University of Maryland Traditional BSN Fall Program: Any idea when we will hear back?

Agrippa · May 9, 2009

I will deff check that out. Thanks!

jtk57 · May 9, 2009

Just saw my financial aid package. All i got were subsidized/unsubsidized stafford loans which won't even cover half of the cost of attendance. Not looking good.

I totally hear you. I got much the same and my family is coming to terms with the fact that once my education is finished, we will have what amounts to a new car payment every month for quite some time into the future. That is with additional loan money and it seems the more I uncover the more expensive this is going to be (parking, new computer, etc. etc. etc.). But if it is what one wants to do, I just don't see any way around it. In their own way, regrets can be even more expensive than student loans, if you catch my meaning. I hope you can find a way to make it work for you.

Agrippa · May 9, 2009

Did you end up taking out private loans? I've looked into them and although theyre variable rates, I found some places that will lend for .5% below libor to 4% above libor rate - which is pretty low these days. Considering that Parent/Grad Plus loans are at 8.5%, some of these private loans dont look too bad. I just don't like the fact that I cant consolidate them with my stafford loans.

jtk57 · May 9, 2009

Well, I tend to be a more fixed rate type of person, so I was considering the Grad PLUS direct loans from the department of education to make up for what the Staffords don't cover for me. My paperwork says they are 7.9%. I am hoping that I will also be able to get a Workforce Shortage grant through the state to make up for some of the difference. Have you considered fixed rate loans like this? Are you definitely going private loan? I am curious what other people in a similar situation are choosing to do to pay for school.

Agrippa · May 9, 2009

Yea im looking into it now. I didn't know that Grand Plus loans are available to us, I was under the impression that they're only for graduate degrees.

jtk57 · May 9, 2009

I am actually in the CNL program so it would be for graduate loans. Of course the trade off is that I get to pay twice as much for many of the same classes... Didn't mean to insert anything into the thread that was not BSN related :imbar ! I do wish you the best of luck in getting the finances figured out.. And the workforce shortage grant is available to both grad and undergrad nursing students.

scrub<3 · May 11, 2009

How many reccomendations did you guys have?

I will be apply for spring 2010. I will have around a 3.76 - 3.67 cumulative GPA and a science GPA of 3.66 - 4.0 (depending how this semester goes).

I will be getting a reccomendation from my AP professor and microbiology professor. I'm going to try to get a reccomendation from a ED manager where I did an internship last summer. And am thinking about asking my medical careers teacher (from high school) who is an RN for a reccomendation.

Will 4 reccomendations be too much?

I will have all my pre-reqs done (except AP2) by the end of this sem. and am going to take the NET in the summer.

I'm really worried because I have read that UMD is very competative and most of the accepted students have 4.0s. UMD is my number 1 choice.

Agrippa · May 11, 2009

I really wouldn't worry too much on your letter of rec. I would keep them academic letters, but try to nail your remaining classes and write a good personal statement. LORs are by nature biased and subjective in nature. You really wouldn't get a letter from someone whos going to give you a bad letter. I think at most, it tells the admission officer that you're not totally socially inept and can at least have some sort of relationship to get a letter to write a letter about you.

Btw, shoot me a PM if you want the official NET study guide - im trying to sell it and its in perfect shape.

angelp71 · May 12, 2009

Hi everyone! surely we are all getting excited for fall 09! am i the only one who hasnt received any other packet in the mail besides the initial congratulations/confirmation/health forms? i am in the system with surfs but cannot register for any classes. is this normal for first year students? maybe there is registration at orientation?

to scrub

thats funny how i wasnt the only one who heard/thought that u of md was an 'honors only' school. thats actually umbc. still, u of md nursing has a great reputation and im proud to be graced with a spot in the class. im sure you will get in. good luck.

loloterp · May 17, 2009

Off topic...

But has anybody been through the process of submitting their final transcript for remaining coursework at the orientation??? Do they actually take the transcript or do they calculate the cum gpa at the orientation??

jtk57 · May 17, 2009

Off topic...
But has anybody been through the process of submitting their final transcript for remaining coursework at the orientation??? Do they actually take the transcript or do they calculate the cum gpa at the orientation??

I was planning on mailing mine back in along with my medical history form?

jrbakern · May 18, 2009

you can mail them in or you can hand either of those in during orientation. Some folks are taking summer classes so their final transcript is literally fresh off the press. One more thing...ANY form you mail into UMB besides sealed transcripts should be photocopied. It's not uncommon for them to get lost in the shuffle, and you don't want to have to go back to the Dr and fill out the form again. Also make sure you do everything on that form and that it is intiialed/signed in all the right places. You should have Hep B 1st & 2nd dose before sending it in; my experience is that updating a submitted form can be problematic -- better to hold onto it a few weeks and be complete. Remember these are requirements of the clinical sites, not really UMB, so if it isn't right you won't be able to do clinicals which means you will fail your classes. Good luck everyone and have a great summer. JR