VCU ABSN Summer 2014 Hopefuls!

nursewithgrace · Aug 12, 2013

Hey!

I'm also applying for 2014 admission into VCU's ABSN. I come from a sports business background, currently working at MLB. I'm less worried about my undergrad GPA (3.6), but totally worried about my pre-requisites. I have to take all of them! I'm taking at least two of them this fall while still employed full-time and plan to go back to full-time study in January.

Here's the thing, though: I live in NYC area currently, and really only want to attend VCU, but if I quit my job and move to Richmond to live with my boyfriend to take my final classes, I'll be really gambling--since acceptance letters don't go out until the end of January.

My other option is to go to University of Cincinnati, where my original bachelor's is from, their program admits students year round, so I could just go there and pray that I get accepted.

So many variables and so much that could go wrong! But very excited to start down the path to becoming an RN!

alliegem · Aug 12, 2013

Oh goodness! My suggestion would be to take as many of the pre-reqs as you can safely handle this fall. I went to an info session at VCU back in June and they definitely want you to have the majority of those classes done before they make their decisions.

It would be a big gamble to move to Richmond before getting an acceptance letter from VCU. Maybe there is a way you can apply to the accelerated and traditional programs so you have some options, but I'm not sure if you can do that. VCU seems like it would be a really great program, though. Idk. If I don't get in, I'll probably move back to NC where I got my bachelor's and apply to some schools there.

Do you have any experience in the medical field?

nursewithgrace · Aug 13, 2013

Thanks for the insight--I am going to do my best to take as many as I can, so we'll see how that works out. I would only move to Richmond ahead of time because my boyfriend lives there, and it would be great to not have to pay rent and be able to focus solely on school. I'm also applying to a couple places near Cleveland, where my parents live. I don't have medical experience. I work in the private sector and am only one year out of college.

You seem like an outstanding candidate, so I'm sure you won't have any problems getting accepted!

Lexicon · Aug 13, 2013

Hey!

I'm in the same boat as you are: I'm only applying to VCU's accelerated nursing program, and that makes me REALLY nervous! Haha. Where did you take your pre-reqs at (excluding A&P)? I'm fairly nervous about anatomy and micro because I'm taking them at VCU this fall semester and I hear a lot of horror stories about the classes, and I'm graduating this semester so there's no room for mistakes!

If you don't mind me asking, what were your grades for the pre-reqs and your undergrad GPA? Depending on what they are, you more than likely don't have to worry, especially since you're getting health care experience. I also have some health care experience from working as a scribe in an ER, and I'm about to start training for a volunteer position at a women's shelter for women who have been sexually assaulted. So far, I have gotten all A's on the pre-reqs, so I'm hoping for the best. I also need to finish my personal statement before classes start next week!

alliegem · Aug 13, 2013

@Grace- You're welcome for the insight! It would definitely be nice to live rent-free and be able to take classes. If you wind up moving to Richmond, maybe you could squeeze in some medical volunteering at the very least. Always looks good on the resumes! I just wish we didn't have to wait so longgggg! >.

@Lexi-Most of my pre-reqs were taken at High Point University down in N.C. where I got my Bachelor's from.

My undergrad GPA was a 3.3 (started out crappy and got progressively better all 4 years). As for the pre-reqs...

Micro - B+

Psych - B (my general psych class from undergrad will transfer to satisfy the developmental psych requirement! How awesome?!)

Stats- A+

As for A&P, I'm not too terribly concerned... I took it in high school and also an animal physiology course in college. Plus I'm taking it at a community college which I hear is supposed to be easier... Idk about that, for sure though. I'm still worrying because my GPA is a little low and I haven't exactly aced the pre-reqs. But I'm hoping my experience will be enough to compensate. I have been avoiding the personal statement, but I really should try to tackle that. Make sure you take your time on that! At the info session, they said that it's your chance to explain things (maybe why you had a bad pre-req grade, etc). So it could definitely be a life-saver.

Have you been at VCU for all of your undergrad? Maybe you could provide some insight about the school/program and area. I kind of felt like I was gonna get shot when I went for that information session, and it was broad daylight. Is it like that all the time?

Lexicon · Aug 14, 2013

@Allie- Yeah, I've gone here all 3 1/2 years I have been in college. The program is pretty competitive (more so for the traditional program then the accelerated as you must have heard at the info session), but I have had the opportunity to talk to a few nursing students and have asked them about their experience with applying to the program. Most of them really emphasized the personal statement and volunteer/work experience in the medical field as positive factors to help you look better as an applicant. I was also advised on how to study microbiology at VCU (which I know isn't important for you, since you've already taken it).

