UIC vs Depaul Graduate Entry Programs

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Does anyone know much about the new UIC direct entry graduate program? I know that Depaul has had a program for a couple years, does anyone have an opinion on it? UIC?

I'm in the process of applying to programs and am originally from Chicago and those are the 2 schools in the area. Does anyone know how well they compare to other areas?

thanks

Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
You mean early contenders for Spring if not taken in for Fall?

I am not very impressed the way they have handled my application. I have a 3.36 GPA and GRE (Quan 613, Verb 548). I am sure if they had not screwed up on my transcripts I had a chance to get in this Fall.

Anyways, I will call them and find out what is going. Have you any knowledge about other schools with direct msn. other than UIC and DePaul? Out of state is fine. What about a school that would offer associates degree, but consider out-of-district students?

Hello,

I think you are right. Your numbers are better than mine and they told me yesterday that according to my numbers I should be okay for the Winter-(January) quarter start!

Your GRE is higher than mine for certain.

I want to suggest that you take a look at the forum titled "direct entry and graduate entry II" under the pre-student nurses forum under the student section here at all nurses.

I posted my numbers, along with others in response to a question from a new poster.

Also, Yes, there are other school in our area that offer the direct entry, Loyola is one..WAIT,

It may be too soon but, (deadline is July 1), RUSH has a one year Accelerated BSN for qualifying applicants, (I was semi-applying but, since DePaul has the January start I am going to wait for that). It is also competitive and the earliest applicants were already considered however, it is a possibility.

I can wait for DePaul, especially so since they can review our packets now, as early for the winter.

Your packet was obviously an early contention for the FALL! Mix-ups!

Hopefully it will be some sort of Kismit Twinkles, this way we can both start together and that might be coincidentally a good thing!

I am hopeful for an official acceptance and hope you get one too, especially if they will smoothly transfer your application from fall to winter quarter.

Gen

p.s. I also hope to read you on the direct entry and graduate entry pre-student nurse thread! They have loads of information about other programs, nation-wide too! For me though, the soonest start from right now, would be DePaul for the MSN, (or even RUSH if accepted this late for the BSN January start).

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Hello,

I think you are right. Your numbers are better than mine and they told me yesterday that according to my numbers I should be okay for the Winter-(January) quarter start!

Your GRE is higher than mine for certain.

I want to suggest that you take a look at the forum titled "direct entry and graduate entry II" under the pre-student nurses forum under the student section here at all nurses.

I posted my numbers, along with others in response to a question from a new poster.

Also, Yes, there are other school in our area that offer the direct entry, Loyola is one..WAIT,

It may be too soon but, (deadline is July 1), RUSH has a one year accelerated BSN for qualifying applicants, (I was semi-applying but, since DePaul has the January start I am going to wait for that). It is also competitive and the earliest applicants were already considered however, it is a possibility.

I can wait for DePaul, especially so since they can review our packets now, as early for the winter.

Your packet was obviously an early contention for the FALL! Mix-ups!

Hopefully it will be some sort of Kismit Twinkles, this way we can both start together and that might be coincidentally a good thing!

I am hopeful for an official acceptance and hope you get one too, especially if they will smoothly transfer your application from fall to winter quarter.

Gen

p.s. I also hope to read you on the direct entry and graduate entry pre-student nurse thread! They have loads of information about other programs, nation-wide too! For me though, the soonest start from right now, would be DePaul for the MSN, (or even RUSH if accepted this late for the BSN January start).

I looked at Rush, but if I can get into a MSN I would like to pursue it. The only reason to do an accelerate BSN would be to get RN faster. I'd rather do an associates quickly, spend less and get a RN.

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
I looked at Rush, but if I can get into a MSN I would like to pursue it. The only reason to do an accelerate BSN would be to get RN faster. I'd rather do an associates quickly, spend less and get a RN.

Hello,

It is highly likely that you will get accepted to an ADN school. I was accepted at Prairie State College for this Fall 2005 start but, wanted to hold out for the MSN at DePaul.

The ADN is also 2 years, but, only six classes, (or eight all total)!

However, I too wanted to go for the MSN.

