UTHSC Summer 2015 Application

TX2015 · Mar 15, 2014

Thanks for starting the thread. I am planning to apply both to UTHSC and to UTMB for summer 2015. I am in a similar situation - I also have a degree and am looking to change careers. I will probably need to work until I am accepted and close to when school starts. I received a BS degree from another state so I have a lot of pesky pre-requisites that are required for the Texas core that are different from my previous degree (I had world history classes but Texas demands US history, etc). I am in AP I now and will take a lot of the pre-reqs over the summer online.

I'm hoping to go to the April information session. If others plan to attend, perhaps we can get together and meet in person.

Best of luck to all!

native_texan · Mar 15, 2014

Sorry to hear about your pre-req situation. My degree is in Communications, so I'm lacking all of the science classes :/ I may go to the March info session. I think there is a possibility that I can apply in August for the spring semester, but I won't know until they evaluate my transcripts...

What do you currently use your B.S. for (what kind of job are you in?)

TX2015 · Mar 17, 2014

My degree is in chemistry/math - so I'm good for all of those classes. I still need AP II and Microbiology as well as several of the pre-requisites. Good for you for quitting your job - it is a big step and I am still struggling with the thought of it. The application process is also a bit un-nerving. I've seen several situations when very capable candidates (4.0 GPA, high HESI scores, etc) were not accepted.

Do you know if they will do an evaluation of your transcript before you get accepted into the program? I'd love to have that done now just to make sure that I haven't missed something. I don't want any surprises like that!

Best of luck to you - let me know if you go to the information session. I'm sure those are informative.

native_texan · Mar 18, 2014

Hey there TX2015! I was told by someone in admissions to send my information to the Registrar's Office, (she gave me an e-mail) and said they would look into it for me. I requested my transcripts to be sent to get the process started. I just gave notice today that I would not be renewing my contract for the next school year. SCARY! However, I am sure that I didn't want to continue in education anyway. I haven't been happy for the last couple of years, and I didn't go to school to be a teacher. It was a means to an end when the economy went south after 9/11, along with Enron and World Comm collapsing. I only have 57 more "school days." :)

I don't understand the admissions process, but I have faith that if UTHSC is where I am supposed to be, then I will be there. Hard work is a given. I don't know what else they will be looking for. I was told that 400-600 apply each session and that they accept 100-125.

2GNsoon · Mar 19, 2014

Hi all. Im a J1 at UTHSC this semester. Yall are so quick to get on here and make a thread which can be really good or not so good! Starting early builds stress so keep yall's conversations light, informative, and supportive. Other threads i've been apart of are depressing because some people got in, some didn't, and feelings got hurt. So just a tip---keep it light! Also since it's so early in the game I have a few suggestions for you guys. Being in my first semester here I'm in pathophys, pharm, health assessment, and care 1. We actually have a HUGE test in patho today everyone is stressing about. We've been hearing from upperclassman how terrible this test is going to so there's been a lot of discussion. For me personally I came from UTA and took both my A&Ps there. I was very challenged being at a university and taking sciences there, and i just finished A&P 2 this past fall so most of it is very fresh. I believe both of these things have so far helped me immensely with patho. Not many people did well on the first patho test, I made a high B. I truly feel like it's because of those two factors. If i could give any advice (and take it with a grain of salt) take your sciences (especially A&Ps) at a university and take them right before you are expecting to start nursing school. Patho is very difficult and it requires you to know the anatomy and physiology perfectly before even beginning to understand the pathology of the diseases. So since you have time I'd suggest doing that, it's very helpful! Lots of my classmates that I've talked to feel like they've been cheated if they took A&P even two years ago because they feel like they've completely forgotten all of it! Just a suggestion! good luck to you guys in the application process, let me know if you have any questions!

TX2015 · Mar 21, 2014

Congrats Melanie on turning in your notice. I'm sure it was scary but it must also be liberating. Your decision is made and now you can look forward and focus on the future. Did you happen to go to the information session today? I had an obligation at work so I could not attend but hope to make it to the April session.

Meg - thanks for the advice. I take it very seriously since you are doing what I hope to be doing next summer. I agree that these threads can get intense. Maybe we should set the guideline for this board that we will keep it light. I'd love to pick your brain about UTHSC. How are the instructors? I know it is competitive but I'm hoping that everyone is working together to succeed. What were some of the surprises in your first semester? Any other tips for success? I will finish AP II a few months before the program starts so hopefully it will be fresh in my mind. Best of luck to you in the program.

2GNsoon · Mar 21, 2014

@TX2015 The instructors are great. You will quickly find that they are all very supportive and do their best to help you in every way! you will definitely like some profs teaching styles more than others (****** in patho is very monotonous and boring....but it's a challenging class so you have to go!). But everyone at UTHSC wants to see you succeed. I feel like the admissions process was TEN TIMES more competitive than being enrolled at the school. Everyone on these thread were comparing GPAs and HESIs and I can promise you guys that you'll never figure out what exactly they are looking for. We took guesses and tried to figure it out but some will get in with 3.5s and some with 4.0s won't, they look at so many different things. Surprises in the first semester...haha I'm going to be honest and say I was absolutely unprepared and blown away by the amount of work, the amount of info, the short amount of time to learn everything, how little i sleep, exactly how much time i would devote to school daily and how much friend and family time i would give up.....ALL overwhelming. It's a lifestyle change. You aren't just a college student, you aren't just getting a measly Bachelor's degree, you aren't just taking alot of hours, you are a NURSING STUDENT. I didn't (and none of my classmates) realized what that meant. Lots of tears and stress and breakdowns the first semester that you just aren't prepared for! But talking to upperclassmen, they ALL went through the same thing as well, so it's just a rough first semester and honestly a rough year and a half of stress. It's shocking, but it's doable! I moved to Houston for school in JAnuary and it was good for me because all of my friends and family live 4 hours away so they aren't a constant distraction. You give up your life and your sanity and everything in between to get through! My class is not competitive, we are all just trying to pass everything, which is alot harder than just passing prereqs! Expect to be shaken up and tested to the limit, but YOU CAN DO IT. If i can, you can. We all go through it, and it is so rewarding. Getting to go to clinicals and actually put together all of what you're studying and take care of patients is the most rewarding feeling! Good luck to you guys in this process, don't stress now. That comes later...but keep the goal in mind! If yall have other questions let me know!

native_texan · Mar 21, 2014

Hi Tex! Yes, I went to the info session! I was very impressed and excited. I'm realistic that for at least 16 months, I will eat, drink, sleep (very little), and breathe nursing school. I'm OK with that! I asked an admissions rep about the 4.0 GPAs not getting in, and she said that most with 4.0s were students who took classes multiple times to get that GPA. That's not what they're looking for.

Here's my belief...God has a plan for all of us. If this is part of His plan, then it will be. Period. I do have to do my part, haha! There are always forks that appear in your path and you have to make choices to head in new directions sometimes. If that's what happens in my case, then that's what happens. Life is a journey...not a destination.

I agree to keep the thread "light." I just want to chat and support. Best of "luck" to all. (BTW, I applied for the Spring. Why not??)

Hugs and Blessings

TX2015 · Mar 22, 2014

Wow - Melanie and Meg - you are both an inspiration - thanks for sharing. Reading this makes me even more excited about getting started. I would love to be in the program with both of you.

I completely agree that God has a plan and I believe that trusting in His plan and guidance will help to keep me "light" and grounded. If nursing school is not His plan for me - then I don't want to go down that path. In the meantime, I will work hard to prepare and get ready for the hard work ahead in nursing school.

Thanks Melanie for the feedback on the 4.0 students - that makes a lot of sense and relieves some of the concern about admission. I have never repeated a class to try to get a better grade. Good for you for applying for Spring - I would do the same but I have so many Texas specific courses that I won't be able to finish the pre-reqs in time for spring application. I hope to get these done over the summer and then finish AP II and Microbiology in the fall.

Conner.francis · Apr 14, 2014

As an S2 about to graduate I can tell you that once school starts you will always be a little stressed out. If its not one thing its the other. Also like in college some teachers are great and some are not so great. It really is luck of the draw with a lot of this. The other thing I learned is that with all of the stuff you learn in this program you will still have a lot to learn once you actually begin working. Its exciting and time will fly fast. As far as your first semester yes it is tough, but it really only gets tougher. The best advice is be strong in those core classes because the next semester will build on it. Be prepared to start answering NCLEX/HESI questions early. Its one thing to know the content, its another to be able to think like a nurse. That intro HESI you took is not like the HESI's you will take. The real HESI's are much more difficult. Don't worry if I could do it you can do it

smile2906 · May 29, 2014

Hi everyone,

Did anyone take the HESI exam? I'm trying to register it through the ELSEVIER website (following the instructions on the school's website). I just want to double check if it is called the A2 V-1 with CT? (Admissions Assessment Exam)

Does everyone register for the exam this way?

Thank you very much.