A newly accepted ABSN student that I met while volunteering last semester at VCUHS (MCV) did her A&P I & II and Microbiology classes at a community college and her undergrad GPA was a 3.9. She was a psych major at VCU and then she went to NY and worked at a Planned Parenthood for a year and then moved back to Richmond and got a job as a Wayfinder at VCUHS. She also had a really good personal statement (she let me read it) and one of her recommendations was from a nurse going to school at VCU to get her MSN in Nurse Education. So she had a lot of good things going for her, but I think you have a lot of good things going for you as well. :) (I just listed her story as an example so you could get a guage of some of the people they accept)

As for the area, there has been a rise in on campus crimes, but I have never been near the areas of these crimes. In the daylight, I would personally not be worried. I live about a 5 minute walk from the MCV campus and yeah there are some creepy people, but to me that's just the city life for you. Haha. I wouldn't be too worried, but if you do get in, which I'm hoping you do because in my opinion you sound like a good candidate , I would walk with a group of friends at night and take the campus connector when needed.

alliegem · Aug 15, 2013

That newly accepted ABSN student you talked to blows me out of the water! But it's definitely good to get affirmation about the importance of the personal statement and references. I'm going to ask one of the doctors I work for to do a reference, as well as my direct supervisor and then a close professor from undergrad. Figure I've got all of my bases covered if I ask them (the info session & web page said to refrain from personal references).

I wonder why the traditional program is more competitive than the accelerated... I figured it would be the other way around. Not that I am going to complain, by any means! On a side note, this weekend will make 6 years since I was a freshman in college. Going back to school after having time off is going to be SO weird!

I think we're good candidates and should all get in! This site is a great way of networking and getting more information without annoying the crap out of VCU's Nursing School.

Lexicon · Aug 15, 2013

I suppose it is more competitive because the applicants are high school graduates/freshmen/transfer students as opposed to people who have graduated and decided they want to go back to get their BSN. I feel a lot more people who are in our position go the community college route rather than the accelerated BSN route. And on top of that, since the accelerated program is in fact accelerated, it calls for people who can handle a faster pace of education with intensive material, and people with families to support or those who just can't handle that, probably wouldn't go the accelerated BSN route. :bookworm:

And I dunno about all of us getting in! Unless all of us equals the 3 of us; then I agree with you. But ~90 spots.. :S It's actually not as small of a chance of getting in as other programs at VCU (like med school), but it still makes me feel a little antsy.

nursewithgrace · Aug 15, 2013

@Lexi--what you're saying makes total sense! I definitely understand how the traditional program would be more competitive, because it really takes a lot to do well IN college to get those A's in pre-requisite classes. When I was an undergrad and my group of friends were applying to the nursing school at Cincinnati (most of my friends were pre-nursing) all but one got accepted (I'm sure there were tons who didn't get in, I just didn't know them). Those who were accepted studied like you wouldn't believe, weren't involved in extra-curricular activities and really put all their focus on school, obviously it paid off for them--I know I couldn't have done that, as I was really involved in everything BUT studying in college!

@Allie--I think your recommendations are going to be really solid. I wish I had the resources to have the diversity you'll have, especially from a medical and academic setting. But, I figured that since I've been working really closely with my co-workers (including many Vice Presidents in the company) that I would have them do all of mine and focus on my work ethic, personality and abilities and how they'll transfer to this new profession. I always feel so awkward asking for recommendations, and didn't think it would be appropriate to ask a professor that I hadn't spoken to in over a year for one, or one from a class that I've just started.

nursewithgrace · Aug 15, 2013

On a separate note--what do you guys think of the character limit for the personal statement? I didn't feel like I had enough space to fully articulate my goals and reasons why I'd be a fantastic student in their program. My essay for VCU is about half the size of mine for another school, which gives you up to 900 words, rather than 2500 characters.

I hated feeling limited, but I get that they have so many to read that if you can't describe yourself and your goals efficiently in the given space that you should work on your writing skills! I re-wrote and revised my VCU essay to match their requirements of course, I just felt as though I was struggling to choose the best way to approach it, which I almost never do, considering that I feel like writing is one of my stronger academic skills.

cole3x0h · Aug 16, 2013

Hi guys!

I'm applying for the ABSN 2014 program as well. I'm incredibly nervous about applying, but am still hopeful. I did my undergrad in Psych and have been volunteering as an EMT and work as a tech at a hospital now. All done with pre-reqs too.

I'm glad I'm not the only one hating the constraint on the character limit for the essay. It's REALLY stressing me out! I keep fiddling with it because I'm struggling to find a good way to cover all the things they mention in such few words. Hopefully I'll get it all wrapped up shortly so I can ask for the references.