UTHSC Traditional BSN Spring 2014 Applicants

U.S.A. Texas

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I have seen many threads for previous applicants for past semesters to the UT Houston School of Nursing. I wanted to start one myself as I am applying for the spring 2014 traditional BSN and have yet to find a thread for it. Although I opened it for applicants, I would also encourage previous applicants, current/previous students, and applicants for other semesters at UTHSC to join in and share in this exciting time!

I gave up emailing the registrar/admissions address given on my myUTH asking if they received my transcripts and then asking who I should ask to find out if they were received. They just kept sending back the same one line answer.

It was even more entertaining when I originally decided to apply and went to the school itself and was turned away. They told me I need to go home and apply online and that I couldn't use a computer there to fill out an application. Ha! I just wanted to talk to someone and show them my transcripts to see if it was even worth applying yet depending on what would transfer etc.

It's been like trying to get a dinner date interview with some hollywood celebrity.

Did you reapply?

I'm not surprised. It is really baffling how much they don't give a crap about people going through the application process. I called to see if I could make an appointment with an advisor and they said, "No. We do not counsel applicants." What??? They couldn't tell me why either.

There is obviously no formula to how they choose who gets accepted. I think they just pick a magic GPA, say it's 3.25 and they randomly pick out the names that fall above that GPA cause there is no reason some people shouldn't get in with 3.9's while others are getting accepted off of the waitlist with lower grades. I called to ask about that, too, but they said they will not discuss anything with current applicants.

Anyway, I don't mean to sound so bitter, but jeez. I have worked my ass off to keep high grades and make a good HESI score and I was still denied for Spring 2014. Now I am reapplying for Summer only to find out that people on the Spring waitlist, with worse grades, are getting accepted for the Summer, potentially taking my spot or someone else's. It's just plain not right. If they are going to say that admission is based solely on GPAs and HESI scores, then they should stick to that. And, if I had to reapply for Summer, people who were waitlisted for Spring should also have to reapply for Summer and have to go through the process all over again, not automatically given a spot.

I just applied for Fall today since the application is due on the 15th and I was thinking, 1000 applicants at $60 a pop, that's $60,000 3 times a year for each application period. That's a lot of dough for them to facilitate the job they were hired to do. Why would they counsel potential applicants? They could discourage someone from applying and lose out on some cash.

I dreamt about going to this school and viewed it as the pinnacle of nursing education. After dealing with these administration folks, my whole ideal about the school has done a 180. It is sad when they don't give a s*!# about recruiting the best students for the small number of spots they have available. I guess higher education has truly turned into a cash cow without any regard for advancing superior students into the workforce. Hell, I am already out $180 and I haven't even been accepted!

I guess the joke is on me...

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I'm not surprised. It is really baffling how much they don't give a crap about people going through the application process. I called to see if I could make an appointment with an advisor and they said "No. We do not counsel applicants." What??? They couldn't tell me why either. There is obviously no formula to how they choose who gets accepted. I think they just pick a magic GPA, say it's 3.25 and they randomly pick out the names that fall above that GPA cause there is no reason some people shouldn't get in with 3.9's while others are getting accepted off of the waitlist with lower grades. I called to ask about that, too, but they said they will not discuss anything with current applicants. Anyway, I don't mean to sound so bitter, but jeez. I have worked my ass off to keep high grades and make a good HESI score and I was still denied for Spring 2014. Now I am reapplying for Summer only to find out that people on the Spring waitlist, with worse grades, are getting accepted for the Summer, potentially taking my spot or someone else's. It's just plain not right. If they are going to say that admission is based solely on GPAs and HESI scores, then they should stick to that. And, if I had to reapply for Summer, people who were waitlisted for Spring should also have to reapply for Summer and have to go through the process all over again, not automatically given a spot. I just applied for Fall today since the application is due on the 15th and I was thinking, 1000 applicants at $60 a pop, that's $60,000 3 times a year for each application period. That's a lot of dough for them to facilitate the job they were hired to do. Why would they counsel potential applicants? They could discourage someone from applying and lose out on some cash. I dreamt about going to this school and viewed it as the pinnacle of nursing education. After dealing with these administration folks, my whole ideal about the school has done a 180. It is sad when they don't give a s*!# about recruiting the best students for the small number of spots they have available. I guess higher education has truly turned into a cash cow without any regard for advancing superior students into the workforce. Hell, I am already out $180 and I haven't even been accepted! I guess the joke is on me...[/quote']

