UF accelerated BSN 2021

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Hey everybody! Anyone applying for the above mentioned program? I haven't had luck finding any threads, in regard to this, for that specific year. I would like to find people who are so we can keep in touch through this process.

8 hours ago, bri5 said:

So I submitted my postbacc application like 2 weeks ago but I haven't heard anything. Did you guys get an email from UF saying anything about your postbacc or are you just filling out the CAS in the meantime? 

I just filled out the post bacc application, and now I'm filling out the CAS. The only thing that I received was an email stating that my application had been received.

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Hey everyone, 

I wanted to hop on here to help answer questions about applying to the program and what it is like (especially in COVID times). I know I constantly looked at this discussion when I was applying and it was very helpful.

First off, I am apart of the 2021 Cohort at the Jacksonville Campus.

Second, I cannot stress enough how "holistic" this application process is. When I was applying I was so nervous I would not get in with my grades, test scores, and experience.

My stats were 81 on HESI (only took it once), 3.1 GPA, my first degree was Health Sciences Pre-Clinical from UCF, and I work at a doctor's office as a medical front office specialist (for about a year and a half at my time of applying). My letters of recommendation (you need 2) were from one of the doctors I worked with and my supervisor.

When I was looking through the discussion for last year, I was FREAKED OUT about how low my scores were and how low my GPA was compared to the others posting, but hopefully my stats help you relax a little. 

I applied to the ABSN program at UCF and UF. I selected "no preference" for campus location (I live in Jacksonville). I did not get into UCF  (my alma mater) and got accepted to UF for Jax campus.

Apps are due Dec 1 and we got our decisions all on the same day Feb 28 (last Friday of the month) around 4pm. Do not wait until the last minute to submit the applications because they do take some time to complete.

I used a TEAS study book to help study for both the HESI and the TEAS, TEAS was for UCF, HESI is for UF. It is not a hard test, just brush up on your reading, math, and basic science skills (like anatomy) and READ the question twice. The TEAS is harder than the HESI( in my opinion), and you will also use HESI for benchmark tests in the program.

For our cohort, there was no waitlist, you were either accepted or denied.

I do think it is a good idea to weigh the pros and cons of the program for COVID as the program is very different than before. All of our classes were online for Summer 2020, that included clinical and lecture. For Fall 2020, we are still in that online format for lecture, but they carved out 3 weeks of in person clinical, labs, and simulations for the semester (this will be in October to November hopefully). They did drop the 74% test average for us for Summer and fall semester and we just have to have a 74% course grade to pass to the next semester. Exams are given online via Canvas and Honorlock. (Hopefully all this COVID stuff will be over by Summer 2021, but you never know.)

I hope this helped, you can always reply with any other questions you may have! 

 

 

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3 hours ago, ufbf2021 said:

Hey everyone, 

I wanted to hop on here to help answer questions about applying to the program and what it is like (especially in COVID times). I know I constantly looked at this discussion when I was applying and it was very helpful.

First off, I am apart of the 2021 Cohort at the Jacksonville Campus.

Second, I cannot stress enough how "holistic" this application process is. When I was applying I was so nervous I would not get in with my grades, test scores, and experience.

My stats were 81 on HESI (only took it once), 3.1 GPA, my first degree was Health Sciences Pre-Clinical from UCF, and I work at a doctor's office as a medical front office specialist (for about a year and a half at my time of applying). My letters of recommendation (you need 2) were from one of the doctors I worked with and my supervisor.

When I was looking through the discussion for last year, I was FREAKED OUT about how low my scores were and how low my GPA was compared to the others posting, but hopefully my stats help you relax a little. 

I applied to the ABSN program at UCF and UF. I selected "no preference" for campus location (I live in Jacksonville). I did not get into UCF  (my alma mater) and got accepted to UF for Jax campus.

Apps are due Dec 1 and we got our decisions all on the same day Feb 28 (last Friday of the month) around 4pm. Do not wait until the last minute to submit the applications because they do take some time to complete.

I used a TEAS study book to help study for both the HESI and the TEAS, TEAS was for UCF, HESI is for UF. It is not a hard test, just brush up on your reading, math, and basic science skills (like anatomy) and READ the question twice. The TEAS is harder than the HESI( in my opinion), and you will also use HESI for benchmark tests in the program.

For our cohort, there was no waitlist, you were either accepted or denied.

I do think it is a good idea to weigh the pros and cons of the program for COVID as the program is very different than before. All of our classes were online for Summer 2020, that included clinical and lecture. For Fall 2020, we are still in that online format for lecture, but they carved out 3 weeks of in person clinical, labs, and simulations for the semester (this will be in October to November hopefully). They did drop the 74% test average for us for Summer and fall semester and we just have to have a 74% course grade to pass to the next semester. Exams are given online via Canvas and Honorlock. (Hopefully all this COVID stuff will be over by Summer 2021, but you never know.)

