UCLA MSN Fall 2014

passion8nurse · Mar 14, 2014

Yes, Rhonda Flenoy is the Director of Recruitment, Outreach and Admissions at the SON. She's a credible source. I did the MECN program at UCLA, and am fairly familiar with deadlines routinely being pushed back further and further each year. A part of this situation is due to them taking a larger MECN cohort in the last couple years - it grew from 60 to 90. This growth spurt has been challenging for the SON to absorb. There is very, very limited class space for that large of a group, and clinical placements are even more difficult then previous years. I have been told that the SON processes the BSN, then MECN, then APN admissions, in that order. Since they are taking a larger cohort of MECNs, it likely takes longer to go through all of them, hence pushing back the APN decisions. I've also heard that there is one less person in the team of people who process the admissions, so that might contribute to the delay as well. Regardless, we are all at the mercy of their system and have to just accept that for the time being.

sunny1230 · Mar 14, 2014

That makes sense but I'm still going nuts waiting. Oh well. Thanks for the info

lancermav_RN · Mar 14, 2014

I really feel for you all. My seat will be up for grabs if I do happen to get accepted. All I can say is keep hanging in there. I remember taking solace by reading the old forums of past classes and the 10+ pages of posts they would write about their angst and waiting. I would read those, read some others, and re-read some more. I wish you all the best.

NrsVero · Mar 15, 2014

I applied to the ANP/Gerontology Occupational and Environmental Health specialty and have not heard back. Just checked status and no decision has been made. Also applied to UCI and today I received an email informing me of an upcoming interview.

matthewandrew, NP · Mar 15, 2014

March 2014 has got to be the longest month ever. Crossing my fingers for decision before the month ends.

lovepeacelove · Mar 16, 2014

March 2014 has got to be the longest month ever. Crossing my fingers for decision before the month ends.

I agree. What is everyone's stats? Grades? RN experience? What do you guys want to do with your MSN?

sunny1230 · Mar 20, 2014

I have 2 years SNF experience and 1 year acute care (med surg) experience. I had 3.0 undergrad GPA (bachelors in a different field) and 3.67 nursing GPA. I'm counting on my personal essay and letters of recommendation because academically, I'm not sure of my status by UCLA standards. I plan to work in urgent care in downtown LA with my FNP. How are you guys handling the waiting game?? Hopefully only a couple more weeks!

iska2000 · Mar 20, 2014

Hi. I applied for MSN-AGNP program and waiting... has anyone called yet to find out if the SON has started sending letters of acceptance/rejection to applicants? Checking from last year's thread, applicants started receiving snail mail around March 18...

Gemi523 · Mar 21, 2014

iska2000... This thread has been dedicated to information and sharing of all things related to the MSN program for fall 2014. There are pages upon pages of information related to your post. I think you will find the answer to your question if you take the time to browse the thread.

Please feel free to share if you have any new information to add

iska2000 · Mar 21, 2014

@Gemi523: wow, that was very informative- exactly the answer I was looking for.

Isn't this a thread where any aspiring MSN applicant of UCLA is free to post anything- from questions to feelings of apprehensions or doubts? I have been following this thread for a while and your attitude towards my post is very encouraging.

lovepeacelove · Mar 21, 2014

I have 2 years SNF experience and 1 year acute care (med surg) experience. I had 3.0 undergrad GPA (bachelors in a different field) and 3.67 nursing GPA. I'm counting on my personal essay and letters of recommendation because academically, I'm not sure of my status by UCLA standards. I plan to work in urgent care in downtown LA with my FNP. How are you guys handling the waiting game?? Hopefully only a couple more weeks!

Don't worry about your grades! I'm sure your personal essay will help you. I've heard they heavily weigh the personal essay so I'm sure you'll be OK. I'm hoping to be an FNP at a clinic or maybe an urgent care too. I hope we find out SOON! I am trying to stay distracted and trying to see what other schools to apply to. Good luck everybody!

passion8nurse · Mar 21, 2014

@iska2000 - I've answered your question already (as have others) in earlier posts in this thread as gemi523 was referencing, but I am happy to elaborate a little more as I recently heard from an inside resource at the SON. Decisions have been already made, however there are around 1000 applicants (total for all programs) each year, and each of these applicants are notified by each program at the same time as the rest of the applicants in the program (regardless of admittance/rejection). PhD is done first, then BSN, then MECN, then APN. The MECN program is still adjusting to growth spurts/pains as I discussed earlier; they've increased by 50% in recent years. There is a team of people who stuff envelopes and assemble packets and organize everything, and it's been confirmed that there is one less person this year (due to popping a baby out of her vajay - no, the SON didn't "plan" for this when they accepted apps last fall), so this has contributed to an additional delay. I am still getting info that APNs will be notified this year around 2nd-3rd week of April. Relying on historical dates is not advised this year; the game is different from past years.

Based on my own experiences as a MECN alum, I'd be realistic about expectations, and then be pleasantly surprised if you get an email/mail a week early.