UTHealth Houston FNP Spring 2021

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Anyone applied for their FNP program for Spring 2021 start? 

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Specializes in Stem-cell/Burn ICU.

Yes! I applied for the priority deadline. Still haven’t heard anything. But called and was told they’ll be setting up interviews soon. 

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Addiction Psych, Hem/Onc.

Hi Guys! 

I applied to the MSN PMHNP program for Spring 2021. I haven't seen any recent threads for this specialty track, so I decided to jump in with you guys just in case you share some helpful info.

I started off really excited about this program, as it is very affordable and has a pretty good ranking on US News for Master's in Nursing Programs. I also got a good feeling from the webinar. However, based on my experiences since the webinar, and threads from past application cycles, I have lost a little trust. I have been accepted into two other programs, but still have a strong interest in this one. 

Do either of you have any experiences with UTHealth Houston or have you heard anything from students who have entered into one of their NP programs? I'm very interested in finding out if the programs are more organized and consistent than the application process.

Best of luck to you both! 

T.S.S.

 

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If you're interested in the things that have been unsettling to me thus far, I'll list them out. The first two are long, I apologize. I want all the details to be available. 

1. REC LETTERS: I had my rec letter forms sent in via mail. I sent the forms to my references with pre-addressed and stamped envelopes. All three of the references I chose were reliable (nurse manager, nurse educator, and attending MD/CMO). They all told me when they had sent the letters. Two were marked as received after one week. The third letter had not been received after three weeks. There was about five days left before the priority deadline closed (15 August 2020). At this point I called without answer and left message. No response. I emailed. No response. I called a second time and was able to speak with someone who was very friendly and helpful. She said that two of my letters were received (as the portal noted). I asked her which references they had. Upon opening the files marked "received," she said that it actually looked like they only had one file loaded and visible in the system. She told me that the two remaining references could be emailed or faxed and provided me with the email address. It was a little irritating that my references and I had gone through the trouble of mailing in everything when we could have emailed or faxed in the first place, but I was never able to find anything on the website that stated we could send the letters in via email/fax. The website stated to send the rec letters to the physical address and the CV to an email address. It felt unprofessional to ask two of my references to complete the forms a second time. Had I not called, I am not sure when they would have addressed the fact that they marked two letters as received but only filed one into the system correctly. I'm also fairly certain that all of my letters made it to that physical address. I just don't know what happened to them once they got there. Two letters were sent from Dallas and one was sent from Tulsa, OK, so none of them had to travel very far to make it to Houston. 

2. PREVIOUS CYCLE ALL NURSES THREADS: I have read many things on this website that suggest that their application cycles have been messy since Fall 2019 at least. I would think that things would be more organized after five cycles. Someone from Fall 2020 was saying that they called to get an update and were given the impression that things were running behind. They scheduled an interview right then and there for the next day. I think they found out there were accepted in July, just a month before the start of the semester. I've read that someone got an acceptance letter one month after their interview. Another person said that nobody was there for her interview and that she had to set up another interview for four days later. Someone didn't hear anything back and their portal continued to say that the application was under review for an extended amount of time. When they followed up they were told to RSVP to one of the webinars to ask questions. Then they were told they'd hear something in a month. Anyway, this debacle lasted nearly a year... It is concerning to me that I haven't read anything that vouched for the program and said that the process was straight forward and went as anticipated/planned/scheduled. I also haven't seen any reviews from people currently going through the program. 

3. PREVIOUS UTHealth BSN STUDENT: I have a coworker who got her BSN here. She says only meh things about the BSN program. She said that it sometimes felt like they were just checking boxes off to get the students through. She said she felt like you had to be self-sufficient, which is crazy (to me) in a standard in-person BSN program (not an online, RN to BSN, or LVN to BSN program). Maybe this is a common feeling for students but this was not at all my experience with my BSN program. I felt very supported by my program's staff, faculty, and curriculum. 

 

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Specializes in Stem-cell/Burn ICU.

Wow really?! Yes communication has been an issue. Especially with the recommendation letters. I ended up just emailing them all three and they got them quick. That makes me want to apply to other schools. This my dream school so that’s disappointing. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the BSN program except some didn’t feel clinically prepared. I went to chamberlain so don’t know much about it. 

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Addiction Psych, Hem/Onc.

Same. I had decided that this was my top choice when I started applying. I still think this program is probably great. I mean, people know the name Cizik School of Nursing and it's ranked well. I just don't understand how they haven't cleaned up their application process yet. I went to nursing school in Oklahoma, so US News, All Nurses, and word of mouth is all I have to go on. I just haven't heard thaaaat much word of mouth being in Dallas. 

Let me know if you get any updates and I'll do the same! If they had a priority deadline, I'd think they'd do rolling admission and that hopefully one of us will hear something before too long. 

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Specializes in Stem-cell/Burn ICU.

Yes I’ll do the same ! 

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I had also heard things about the application process not being very streamlined, but I have only heard great things about the program itself! I know a few people currently in it or who have graduated from it, and they all recommend it.  

Anyone gotten any updates??  

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Specializes in Stem-cell/Burn ICU.

Hey you all! Just got my email for an interview! Literally just now.  

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So did I !! So exciting!! 

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Specializes in Stem-cell/Burn ICU.

Yes very exciting. Now I’m nervous LOL. Goodluck ! 

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Just got mine too yay yay yaaayyy!! See you soon colleagues!

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Specializes in Stem-cell/Burn ICU.

??Wohoo How did you guys reserve a spot? It won’t let me.

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