UF Accelerated BSN - May 2010 Applicants

mareaszy · Jun 23, 2009

Hey guys, I'm new to this site. I'm also getting ready to apply this Fall. I'm a graduating senior here at UF and would love to be able to stay here for the nursing program. I know a few of you mentioned studying for the GRE. I took a practice test last week at the kaplan testing center here on campus. It didn't seem that bad to me. Very similar to SAT. Does anyone know any males that are applying???!!! Ive have a few female friends applying but I haven't heard anything about any males. Hopefully that'll be a plus for me . Also Galore, I'm looking to start volunteering at Shands this summer. Do you know if they offer anything that is concentrated more on shadowing nurses???

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2009

Does anyone know any males that are applying???!!! Ive have a few female friends applying but I haven't heard anything about any males. Hopefully that'll be a plus for me .

This is one male that's applying! :up:

jazziphat · Jun 24, 2009

You meant 2010 right? The 2009 hopefuls are already deep into their semester and they have not been heard from since before they started in May! .... I will be done with prereqs Dec as well. As for the GRE, I have no clue when I should be squeezing that in! With a full-time job and taking a whole year of A&P this summer, I'm going bananas ... LMAO! I have a 2 week break between summer sessions and the fall semester, perhaps I can do a cram session then and slowly build up to it. Hope to take it by Nov LATEST, I think that will be OK, ya think?

I most def did mean May 2010 LOL I am meeting with an advisor on monday 6/29 just to have some questions answered and to tour the campus. I live in Central Florida but I have only drove through Gainesville so I kinda want to see the city too. I am dreading the GRE cuz I am the worst at standardized tests :down: I am taking APII now and will be taking Micro and Chem in the fall. I was hoping to start studying for GRE AFTER December but we shall see :wink2:

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2009

I most def did mean May 2010 LOL I am meeting with an advisor on monday 6/29 just to have some questions answered and to tour the campus. I live in Central Florida but I have only drove through Gainesville so I kinda want to see the city too. I am dreading the GRE cuz I am the worst at standardized tests I am taking APII now and will be taking Micro and Chem in the fall. I was hoping to start studying for GRE AFTER December but we shall see :wink2:

Cool, I am hoping to do that mtg/tour sometime this summer. Let us know how that goes! Never been to Gainesville but heard so much about the school from alumni. Why are you taking Chem? It's not a prereq for UF (unless of course you're looking to do a CRNA program later on, then you will likely need it). I'm taking Micro in the fall too, not too excited about it because it looks SCARY, LMAO! :lol2: Don't forget that the applic deadline is Jan 15, so you might not want to wait until after Dec to start that GRE!

jazziphat · Jun 26, 2009

Cool, I am hoping to do that mtg/tour sometime this summer. Let us know how that goes! Never been to Gainesville but heard so much about the school from alumni. Why are you taking Chem? It's not a prereq for UF (unless of course you're looking to do a CRNA program later on, then you will likely need it). I'm taking Micro in the fall too, not too excited about it because it looks SCARY, LMAO! Don't forget that the applic deadline is Jan 15, so you might not want to wait until after Dec to start that GRE!

I am taking Chemistry because the other accelerated programs I am applying for require it. I was going to take micro only in the fall and focus on GRE but I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket. Thanks for the heads up re: app deadline. I am so scared of standardized tests!!!!! I must start studying ASAP but I am going to be spread really thin trying to both chem micro and the GRE :cry: BUT I WILL MAKE IT!!!!

Carla001 · Jul 5, 2009

I am planning on appyling for next year. I live right outside of G'ville and love the town. I am a chemical engineer so I finished all prereqs a long time ago (my minor was biology so I had most of these done)...5 years ago so I need to apply by next year or 2011 at the latest or I will have to retake them. I've been looking into this program since 2004 and am finally deciding to apply. Does anyone know what the schedule looks like as far as is is M-Friday...8 am to 5pm?

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jul 6, 2009

I am planning on appyling for next year. I live right outside of G'ville and love the town. I am a chemical engineer so I finished all prereqs a long time ago (my minor was biology so I had most of these done)...5 years ago so I need to apply by next year or 2011 at the latest or I will have to retake them. I've been looking into this program since 2004 and am finally deciding to apply. Does anyone know what the schedule looks like as far as is is M-Friday...8 am to 5pm?

Interesting background! I think accelerated programs promise to have a nice group of people with varied experiences. As far as the schedule goes, I found the following on their website, you want to click on the 2nd link in the chart for 1st semester. Of course, no guarantees this will be the same for next year but at least it gives you a rough idea.

http://www.nursing.ufl.edu/currentStudents/current_students_advisement_schedules.shtml

I am actually retaking A&P as we speak, took it over 10 years ago. It's almost like taking it for the first time!

gatorgrad · Jul 10, 2009

Hello!

Well, we are 3 weeks away from finishing the treacherous first summer semester. I have these few pieces of advice...

when you register for the GRE (and do so with plenty of time before your testing date,) they will give you access to GRE PowerPrep software, either by snailmailing it to you or by giving you e-access. USE THE SOFTWARE. I took it once and blew the exam away without any other studying. The software is good because it gives you the rationale for the correct answer and explains wrong answers.

If you want to visit campus, contact the admissions counselor who is currently our liaison to the administration. He's a wealth of knowledge and a really nice person. He knows everything about the college, esp ABSN and graduate programs. Good guy. I'm sure he'd love to arrange a visit and tour for you.

