UF ABSN Summer 2021

U.S.A. Florida

Published

Hey all!

I wanted to start an offical thread for those applying to UF's accelerated BSN for the Summer of 2021! I know its still pretty early but I thought we could use this platform to support one another and share our own journeys through this process.

I am pretty nervous for this process. However, UF's hollistic approach toward each of its applicants gives me hope and reassurance.

Just a little about myself

I am currently finishing my last semester at USF. My last 60 hr credit GPA is pretty average as per UF's usual standards standing at about a 3.4. My cumulative is not too great so hopefully I am not penalized for having a low overall GPA. I have research experience and a publication to my name so hopefully that may hold some weight. Besides that, I have a lot of various volunteer experiences that are non-health care related.

I was specifically curious to know how much weight health care experience holds for admissions. I worked as a scribe for about one year where I was able to gain perspective into the nursing field eventually influencing my decision to pursue nursing. Besides that, I don't really have very much experience working directly with nurses or CNA's for that matter.

I was also curious to know more about the HESI A2 test if anyone knows more about that.

I would love to hear about everyone elses stats and experiences, how you are going about the admissions process in general.

Good luck to everyone applying this cycle!

Following! I also plan on applying to UF ABSN program for Summer 21. My last 60 credit hours GPA is around a 3.6 but my overall is a 3.31. I'm retaking statistics currently to help boost my pre-req GPA and eventually will have to retake Chem 1 also.

I'm also wondering about healthcare experience because I don't have any and it's been frustrating trying to shadow NPs, RNs, and CNMs because I haven't gotten responses back! And corona is not helping with that LOL. Wondering if healthcare experiences is really necessary and looked at? Or just test scores/GPA?

1 Votes

@rap99

hey! I am honestly not too sure about health care experience. I dont have any shadowing experiences with nurses either (only observed nurses as a scribe) so I would be curious to know if this is super important as well. I am guessing that they dont necessarily need to see health care experience but want to be convinced as to why you want to pursue nursing. so I would think health care experience does help with solidifying this, perhaps, and definitely helps.

Also, I do agree shadowing experience is hard to get without connections, but you defnitely have time to keep trying (despite the Covid situation?)

Hey guys! Ill be applying as well, I just finished my application to the school its self and now waiting for the CAS application to open for UF!

1 Votes
Specializes in Respiratory Therapist; pre nursing student.

hello my future RNs, name is chip I am a respiratory therapist looking to change profession to nursing, I love what I do but its a very stagnant field and no room to grow unlike nursing is, Been a RT for about 5 years, I plan on applying to to Summer class of 2021, I have heard some mixed reviews about the program at UF but I am willing to give it a chance due to it being an accelerated BSN and their holistic interview process. I have retake all my science pre rec due to it being expired currently taking micro then should be done. I recently looked for the HESI test on evolve and as of today no test is available, will try and call them and see whats up. 

Hey! I'm looking into applying to this program for Summer 2021. I am currently in my last semester at UF finishing my B.S. in anthropology. My GPA is 3.83, and I have taken many other science courses (I was premed). I am almost done with my pre-reqs, but I still have nutrition and microbio to go. I have 2 years experience as a research volunteer in a genetics lab, but I am nervous about lack of shadowing/healthcare experience (I was planning on getting some experience but then covid :/). I am even wondering if I should apply this cycle or wait for next year. Should I mention a possible interest as a research nurse? My major is also involved with alot of forensics and a forensics nurse is a very interesting potential career for me, but should I not even mention such specialized career paths?

I am also applying to the Summer 2021 program and also am graduating at USF Spring 2021.  I don't have much healthcare shadowing experience except being a HIV counselor, but due to COVID it's hard to get some hours. My cumulative is a 3.35 and my prerequisite GPA is a 3.6. Does anyone know the averages of the admits of the program since its a holistic application process?

Hi all, Im a current student in UF's ABSN class of 2021 program and thought I would share my experience. I remember scouring this page multiple times a week...and then almost every day when acceptance letters were being given. So, I think it's only right for me to give ya'll some hope; especially those who feel they don't have a chance.  

My background: I received my BS from UF in a super random non-medical major, graduating with cum laude honors. I took all the necessary prerequisites and I honestly did mediocre. I was never one of those students that had years of volunteer experience; I only had very little from when I received my first degree. I worked in hospitality for nearly 12 years by the time I applied to UF, and so that was all my resume consisted of. That being said, I knew I was not a competitive applicant. I was EXTREMELY determined to get into UF so I made it my mission for almost a year to make myself the most competitive applicant I could.

