UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing '09'

U.S.A. Pennsylvania

Published

Hello all.

I just wanted to provide a thread that those going to Shadyside this year can communicate on. All input is greatly appreciated of course, especially those who have done the program. Has anyone else received the letter letting them know the fall 09 class is full and to wait for spring?

Specializes in Med Surg/MICU/Pediatrics/PCICU.
I was planning on applying to Shadyside for the spring term. Well...I got my entrance exam test results back yesterday. I got a 99% in Math, a 98% in Reading comp, 95% in Vocab, and a 74% in Science. I am so upset! Because I didn't score a 75% in Science now I have to retake the test. I don't mind retaking it but since I have to take a redemption class now I won't be able to apply for the Spring term.:crying2: I even asked Natalie if she would give me another chance to take the test since I came so close and she said no. Does anyone happen to know any other schools that offer Spring admission? I was really hoping to get started as soon as possible and if I want to goto Shadyside I have to wait almost a whole year. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

When did you take your test?

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I took it on Sept.26th...it took forever to get the results back!

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Specializes in Med Surg/MICU/Pediatrics/PCICU.

wow it took that long? I just took mine last week I hope I get them back before the deadline to apply!

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I cant believe it took that long either! They said about 2 weeks but it took more like 3 1/2 for mine. I had to call Natalie 2 times about it. The first time she said they had just sent them out and then after a week went by and I still didn't have them I called again and then I got them within a day. I hope you had better luck than I did...both on your test and getting your results back sooner!

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well after a long long wait (applied for the fall semester) i received my admittance package today for march!!! yay!!!! for those still waiting and still curious about tuition forgiveness, it remained the same as the fall. you will have to come up with 10k over 6 payment periods. it did not increase to 15k as some feared. anyhow . yay waiting is over, i can stop looking at jobs in the paper and wondering if i am passing up other potential careers :p for something i really really want to do. sooooooo...... anyone else starting in march .. drop me a line and a friend request ... can't wait to see you all.

ps. oh yea .. for those who just took the test . i was on a waiting list from the fall.... so admision letters for those just testing may not be sent out until acceptance letters are returned by the deadline to the school and they have actual numbers for empty seats for those that tested this last round. (this of course is just a theory.. do not take it as fact ..)

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AHH!!!!

Yesterday I got my acceptance letter for the March '10 semester. It took me a year...

1. I filled out the "Nursing Aptitude Examination" bubble when I took my entrance exam.... and by the time I found out about it, the scores were due in admissions in 24 hours.. Sooo, no Fall '08 semester for me!!!

2. One of my recommendations were lost in the mail, AND I didn't know that I had to have a transcript from CCAC... so no Spring '09 semester for me!!

3. By the time I had found out about THAT crap, classes were closed for fall '09! HAHA!

...So finally, I'M IN! I've taken Logic, Nutrition, and A+P 1 at CCAC. I'm taking A+P 2 in the spring (in the evening) with SSN, unless the two conflict. I'm expecting a heavy course load, regardless of how many classes I take and where. If I need to drop ap2, then i need to drop it. I understand.

I'm just not excited about either driving or bussing every day from Wexford. I have relatives that live in the city, but I don't think they want me for 2 years straight. Ha!

I'm so ready for nursing school to start. If I could start tomorrow morning, I would.. But, I have to wait until march :(

If there's any March-bound students that want to add me on facebook, feel free. My name on there is Josephine Schaefer.

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Josephine:

I wouldn't recommend dropping A+P 2; remember that you have to take 1 + 2 at the same institution for them to transfer. So if you drop it you're going to take 1 over again at Chatham.

The professor for A+P is fantastic, though, if the next wave of students get the same teacher we have.

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Hello, I am currently at CCAC taking non-nursing. I was thinking of taking A&P but I was told that if I am going to consider coming to Shadyside for nursing, that taking A & P there would be better because some of the questions on the NCLEX-RN will reflect the course and the pass rate is lower at CCAC. I am going to get rid of everything else, including college math and english (for a BSN in the future). What was the PSB like? What kind of an essay do you have to write with your application? The parking MUST be a headache. I was set on staying at CCAC to get the ASN but, I hear the pass rates at UPMC Shadyside are so much better. I also hear that the school is more technologically-advanced. Is this so?

The PSB should be pretty simple for you if you're taking college math and english; the only thing I'd really review is the science (that's the only section that's a little higher) with a review book or some online sources (there are even some on threads on this site) for nursing school entrance exams. There's just basic english, english comprehension, math and science. Other than the science they are VERY basic.

The essay is probably available on the website; I believe it was something about why you wanted to be a nurse and why you chose Shadyside specifically but I'm not remembering the specifics. I don't think this was a huge part of the process. You should definitely go to an information session.

