UMSON fall 2016 hopefuls ?

bil94 · Apr 6, 2016

Hey edelate, congrats on your acceptance! Do you mind sharing your stats? I also applied to the CNL program and haven't heard about an interview or anything yet. My status is still "committee ready" and I'm just wondering if I even will get an interview at this point :no:

delate, MSN, RN · Apr 6, 2016

Hey edelate, congrats on your acceptance! Do you mind sharing your stats? I also applied to the CNL program and haven't heard about an interview or anything yet. My status is still "committee ready" and I'm just wondering if I even will get an interview at this point

Hi shal94 - Thank you! I appreciate it. I'm hoping you hear something soon - and don't give up hope yet, there's definitely still time! I think my application processed relatively early compared to some other applicants posting here (I submitted all materials in late Dec/early Jan), so that may have helped me move through the process a little bit quicker. As far as stats go, my prerequisites ended up like this: Chem: A, Stats: A, Human Growth/Dev: A, A&P 1: B, A&P 2: B, Micro: In Progress, Nutrition: In Progress. My undergraduate GPA from a few years back was around a 3.1. Additionally, I currently work for UMB in the SOM. Prior to that, I spent 3 years working in hospital revenue cycle and patient access strategy/design (no clinical experience here - just administration/business/financial), and have had various health and non-health focused volunteer experiences. During the interview they said multiple times how important it is for them to create a very diverse group for the CNL program and bring in a lot of different backgrounds. Let me know if I can provide any additional information, and good luck! I check here frequently hoping to see updates from the CNL crew! :)

guest10 · Apr 6, 2016

Ohh I'm applying for Shady Grove! Interesting to know that the schedules differ a lot between the two locations. Thank you so much for sharing casmithx95 :)

Regardless of which campus you choose, you will end up doing the same total amount of lecture and clinical hours but they are not scheduled the same days and times.

BSNRNfutureDNP · Apr 6, 2016

Kayrock & ElizMcc56

You two are lucky! My application status is still at "Complete Ready to Review". I check it every single day (sometimes twice a day), hoping that my status will be soon be updated to "Committee Ready".

Getting nervous...

kayrock, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2016

Don't worry, FutureRNDNP. If they haven't contacted you regarding missing materials for your application, I'm sure everything is okay. I was told the 15th (next Friday!) was when decisions should be coming out so admissions is probably processing applications as we speak. We are waiting together :yes:

bil94 · Apr 6, 2016

Hey edelate, thank you so much for your thorough response! Looks like you would definitely contribute to the diversity they are looking for :) I was going to send you a personal message with my stats to see if you think I am competitive at all but it won't let me send one until I've posted in 15 forums. So here are my stats/ quick summary of my resume:

Chem: B

Human growth/dev: A

A&P 1: B

A&P 2: B (A&P Lab still in progress)

Micro: B

Stats: A

Nutrition: A

I am currently completing my undergraduate degree in Biology and I have a 3.1 GPA. I also took several classes in community college and a CSU while in high school because I attended a university high school (just a college prep school). One of the classes I took in the community college was A&P 1. So I took it as a sophomore in high school and got a B. In my current undergrad university, its one of the most difficult courses so I worked really hard but still ended up with a B in A&P 2. So with all the community college and CSU courses that I took before starting undergrad, I have a GPA of 3.3.

As for clinical experience, I have over 7 years of hospital volunteer experience, 3 years of clinical research experience (research associate in the ER and screened and enrolled patients into clinical studies), and over 8 years of science research experience and am currently in the process of being published. I've done several internships: in USC Keck school of medicine, UC Davis SOM, The Scripps Translational Research Institute and Stanford. I also currently work for the UC Davis school of nursing in the education department. I have done a few other things that I cant remember now but this is the main jist of my resume/CV.

