I wanted to start a forum for those who applied to University of San Francisco BSN nursing fall 2018. I just finished my application and submitted all my documentation last week. I am very nervous but extreamly excited to find out if I am accepted. USF is my dream school. Let's stick together in this as we anticipate our answers!
My statistics:
Transfer student from Diablo Valley College
3.55 pre-req GPA
3.75 overall (76 credits)
150 hours volunteer service at John Muir Center for Recovery
50 hours volunteer service at Northbrook nursing home
Phi Theta Kappa honor society member
Alpha Gamma Sigma honor society member
4-H member 13 years
My personal statement was a creative short story of my first experience with community service at age 8 and my care for a family member after they had a severe stroke.
I'm a junior right now. If you don't get in this semester and still would be considering going to USF you should complete all your courses that are not nursing at a CC. Once admitted to USF you must take ALL remaining courses at USF (visual arts, history, literature, philosophy, religion). So for the sake of time needed for nursing studies and financially please do all other courses before! You can check articulation agreements not their website.
The program is ok. In my opinion it is not at all worth the price tag, and prices have increased every year I have been here. If you are getting money as a veteran or are given a presidential scholarship I'd say go for it. Teachers are mostly wonderful and my clinicals have been great as well. But I can't say USF is any better than another school (I wouldn't know) but I do know that 44K a year for 3 years is too much money for a BSN (in my opinion).
Also, they do have progression policies (to protect their NCLEX pass rate) which I don't believe state schools have. After the second semester of nursing courses we are required to take a HESI test. A minimum score must be obtained or you cannot continue. There are a couple of chances but if you can't get the score the 3rd time you are bumped back a semester and if you can't pass after that you are out of the program (and out 44K+ if you paid full price for School). There's an exit HESI senior year too. Pass the HESI they give you your diploma, don't pass and you don't get to graduate. No diploma. Again, you get a few chances but it's a really stressful situation to be in after completing an entire nursing program.
If you have any other questions let me know. I think people should know what they are getting into. There doesn't seem to be much info out there.
Thanks for all the information @SFnursetobe12 ! Did you apply as a transfer ? And do you know how many transfers they take in/how large your class is ?
I am a transfer (spring start) our cohort is around 100. The fall is the freshman start (right out of high school) but there are a few transfers that get put with them. I'm assuming if some of the 18/19 year olds don't pass their prereqs there are a few spots for transfers. So as a transfer there is the possibility you would start in fall but likely you will be put with the transfer cohort in the spring.
Thank you SFnursetobe12, this is great information to know! I have completed every transfer class required on articulation agreement with USF. I didn't want to have to pay for extra classes at USF after transferring. This is really good advice to others as well. The information on the testing is really great to know. I believe the testing done will make it that much easier to pass the NCLEX. That is stressful to hear that they don't except that many transfer students in the fall. When you applied did you apply for a fall semester and get placed into a spring semester? Again, I really appreciate you relaying this information to us.
That's great @tessalynngarcia that you finished all your prereqs! Just so you know if you are relying on financial aid you may need to take some PE classes or a minor to get your 12 units per semester.
True, that's it's easier to pass the NCLEX if you study for HESI but every person in nursing school studies for NCLEX. To deny a diploma over one test (that supposedly is more difficult than the NCLEX), just to protect the school's public pass rate number, in my opinion is not right and also does not give a true reflextion of the schools pass rate. Those who are not likely to pass the NCLEX on the first try do not get to graduate but they are still a product of the schools education. To not allow them to graduate and take the NCLEX it does not give a true reflection of how well USF prepares you for the NCLEX.
As for when you start the program. I know people that applied for spring and were lucky enough to start right away. I know people that applied fall and had to wait for spring. I know people that applied spring and had to wait for fall. I know people that applied spring and had to wait one year for the next spring
Are you referring to the webpage they sent us in the email with the "Application Status" headline? Just want to make sure I'm checking the right place as mine hasn't been updated.
@SFnursetobe12 thank you for that information. I know USF has a really high NCLEX passing rate so it makes more sense now. Hopefully we will here back soon!
vanerod
6 Posts
If anyone is wondering about the Sacramento campus there is a thread posted https://allnurses.com/online-nursing-schools/usf-usfca-sacramento-1157811.html