accelerated courses in DC metro area

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mwk7m

39 Posts

I just completed the whole pre-requisite/application/decision process, and like you, I was ideally looking for a 2nd degree program. Marymount, GMU, Georgetown and UMd (Shady Grove) all have accellerated 2nd degree programs. UMd, GMU, Catholic and Marymount also have the regular 4 semester option too. As far as rankings go, they are hard to find for nursing schools because they are apparentely only ranked every 3 years. UMd actually has the #7 program in the country, and based on that, they are the highest ranked in the area. Some things to note when looking at the programs in the area are that there is money available for non-resident students who go to UMd and are willing to work at a Maryland hospital after graduation, and Georgetown has a scholarship program in conjunction with WHC - approx. 2/3 of the cohort this year received an 80% tuition reimbursement (with a 3 year committment to WHC). There is also an INOVA scholarship program that applies to both GMU and Georgetown as well (I think the latter also has it...not 100% though). They all have information sessions - I'd go to one of those for each program you are interested in (Marymount didn't have one though) - I found them very helpful and it gave you a feel for who you might be going to school with, and what the schools/admin/etc...were like. One bit of inside info from a friend who did not get into GMU's regular program - someone in admissions told her that they were not even looking at people who had applied to their regular 4 semester program that had transfer status (I have also myself had a few ridiculously bad admin experiences with Mason during the process as well), even though when I went to their info session, they did not tell us this, which I thought wasn't very cool. Anyways...it's a lot to think about, but worth speding some quality time researching!

Good luck!

Pokytrokyt

165 Posts

Specializes in Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN).

I also had problems digging up information on the relative rankings of the accelerated 2nd degree BSN programs in the DC area. Take a look at the pass rates for their new grads on the NCLEX exam, and adjust for small sample size, if necessary. So far as I know, Georgetown, GW, Marymount, Shenandoah, GMU, Hopkins, and UMd all have accelerated programs. The only negative I've heard from some sources is that the 12 month accelerated program at GMU is too fast - the other programs typically take 16-20 months to complete. But maybe speed and cost (one less semester at GMU) is most important to some people.

For me, it came down to timing: I wanted to start an accelerated BSN program in January 2010, and the only schools that met that criterion were Marymount and Georgetown.

i was very fortunate to get accepted by both schools, and have to make a decision this week where I'm going. :smokin:

- Alex

africa.bound

8 Posts

Hey all! I'm a recent grad from the University of Florida. I'd been planning to apply to UF's accelerated program, but my fiance is moving to DC! So that changes things a bit... when I tried looking into UMd's nursing, it didn't appear as though there was an accelerated option. Your posts make it sound otherwise. Can anybody explain this to me?

Another thing... UF does not require many prereqs as of yet, but they do require the GRE. I have their prereqs, but it appears that all the schools in the DC area (and everywhere else, for that matter) have more prereqs and other types of exams. I've looked at George Mason and think I can take those other classes while working in time to apply... but what is the TEAS exam? I tried to look it up online and didn't find much. How important is that? What are the essays like? I read that George Mason relies heavily on the essay portion.

I had a 3.9 in undergrad and I think I will have a 4.0 in the prereqs. but like I said, the other schools require many more prereqs than I was prepared for. So now (if i move to DC) I will postpone applying or one year and get some prereqs - but it is not feasible for me to apply to any schools that require a lot more sciences.

Can anyone give me the lowdown on DC area accelerated programs?? I'd greatly appreciate it!

Pokytrokyt

165 Posts

Specializes in Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN).

From what I saw on their website, UMD does have an accelerated nursing program. However, the accelerated program at UMD is for people wanting to go from a non-nursing BS degree to a MSN Clinical Nurse Leader. So I guess you would call that an AMSN program.

Pokytrokyt

165 Posts

Specializes in Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN).
I've looked at George Mason and think I can take those other classes while working in time to apply... but what is the TEAS exam? I tried to look it up online and didn't find much. How important is that? What are the essays like? I read that George Mason relies heavily on the essay portion.

I had a 3.9 in undergrad and I think I will have a 4.0 in the prereqs. but like I said, the other schools require many more prereqs than I was prepared for. So now (if i move to DC) I will postpone applying or one year and get some prereqs - but it is not feasible for me to apply to any schools that require a lot more sciences.

Can anyone give me the lowdown on DC area accelerated programs?? I'd greatly appreciate it!

First thing: TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) test. Required by Marymount unless you have a higher GPA - I think above 3.0. I took it anyway. The TEAS basically tests you on HS science and math. No essay. You take it online and work out any math problems on scratch paper (no calculators allowed when I took it at Marymount in June '09). It's a cakewalk compared to the GRE.

If you take the GRE (don't bother if it's not suggested/required), there's Verbal, Quantitative and Essay sections, plus a mandatory section of questions they may use on future exams. They don't tell you which section is just dummy questions. This test is more about analysis and critical thinking. It's significantly more challenging than the TEAS. I took the GRE in August '09, to go with my application for Georgetown U.

All the accelerated BSN programs I know of in the DC area require two semesters of Anatomy and Physiology with lab, plus one semester of Microbiology with lab. After that, other pre-reqs often include a class in Psych or Abnormal Psych, Statistics, Chemistry. Some programs want Sociology, Nutrition, or Human Development. I'd say pick the schools you want to apply to, and figure out what they'll accept from your undergraduate courses, and what you'll still need to take for that program.

Also, be aware of where on-campus classes will be held. For instance, George Washington U is located in DC, but their nursing school is way out in the VA suburbs near Ashburn, VA. There are many different hospitals used by each school for clinicals, so you'll probably have to have a car to commute to clinicals, at least.

If you have high grades (ex: 3.5 GPA) and excellent grades on pre-reqs, you should consider applying to Georgetown U's accelerated BSN program. It's expensive ($70K), but there is a scholarship program they have with Washington Hospital Center, that will pay 80% of your tuition.

:paw:

NoelleN

5 Posts

Check out Mountain State University in West VA. They have an 18 month BSN or 2 year PA. Both are really good programs and a really good value for your money : )

student20122

85 Posts

DO NOT CONDIDER HOWARD UNIVERSITY NURSING SCHOOL!!

U WILL REGRET IT SO MUCH!! I MEAN THIS 100%

In the 1st place from my experience pls don't make this school ur 1st choice b/c their undergrad admission office sucks they loose ur transcript 10 times before they finally claim that you sent it.

I mean things r totally redicioulous let me tell u something the admission will send denial letter and the nursing dept is gonna send u acceptance letter that is how much of a mess they are.

When u try to talk to the dean about all the thing that goes on the admission office nobody seems to actually care or even listen to students. They will just tell u the President/dean is too busy at the moment and they will let u talk to some assistant who is going to tell u the same exact mess the admission office has been telling you.

After all you give up about Howard and u leave them alone month after the nursing program starts they start emailing you saying pls disregard our email we sent u about ur acceptance that was an error. I MEAN COME ON EVERYTHING THEY DO IS AN ERROR! COME ON THE SCHOOL GOT TO BE A LITTLE MORE PROFESSIONAL THAN THIS THEY ALREADY HAVE BAD NAME OUT THERE EVERYONE WHO HAS ANY CONTACT WITH THAT SCHOOL ALREADY KNOWS THAT UNDER GRAD ADMISSION OFFICE IS FALLING APART!!

That school is really falling apart save ur money and try someother school trust me it's not worth the hussel that u have to go through that office and at the end they will lost ur stuff u will be out of luck and fraustrated!!

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