Western University MSN-E 2018

HMT_RN · Jan 17, 2018

That's weird, because I received an email apologizing for miscommunication and that Early Opportunity Day (not an interview) starts at 8:00am tomorrow morning. Is the 12:45pm time mentioned above for a scheduled interview?

Richforbroke · Jan 17, 2018

Mine is for a regular interview and not the Early Opportunity Day. Sorry for not being clear. Good luck tomorrow!

HMT_RN · Jan 18, 2018

I attended early acceptance opportunity yesterday. Was anyone else on this thread there yesterday? General thoughts?

tta94 · Jan 18, 2018

I attended early acceptance opportunity yesterday. Was anyone else on this thread there yesterday? General thoughts?

Sorry, I wasn't there but am signed up for 2/7. Do they send you an email with the schedule a few days before? Or was it after you signed up because I haven't gotten anything...

I'd also like to hear everyone's thoughts! How was it for you??

itzlykewow · Jan 18, 2018

How was the interview yesterday folks? Can anyone give us some insight into the interview process?

HMT_RN · Jan 18, 2018

Sorry, I wasn't there but am signed up for 2/7. Do they send you an email with the schedule a few days before? Or was it after you signed up because I haven't gotten anything...
I'd also like to hear everyone's thoughts! How was it for you??

We didn't get an agenda until we arrived, but things start at 8am and generally go until 2/2:30pm. There were presentations on financial aid, student services, and the actual curriculum structure. We met lots of faculty and staff. We gave a writing sample. And then we had lunch with faculty and current students. We ended with a quick tour of the facilities.

Overall it was very low stress and the staff were very welcoming. I was surprised to learn a couple of things that are pretty big cons in my book, though. For one, if we decide to go, we will be the last cohort to graduate in their current program structure. They are restructuring the program so that students will graduate with their RN and their degree after 6 continuous semesters (rather than splitting it like it is now..16 months to RN, then working while earning the MSN over a total of 2 extra years). They are changing this because many hospitals in Southern California (and most other places now) are hoping to achieve gold magnet status, and they will not hire RNs without a degree. The current structure makes it very difficult for students to find a job with just an RN while they are working towards the MSN. Many students end up 'interning' for free as an RN during the last two years of the program.

Happy to answer any other questions if I can or continue this discussion!

tta94 · Jan 18, 2018

We didn't get an agenda until we arrived, but things start at 8am and generally go until 2/2:30pm. There were presentations on financial aid, student services, and the actual curriculum structure. We met lots of faculty and staff. We gave a writing sample. And then we had lunch with faculty and current students. We ended with a quick tour of the facilities.
Overall it was very low stress and the staff were very welcoming. I was surprised to learn a couple of things that are pretty big cons in my book, though. For one, if we decide to go, we will be the last cohort to graduate in their current program structure. They are restructuring the program so that students will graduate with their RN and their degree after 6 continuous semesters (rather than splitting it like it is now..16 months to RN, then working while earning the MSN over a total of 2 extra years). They are changing this because many hospitals in Southern California (and most other places now) are hoping to achieve gold magnet status, and they will not hire RNs without a degree. The current structure makes it very difficult for students to find a job with just an RN while they are working towards the MSN. Many students end up 'interning' for free as an RN during the last two years of the program.
Happy to answer any other questions if I can or continue this discussion!

Thanks for all all the insight! That was actually going to be one of my questions. I was wondering if it'd even be difficult finding one after graduation, competing with RNs with ADN/BSN (bc ultimately they would be paid less?). So after the 16 months you take the NCLEX, and the rest of the 8 months would be in school to finish your MSN? And in those 8 months, they suggest you work during that time? So two years total? Or would it be more than that...

tta94 · Jan 18, 2018

Also, what was the writing sample?

HMT_RN · Jan 19, 2018

Thanks for all all the insight! That was actually going to be one of my questions. I was wondering if it'd even be difficult finding one after graduation, competing with RNs with ADN/BSN (bc ultimately they would be paid less?). So after the 16 months you take the NCLEX, and the rest of the 8 months would be in school to finish your MSN? And in those 8 months, they suggest you work during that time? So two years total? Or would it be more than that...

No, it's actually 16 months and then you sit for the NCLEX, and then it is an additional two years to work through the MSN portion (and they want you working as an RN during that time as well). So...a solid three years total to complete the entire degree program.

HMT_RN · Jan 19, 2018

Also, what was the writing sample?

The writing sample was very simple - we were asked to write a couple of paragraphs about a term.

itzlykewow · Jan 19, 2018

I received an email today reminding me of my (formal) interview. However, it says that lunch is included.

Did anyone go to a (formal) interview that included lunch and also go through an interview process?

tta94 · Jan 19, 2018

Oh... that's what I thought you were saying but didn't think that was it. Well that kind of sucks (excuse my language). Have you applied elsewhere? That changes things a little bit.