University of South Alabama DNP Fall 2021

Victoria Vaccaro, BSN · Mar 10, 2021

Hey so I was able to get back with her! So pretty much what she told me was my GPA is lower than some of the applicants and instead of them just denying me she wanted to see if there was a way I would instead be interested in applying for a specialty track. So since I work peds she’s transferring my app from FNP to Pediatric NP. I’m gonna be put in the second group so I won’t know if I get in now until middle of April. Good luck to all of y’all! I’m thinking since y’all didn’t get a call that may mean accepted!

TexasBSN.RN · Mar 10, 2021

1 minute ago, Victoria Vaccaro said:

Hey so I was able to get back with her! So pretty much what she told me was my GPA is lower than some of the applicants and instead of them just denying me she wanted to see if there was a way I would instead be interested in applying for a specialty track. So since I work peds she’s transferring my app from FNP to Pediatric NP. I’m gonna be put in the second group so I won’t know if I get in now until middle of April. Good luck to all of y’all! I’m thinking since y’all didn’t get a call that may mean accepted!

This sounds very promising!! I am so happy it was not a bad phone call! Keep us posted! I am praying for you and sending good vibes your way!

Sillybear65, ADN, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2021

I checked my application status and it said that they are waiting for a transcript from one school which is strange because NursingCAS shows that all transcripts were sent and received. I re-ordered another transcript hoping that they'll receive that on time. I got accepted to another school and waitlisted to a couple. It would help to know my standing so that I could make the decision soon. ?

TwiliRN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Mar 10, 2021

4 minutes ago, Victoria Vaccaro said:

Hey so I was able to get back with her! So pretty much what she told me was my GPA is lower than some of the applicants and instead of them just denying me she wanted to see if there was a way I would instead be interested in applying for a specialty track. So since I work peds she’s transferring my app from FNP to Pediatric NP. I’m gonna be put in the second group so I won’t know if I get in now until middle of April. Good luck to all of y’all! I’m thinking since y’all didn’t get a call that may mean accepted!

Yay! Heck that's amazing! And way better than a wait list! Good vibes all the way hun.

lexykinz18, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2021

1 minute ago, TwiliRN said:

Yay! Heck that's amazing! And way better than a wait list! Good vibes all the way hun.

It's interesting how they could have a waitlist when they aren't even done going through all the applications. I want to know! I'm so scared. This is my dream!

tlynn11 · Mar 10, 2021

So, my "waiting on transcript" is no longer there. I don't know if that means anything or if it ever meant anything.

Sending good vibes your way for PNP! I didn't realize about FNP vs PNP. I'm a peds nurse but will keep that in mind next time (if I have to reapply). I really think years experience is what may be seen as a negative on my app. I think I'm the only one on this thread that's applying RN-MSN. So far I've seen traditional MSN and, of course, DNP.

TwiliRN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Mar 10, 2021

Okay ladies. Two things:

The first is about why phone calls occur. She said that the application review is two-step. The initial review covers your transcripts to make sure you meet requirements and your resume as well as to make sure you have the pre-requisite experience. IF THERE IS SOMETHING LACKING then the application is flagged for discussion and basically, a phone interview occurs to discuss with the applicant their concerns with them and see if there's something that wasn't covered or if there's a better way to proceed with the application. For example with Victoria, as she mentioned, it was the fact that there are so many applicants for FNP she may not have made the cut but the Peds track was a fit that worked with both her experience and gave her more of a chance of acceptance.

The second is about why my call happened. I'm new to ICU, on my resume I could only show barely a full year of ICU experience. That being said, the dual FNP/AGACNP track prefers 2 years of ICU experience. My call occurred so they could interview me about my current and future career plans. (Which...I thought I had made clear in my essay but whatever I'm not mad except at myself) So, after I explained that I very much planned to continue working in the ICU full time until clinical and even then I plan to stay part-time after we start the clinical portion, she said that would alleviate the concern because then by the time I get to the AGAC portion of the clinical, I'll have at least 3 years experience in ICU which more than qualifies me.

I'm also slightly giddy and hesitant to report that she said, based on my combined application, I should be expecting my letter by the end of the week. Hesitant because I'm super superstitious and I'm afraid I'm jinxing it but I promised to share so here goes nothing!!! LADIES I'M EXCITED!

