Is there anyone lurking who is planning to apply to the 2011 program?
I have spent the last 12 years in financial marketing/communications and am excited to try and change paths into nursing. I am currently taking my prerequisite courses at city college- stats and anatomy/physiology- and going in for the GRE Saturday. I'm volunteering at a children's hospital, which is causing me to consider the pediatric nurse practitioner track... I know UCSF is very competitive and it's a long-shot for someone like me to get in, but I feel like I have to try! If it doesn't happen next year, then I'll just keep building my volunteer experience and re-apply. Also on my mind is that if for some miracle I were to get in how I would pay for it.
But enough about me... what are some other candidates' takes on preperation, interests, anxieties, etc?
I like taking tests. When I am able to study material that will be on the exam. I BOMBED the GRE
v 430 m470 Writing: no score yet, but I felt very good about it. I was heart broken when I saw my score since I spent the whole summer studying. My level of motivation has gone down hill.
v98ginger, if several of us admittedly scored poorly on the GRE, then I'm sure many more bombed the test than you'd think (and some scored well too of course)... but it's like this... my own mother is the type of person who can take a test on a subject she's never even learned about and score well, lol -- unfortunately she didn't pass on the test-taking gene to me... that said, my opinion is that often communication, social skills, and passion get you further in life than your test-taking abilities. Additionally, I've known people to get in that scored in the 400s (doesn't happen often, but hey it CAN happen, which is the important part). Anyhow, keep your head up.
Hey everyone! I have not seen any other post from people that are applying to the psych/mental health track... is there anyone else out there who is applying to that field? Best of luck!
I can totally relate to all of you with the "poor" GRE scores issue. I too didn't do as well as I had hoped and am feeling discouraged by my scores as well. Does anyone actually know of anyone that has gotten in with combined GRE scores that are below 1000? I haven't talked to any students, but when I spoke to a Professor, they kept saying that it was just one of the items that they consider. I guess our real question is whether UCSF has a cut off-- like you won't even be considered if your scores were below XXX. I can't help but be a little frustrated with UCSF as to how little information they share about who they will even consider.
I am also applying to Yale GEPN and I spoke to the Admissions Director for over an hour about what they look for and it was extremely helpful. Don't get me wrong, UCSF is definitely my first choice, but Yale is so much more open about what they consider. First, they said the same thing that UCSF says in that GRE scores are just one of the items they consider, but if your scores are below 400 in either section, it does raise a red flag and could be a large determinant as to their consideration of your application. Also, if you have a Masters degree in another field, then you can actually request a GRE Waiver. Now, the waiver isn't always given (folks with Masters in a science field like Biology or something usually get it, but if you have an MFA or something, they hardly award waivers for that), but it's really great that they give credit for a prior degree. I really wish UCSF would be more open because they would save everyone time (and money for that matter) if it turns out that you are just not ready to be a competitive applicant. I keep being told that I am just the type of person that they look for, but I hear about all of you with your amazing experience and awesome GRE scores that didn't even get an interview and it's just completely discouraging. I will definitely be applying, because I think I'm competitive in other areas, but frankly, I'm not expecting anything.
One more thing, I keep hearing that language is BIG on their consideration of your application. That's the one thing that I consistently hear. I'm not sure if any of you re-applicants have noticed, but they did change the application to really hone in on how fluent you are in a 2nd language.
Good luck to everyone! SORRY FOR THE LONG POSTINGS!
I took the GRE today and ended up with 540math, 610 verbal. I'm ended up having serious issues with my time management taking the test and guessed, barely even reading the question, on the last 10 or so questions of both sections. I'll take it again if I don't get in anywhere this year, but I'm satisfied enough to have these be my scores for this round. Mostly I'm just thrilled to be done with tests for this summer! I took the lactation consultant board exam a few weeks ago, so I've been studying nonstop for months!
Babymidwife1, Congratulations on the great GRE scores!!!!
I also took GRE today and got 490 Verbal and 750 Math . I studied so much for the verbal section (between the 60-hour a week job and prerequisite classes), but did not quite reach the 500 mark; I definitely think those antonyms got me .
English is my second language, but I have a Bachelor's and Master's degrees from US. I hope it will help. I am sooo excited about this program!!!
I've never taken a "real" math class aside from statistics (I home schooled and then my high school did a crazy experimental math program that they deemed a failure because nobody could take standardized tests!). I didn't expect my math scores to be great, but considering that this is the first time I'd ever had to learn geometry and most of the algebra, I was prepared to be excited about anything over 500!
When you are stressing about the GREs, just remember non-MEPN students, meaning the BSN's going into the Masters program, don't need GREs!
So kudos to you for taking the GREs even though UCSF is biased about who takes it. I just think it's a way to weed out the competition. You would think they'd make the requirements similar right since MEPNs are being thrown in with the Masters students after one year, right?
I am applying this year for the first time, and am trying not to get too discouraged by everyone's impressive qualifications! I am going for the nurse-midwifery track, which is a complete turn around from my background. I don't have any experience in the field, but I have shadowed a couple of Midwives, am about to start training to be a volunteer doula, have all of my prerequisites done, am mostly bilingual (but not in Spanish) and have a decent GPA and GRE score. I am hoping that I have a chance! I am also planning on applying to a few other graduate-entry programs - I wonder what other schools potential CNMs on this site are applying to?
Hi Junipers-I'm also applying to Yale and OHSU. I'm considering Vanderbilt (the program looks amazing), but my husband would have a very difficult time finding a job in his field in Tenn., so we're taking that into consideration.
The admissions folks at Yale have been very friendly. It would be a huge move from where I live (in California), and obviously much more expensive, but I'm finding them much less intimidating right now!
I thought I read or heard some where that UCSF looks at your last 60 semester units/90 quarter units for your GPA calculation, but on the application it just says "Grade Point Average" under the Education tab. Does anyone know about this? Do they calculate our last 60 semesters on their own, or is that what we are suppose to put in that field?
during a recent info. session it was mentioned that they would only take into consideration the gpa from the institution that conferred your most recent degree.
i was told by one of the presenters (ucsf prof.) that ucsf will not take into consideration the grades of the pre-requisite courses, which seems strange to me given that those courses would be the closest thing to the classes one would need to take at ucsf, if accepted.
and 750 Math 
. I studied so much for the verbal section (between the 60-hour a week job and prerequisite classes), but did not quite reach the 500 mark; I definitely think those antonyms got me 
.
SurgicalNP
68 Posts
I like taking tests. When I am able to study material that will be on the exam. I BOMBED the GRE
v 430 m470 Writing: no score yet, but I felt very good about it. I was heart broken when I saw my score since I spent the whole summer studying. My level of motivation has gone down hill.