UMDNJ Accelerated program

Published

Hi everyone, I'm new here and happy to have found this forum.

I have applied to UMDNJ back in early May and still waiting to hear from them. I am hoping to get into the Accelerated BSN program for Spring.

Has anyone applied to this school or has been accepted?

I was wondering how strict they are in choosing applicants and how many students actually get accepted. Is there a waiting list? I have tried calling Student Services, but they don't give a straight answer. They also don't give a status over the phone. They said just to wait for a letter in early Oct.

Did you try applying to SHU yet? I think the other prereq they require are Organic Chemistry, Ethics, and Development Psych. I took an Ethics online class during the summer. It's not hard at all.

I think if your Chem. class had organic chemistry components, the director of recruitment would accept them. I asked that question a while ago.

I also think SHU accepts alot more students, from looking at their course schedule and classes offered. UMNJ only has 1 class for each required course, per semester.

SHU is very expensive though. I think going to Pace would be about the same amount or maybe a bit less.

I may apply to SHU, for another option. I hate the waiting for an acceptance letter. I just want to finish this degree before I'm 35. LOL

Luckily I have no kids yet so I can concentrate on school. But I also want to have a child before 35, hopefully. I'm just on a tight schedule.

I haven't really explored other schools besides SHU and UMDNJ. I am on a big time budget and am trying to take the most practical approach to becoming a nurse. I too have heard about Pace U 's BSN/MSN program but felt that it would be way too expensive. Plus the additional expenses of driving in or using mass transportation would be too great. I would have to quit my job therefore leaving me with I.O.U.'s to get me by.

For me, UMDNJ is about a 20 minute drive with traffic. Going to this school would definitely help in keeping my costs down that's why my route is UMDNJ or bust...then reapply.

Most MSN programs require at least 1 year work experience as a prereq. I too am considering a MSN but I figured that I should take one step at a time. I would like to teach someday and hopefully inspire passion in the people who will be handling our futures. We'll see...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I haven't applied to SHU and I don't think I want to. I more than satisfied the Orgo prereq. However, I would have to take Ethics and Developmental Psych classes. That means more time and money...things I am very short on.

Do you currently have a full time job? Do you plan to work while doing the accelerated program?

Personally, I too am on a tight schedule.

Did you try applying to SHU yet? I think the other prereq they require are Organic Chemistry, Ethics, and Development Psych. I took an Ethics online class during the summer. It's not hard at all.

I think if your Chem. class had organic chemistry components, the director of recruitment would accept them. I asked that question a while ago.

I also think SHU accepts alot more students, from looking at their course schedule and classes offered. UMNJ only has 1 class for each required course, per semester.

SHU is very expensive though. I think going to Pace would be about the same amount or maybe a bit less.

I may apply to SHU, for another option. I hate the waiting for an acceptance letter. I just want to finish this degree before I'm 35. LOL

Luckily I have no kids yet so I can concentrate on school. But I also want to have a child before 35, hopefully. I'm just on a tight schedule.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Right now I do have a full time job. It's very boring, sitting behind a desk all day. So I go online during free moments.

I plan to quit my job and maybe move in with a family member to help me get by, when I go to nursing school. I'm also trying to save some money now.

I took Ethics online through Mercer Community College. It was a 3 month course, and about $400. I don't know if Developmental Psych is offered online. Since I was a psych major, I took that class during college.

I really hope to get into UMDNJ. I don't want to wait another year to get into this program.

Another school option is Farleigh Dickinson University which has a May start. But they are also very expensive, like SHU.

Friends told me just to get a loan for SHU, if I can get in. But it's almost $50K just for the 14 month program. Plus I still have other debt.

I don't know what starting salaries are for nurses in NJ. Even if it's over $40K/yr, I would still have to buy a house, etc. So I don't want to have such a high loan for school. Although you can pay those in many years.

I just can't help worrying about such a high loan for only a year of schooling though.

I haven't applied to SHU and I don't think I want to. I more than satisfied the Orgo prereq. However, I would have to take Ethics and Developmental Psych classes. That means more time and money...things I am very short on.

Do you currently have a full time job? Do you plan to work while doing the accelerated program?