TexasBSN.RN · Mar 10, 2021

3 minutes ago, TwiliRN said:

Okay ladies. Two things:

The first is about why phone calls occur. She said that the application review is two-step. The initial review covers your transcripts to make sure you meet requirements and your resume as well as to make sure you have the pre-requisite experience. IF THERE IS SOMETHING LACKING then the application is flagged for discussion and basically, a phone interview occurs to discuss with the applicant their concerns with them and see if there's something that wasn't covered or if there's a better way to proceed with the application. For example with Victoria, as she mentioned, it was the fact that there are so many applicants for FNP she may not have made the cut but the Peds track was a fit that worked with both her experience and gave her more of a chance of acceptance.

The second is about why my call happened. I'm new to ICU, on my resume I could only show barely a full year of ICU experience. That being said, the dual FNP/AGACNP track prefers 2 years of ICU experience. My call occurred so they could interview me about my current and future career plans. (Which...I thought I had made clear in my essay but whatever I'm not mad except at myself) So, after I explained that I very much planned to continue working in the ICU full time until clinical and even then I plan to stay part-time after we start the clinical portion, she said that would alleviate the concern because then by the time I get to the AGAC portion of the clinical, I'll have at least 3 years experience in ICU which more than qualifies me.

I'm also slightly giddy and hesitant to report that she said, based on my combined application, I should be expecting my letter by the end of the week. Hesitant because I'm super superstitious and I'm afraid I'm jinxing it but I promised to share so here goes nothing! LADIES I'M EXCITED!

Girl! This is fantastic news!! I am so happy to hear! Now we wait for emails!! ❤️

Victoria Vaccaro, BSN · Mar 10, 2021

14 minutes ago, TwiliRN said:

Okay ladies. Two things:

The first is about why phone calls occur. She said that the application review is two-step. The initial review covers your transcripts to make sure you meet requirements and your resume as well as to make sure you have the pre-requisite experience. IF THERE IS SOMETHING LACKING then the application is flagged for discussion and basically, a phone interview occurs to discuss with the applicant their concerns with them and see if there's something that wasn't covered or if there's a better way to proceed with the application. For example with Victoria, as she mentioned, it was the fact that there are so many applicants for FNP she may not have made the cut but the Peds track was a fit that worked with both her experience and gave her more of a chance of acceptance.

The second is about why my call happened. I'm new to ICU, on my resume I could only show barely a full year of ICU experience. That being said, the dual FNP/AGACNP track prefers 2 years of ICU experience. My call occurred so they could interview me about my current and future career plans. (Which...I thought I had made clear in my essay but whatever I'm not mad except at myself) So, after I explained that I very much planned to continue working in the ICU full time until clinical and even then I plan to stay part-time after we start the clinical portion, she said that would alleviate the concern because then by the time I get to the AGAC portion of the clinical, I'll have at least 3 years experience in ICU which more than qualifies me.

I'm also slightly giddy and hesitant to report that she said, based on my combined application, I should be expecting my letter by the end of the week. Hesitant because I'm super superstitious and I'm afraid I'm jinxing it but I promised to share so here goes nothing! LADIES I'M EXCITED!

That’s great! So happy for you!

lexykinz18, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2021

Something that bothered me was that I applied for the last cycle and even spoke with the dean before applying because I barely made the cut for their application requirements; however, those requirements would be met completely by the start of the program. The admissions rep and dean said I'd be in and how as long as I met the requirements, I'm in. I talked to those two people who said my experience would be fine as long as it would be met by the start of the program. So, I went forward and coughed up the money to apply, only to not be accepted because of a lack of experience, despite them saying it was okay. Now, I thoroughly read and examined everything to make sure I'd have no reason to not get in this time and at the time of me applying in October, it did NOT say that ICU experience was required for the AGACNP admissions. All it said was that you needed a year of acute care experience and two by the start of clinicals, which I met. But now after reading your guys' comments about ICU experience, I went back on the site to see it was completely rewritten which really upsets me. I am in the middle of a job transition from Surgical/Tele into ER and have no interest in family practice and it's really upsetting that the rules keep changing. ? I would never have applied only to be disappointed again.

TwiliRN, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Mar 10, 2021

Crud. Now I'm nervous again that even though she said it was going to be fine that when she sends my application to the next step for review by the specialty advisors, I still won't make it because it won't be enough. I really hope you get in. I had never read the requirements for just the AGACNP track until she mentioned the requirements for it today. Because of the fact that with the dual role the clinicals start with FNP and then would transition to AGACNP after, I have more time to gain the experience they. That would be a difference I guess.

Maybe with the switch to the emergency department the FNP/ENP program would be a better fit? Did you mention the job transition in your resume or statement? Maybe that will get flagged as something that they can help you transition tracks like they did with Victoria?

Lipoma, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2021

So it's determined, "early next week" is not in fact early LOL. It's more like sometime this week.

I didn't receive a call or an email. Holding tight.