The parking at Shadyside is fine, but for your Chatham courses it is a huge headache. If you can park at Shadyside and take the shuttle over it's much better, but I drop my son off in daycare in Squirrel hill so that doesn't make sense for me so I get constant parking tickets at Chatham.

I can't really compare CCAC because I've never seen their labs but UPMC does have a lot of cool lab equipment with the dummies and whatnot. And the NCLEX rate is better than the BSN programs in the region so, yeah, if you can get in, I'd go for it and do the contract and get as much paid off as you can. At least you're pretty much guaranteed a job when you graduate.

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So I originally applied last minute for fall 09 and was accepted part time because thats all that was left. It took them forever to get my PSB exam results in and then they got lost in the mail and I didnt get them for over a month after I took the test! Then it was so late that by the time I got my admissions materials I only had 2 days notice to go to the last information session so that didn't happen. Since I missed the information session I was deferred to Spring 10 and decided to switch to full time like I originally wanted. Now it is the middle of November and I still haven't heard from anyone about my Spring 10 admission. I emailed Natalie and it has been a week and no reply from her. So I emailed her again yesterday and finally she replied today by saying she didn't have an answer to my question and that she will have to check my file and email me back. MORE WAITING. I recently transferred as a junior from WVU and I have NEVER heard of such disorganization and so many problems with admissions! I am getting so irritated with this whole process. If this is any indication of what my experience will be while attending UPMC Shadyside, I can say that I certainly will not remain there. I am very frustrated and disappointed in the whole thing. I thought I was going to be going to a great nursing school.

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Specializes in CVICU, CDU, ED.
The PSB should be pretty simple for you if you're taking college math and english; the only thing I'd really review is the science (that's the only section that's a little higher) with a review book or some online sources (there are even some on threads on this site) for nursing school entrance exams. There's just basic english, english comprehension, math and science. Other than the science they are VERY basic.

The essay is probably available on the website; I believe it was something about why you wanted to be a nurse and why you chose Shadyside specifically but I'm not remembering the specifics. I don't think this was a huge part of the process. You should definitely go to an information session.

The parking at Shadyside is fine, but for your Chatham courses it is a huge headache. If you can park at Shadyside and take the shuttle over it's much better, but I drop my son off in daycare in Squirrel hill so that doesn't make sense for me so I get constant parking tickets at Chatham.

I can't really compare CCAC because I've never seen their labs but UPMC does have a lot of cool lab equipment with the dummies and whatnot. And the NCLEX rate is better than the BSN programs in the region so, yeah, if you can get in, I'd go for it and do the contract and get as much paid off as you can. At least you're pretty much guaranteed a job when you graduate.

To Robotaffliction,

You said that the Science portion of the PSB is VERY basic. I have been studying, and the prep manual I have, {Master the Nursing School and Allied Health Entrance Exams},seems to cover ALL aspects of science, especially Human Anatomy and Physiology. I am taking the test on Saturday ,November 21st, and I am a little worried, because I am not doing well on the practice exams...I was a Biology major, but have been out of school now for 7 years, however, it seems the practice questions are very specific. Was the test much easier? If so, this would alleviate my anxiety greatly!

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To Robotaffliction,

You said that the Science portion of the PSB is VERY basic. I have been studying, and the prep manual I have, {Master the Nursing School and Allied Health Entrance Exams},seems to cover ALL aspects of science, especially Human Anatomy and Physiology. I am taking the test on Saturday ,November 21st, and I am a little worried, because I am not doing well on the practice exams...I was a Biology major, but have been out of school now for 7 years, however, it seems the practice questions are very specific. Was the test much easier? If so, this would alleviate my anxiety greatly!

Its been a few months since I took the test ... but ... I scored a 94 I think in the science portion .. that being said my last A&P class was over 10 years ago, and I was a hazardous materials major with mostly chemistry as a background. The Science portion of the test seemed focused on nutrition (which I never had), and stuff like ATP Krebs cycle, etc...... more on the physiology end of things. I do not recall any anatomy on the test at all. There may have been even some simple organic chemistry that any high school student would know .. H2O is ... When it came down to doing well on the test I did well not from knowning the right answer alot, but being able to rule out a number of the choices. Maybe a little luck too.

Good luck on your test .. I was nervous as hell and worried myself sick looking at practice exams the week before I took the test ... I was royally failing the practice exams .. soooooo..... Fate maybe ..who knows .. anyhow good luck.

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Specializes in CVICU, CDU, ED.

Hi Raven,

Thanks alot for your insight. Maybe I will "take a chill pill" and not freak out about the science portion! Perhaps the guide I have is much more involved than the actual test. I will just have to do my best, and "what will be, will be!" So cliche, but I am honestly burnt out already with studying for this!

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