Personally, I too am on a tight schedule.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I too hope to get into UMDNJ. BTW, UMDNJ has incoming classes in Jan, May and Sept each year.

UMDNJ offers $54K to their their new-grads. Of course, there's was to add on a few bucks by working the night shift and weekend hours

I too am not too crazy about taking out such a large student loan. My loan for the BSN at UMDNJ would be more than what I took out for my BS from SHU. How ironic???

DEBT!!! UGGH!!! As Suzy Orman would say, a student loan is an investment in yourself. Plus, the interest on a student loan is TAX DEDUCTIBLE...practically a loan for free.

Right now I do have a full time job. It's very boring, sitting behind a desk all day. So I go online during free moments.

I plan to quit my job and maybe move in with a family member to help me get by, when I go to nursing school. I'm also trying to save some money now.

I took Ethics online through Mercer Community College. It was a 3 month course, and about $400. I don't know if Developmental Psych is offered online. Since I was a psych major, I took that class during college.

I really hope to get into UMDNJ. I don't want to wait another year to get into this program.

Another school option is Farleigh Dickinson University which has a May start. But they are also very expensive, like SHU.

Friends told me just to get a loan for SHU, if I can get in. But it's almost $50K just for the 14 month program. Plus I still have other debt.

I don't know what starting salaries are for nurses in NJ. Even if it's over $40K/yr, I would still have to buy a house, etc. So I don't want to have such a high loan for school. Although you can pay those in many years.

I just can't help worrying about such a high loan for only a year of schooling though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's true that the interest on a student loan is tax deductible. But I thought that was only during the first 60 months of payments? At least that's what I read on the student loan info on the 1040 form. If I got a loan for $50K, I know it will take me much longer than 60 months to pay off.

I also have gotten some interest back from my undergraduate loan. But it hasn't been much. The interest is low on student loans and the IRS only gives back a certain amount.

Still some is better than nothing.

You mean if a UMDNJ grad worked at UMDNJ, they get $54K to start?

I too hope to get into UMDNJ. BTW, UMDNJ has incoming classes in Jan, May and Sept each year.

UMDNJ offers $54K to their their new-grads. Of course, there's was to add on a few bucks by working the night shift and weekend hours

I too am not too crazy about taking out such a large student loan. My loan for the BSN at UMDNJ would be more than what I took out for my BS from SHU. How ironic???

DEBT!!! UGGH!!! As Suzy Orman would say, a student loan is an investment in yourself. Plus, the interest on a student loan is TAX DEDUCTIBLE...practically a loan for free.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm not sure. I think Bush passed a new tax law regarding student loans around 3 years ago. I don't know. I paid it off a while ago.

According to V.M., UMDNJ will pay its graduates an entry level salary of $54K. I researched nurses' pay on their website and experienced nurses start at $29/ hr (around $60K).

Application review time is closing in!!!

It's true that the interest on a student loan is tax deductible. But I thought that was only during the first 60 months of payments? At least that's what I read on the student loan info on the 1040 form. If I got a loan for $50K, I know it will take me much longer than 60 months to pay off.

I also have gotten some interest back from my undergraduate loan. But it hasn't been much. The interest is low on student loans and the IRS only gives back a certain amount.

Still some is better than nothing.

You mean if a UMDNJ grad worked at UMDNJ, they get $54K to start?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It still have a little left to pay on my undergraduate loan. I have never been able to find a high paying job with my degree in Psychology. So it's taken me a while to pay it off.

I just know that last year I couldn't get any interest back since it's been over 5 years that my loan has been in repayment. I read all the instructions on the tax form and also called the IRS for info.

But if a person just graduates, how they get experience in nursing? I wonder if most hospitals ask for experience.

QUOTE=decartes]I'm not sure. I think Bush passed a new tax law regarding student loans around 3 years ago. I don't know. I paid it off a while ago.

According to V.M., UMDNJ will pay its graduates an entry level salary of $54K. I researched nurses' pay on their website and experienced nurses start at $29/ hr (around $60K).

Application review time is closing in!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just like everyone else, work experience will be gained on the job.

I have checked some hospitals' websites and they advertise that they require experience. I'm sure they would offer entry level positions for new grads with entry level pay.