As one of those people that were accepted off the waitlist I find this post completely unnecessary. I understand your frustration, but it's not okay to put down others. There must have been a reason certain people were waitlisted over others. They do not just look at GPA and HESI scores. They also look at how many hours you take each semester and other factors.

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As one of those people that were accepted off the waitlist I find this post completely unnecessary. I understand your frustration, but it's not okay to put down others. There must have been a reason certain people were waitlisted over others. They do not just look at GPA and HESI scores. They also look at how many hours you take each semester and other factors.

Well go ahead and take offense. That is your prerogative. It is not unnecessary to speak about things that bother us or are unfair. Is it only kosher for people to address things that are positive for them? I have taken part in this forum and read everyone being ecstatic about getting accepted. Why is it that I can't voice my opinion about being denied? Not to mention that not once in my post did I mention anything negative about any student or applicant. My negativity was all directed toward the school and their inconsistent methods of choosing their students.

As far as them looking at how many hours you take, I have only once taken 12 hours. The rest of the time has been 15 hours + of which one semester I took A and P I, Organic Chem I, Micro and Pre-Cal while maintaining a 4.0 at UT San Antonio (a university).

So, you can take everything that I said in that post and twist it to be negative toward you, but that is not the case. The simple truth is I have worked extremely hard to maintain good grades and to not make it in because they decided to pull someone off of the waitlist with worse grades just plain sucks. If you were in my position, you would feel the same way.

I already said before that none of this is directed toward anyone on here, but towards the school. Last time I checked, this was a public forum where people could voice their opinions.

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Well go ahead and take offense. That is your prerogative. It is not unnecessary to speak about things that bother us or are unfair. Is it only kosher for people to address things that are positive for them? I have taken part in this forum and read everyone being ecstatic about getting accepted. Why is it that I can't voice my opinion about being denied? Not to mention that not once in my post did I mention anything negative about any student or applicant. My negativity was all directed toward the school and their inconsistent methods of choosing their students. As far as them looking at how many hours you take I have only once taken 12 hours. The rest of the time has been 15 hours + of which one semester I took A and P I, Organic Chem I, Micro and Pre-Cal while maintaining a 4.0 at UT San Antonio (a university). So, you can take everything that I said in that post and twist it to be negative toward you, but that is not the case. The simple truth is I have worked extremely hard to maintain good grades and to not make it in because they decided to pull someone off of the waitlist with worse grades just plain sucks. If you were in my position, you would feel the same way. I already said before that none of this is directed toward anyone on here, but towards the school. Last time I checked, this was a public forum where people could voice their opinions.[/quote']

You know what you're right! At the end of the day I am grateful that I got into the program. I wish you the best of luck.

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You know what you're right! At the end of the day I am grateful that I got into the program. I wish you the best of luck.

And I am happy for you and everyone else who got in!! None of us have any control over this situation. All we can do is move on. I just think it is nice that we have this forum in order to voice our opinions and compare experiences!

I am genuinely happy for everyone who got in. Please don't mistake my opinion toward the school as being directed toward anyone on this forum. I am 28 years old and not getting any younger, so forgive my bitterness. It would be nice to start nursing school sometime this decade!!

Good luck to everyone starting school!

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....that's $60,000 3 times a year for each application period. That's a lot of dough for them to facilitate the job they were hired to do. Why would they counsel potential applicants?..

This is a good point. I really dislike the "scramble" that it seems to be for everyone to get into this program. I rememberthe day I went to speak to the student affairs desk, there was a chick there asking why she hadn't been accepted into the program even though she had this gpa etc. She ended up breaking down and crying.

Its almost akin to getting selected for special forces training -they're not going to hold your hand through the process. I only hope this method helps to produce more competent nurses, because we need them.

The other thing that surprised me was the critical thinking portion of the HESI. I really wasn't sure what to expect, and I only really studied for the A&P section. The critical thinking portion was pretty much NCLEX questions. Assuming a large portion of the applicants are college chicks with no nursing experience, this seemed odd.

I really only applied here due to the fact that they don't require your A&P, micro, etc. be less than 5 years old. I've only learnt recently about the prestige associated with this school/program.

Hang in there, dude. It'll be worth it in the end. Also, its only 4 semesters, and the longer it takes to get in, the longer you have to save up to pay for it. :)

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Thanks Skwidward. It's nice to have someone who understands where I am coming from.

The only reason I continue to apply here is because of the short length of the program. Hopefully I get in soon or it would have been stupid of me to not accept my spot at Lone Star. That program was 2 years that only got you an ADN. Then I would have to have done an RN to BSN program and I thought that was entirely too long for me. I am starting to feel like I gave up an opportunity.

Anyway, you hang in there too and hopefully we make through the mystery process.

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The critical thinking portion was pretty much NCLEX questions. Assuming a large portion of the applicants are college chicks with no nursing experience this seemed odd. [/quote']

Regarding the CT section, the only reason I knew most of these was from taking a first aid and CPR class a few years ago. There is a lot that the typical applicant wouldn't know, like ABC (airway, breathing, circulation) and their priorities (which I think has changed to CAB, but that's beyond the point). It is strange to have that section on there. If they wanted a critical thinking section, they could have made it on everyday scenarios.

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I hate to say it, but the registrars office is just as cold and incompetent when you finally do get accepted. We have heard nothing but complaints on our FB page from the beginning. They lose transcripts, take weeks to upload transcripts, never answer phone calls or emails, and if you show up in person, you're told to call or email them. I didn't get to register for classes until 3 days before classes started. It was such a mess. Just a tip to anyone that does get in in the future, the student affairs ladies are SOOOO helpful when it comes to everything (including kicking the registrar into gear). Good luck to you all! I promise it's worth all this trouble! :)

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

I received an acceptance email as well for the Summer 2014 start. I have emailed Ms. McKnight back and informed her to withdrawal my application as I have started nursing school last week at UTMB. So there will be an open spot for more people :)

And to any that have applied to UTHSC, try applying to UTMB. So far everyone has been nothing but helpful and so nice! I commute from NorthEast Houston and it is not that bad. And my first clinical is at MD Anderson which is much closer!

Good luck to you all!

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Hi mze116,

I just wanted to clarify, I was on the wait-list for Spring 2014 and I actually did re-apply for the Summer start program. I didn't want to put all my eggs into one basket and count on getting a call that I made it into the Spring program at the last minute.

BMK e-mailed me last week to let me know I made it into the Summer program and mentioned that I DID NOT need to re-apply for Summer, however I already had when she told me this. To no surprise, when I e-mailed about getting my $60 back she said it was non-refundable. Had I known or thought that I would even be selected for the Summer program, I would not be out $60 as of now. I completely understand your frustrations and I hope you do not get too discouraged because it seems there is no method to their madness. I was denied a spot for nursing school (2 RN programs and 1 BSN program) 3 times before I finally got accepted to UTHSC... all to which I never received an explanation for why I was denied. I was angry, sad, hurt and confused among many other emotions but I didn't give up and finally got what I have worked so hard for. Hang in there and you will make it!

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It sounds like you already in the program. How u like it. Talk to us about the program like wht is the pace like. How the teachers like?

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