I hope this helped, you can always reply with any other questions you may have! 

 

 

Thank you so much for this! Can you give us a little insight into how you answered the essay questions...maybe some pointers?

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11 hours ago, JTwin01 said:

Thank you so much for this! Can you give us a little insight into how you answered the essay questions...maybe some pointers?

I was very honest in my essay answers, I tried not to just reply with what I thought they wanted to hear. I also took the opportunity to explain things like why my test scores weren't so good or why I had to withdraw from a class one semester and how I overcame that obstacle. Being an ABSN student, everyone knows nursing obviously wasn't your first career choice or major(well in my case), I also talked about how I came to the realization why this was a program I was really interested in and what exactly led me to make the decision to apply. The questions are geared more towards your reactions and thought process with phrases like "how you handled it", "how you went about prioritizing your time", and "how did you do it."

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Specializes in BAS,.
3 minutes ago, ufbf2021 said:

I was very honest in my essay answers, I tried not to just reply with what I thought they wanted to hear. I also took the opportunity to explain things like why my test scores weren't so good or why I had to withdraw from a class one semester and how I overcame that obstacle. Being an ABSN student, everyone knows nursing obviously wasn't your first career choice or major(well in my case), I also talked about how I came to the realization why this was a program I was really interested in and what exactly led me to make the decision to apply. The questions are geared more towards your reactions and thought process with phrases like "how you handled it", "how you went about prioritizing your time", and "how did you do it."

Hello,

OMG you are an angel and I have somewhat similar stats and I stress out about so often. I appreciate the feedback and some relief and I am going to apply to UCF as well and see what happens. Are there any dorms or like affordable housing in the Jacksonville area? (if not, it's OK I've been researching for scholarships are, etc).

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Glad I could provide some relief ?

UF Health Downtown (where our campus is located), is not a great part of town, so I think many of us live in South Jax, North Jax, and by the beaches. I would say it's more expensive in South Jax/Beaches and more affordable in North Jax.

I live in South Jax with my boyfriend (it's closer to our jobs), we live in a newer part of town so it's about 30 mins away from Downtown UF Health, while there aren't any dorms that I am aware of, a few people in my cohort got apartments together and actually quite a few of us lived in Jax prior to acceptance. (And there are a handful that haven't moved to Jax yet due to COVID and classes being online.) If/when you get accepted, there will probably be a facebook group with your cohort and you can always reach out to your other classmates to see if anyone wants to room together.

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@ufbf2021  Thank you so much for this insight!! My main concern is that I have 4 pre-reqs left to complete, Im taking 2 right now so ill have 2 left for the Spring semester, but I'll be all finished by the time the programs starts. Was anyone in your cohort in this position also? 

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Specializes in BAS,.
2 hours ago, ufbf2021 said:

Thanks so much and I don't have facebook and I will have to create a new one which I don't mind LOL.

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3 hours ago, bri5 said:

@ufbf2021  Thank you so much for this insight!! My main concern is that I have 4 pre-reqs left to complete, Im taking 2 right now so ill have 2 left for the Spring semester, but I'll be all finished by the time the programs starts. Was anyone in your cohort in this position also? 

If I am not mistaken, a lot of people came straight into the program after finishing their 1st Bachelor's degree, like they graduated in late April/ early May and started the program a few weeks later. So I don't see it being a problem! I graduated in Summer 2018 and took some pre-reqs after I graduated at FSCJ.

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7 hours ago, bri5 said:

@ufbf2021  Thank you so much for this insight!! My main concern is that I have 4 pre-reqs left to complete, Im taking 2 right now so ill have 2 left for the Spring semester, but I'll be all finished by the time the programs starts. Was anyone in your cohort in this position also? 

I will have to take Developmental Psych in the Spring. Kianna (the academic advisor) said that it is fine as long as they are finished in the Spring.

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Specializes in BAS,.

@ufbf2021 I also wanted to ask about the CV/Resume I want to know is it geared towards academia and activities and hobbies and work/volunteer? Is there anything else they are looking for in the resume?

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1 hour ago, NiekaO said:

@ufbf2021 I also wanted to ask about the CV/Resume I want to know is it geared towards academia and activities and hobbies and work/volunteer? Is there anything else they are looking for in the resume?

For my resume, I put my places of employment, some relevant coursework, info from my first degree, and some basic skills I had (this is were you would put things like CNA or CPR). Nothing too fancy, just make sure it is ONE page and that you don't include things from high school and keep it based on things you did during your first degree and after. Definitely put your volunteer work on there, I just didn't have a lot. I don't remember having to do a cover letter, but maybe the requirements have changed.

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