I figure with the winter start that I have about 6 more months to save up some more moola to pay for it! :)

Gen

p.s. hopefully DePaul will gladly reconsider you for winter, especially so since there was a glitch with the evaluation of the t-scripts, again, hope we are both there

p.p.s. I told the admissions counselor that if I was accepted for the winter quarther that I planned on attending and so on...she replied nicely in email, have you spoken with Christine Werdrick? I would call and explain the situation and what not.

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Hello,

It is highly likely that you will get accepted to an ADN school. I was accepted at Prairie State College for this Fall 2005 start but, wanted to hold out for the MSN at DePaul.

The ADN is also 2 years, but, only six classes, (or eight all total)!

However, I too wanted to go for the MSN.

I figure with the winter start that I have about 6 more months to save up some more moola to pay for it! :)

Gen

p.s. hopefully DePaul will gladly reconsider you for winter, especially so since there was a glitch with the evaluation of the t-scripts, again, hope we are both there

p.p.s. I told the admissions counselor that if I was accepted for the winter quarther that I planned on attending and so on...she replied nicely in email, have you spoken with Christine Werdrick? I would call and explain the situation and what not.

I have spoken with Christine Werdrick several times. Besides her I've personally met Dr. Julie Donalek (who is very very helpful) and have met Dr. Susan Poslusny who is apparently the one who makes the decision.

I have emailed Dr. Poslusny hoping to get an update on my application status.

Will keep you posted.

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
I have spoken with Christine Werdrick several times. Besides her I've personally met Dr. Julie Donalek (who is very very helpful) and have met Dr. Susan Poslusny who is apparently the one who makes the decision.

I have emailed Dr. Poslusny hoping to get an update on my application status.

Will keep you posted.

Twinkles,

I hope you hear good news and I look forward to reading it!

It seems like the "nature of the Beast" of graduate school application is that we have to border our assertiveness on the aggressive side.

Good for you to persist.

Someone told me that they should send out the first letters of acceptance for the winter by September sometime.

It feels a little risky but, I am going to accept and defer another program, (MSW) in favor of waiting for a letter of acceptance from DePaul.

Fingers crossed!

Oh my goodness, next we can figure out how to work the graduate school fincancing!

I listed on my FAFSA that I was going to live on campus, (I plan on staying at home with the hubby in Oak Forest from Friday to Sunday). Fingers crossed for this too.

Gen

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Twinkles,

I hope you hear good news and I look forward to reading it!

It seems like the "nature of the Beast" of graduate school application is that we have to border our assertiveness on the aggressive side.

Good for you to persist.

Someone told me that they should send out the first letters of acceptance for the winter by September sometime.

It feels a little risky but, I am going to accept and defer another program, (MSW) in favor of waiting for a letter of acceptance from DePaul.

Fingers crossed!

Oh my goodness, next we can figure out how to work the graduate school fincancing!

I listed on my FAFSA that I was going to live on campus, (I plan on staying at home with the hubby in Oak Forest from Friday to Sunday). Fingers crossed for this too.

Gen

Gen,

I AM IN... Just got an email from the lady at DePaul, saying I've been accepted to the MSN program begining Sept 05. I am so excited.

Yes... you're right next thing will be straighten out my finances...

Hope to see you there in Spring... Good Luck!!!

Twinkle

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Gen,

I AM IN... Just got an email from the lady at DePaul, saying I've been accepted to the MSN program begining Sept 05. I am so excited.

Yes... you're right next thing will be straighten out my finances...

Hope to see you there in Spring... Good Luck!!!

Twinkle

Hey!! :chuckle

Great! Are you in for now, the fall? (yes, I see, that would be Sept 2005) Wow!

I was just printing out scholarship information and trying to check out graduate student loans and eligibility.

Phew, here goes Twinkles!

Gen

p.s. congratulations!!!

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Hey!! :chuckle

Great! Are you in for now, the fall? (yes, I see, that would be Sept 2005) Wow!

I was just printing out scholarship information and trying to check out graduate student loans and eligibility.

Phew, here goes Twinkles!

Gen

p.s. congratulations!!!

Gen,

Yes, its the Fall term. I am going to start looking around at the scholarship information as well.

I wish you the best and hope to see you around in Winter.

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Gen,

Yes, its the Fall term. I am going to start looking around at the scholarship information as well.

I wish you the best and hope to see you around in Winter.

Twinkles!

Hello and how is it going? Hopefully good.

I have an update, (I am kind of excited and also frustrated too).

In the end it seems that I may indeed be in for the Fall. However, my final transcripts which I mailed myself, (four of them in a bigger envelope) are missing!

I sent them on the 10th of June and addressed them to the College of Nursing.

They are going to call me tomorrow to let me know if they found them and thus, if they qualify, if I may be in for the fall!!

Good, and nice and also frustrating.

I originally called to see if they found them yet to lock in a winter start and then was told they would return a call if they found them.

Then I realized that one of my junior colleges, (from over 10 years ago, one semester) was on a quater system. I called and they have a survey of organic chem starting on July 11 and the prof said to come on the first day, (and to check online tomorrow for a dropped seat to register online).

So, I phoned DePaul and asked if they thought there was a spot for me in the fall because if so then I would jump on this organic chem class and be ready.

I was told that they would keep looking and would let me know tomorrow.

EGADS!

I know I addressed it to the DePaul College of Nursing, maybe even to Dr. Susan Poslusny herself, (as per a phonecall advice one day).

I really hope they find them.

By the way, do you know when the orientation is? If this does work out, I would hate to miss it.

Oh, gosh, this would mean that I loose six months of saving but, it also means that I would be done six months sooner!!

Fingers crossed!

Thanks,

Gen

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Hello ladies, I just joined allnurses so i'm just reading this.

How did the program go? I got into the program and begin in January so I'm just trying to get info from alumni.

Do you become an RN after the program? Also, what kind of jobs were you able to apply for eg. staff nurse, nurse administrator etc. Basically, what are the benefits of going this route? is it worth the cost, time, etc? cos i'm really considering an ADN bcos it costs less and you still become an RN.

thanks.

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Specializes in Urgent Care NP, Emergency Nursing, Camp Nursing.

Don't forget us Gents!

While I suggest you google the webpages to both programs, I can tell you quickly that you're an RN after the DePaul program, with some of the coursework out of the way to get a post-master's certificate in an advanced field. With UIC you get your RN, then work while studying for your master's in a specific advanced field.

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Hello ladies, I just joined allnurses so i'm just reading this.

How did the program go? I got into the program and begin in January so I'm just trying to get info from alumni.

Do you become an RN after the program? Also, what kind of jobs were you able to apply for eg. staff nurse, nurse administrator etc. Basically, what are the benefits of going this route? is it worth the cost, time, etc? cos i'm really considering an ADN bcos it costs less and you still become an RN.

thanks.

Hi,

If your are considering choosing the ADN because of the cost and that you will "still become an RN" rather than really want to have a MS degree then you might want to consider very strongly if you should or shouldn't even apply to DePaul. It not only costs alot but it is a lot more work, (107 credit hours when I went, graduated June 07).

However my goals requried a minimum BSN for entry and I didn't want to go back and have to bridge from the ADN to BSN, especially since I already had an associates and an undergraduate degree. I wanted to continue along the degree chain.

Luckily my MS entry degree satisfied the BSN minimum or higher requirement for me and I am an Army nurse who is also accepted to a PhD program here in Texas. As Squire said, with DePaul's program you complete the MS in two years and are eligible for NCLEX. This was a big, big reason I ended up being very glad that UIC passed me over. I ended up with the MS complete years before folks in the other program.

Several of my cohorts from DePaul got jobs that they were very, very happy with. A couple work at Children's Memorial, some at Northwestern, one in a home care situation with lots of autonomy and jub fulfillment and several happily went straight to Emergency room positions and one that I know of is happy with her great schedule of a weekender slot that is even more pay for her too. Had we chosen the ADN route I doubt highly that we would have gotten these positions, all mostly required a BSN minimum.

Oh yes, it was very costly, costly in time and money but, it was the route for me. Possibly had I started 20 years ago I wouldn't have chosen it, but, now that I know of it, I would recommend it, IF you can give it the time and attention this program demands. Trust me, it will DEMAND much time and energy. I loved it.

Good luck,

Gennaver

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