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!

17 minutes ago, ardni_12 said:

Hi everyone! Congrats to everyone that were accepted into the program! You will find that UCLA is the best place to start your nursing career.

I am a current first year MECN student at UCLA, and I actually wanted to comment on this post to talk to those that were rejected. I empathize with you guys on the feeling of rejection. I know it is disappointing, but I just want to say to NOT GIVE UP! If you believe that UCLA is where you want to go, try again if that is an option for you! I was rejected the first time I applied in Fall 2019, but I knew I wanted to go to UCLA so I reapplied for Fall 2020 and was accepted during the first wave of acceptances. I believe that a rejection does not define you, it only makes you stronger. I definitely encourage those that have their heart set out for UCLA to reapply next year if you like and take this time to improve your application. Anything is possible ? goodluck!

Thank you for this! If you don’t mind, could you share what you did to improve your application between cycles? I’m trying to figure out ways I can boost my chances by if I need to reapply next year. I have around 1.5 years of full time CNA experience but I’m not sure if I should do something different to diversify my experience. Or perhaps I should continue working and retake the few prerequisites I got B’s in to try to get A’s (although this seems so pointless to me but I’m not sure what else to do). 

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@325_FutureRN @nutritionandnursing

Here are a few things that I changed during my 2nd time applying:

- I gained more hospital experience by working full-time as a CNA during the time between my 1st and 2nd time of applying (I only had about a month of CNA experience on my 1st time applying). If you have your CNA, I would suggest to continue working. I also had about 500 hours of volunteering experience. 

- I changed, improved and revised my essays multiple times. I would say THIS is the most important thing you can do to make your application stronger. During my first time applying I felt like I was writing a very broad/general essay on why I wanted to be a nurse. In my second time applying, I focused on a specific moment of patient care interaction for my Statement of Purpose and why this influenced my decision to continue my career path for nursing. I also mentioned that this was my second time applying to nursing school and discussed what I learned and improved from this experience. I also believed my Personal Statement was stronger because I related it to something more personal and specific to ME than the first time applying. Write about something specific to you and your diversity background, and how this made you resilient and aspire to work for the better of others that may face disparities (This essay helps you get the Graduate Opportunity Fellowship which is very helpful for paying for grad school!)

-I retook Chemistry. I got a C in my Chem 14A class at UCLA during my undergrad and I decided to retake it at a community college because I wanted to show that I gained a better understanding of the material and my grades in my freshman year do not reflect the student I am today. I got an A. 

- I had stronger LOR's. On my second time applying, two of my LORs were written by my charge nurses and I would honestly say that this helped readers understand more about my work ethic, personality both personally and professionally, and my patient care in an acute-care level setting. Having recommenders that are in the nursing field and knew me personally and professionally definitely made my LORs stronger. 

 

Hope this helps a bit! ?

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Specializes in Mental Health.
4 minutes ago, ardni_12 said:

@325_FutureRN @nutritionandnursing

Here are a few things that I changed during my 2nd time applying:

- I gained more hospital experience by working full-time as a CNA during the time between my 1st and 2nd time of applying (I only had about a month of CNA experience on my 1st time applying). If you have your CNA, I would suggest to continue working. I also had about 500 hours of volunteering experience. 

- I changed, improved and revised my essays multiple times. I would say THIS is the most important thing you can do to make your application stronger. During my first time applying I felt like I was writing a very broad/general essay on why I wanted to be a nurse. In my second time applying, I focused on a specific moment of patient care interaction for my Statement of Purpose and why this influenced my decision to continue my career path for nursing. I also mentioned that this was my second time applying to nursing school and discussed what I learned and improved from this experience. I also believed my Personal Statement was stronger because I related it to something more personal and specific to ME than the first time applying. Write about something specific to you and your diversity background, and how this made you resilient and aspire to work for the better of others that may face disparities (This essay helps you get the Graduate Opportunity Fellowship which is very helpful for paying for grad school!)

-I retook Chemistry. I got a C in my Chem 14A class at UCLA during my undergrad and I decided to retake it at a community college because I wanted to show that I gained a better understanding of the material and my grades in my freshman year do not reflect the student I am today. I got an A. 

- I had stronger LOR's. On my second time applying, two of my LORs were written by my charge nurses and I would honestly say that this helped readers understand more about my work ethic, personality both personally and professionally, and my patient care in an acute-care level setting. Having recommenders that are in the nursing field and knew me personally and professionally definitely made my LORs stronger. 

 

Hope this helps a bit! ?

@ardni_12 Thank you so much! This is very helpful!

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Specializes in Mental Health.

Are there any CNA programs that anyone recommends? 

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@DSFPMHNP Hey if it helps, I already know 1 person declining UCLA for another program. So I guess you are #1 on the waitlist now! 

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1 hour ago, babyalph2021 said:

@DSFPMHNP Hey if it helps, I already know 1 person declining UCLA for another program. So I guess you are #1 on the waitlist now! 

Thanks... #3 ?? LOL the suspense is killing me! Good luck to us both next week! Hopefully we’ll know our admissions status ?

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Hi everyone,

I applied for this cycle and received an email in mid-December saying that I would hear back by the end of February, but I haven't heard anything, and my application portal doesn't show any change in status. Am I missing something? ? I'm not sure where to even look

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6 hours ago, mudahl said:

Hi everyone,

I applied for this cycle and received an email in mid-December saying that I would hear back by the end of February, but I haven't heard anything, and my application portal doesn't show any change in status. Am I missing something? ? I'm not sure where to even look

Hi there, I believe everyone already heard back from UCLA sometime around President's day this month because the deadline to submit intent of registration/waiting for waitlist already passed (Feb 26th). At the very least I believe this applies to those who got accepted or waitlisted. Have you checked your junk/spam? Some people have their email sent there...

We got emails from Mark letting us know whether we got accepted or waitlisted or rejected. There was no direction to check our status in the application portal. I got waitlisted and I don't see any changes in my application portal as well.

I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but if you are having difficulty in locating your email you should contact Mark directly. He is very nice and fast in replying emails.

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Hey everyone, I just got accepted off the waitlist!! I am #4 on the waitlist

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14 minutes ago, babyalph2021 said:

Hey everyone, I just got accepted off the waitlist!! I am #4 on the waitlist

Congrats! #2 alternate here - got my acceptance letter earlier today as well!! ??? 

See you soon, friend! 

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15 minutes ago, DSFPMHNP said:

Congrats! #2 alternate here - got my acceptance letter earlier today as well!! ??? 

See you soon, friend! 

See you too my friend and Congratulation to you too! I just submitted my request to join the FB group "UCLA MECN Class of 2023". Btw, did you get any link to the official acceptance letter? I didn't see any so I just sent an email to Mark and Jeimy. How did you submit your SIR?

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31 minutes ago, babyalph2021 said:

See you too my friend and Congratulation to you too! I just submitted my request to join the FB group "UCLA MECN Class of 2023". Btw, did you get any link to the official acceptance letter? I didn't see any so I just sent an email to Mark and Jeimy. How did you submit your SIR?

It said the official letter will be emailed within a week. I submitted my SIR by replying to the email and cc’ing the other email indicated. Also requested to join the FB group, but for some reason, couldn’t paste the paragraph onto the field. Had to type it in. 

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