My Application Process: I met with a career counselor at UF multiple times. She was amazing. She instructed me that I needed massive amounts of volunteer hours, a competitive essay, an outstanding HESI score and amazing letters of recommendation. I started volunteering every week at two nonprofits, and also volunteered for random health-associated events. I used the HESI A2 Pocket Prep app on my phone and studied every day (I ended up receiving an 85). I also met with two different professors at UF to help me to edit my mini entrance essays and resume. I had letters of recommendation from individuals currently working at UF. I also received my BLS certification. 

My Acceptance: Acceptance letters from UF came out in late February...I received a denial letter in early March. I was DEVASTATED to say the least...yet still determined. (mind you, I was also denied from UCF, USF, and UNF so I was pretty upset at this point). The morning after my denial, I walked into the UF CON office and asked to speak with an advisor...No one was available so I scheduled an appointment with ------------------------- the next day. When I met with her, I asked if there was any possible way to get on a waiting list, or even be explained why I was denied, but I received nothing except for advice to go apply elsewhere. I cried in her office. Almost 2 weeks later....I received a call from ------------------- asking if I would accept a seat in the ABSN program. I am now almost halfway through the ABSN program and I am doing very well. I really do feel my determination is what lead me to be offered a seat. I am more than thankful to be in this program.  Best of luck to you all...and definitely don't give up hope!! 

Feel feel to reach out if you have any questions ?

Specializes in Student.

So I’m guessing we all submitted our applications now. I’m a UF MBA grad but have been a high school math teacher and bartender for the last ten years. I am so nervous. These are gonna be the longest three months of my life. I see you all applied to multiple programs, I only applied to UF Jax. I saw someone on a thread discuss when they were notified. I thought it said the end of February and I was wondering if it’s by mail or email. I’m an over thinker. ??‍♀️ Good luck to everyone!

Hey guys! I am really freaking out because this is the month we should all be FINALLY hearing back if we’re admitted! IDK if anyone’s heard anything back from the college or the ABSN advisor, but please share details if you have! ? I have a friend that also applied to the program and she said the ABSN adviser told her that no news is good news if you don’t hear anything back sooner than the end of February because apparently, those who do not get admitted will know sooner than those who are. IDK how accurate that is, but it’s what my friend shared with me based upon her meeting with the advisor back in Summer 2020. How’s everyone else feeling about this? I have been experiencing such high levels of stress and anxiety during these past few weeks. Knowing that whatever the decision is, it will be life changing for me. I’ve been waiting for this moment patiently for 3 years and I am praying so hard each day to be admitted. I wish everyone the best of luck and I pray that you all are admitted into the program for Summer 2021. In the mean time, let’s keep this discussion thread alive until the end of the month! ? 

Specializes in Student.

I haven’t heard anything. This has been the longest 2 months of my life waiting. I literally check my post baccalaureate application everyday to see if there is an update. I’m so nervous. What campus are you applying for? I applied for Jacksonville. Jennifer told me that they only have 40 spots. Academically I feel pretty confident. My last 60 credit hours GPA is 3.8. But I have an MBA from UF as well and that GPA is only a 3.01, but they know I was raising three kids alone and working full-time as a teacher during that time.  I have A’s in all the pre-requisites (but I’m taking A&P II currently) and a 95% overall on my HESI with a 96% in both sciences and a 840 critical thinking. This “holistic” approach thing has me really super nervous though. I haven’t done any volunteer work or work in the medical field. I only applied to UF so I’m praying for some good news. I really don’t want to wait for all these other programs nor do I want to go to another school. I was born a Gator. What’s your original undergraduate degree? 

Hi Lauren! 
I’ve been checking my status back and forth every single day! It really has been a long and stressful couple months in waiting to hear back. I did both undergrad and graduate studies at UF in Public Health. My undergrad GPA is 3.65 and my graduate GPA is 3.30, but fortunately, they will only be looking at my undergrad GPA, thank God! ? Yeah, I only applied to UF in Gainesville because I refuse to have my husband leave his job to move elsewhere. My HESI score was low, I scored 74 overall because my math was weak! Every other topic I scored between 84-96. My math score was a 46 which brought me down a lot! ?? Fortunately, I have been working for UF Health for 3 years as a Clinical Program Manager, so I’m praying my work experience and education will outweigh my HESI score. Your GPA is VERY competitive, I’m sure you’ll get in. Also, nurses need to be good educators, so your background in teaching will definitely be useful. And, it’s math! Math is definitely needed everyday in the medical field, especially when you’re trying to give a patient the right dosage level, math is a gift. You’ve got this!! 

+ Add a Comment