It still have a little left to pay on my undergraduate loan. I have never been able to find a high paying job with my degree in Psychology. So it's taken me a while to pay it off.

I just know that last year I couldn't get any interest back since it's been over 5 years that my loan has been in repayment. I read all the instructions on the tax form and also called the IRS for info.

But if a person just graduates, how they get experience in nursing? I wonder if most hospitals ask for experience.

QUOTE=decartes]I'm not sure. I think Bush passed a new tax law regarding student loans around 3 years ago. I don't know. I paid it off a while ago.

According to V.M., UMDNJ will pay its graduates an entry level salary of $54K. I researched nurses' pay on their website and experienced nurses start at $29/ hr (around $60K).

Application review time is closing in!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I sure hope they offer jobs for entry level grads with no experience. Otherwise I will have the same problem as with my undergrad degree. It was very difficult to find any jobs that required no experience, and those that did paid very little. Even with experience, most jobs for Psych BA majors pay low.Since most of these jobs involve social services, they are often from non-profit orgs. or gov. jobs that don't pay well w/o a Master's degree.

I hope with nursing, I will be able to find a decent job when I graduate.

Just like everyone else, work experience will be gained on the job.

I have checked some hospitals' websites and they advertise that they require experience. I'm sure they would offer entry level positions for new grads with entry level pay.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

From what I have been hearing, you will not have to worry about not finding a job. Normally, new grads don't work in the ICU right away. A new grad friend of mine was immediately thrown into the ICU with no prior experience because there was a dire need for somebody. Plus, there are so many options we can explore in nursing. You can practically mold your career to fit your lifestyle.

I sure hope they offer jobs for entry level grads with no experience. Otherwise I will have the same problem as with my undergrad degree. It was very difficult to find any jobs that required no experience, and those that did paid very little. Even with experience, most jobs for Psych BA majors pay low.Since most of these jobs involve social services, they are often from non-profit orgs. or gov. jobs that don't pay well w/o a Master's degree.

I hope with nursing, I will be able to find a decent job when I graduate.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sounds good. Now if only I can get into a program.

I went to an info session at UMDNJ last week with Victor Marques.

He mentioned that only 50 students get accepted each semester. This worries me greatly since he said about 350-400 applications were received each semester. He also said many students with high GPAs think they automatically are in just because of their GPA but they are not necessarily accepted. They look at everything not just GPA.

But since there's so few slots, I worry about getting in. He recommended that we apply into other programs as Plan B, since he said so many students get disappointed when they don't get in and didn't have a back up plan.

But he didn't discourage anyone from not applying, he just wanted us to be realistic.

I'm also applying to Pace and William Paterson as a back up plan. If I don't get into UMDNJ, I can apply again but I don't want to wait another year. I'm not getting any younger. lol

From what I have been hearing, you will not have to worry about not finding a job. Normally, new grads don't work in the ICU right away. A new grad friend of mine was immediately thrown into the ICU with no prior experience because there was a dire need for somebody. Plus, there are so many options we can explore in nursing. You can practically mold your career to fit your lifestyle.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Judging from the participation in this thread on Allnurses.com, it's SEEMS that you and I are the only people who applied to the program and really concerned about getting accepted. This gives me some comfort in my worry of getting accepted because it shows that we are special...we're internet savvy!

Have you finished all of the prereq's? I haven't so I'm the one who should be very worried. :uhoh3: My plan B is to apply again for the summer semster. In fact, that would be the better time for me so I could save some more money.

Sounds good. Now if only I can get into a program.

I went to an info session at UMDNJ last week with Victor Marques.

He mentioned that only 50 students get accepted each semester. This worries me greatly since he said about 350-400 applications were received each semester. He also said many students with high GPAs think they automatically are in just because of their GPA but they are not necessarily accepted. They look at everything not just GPA.

But since there's so few slots, I worry about getting in. He recommended that we apply into other programs as Plan B, since he said so many students get disappointed when they don't get in and didn't have a back up plan.

But he didn't discourage anyone from not applying, he just wanted us to be realistic.

I'm also applying to Pace and William Paterson as a back up plan. If I don't get into UMDNJ, I can apply again but I don't want to wait another year. I'm not getting any younger. lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion