UMDNJ accelerated nursing program, Spring 2008 application

SeychelleRN · Oct 16, 2007

If you have not heard anything by the end of the month, I would expect a rejection letter. I applied 2+ years ago and constantly got the run around with my status each time I called or emailed. However, they were kind enough to send my rejection letter by Christmas Eve.

BrownBoiRN, BSN, MSN, DNP, APN · Oct 17, 2007

Here is the rundown with this school. These things are good and bad and are fact. I work at UMDNJ so I know what's going on. I was accepted for the Summer '07' term, but deferred admission to continue working. I will be starting in Spring '08', but things have changed. Due to the unorganization of the School of Nursing's Admissions department the whole department was fired this summer, and the admissions process is now ran by the School of Health Related Professions admissions department. Which doesn't affect you because this is your first time applying and you won't know any difference. It affected me because they couldn't find any of my paperwork. They didn't have my file, letter of recommendations, nor my acceptance letter. So I had to re-submit all of this information plus had to add the copy of my acceptance letter. I am sure glad I kept good records :angryfire, but sorry I had to vent for a minute back to your question. You should hear something by the end of the month or early November because they are trying to improve the time they give students to get financial paperwork together. Have you filed for you FASFA? I would do that and as soon as you receive your letter I would do all of the necessary online Financial applications on the school website because the Financial Aid office and slow and they deal with all of the schools that UMDNJ has so you just become another number to the counselors. Stay on top of them and make your name known, and also your face. They are rude just a bit overwhelmed. If you have any other questions just ask and I'll do my best to help and answer. My best friend started the program this Fall ( I let him be the test dummy first. LOL!!) hey I wasn't giving those unorganized people any of my money. Its much better now and you can already see the difference so no worries now, and he says its rough and hard but manageable. Good Luck and I hope to see you in the Spring as one of my fellow classmates. :welcome:

birdgardner · Oct 17, 2007

Novizivot, I just got my letter last Saturday, so they're starting to send them out.

Jonesr1985, this is off-topic, but does UMDNJ use the ATI for assessment? And is UMDNJ's list of tuition, costs, and fees complete, or do students get hit with surprises?

BrownBoiRN, BSN, MSN, DNP, APN · Oct 17, 2007

Well I don't know about the ATI assesment, but as far as the tuition and financial aid here are the things to look at for no surprises.

Tuition:

http://sn.umdnj.edu/academics/accelbsn/ABSNTuition_Fees-0607.pdf

and

Nursing Student's Budget:

http://www.umdnj.edu/studentfinancialaid/app_process/08/other/2007_08_Budgets_77.pdf

These are the two factors that are used to calculate your financial aid package. Hope this helps!!! Congratulations, and I'll see you in the Spring!

AtomicWoman · Nov 18, 2007

Here is the rundown with this school. These things are good and bad and are fact. I work at UMDNJ so I know what's going on. I was accepted for the Summer '07' term, but deferred admission to continue working. I will be starting in Spring '08', but things have changed. Due to the unorganization of the School of Nursing's Admissions department the whole department was fired this summer, and the admissions process is now ran by the School of Health Related Professions admissions department.

I gather you are going to go to UMDNJ-Newark? Do you have any scoop on UMDNJ-Stratford? Is it more/less organized? I think Stratford only takes ABSN students 2 times a year, but I'll be darned if I can find that information again on their website! :trout: Thanks for sharing any insights!

JerseyGuy · Feb 2, 2008

I am currently in the UMD Accelerated BSN program, and the reply from the person who works at UMD is VERY ACCURATE---in that the previous admissions area at the School of Nursing was a DISASTER!! They have all been replaced, with all SON's admissions work now being done centrally by the School of Health Professions at UMD----so THAT has improved.

BUT...and it's a big BUT----HOLD ON FOR THE RIDE once you get it. The Accel program at UMD Newark is VERY UNORGANIZED, unfortunately. Not sure whether it's the individual faculty---but more likely, the Director/Dean of the Accel Program is really not too swift. She's been really disappointing to students there, on a wide range of issues. In fact, of late, students just go directly to the overall Dean for the entire School of Nursing, as the ABSN Dean is pretty ineffective. Enough said about THAT. But just wait until you see how they schedule clinicals---it's a joke. They can't manage their way out of a paper-bag, I hate to say.

The instructors: a few are very good, a few are VERY bad, and the rest are somewhat mediocre. The bad ones persist---who knows why....but students before us have told us not much will be done about it. Sadly, they seem to be correct.

Best thing about the program: it's the cheapest Accel BSN Progrm, other than Rutgers (and Rutgers has tougher pre-req requirements). Unfortunately, it's kind of like: "get in, get out", and you'll never want anything to do with the place again----other than staying in touch with the student friends you make. Great bunch of students-----very diverse.

Good luck!!

ggabri07, BSN, RN · Feb 7, 2008

How long have you been in the program

I am currently in the UMD Accelerated BSN program, and the reply from the person who works at UMD is VERY ACCURATE---in that the previous admissions area at the School of Nursing was a DISASTER!! They have all been replaced, with all SON's admissions work now being done centrally by the School of Health Professions at UMD----so THAT has improved.
BUT...and it's a big BUT----HOLD ON FOR THE RIDE once you get it. The Accel program at UMD Newark is VERY UNORGANIZED, unfortunately. Not sure whether it's the individual faculty---but more likely, the Director/Dean of the Accel Program is really not too swift. She's been really disappointing to students there, on a wide range of issues. In fact, of late, students just go directly to the overall Dean for the entire School of Nursing, as the ABSN Dean is pretty ineffective. Enough said about THAT. But just wait until you see how they schedule clinicals---it's a joke. They can't manage their way out of a paper-bag, I hate to say.
The instructors: a few are very good, a few are VERY bad, and the rest are somewhat mediocre. The bad ones persist---who knows why....but students before us have told us not much will be done about it. Sadly, they seem to be correct.
Best thing about the program: it's the cheapest Accel BSN Progrm, other than Rutgers (and Rutgers has tougher pre-req requirements). Unfortunately, it's kind of like: "get in, get out", and you'll never want anything to do with the place again----other than staying in touch with the student friends you make. Great bunch of students-----very diverse.
Good luck!!

JerseyGuy · Feb 9, 2008

Been there a year now. I gotta tell ya......if you go to UMD-Newark, you really have to "grin and bear it!" They do very stupid things there, again, the ONLY good thing about it is: it's the cheapest accelerated BSN program in NJ, compared to Seton Hall and Fairleigh Dickinson.

If you can put up with the crap for 15 months, then go.....but don't say "no one told me it would be this disorganized."

ggabri07, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2008

Hey what exactly do you mean by disorganized? A.... I really had this image of UMDNJ nursing program being great. I am applying to UMDNJ, FDU, Seton hall, rutgers, and New Jersey City University. I want to make sure that I am in a program without all of the BS. UMDNJ was my first choice .lol

How are the professors? Do they grade fairly?

What is it like on a day to day basis? Are you in class from 8-4 from Monday-Friday?

When does clinicals come into place?

How often are tests given? Do you think that the program allows enough time to study even though it is accelerated.

Anyone in an Accelerated program is free to answer and please advise which program you are refering to. I am applying for the Fall 08 semester and wanted to get a feel from a student about the life of a student in an accelerated program

Been there a year now. I gotta tell ya......if you go to UMD-Newark, you really have to "grin and bear it!" They do very stupid things there, again, the ONLY good thing about it is: it's the cheapest accelerated BSN program in NJ, compared to Seton Hall and Fairleigh Dickinson.
If you can put up with the crap for 15 months, then go.....but don't say "no one told me it would be this disorganized."

BrownBoiRN, BSN, MSN, DNP, APN · Feb 11, 2008

Okay I can help you a little on this. I have just started my first semester here at UMDNJ. As far as the disorganization my opinion every school has some form of disorganization and you can't please everyone. I am the first class under the new changes/administration and so far nobody in my class yet has complained about it being overly disorganized. If you want a degree and a way to pass the NCLEX so far this school has proven great.

Our professors this semester is great compared to previous semesters. They have changed the professor Foundations and it is a breath of fresh air. Its not easy, but its not set up for failure either. You go to class, read and complete assignments, and study for your exams you will receive above a 75 (remember during this time you want above a 75, thats all that matters). As far as grading all exams for my first semester are multiple choice. Its either you know it or you don't and this is for every class. The workload and study load is intense. The hardes part is the week that you may 2 or 3 exams, plus you must keep up with your weekly assisnments and readings (things don't slow down because you have exams), this definitely takes quite an adjustment.

No we arent in class Mon-Fri from 8 to 4. As it goes my schedule is Mon 2-4:30, Tues 12-4:30, Wed. 8-430 (the longest day, and Thurs 7-2:00 (clinical). Now it doesn't mean that I'm not doing something during those open times such as Lab schedule practices, reviews, and tutor sessions but this varies from week to week and is optional, but highly recommended as everyone usually participates.

Clinicals begin after the first six weeks. The first six weeks are spent learning all skillls from vital signs and bedmaking to medications (oral, topical, and parenteral) and catheters (urinary and nasogastric). Remember you learn all of these and everything in between in just six weeks. After that you no longer have labs and its all clinical (extremely overwhelming but much support).

In each class there are about four test so just divide that between 4.5 semesters. The program is what you make it and how you manage your time. The key here is time management. If you don't give yourself enough time to study then you won't have any. You can have a semi-social life and keep up with the work. Remember its all on you.

I hope this helps and Good Luck!!! :yeah: (Excuse any typos have to reply quickly studying for a Patho test for tomorrow!!)

ggabri07, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2008

Thank you for the in depth response. It tapped into all of my questions that I had concerning the program. I was thinking that students are in class all day but now I see this is not the case. I cant wait to get my acceptance letter. The deadline for the app is March 1st and I already have everything in. I hope they get back to me by April 1st. Have fun studying