UI Chicago GEP Spring 2012

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Anyone planning to apply to UIC's GEP for winter/spring 2012? (http://www.uic.edu/nursing/prospectivestudents/gep-about.shtml) The application opened on January 15 and is due March 1.

I just finished the primary application and am waiting to receive the secondary application to send out recommendation requests. Their application cycle is a bit odd and inconvenient, since most other places that start in the fall require deposits by late March into early April, and UIC doesn't inform you of your status until late April. But in the end, it's still a great program and worth a shot.

RMWC -- yup, that was me! I was the one who was worried I had missed something since all the 9:00 interviewees had congregated in the lobby. I'm glad we'll be classmates this Jan!! Congrats!!

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I'm so excited! Congrats to everyone!

CPA2MSN - I think Tufano's would be a great idea! Maybe after the current semester ends? I'm guessing we're all in pre-reqs right now. :) I'm excited to meet people!

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C3323-Thanks for clearing that up, ya I guess since some of us are still taking prereqs they probably have to see that we complete them with a good grade. I am curious where is everyone from? Southside Chicago here.

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I'm from Orland Park, south suburbs.

I'm assuming a lot of us still have to take research methods. Where is everyone taking that class? I was thinking about taking it at University of Phoenix, but it's so expensive.

We can plan to get together in June sometime. It will be great to meet everyone!!!

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I am originally from Columbus, OH (go Buckeyes!!), but I have lived in Chicago for almost five years now. I currently live in the West Loop and love it (as it's close to school and close to downtown). If any of you are considering a move to Chicago, I would definitely recommend looking in that neighborhood.

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I have been waitlisted. I am literally drowning in my tears but I will be fine. I am starting my application to Yale, and other schools, and this time, it's going to be so many schools at a time. Congratulations to all who made it!

Oh no!!! :eek: I'm so sorry. I just had a chance to check the forum, I spent all of yesterday travelling home from visiting family for the holidays. You have that list of all the other PMHNP programs I sent you, right? If not, I can easily re-send you all of those links. If I remember correctly, there are 13 other direct-entry programs that have that specialty, plus there are about a million different other options if you decide to take a more traditional route to becoming a NP. I don't know what number you are on the waitlist, but from previous years' threads, it seems like a lot of people from the waitlist end up in the program because those accepted choose other schools ultimately. Since this admission cycle is so early, it may be a longer wait, which stinks, but hopefully your heart's desire will be fulfilled. I hope your family is giving you lots of supports and that you're treating yourself to some bubble baths and chocolate. *utterly lame cyber-hugs*

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I live in the Bridgeport area, on the Southside of Chicago. I was born in the city, but grew up in the suburbs and attended school on the East Coast. I'd love to meet up with folks to meet you-all! :)

If anyone here is looking for an affordable living option in the city, I would recommend the Canaryville/Bridgeport area. It's a quiet, safe, Irish-Catholic area where tons of CPD and FPD families live. Since it's not trendy like Wicker Park, Logan Square, Lakeview, or Wrigleyville, it often gets overlooked. But rent here is significantly cheaper and you get a lot more for your dollar. (I pay about 45% less than friends in hipper areas, but I have central a/c-which is vital in Chicago-a dishwasher, two bedrooms, etc.) It's quiet (the loudest thing I ever hear are the neighborhood kids playing on the sidewalk), no temptation of Starbucks or cute boutique shopping, loads of free street parking and close to the highways and the CTA. Pilsen is another Southside neighborhood that many people overlook and it's closer to campus, but it's a neighborhood in upheaval, it's being gentrified but there's still a significant crime factor. I had a friend who lived there recently and her car was broken into for some CDs (weird, right?!), so I'd recommend making sure you feel safe in your neighborhood before signing the lease there-or anywhere else.

For those of you who will be moving to the city from another area, here are two fantastic resources: Wikipedia articles on Chicago neighborhoods so you can get a feel for what areas are like, and the Chicago Police Department's Crime Maps.

For apartment listings, I'd recommend the Chicago Reader, the city's independently run newspaper, in addition to the usual Craigslist and Tribune/Sun searches. It's also the best paper to read, plenty of local investigative journalism, it comes out weekly and is free. The Red Eye, in comparison, is written at about a middle school reading comprehension level and is more interested in TMZ-style news and ad dollars, but that's daily and free as well.

Has anyone asked Julie Kim for an updated listing of the courses which meet the Research Methods pre-req? When I talked to the City Colleges of Chicago registrar's office, they couldn't find the class (or a comparable one) listed on that pdf in their course catalog. The CCC offers classes at $89 a credit, which seems like a good deal to me, so I'd love to take it there if I can.

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onephoenix...

I also have been having some difficulty finding a research methods class besides the ones offered at UIC or University of Phoenix....both are somewhat expensive and i have also checked with City Colleges and Oakton Community college and have had no luck! Please let me know if you hear anything from Julie.

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$89 per credit would be great! I think Phoenix is $395 per credit!!! Let's definitely keep in touch on that.

I used to live in the city, before I had kids. I have three kids. I guess I may be one of the few students who is well over 30 years old!!! I'm definitely making a huge career change. I have been practicing accounting for many years and have decided I just can't do the tedious, boring, unsatisfying work anymore. I guess I couldn't have embarked on a much bigger career change than this!

Is anyone else a second career student? If so, what's your background? I would love to see where everyone is coming from. I know that UIC definitely wants diversity in the program. We will learn so much from each other's varied education and experience.

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buzzj - I wrote Julie this morning to ask about a CCC course and see if my background could be evaluated to see if I could opt-out. I'll let you guys know once I hear back. I'm sure she's very busy still, but hopefully I'll hear back soon. My academic background is a bit unusual so I don't want to take the chance of needing to take multiple classes and missing out on registration for the summer term.

CPA2MSN - Ha! Now I know what your handle stands for. :) Well... I found the course at Roosevelt University, but that is $689 per credit hour. :eek: And the course is 3 credits. If someone else has found more affordable options, please let us know!

I'm also a second career person, I was a bit intimidated to see so many people on this thread straight out of undergrad, actually. I'm turning 30 this year, but I'm single, no kids, etc. I've worked in marketing for the past 5 years, but my undergrad studies were in the Great Books and I completed a post-bacc pre-med program at Hopkins after that (almost everyone in that program was 30+ and a 2nd career person).

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Hey guys!!!

I'm out in Hoffman Estates (Woodfield Mall area) and will be commuting in January!

I've worked for the railroad for the past 8 years. I started when I was 18 in high school and kept coming back when other options with my degrees didn't pan out.

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Hey guys I took my research methods class at University of Phoenix. My advice is take it elsewhere if you can lol. It was awful. The main focus and and your grade is based off a group project that continues to build from week 1. Group members would randomly drop the course, or come up with an excuse to not complete their portion of the project, so it was a bit difficult to control for stuff like that. Not to mention it was $$$.

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