REMINDER!!! The deadline to submit your Fall application is nearing. As of now, the deadline has not changed from February 2 (short of 4 weeks away).
This is my second time applying--I was wait listed for the Spring term. Currently, I am studying to take my TEAS exam again on January 27th. This exam was the only portion of my application I was not confident in. I scored a 70% without refreshing my memory on key concepts by studying before hand. I did find the test to be a "you either no it or you don't" kind of thing so from personal experience--STUDY!
I have no outstanding prerequisites and my sciences are as follows:
AP1. -- B
AP2. -- A
CHEM -- B
MICRO -- A
I had the privilege of chatting with the last group of students and found this forum to be quite helpful! Please use this post as a way of communicating, sharing experiences, and giving advice. Hopefully, we will be classmates in the Fall!:)
I do not know the answer to your question but I would imagine that it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible to dedicate her time between the two. Nursing school and motherhood both require a great deal of time and commitment. Considering that postpartum depression/anxiety is a possibility for all mothers, if I were her, I would not place myself in such a position. God forbid her having a mental breakdown.
Thank you little mango! If you have time, I'd love to hear from you as well. You have me excited to visit the campus (I applied to ShadyGrove as well). I'm actually scheduled for the March 21st information session and I'm excited.
Just random questions: what are some good scrubs to purchase? Shoes? Stethoscope? Blood pressure cuff? Any must haves? I recently purchased a rolling bag, any other "must haves?"
Nover, I believe there was a student at USG who was pregnant (heard from an upperclassman). Is she looking to get into the Shady Grove or Baltimore campus?
If she gets into the program, it looks as though she will be giving birth to her baby close to midterms. So far, our first semester has not been too laborious in terms of physicality (unless you count in all the flights of stairs on campus). However, I am not entirely sure how it will affect her school life. I would be worried if I had my baby around midterm because the material is quite alot, and having a newborn (from what I've heard) can be a bit of a handful itself.
I'm just glad she will be pregnant during her first semester though, as I've heard second semester with clinicals and medsurg will have us on our feet most of the day. Looking forward to that! ...
MiMi3, great choice with the rolling bag! You'll be hauling around quite alot of things, depending on how you organize your bags. You'll also be getting a red bag with supplies for lab (this includes a penlight, tuning fork, reflex hammer, gloves, sterile fields, IV bags, all this good stuff). Send me a PM when you get your bag and I'll tell you what you will and will not need for the first semester, as it can be a veeeery heavy.
Personal preference for scrubs is Cherokee Workwear, hands down. I've been using it at work and it is soo comfy. HOWEVER, the lighter colors can be see-through, so I would honestly advise you to try some on before you choose a particular brand. And if you find some great deals online on a certain scrub style you like (for any brand), make sure you try that exact style in-store before you buy it, just so you know what size fits you best! You can also buy some scrubs during orientation, as well as high-quality stethoscopes sold by UMANS (University of Maryland Association of Nursing Students).
Some of us bought stethoscopes ahead of time, particularly Littmann. I would advise you not to get the Littmann Lightweight, as our program manager said that its sound quality is not reliable. Classic II is nice, and if you have the budget, Cardiology would be great, ESPECIALLY if you want to use it after nursing school. You know, for sentimental reasons.
As for blood pressure cuff, you won't be needing to get one. You'll be using the blood pressure cuffs provided during lab, so save you money! Your first validation will be on blood pressure, though, so if you want to buy one to practice at home you are free to do so! Otherwise, you'll have access to them at open lab. Open Lab is great! It is when you can access the lab rooms and practice your skills while not in class. There are usually upperclassmen around to help you, too.
Shoes! I would suggest getting tennis shoes, as I found them to be much more comfortable! However, that is just preference. If you get clogs, make sure they are comfortable! So important! Even though we are not on our feet all day long, the wrong-fitting shoes can still make your feet hurt at the end of the day! Believe me! (I learned the hard way.) I know some of my classmates have Nike Frees that are all white. I even considered getting some myself, but opted for the 7.5 white Adidas my mother gave me haha!
A must-have I would tell you to get now is a printer. It is not free to print on campus, which is a real bummer. I'm usually an all-electronic girl, but I've found that printing powerpoint slides, blueprints, and outlines for exams has helped me study. (Also, I got this from EmpoweRN on youtube... if you underline all the important key concepts on your blueprints and outlines, you will unconsciously remember little details, even if you didn't focus on them! When you underline, you seem to concentrate and think about the word more.) Anyway, everyone has their own way of studying. This, so far, has helped me maintain good grades! However, that can all change in the next week... MIDTERMS!!!