Having said that, I have been rejected from 4 schools already and I am losing hope that I will get into any programs at all. I know my GPA is low, but there's not much I can do to fix that because I never got less than a C in any of my classes so I can't retake any classes as per university policy. UMD is one of my last hopes! So just any input on what I can do to improve my app if I have to reapply or what you think my chances are would be greatly appreciated!!

delate, MSN, RN · Apr 6, 2016

Hi shal94 - It sounds like it's been a long process for you - I can certainly understand the fatigue of applying many times, but keep up the positive attitude! Quite honestly, you have some very impressive experience and also very diverse experiences within the field - I think you would be the perfect candidate! I'm going to send you a PM - let me know on here if you aren't able to receive it!

bil94 · Apr 6, 2016

Hey edelate!

I could read your personal message but was not allowed to respond because I haven't posted on 15 forums yet :/

Thank you for your input! Just to clarify, this is actually my first time applying to nursing programs! I haven't graduated with my undergraduate degree yet (I'm currently a senior so I'll be graduating in 3 months). I have plans to go to back to school (for CRNA or NP) after getting my nursing degree so I wanted to go straight into school. I went into my 4 year undergrad degree straight out of high school too so thus far I've never not been in school!

Since I have plans to go back to school after getting a CNL degree, I know that I won't be able to start my career until 6-7 years down the road. I am very passionate about healthcare and always have been (which is why I have healthcare experience since I was just 14 years old), so I am ready to delve into my graduate studies! I was really hoping I wouldn't have to take a year off between undergrad and grad school but again, maybe my age and lack of life experience is what is getting me so many rejections! I have no idea what to think.

I will keep you updated on my UMD status! If I do get rejected, I would really appreciate if you could take a look at my essay and resume to see what I can do to improve! Other than that, do you think that taking a year off before grad school would change how they view my application at all? Thank you for all your advice!

BSNhopeful25 · Apr 7, 2016

Hi everyone! I just wanted to wish everyone good luck. I really like reading everyone's comments. I applied for the BSN programs keeping my fingers crossed for everyone :up:

kayrock, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2016

Hi everyone! I just wanted to wish everyone good luck. I really like reading everyone's comments. I applied for the BSN programs keeping my fingers crossed for everyone

Welcome to the waiting party! I hope we all hear good news soon.

delate, MSN, RN · Apr 7, 2016

Hey edelate!
I could read your personal message but was not allowed to respond because I haven't posted on 15 forums yet :/
Thank you for your input! Just to clarify, this is actually my first time applying to nursing programs! I haven't graduated with my undergraduate degree yet (I'm currently a senior so I'll be graduating in 3 months). I have plans to go to back to school (for CRNA or NP) after getting my nursing degree so I wanted to go straight into school. I went into my 4 year undergrad degree straight out of high school too so thus far I've never not been in school!
Since I have plans to go back to school after getting a CNL degree, I know that I won't be able to start my career until 6-7 years down the road. I am very passionate about healthcare and always have been (which is why I have healthcare experience since I was just 14 years old), so I am ready to delve into my graduate studies! I was really hoping I wouldn't have to take a year off between undergrad and grad school but again, maybe my age and lack of life experience is what is getting me so many rejections! I have no idea what to think.
I will keep you updated on my UMD status! If I do get rejected, I would really appreciate if you could take a look at my essay and resume to see what I can do to improve! Other than that, do you think that taking a year off before grad school would change how they view my application at all? Thank you for all your advice!

Hi shal94 - It can be hard to say with grad programs whether they look for different qualities whether you're just out of undergrad or have a few (or many) years in between. After talking with some grad student friends, it sounds like grades/test scores can weigh heavier when coming right out of undergrad (since in most cases they just have a student record to look at), and work experience can weight heavier if you've been out a few years (this is very much a generalization, but that was the general thought). That's awesome that you feel so strongly about what you want to do at this point in your life - I'm sure they're weighing that as well!

**Also, I did receive your private message reply (somehow!) :)

Szamsjs12 · Apr 7, 2016

I'm still waiting to hear back from UMD CNL program as well. I sent my application in early but my transcripts and recommendation letters did not process until later in January. I am a senior at my undergrad institution, so this wait has been killing me. I'm hoping for the best now!