UMass Accerated

maccully · Oct 24, 2008

I got it!!! and I am going!!! yeah!!!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!! Hope to see you all there in 2 1/2 months!!!

truffles111 · Oct 29, 2008

does anyone know what the schedule is like? location of clinicals? how that is determined? cost? etc? etc??

VTstudent · Oct 29, 2008

Hey there,

Here's the info as far as I know...

Costs:

from: http://www.umassulearn.net/Programs/Undergraduate-Programs/Second-Bachelors-Track-in-Nursing

"Estimated Fees for Second Bachelor's in Nursing Program (based on fees for academic year 2008-09): The cost of classes is $443 per credit (x 59 credits in the full program = $26,137). In addition there is a $45 per term non-refundable registration fee (x 5 terms = $225). Class and registration fees may change. For information on additional program costs, including health insurance, books and materials, please see the Undergraduate Student Handbook for the School of Nursing at www.umass.edu/nursing/student_information/handbooks.html."

This is really the most directly link for the additional costs... http://www.umass.edu/nursing/student_information/documents/Undergrad_Handbook%202008-2009-Revised%20Sept23%20.pdf scroll to page 26. Some of it is still a little unclear to me but that page helps a lot!

Schedule:

Are you looking for more details than is provided in the info sheet? (http://www.umass.edu/nursing/programs/pro_ug_second_bach/Second%20Bach%20Brochure-Oct%207,08.pdf)

Clinicals:

Not exactly sure on this, but I think they have a relationship with area hospitals/clinics/other clinical sites. 8 students/site. They pick the clinicals for you, not sure if you have much of a say. For the practicum/internship at the end, you give them your 1st/2nd/3rd choices. The clinicals throughout the first 12 months can be anywhere from in Amherst to ~2hr drive from there. I THINK the 2 credit clinicals are something like 6 hour shifts throughout the semester, or maybe they are 12 hour shifts because the summer semester is compressed. I am pretty sure the 4 credit clinicals during the spring/fall term are a once/week 12 hour shift or twice/week 6 hour shifts.

Are you going to do the program?

Take care!

truffles111 · Oct 31, 2008

wow! thank you so much for all the information! i need to decide between umass and mcphs. i live closer to mcphs, but umass is less expensive. i guess my concern is the gas $$, time, wear and tear on my car, etc. if my clinicals are in northampton or somewhere further out than umass it will prob. take me an hour and 45 mins or so....and that would stink. whereas worcester is only 20 mins away. i'm not quite sure how i will decide.

anyone else trying to make such a decision???

VTstudent · Oct 31, 2008

Hey there,

I ended up only applying to UMass, but I tried to decide between a few programs before that... do you know what you want to do after getting your BSN? Are you planning on going directly into a master's program or do you want the option of "stepping out" and working for a bit first? do you have any particular research/practice interests? if so, it might be worth looking at the interests of the faculty that would be teaching you. reputation could be a factor (I have no clue which one has a better reputation overall or in certain areas).

as far as driving... my sense from alums and current students is that pretty much no matter where you live, you ended up carpooling a lot. whether that's picking up someone midway from where you live or several people from your clinical group driving together for 1.5 hours. also, at the info session it sounded like at least around 4-10 people each year want to be based in Boston (don't remember the exact range they were saying), and they're usually able to find an internship for all those people. so, if that's closer to you, that could be an option too.

good luck with your decision making!

maccully · Nov 3, 2008

riley- i think its awesome that you have choices! I only had the chance to apply to UMass so far and bc it is sooo inexpensive i am not applying anywhere else.

are you doing the worcester mcphs program??? the school itself i think has a more serious reputation than amherst, but the program in my guess is kinda new right??? isnt it a two or three year program???

and VT- thanks for the scoop. it is really annoying to think about all that travel time.

anyone receive their financial aid letter???

anyone have any luck looking for apartments???? craigslist is barren!!

truffles111 · Nov 15, 2008

hi lisa (liking350) ...i'm still trying to decide between mcphs and umass too....i live much closer to worcester too, so my concern is the drive...it just ads so much extra to a long day. i went there for my ba and i remember having to walk pretty far from parking to class, so you need to add in 20 extra mins or so to the commute. it just makes for a long day when we need to spend all our free time studying. i know it is sooo much cheaper...pluuuss...we could end up in northampton for clinicals! that would be a hike!

what are your thoughts??

Liking350 · Nov 16, 2008

Hi Riley...I've decided on MCPHS. The program is more expensive, but I think it will be worth it in the end. Commuting that much will definitely wear on me, plus the 16 months is such an intensive program, and the commute would take at least two hours a day away from studying time. And since I won't be commuting so much I will have more time to work at my part time job and use more of that towards school. I also heard that we don't have much choice in where we do our clinicals, and it's possible that we could be assigned at a hospital anywhere from an hour east or west of UMASS. There is no way that I am going to drive over four hours for clinicals, including there and back...especially not in inclement weather. It was a tough decision, but I wish you luck in making it! Let me know what you decide!!!!