Hmm, what else...? Oh yes! A good planner. Put some good money into this one because it will help you. In your first week of classes, take all of the syllabi and put all of the assignments, quizzes, and exams in that planner because otherwise you will be lost throughout the semester as to what is due or what you should be studying for. I bought a $30 one from Staples and it has been so helpful. Get one that has both a month view and a day-to-day view with plenty of room to write things.
Something I want to tell you guys about is how to deal with the stress that will be coming your way. Do not let the amount of assignments, quizzes, papers, and exams scare you, or "activate you SNS." I learned this from a lecture two weeks ago on stress and homeostasis: instead of seeing the load of assignments as something that will "totally end your life," see it as a challenge that can better you as a person, and TACKLE IT! Change your perspective! The first week of school I was stressing myself out to the point that it manifested itself physiologically in the form of nausea and vomiting, and it made me extremely unproductive. However, I realized right then and there that the headaches I always took as "eye strain" or "lack of sugar" was ENTIRELY stress. (If you want to see how I handled the TEAS, please refer back to the UMSON Spring 2015 thread, the first few pages.) Anyway, bottom line is this: DO NOT let stress take over your life, especially while in nursing school! If you know you will be stressed out when the semester begins, find ways NOW to counter it before school starts. Yoga, deep breathing, meditation. Find what works for you and stick with it! You might even use my method of changing perspectives.
It will be a tough first few weeks but it is ABSOLUTELY doable. Absolutely! Take it from a girl who was extremely nervous going into the first semester. You will be among a great group of extremely smart people sharing the same exact journey. I've truly enjoyed the first seven weeks at UMSON. You're going to have alot of fun.
(But don't have too much fun! Do take things seriously, but again, no stressing out over it!)
What an awesome post! So detailed! I hope to meet you in person! I'm truly a social butterfly so if I'm admitted this Fall I'm sure to meet you in open lab(I skipped out of open lab during ap1 and got a B ... Put forth true effort during ap2 and received an A) so I'm definitely giving nursing my all and taking advantage of any and all student services like open lab!
Absolutely! I will be happy to meet you! I actually plan on applying for the peer tutor position for next semester, so I may be there for your open labs! And even if I don't get the position, you'll see me around campus for sure. (However, I truly hope I get the position. I love helping others, it is something I would willingly bend backwards for. Haha I'm supposed to be studying but I want to give you guys knowledge about the program!)
Any more questions about the program I'd be happy to answer! I love this school so much.
Though, I have a question for you: when will you guys be hearing back from admissions regarding your acceptances? I don't know how it is with Fall admits since I was a Spring admit. Heh!
Thank you guys so much for replying. My sister-in-law is going to call the school and find out if they would let her continue if she was to be accepted. Littlemango she applied to the Baltimore campus. She's more worried about if the school would let her continue than the actual experience. This is her second baby so she thinks she's a "pro" . But guys great posts definitely helping me calm my nerves and giving a heads up on what to expect. So does anyone know when we would hear back?
I am still a student at UMSON in my final semester. I am just trying to see if I will get into the program even though I am really disadvantaged because I have no experience in psychiatry. I also found out that I am not yet committee ready. I mistook complete ready for review for that. Good luck as we embark on the long wait.
Thank for your post LittleMango! Very encouraging to read, since I know it will be easy to get stressed out. Hopefully we will be able to meet if I get accepted! It'd be great to have another person to get advice from!
Last Fall I applied, I heard around the second week of April and so did most people.
Sorry I've been MIA for a while now. School is INTENSE. I'm not sure "like" is the right word...more like "grateful." I just sent you a message on Facebook.
I will be more communicative next week (it's spring break.) As for this week- I just finished two validations and an exam. I still have two exams left to take and some group assignments due.
You're going to have alot of fun. 
I actually plan on applying for the peer tutor position for next semester, so I may be there for your open labs! And even if I don't get the position, you'll see me around campus for sure. (However, I truly hope I get the position. I love helping others, it is something I would willingly bend backwards for. Haha I'm supposed to be studying but I want to give you guys knowledge about the program!)
. But guys great posts definitely helping me calm my nerves and giving a heads up on what to expect. So does anyone know when we would hear back?
psychedrn3
75 Posts
She should be able to attend because I had pregnant classmates when I went there in 2010.