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.

Yes, Phoenix, easy to figure out my user name once I give you some background!:) I felt the same, that there weren't as many interviewees who were 30+, but it was the same way when I interviewed at Rush. These are great programs for someone wanting to change careers, but maybe there just aren't that many people already in the work force who want to take on this intense of a program. I don't know. For me, it was a tough decision because I was making great money and had a ton of flexibility. I had a great job, walk to work situation. My husband just can't believe I'd give it all up. But, he totally understands that I need to do something I love if I'm going to work for 25 more years. Plus, another student loan, etc. It's hard to start all over, but I'm so excited to finally get into a career that I know I will absolutely love. I've had some personal experiences with my kids (one with a heart condition) and other family members where I've spent a lot of time in hospitals and caring for different illnesses, etc. I have also volunteered in the ER. But, other than that I have not been PAID to work in a health care setting.

Swimmer, that's a real bummer because I think Phoenix has one of only two online options for that class. I was really hoping to take it online as opposed to live. I hope Julie gives us some good options. I think that's the last prereq I need. I just have to double check my humanities and make sure those are ok.

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This is a second career for me too. I was doing public relations/community outreach for a non-profit in Chicago, but quit my job when I decided I wanted to focus on getting my RN/APN and took a lower position within the same organization (the hours in PR were too long every day to accommodate taking classes at night...and I was working a second job on the weekends, so I couldn't take weekend classes).

I may do the University of Washington course. At $1,450 it's fairly pricey, but it is offered online so it would help with all the traveling I have to do this summer.

You can check out the course here: http://www.pce.uw.edu/courses/psychological-research-fundamentals.html

I know it says no sections are currently underway, but I think that's because you can enroll anytime. I would love to find something cheaper, so if you find something else that is in Chicago (or is offered online) I would love to hear about it!

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Okay, I looked up the other online course, and it's a little more affordable, though not as inexpensive as CCC. $1,450 plus $5 supplemental reader. I'm not sure if there are application or registration costs, but you can start anytime and you have three months to complete the program. University of Washington's online school is also probably more respectable than University of Phoenix. (My handle is due to the mythological creature-not the school or city. ;-) )

Here's the direct link to the course and there's an a link on the page to apply for the course right away: http://www.pce.uw.edu/course.aspx?id=1006

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I know it says no sections are currently underway, but I think that's because you can enroll anytime.

We simultaneously posted! :) You can start any time. I copied the info below from the link I posted above.

Schedule:

Enroll anytime; course begins the day you enroll and you have three months to complete it.

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I think Phoenix has one of only two online options for that class.

The list on course options (which was updated 11/2010) has three online courses listed: University of Phoenix, University of Washington and Roosevelt University. But they all seem pretty pricey.

Elmhurst still offers the course listed by the list, but it's a private liberal arts 4 year school so I didn't even bother looking at tuition costs, etc.

Harper College still offers the course listed and it's in the Northwest suburbs, here's their district information, for those of us outside of their district, the cost per credit hour is $359.50, but only $102.50 for those in district. They don't offer the course this summer, but they have one section available in the fall semester on Monday nights from 6:30 pm - 9:10 pm from Aug 22 - Dec 18, 2011. This PSY 210 course is 3 credit hours.

(It's worth noting that while the cost per credit hour for City Colleges of Chicago is $89 for city residents, it is $173.56 for out-of-district students... Which is still the best deal I've found so far, so I really hope there's a research methods course option there.)

I'm feeling rather deflated at this time, so I think I'm going to wait to hear back from Julie before I continue researching other options. If anyone learns about other schools, please let us know!

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I'm in to MPH!!! :) Congratulations, everyone!

I was just re-reading the parts of the thread I missed because I was out of town and I meant PMH (psychiatric mental health, the NP track to become a PMHNP).... Sigh, I guess I was really not paying attention when I typed that. ;-) So to those who were confused because you thought I was writing about a Master's in Public Health on this thread, sorry!

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Hi all, just found this thread, kinda late. I got wait listed and am just devastated! :crying2: anyone know if everyone who is not accepted gets wait listed or if they reject any applicants? I'm just trying to figure out the odds since uic won't give out any information as far as position or how many they put on their wait list. Anyone know much about the rush and depaul program? Thanks for any feedback.

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I'm sorry Liza. It's really tough. I am on the wait list at Rush for the June term, but I plan to take the spot at UIC. I think Rush's program is very good. Also, they accept about 80 students twice a year, so your chances are better based on sheer numbers. Rush did tell me what number I was on the wait list and also gave feedback as to why I was waitlisted, which is really helpful. Their deadline for the January term (which is the same start as UIC) is June 15th, I THINK. double check that. But, you should definitely apply since it would start at the same time UIC starts. Rush is a 21 month full time program and you have your MSN and CNL at the end of it. It's a more general masters degree, no specialization. If you want to pursue the NP, you'll already have some credits toward it and you'll have to take just a few more classes to get it.

I do know to work at Rush you have to have a masters degree, no BSN anymore. Also, they offer 100% tuition reimbursement, which is fantastic.

Good luck! Just keep trying. Both schools definitely recognize applicants who've been on the wait list and I think you are given consideration for that.

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Liza324 - I'm sorry to hear that, but I wanted to emphasize what CPA2MSN said about asking why you were waitlisted. Even in the information session I attended at UIC, one of the current GEP students on stage talked about how she'd been rejected the admission cycle prior and CON's feedback really helped her become not just a better applicant, but led her to discover another specialty was actually her calling.

While waiting for a reply on the interviews and admission I just kept reminding myself that:

a.) nursing school is apparently harder to get into than medical school nowadays

b.) UIC's acceptance rate is only around the 'teens

I don't know if you're from the Chicago area, but there are a lot more direct entry (to specialized NP) programs out there than I realized when I started this journey. If, by any chance, you are interested in becoming a psych NP, I'd be happy to send you the list of other programs I found in my research. I feel like finding the other programs took a bit more imagination than my previous academic program searches, which is why I felt like UIC and UCSF were the *only* programs out there at first. *hugs*

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Does anyone know when we will hear about our prereques?

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Whoa sorry! I hit enter too fast!! I had heard earlier that if we were missing something they would evaluate our transcripts and get back to us. I'm just wondering if they didn't accept something so I can get into a class for the summer/fall??

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I still haven't heard from Julie. I left her a voicemail this morning because I know she prefers not to receive multiple emails on a topic. Summer classes at CCC start in a month, so I'm getting worried that I won't hear back in time. :-/

(I'm hoping my research experience means I can opt out of the research methods course, but I haven't heard one way or another.)

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