2nd time? 

What type of work or volunteer experience do you have? If this was your 2nd time applying, did you gain additional experience to add to your application?

Did anyone take Epidemiology before applying to the program?  Did anyone take additional science courses that are beyond the required prerequisites that you feel strengthened your application? 

For your questions:

1. I’m pretty sure I used up the 500-word count limit on both of my essays. My CV was 2-full pages. 
 

2. I submitted my application on October 7th. 
 

3. This was my first time applying. 
 

4. As for work experience, I’ve worked as a pharmacy technician for 4 years (part-time). During undergrad, I was a research assistant and I also worked as an student academic advisor intermittently. I had both unpaid and paid research work on my CV, so somewhat extensive. UCLA is heavily clinical, so I can’t say if that was all that important to them though. I also volunteered with a syringe exchange program and a mobile health unit.

5. I did take Epidemiology before. It was part of my undergraduate curriculum. 

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16 minutes ago, 325_FutureRN said:

Congratulations to all those who have gotten accepted!

For those who have been accepted, I have a few questions:

What was the word count on your essays? How many pages was your resume? 

How early before the deadline did you submit your application?

Was this your second time applying? If so, what changes did you make to your application/essays for the 2nd time? 

What type of work or volunteer experience do you have? If this was your 2nd time applying, did you gain additional experience to add to your application?

Did anyone take Epidemiology before applying to the program?  Did anyone take additional science courses that are beyond the required prerequisites that you feel strengthened your application? 

I have a bit of a unique story, maybe that helped me get accepted?

1.  Word count: I used the max for both essays; Resume: two pages

2. I  submitted my application a day or two before it was due 

3. This was my first time applying

4. I have been working as an EMT on a 911 ambulance for a few months. I have volunteer experience from around the world in a bunch of different fields, some healthcare"ish" related. I've had a therapeutic yoga business for a few years.

5. I have not taken Epidemiology yet. I didn't take any additional science classes to strengthen my application. I did take 22 units last fall to get all the prereqs done in time, although I really don't suggest that. 

Good luck to everyone who plans on applying again

 

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Specializes in psych.
On 2/17/2021 at 12:17 PM, 325_FutureRN said:

Congratulations to all those who have gotten accepted!

For those who have been accepted, I have a few questions:

What was the word count on your essays? How many pages was your resume? 

How early before the deadline did you submit your application?

Was this your second time applying? If so, what changes did you make to your application/essays for the 2nd time? 

What type of work or volunteer experience do you have? If this was your 2nd time applying, did you gain additional experience to add to your application?

Did anyone take Epidemiology before applying to the program?  Did anyone take additional science courses that are beyond the required prerequisites that you feel strengthened your application? 

Hiiiii, Wanted to answer some of your questions ?

1. my word count was exactly 500 on both essays

2. I submitted my application the day that it was due (Nov 1). risky, I know LOL

3. This was my first time applying to UCLA, and to any program in general

4. I have no type of volunteer experience. I have a little over 1 year of patient care experience. I work in a Psychiatric hospital as a mental health worker. Other than that, I intervened a few years ago at a homeless shelter but only did 100 hours. 

5. I have not yet take Epi course.

 

I must say, my LOR were really strong and so were my essays. I also have a 4.0 GPA on pre-reqs, and 3.9 for my undergrad. I worked on my essays for months, and had at least 5 people revise them. I don't have a CNA or emt cert, but I do have a unique story and spent a lot of time carefully researching the program and tailoring both of my essays describing why UCLA was the best fit for ME. 

 

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