When you first get started, life is crazy! Plan to be in class 8-4 M-F at least. There will be an occasional Fri off, but don't count on it because there are all kinds of things that have to be done on Fridays. Don't pay attention to your coursed schedule. Really....8-4 M-F. No joke.

The college offers a BOX of books that is about $600. It is possible to get the ISBNs and shop used, but you also need access to the electronic activities associated with some of the books, which are about $60 each. I started out trying to piece together my books, electronic packages, etc. On the second day of school, I broke down and bought the BOX. Nice thing with the BOX is that you also get online access to the electronic version of each text (not the same as the electronic packages I mentioned above.) In short, do what I did and you won't be sad. Buy the BOX, register all the electronic stuff, then sell the texts at the beginning of the semester while other nursing students across the country are hunting. I actually ended up saving money, but it was a pain shipping all my books. You must have the electronic packages for some of the classes because you are graded on some of them. Clear as mud? It was for us too!! Buy the BOX as soon as it comes in, register the electronic stuff, make sure you have access to the e-texts, then sell the books. Done. The BOX weighs about 30 lbs, so take something to wheel it back to your car. Parking sucks at UF. If you have the choice, get a place close by or get a scooter or settle for a place away from campus (BUT make sure it is serviced by SEVERAL bus routes that all lead to UF.)

Don't stress about uniforms. Buy one pair of white scrubs for summer. Clinical is only one day for 4 hours. The college states that shoes must be white, all leather, blah blah blah. We all wear running shoes. A little color on the side is no big deal, but basically white. You will wear your white uniform in Fall also, when there are two 8 hr clinicals. Chances are that you'll figure out which brand you like/dislike from wearing your summer scrubs. You really don't need a labcoat until it gets cold, and can probably survive without it. Just wear clothes to school. Regular old clothes. So far, no regulations, even for lab.

Patho will definitely be your hardest class. You will have 2 days of patho lecture. Block off time the evening after patho to go thru your notes and make comparison charts to facilitate learning similar disorders. Your patho teacher is fantastic. He aslo teaches your second hardest class, which is Health Assessment. Fortunately, the subject matter in both classes will parallel each other. Stay on top of both of these classes. Actually, stay ahead (is that possible?) I record both classes, then go home and play them back at super fast speed while reviewing the PowerPoints. This has worked well for me. Essentials class takes a lot of time because there is a lot of material, but it's basic nursing knowledge and skills. Pharmacology I cannot remark because the course will probably change for your group. Dimensions is basically a seminar class. Attendance counts big time. One presentation, 3 papers and a lot of group discussion and guest speakers. This is the class where you will refine your skills writing in APA format. If you don't have the APA Style Manual, get one. It's not on the book list, but I followed it exactly and got a 100 on my first paper. The other students who used the online APA sources sometimes found outdated info and lost points as a result.

Hope this helps. As time gets close, I'll try to give you some hints. Take care and good luck!! Sorry you haven't heard from any of us in the class of 2010, but we are all losing our minds! Hopefully, our minds will return in three weeks!

Best,

Tina

LM625 · Jul 11, 2009

Just found this thread!! I'm currently a senior at UF and am hoping to stay in Gainesville for nursing school as well. I finished my prereqs and am just now starting to freak out about the GRE!! Eeek. I know that 1000 is the requirement but I'm kinda wondering what the average score is for people who get accepted...

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2009

Well so it goes ... due to some recent changes on my end, I will unfortunately no longer be able to apply to UF in 2010. :cry: ... Main reason is that I find myself unable to complete my prereqs this fall in time for application. I was going to finish this fall but my full-time job's demands in the next 4 months will be too much for me to carry 7 credits or maybe even one class (and this is one reason why I can't stand my current career and want to leave to pursue nursing, my true calling) ... and I would not want to take my chances of getting less than an A. I know I can take one in the spring, but it seems as if I would not be able to finish that course before UF starts anyway. So at the very least I am looking at applying to start in 2011, but in the interim I may end up applying to another school out of state that I have been excited about that starts next fall rather than waiting a whole year before applying once again. But who knows what will happen?

Good luck to all of you applying for 2010! :up:

CMR571 · Aug 27, 2009

Hi all!

I too am applying for the accelerated program in 2010 :). Are there any others out there that won't be graduating with their BS/BA until May? I am at UCF right now and will graduate with my degree May 7, three days before start of the program!

The admissions counselor said this was fine, so long as I do graduate. Just makes me nervous cutting it so close.

I am also taking the GRE in December. For those of you who have taken it, do you think this is way too late?

Thanks!!

marge444 · Sep 4, 2009

Hi future UF accelerators, I am in the program now. I have seen a million questions on here, and it reminds me of the year before I got in and the insane amount of time I was on here asking a million questions too. I will try to answer some, and check back from time to time. The Summer semester was, like they said it would be, pretty insane. I was breaking down toward the end of the semester, but had two weeks off and now the fall semester is proving to be much more chill. There were 50 students accepted... I think...maybe 55, 2 have dropped out. There are a bunch of students who just graduated from undergrad in May right before the Summer semester started. A lot of health science and public health majors. most everyone is from Florida, I really can't think of anyone who isn't a florida resident, but I am sure there are some. Most of us have no healthcare experience,so don't stress too much on that. There are a few people who work as clerks or PCAs but very few. I got in with an 1170 GRE, most people I have talked to who will speak of their score got around the same. I have heard of a few higher scores. But the truth is most people are lip locked about their scores, so it is really hard to tell what is average. let me know if you've got other questions, I would have loved to get inside the mind of someon in program when I was applying!!!