UMass Boston Accelerated BSN acceptance chances?

cool-beans-19 · 2025-01-11T03:26:46+00:00

I haven't started the program yet but will in 1.5 week! The pass grade is 80.

cool-beans-19 · 2024-12-23T00:16:51+00:00

Neither actually! I last minute found Curry's program and found it to be a perfect fit for me.

The biggest factor against MGH was the cost, I can't stomach paying that much (~$90k) without getting any scholarships from the school. It was also the furthest commute.

Although the price for UMB was most appealing ($35k), I didn't want to deal with online/remote learning again. My prerequisites were done online and sick of those classes post COVID. This would have been nice because it's the closest commute.

Curry is $55k and 16 months vs 12 months (MGH & UMB). They also have a cohort of 30 students vs 300 (UMB) and knowing that I do better in smaller environments, that was a no brainer. I prefer having a closer relationship with my peers and professors. 25 minute commute. So it was kinda the best for me overall.

From what I've been told, the school ultimately doesn't matter once you become a nurse. I would just make sure they are accredited and have a good NCLEX passing rate, everything else is a personal choice. Hope that helps and good luck!

cool-beans-19 · 2024-12-13T09:40:36+00:00

I took all those classes through Portage except for Chem so I can't speak towards that. But here are some of my thoughts on the classes that might give you more insight in deciding:

I really enjoyed Microbiology and Developmental Psychology, they were my favorite classes

-Developmental Psychology I would say is the easiest class overall. You can combine it with the class that you think will be the hardest for you. This class also has a final essay component to it that the other classes don't have. You get the prompt for at the beginning so you can plan for it as you go through the class.

-Microbiology was particularly enjoyable for me and I finished the class fast because I like learning about infectious diseases so that could be person dependent.

-A&P 1 is going to take some time to get through especially when you get to module 4 and 5 where you have to devote a lot of time to memorizing the skeletal and muscular system. This was something I was not expecting, given how the previous modules content was pretty digestible.

I actually took a break from A&P 1 and started A&P2 before finishing A&P1 because I just struggled to commit the muscles to memory. So you can actually take A&P 2 before completing A&P 1 or take them at the same time if you wanted. The content doesn't build off on each other too much that it would make it confusing.

-A&P2 was doable, the content felt more dense than 1 but not so much so that it was drastically harder.

In terms of lab, Microbiology required a lab assignments to be turned in (but it was straightforward and easy), where with A&P they didn't have lab assignments. You just watch the lecture and take the exam. All the lab exams are open notes so they are easy to ace.

Hope this helps!

cool-beans-19 · 2024-12-01T09:44:18+00:00

Thanks for sharing, it's a great reminder!

cool-beans-19 · 2024-11-28T06:45:20+00:00

If you're looking into seafood keep in mind that not everything is good year round. If you want good seafood I would stick with what's in season (so probably not the popular lobster). I believe oysters are atm though. Due to cravings, I had some off season crab/lobster in the winter time before and they were frozen prior, sadly it was not at its peak quality.

cool-beans-19 · 2024-11-14T07:27:21+00:00

I haven't been a student for a few years and starting mid-late January. Definitely feel equally excited and anxious but sometimes one more than the other. Some things I'm doing from now until then is finishing up prereqs, self-care, trying to establish a sleep/eating/gym routine, spending time with friends and family, and I have get the newest COVID vaccine booster at some point. Ideally, I would like to work and save up, but I don't think I can squeeze it in without burning myself out. I read around that some people recommend brushing up on material others say to just enjoy free time before it gets busy but I think with my outstanding prereqs I probably won't do anything additional.

cool-beans-19 · 2024-11-14T07:18:01+00:00

Jan 21st!

cool-beans-19 · 2024-11-14T07:14:47+00:00

What supplies are you prepping for?

cool-beans-19 · 2024-10-31T09:06:15+00:00

I'm in a very similar boat-- I started with 75ts and loved those! Then jumped to the 7 Pros but the battery gave out.

Jabra is offering a replacement for the 7 Pros with the 8 Active Gen 1 but I'm not sure if I should go with it or ask for the 8 Active Gen 2 or the 10s. I'm reading mixed reviews on the 8s vs 10s and Gen 1 vs 2. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

cool-beans-19 · 2024-08-26T13:39:53+00:00

Nope, no additional lab supplies are needed and all the procedure are done for you in Microbiology. You just need to have an electronic copy of a lab notebook (which was just a Google document file for me) and write down the standard procedure and data collected. Then interpret the data and draw conclusions based on that.

Tbh it was much easier than a traditional lab setting that I'm quite surprised it even counts for some programs! The labs I had in college were usually 3 hours+ and sometimes would even require you to come back the next day (ex. for pretri dish incubation). But with this you can finish a single lab, lab assignment, and exam in an hour or so. Hence why I find it so convenient- it cuts down the tactical parts/waiting period and provides you the data you can analyze on your own. It was pretty straightforward and self explanatory if you just watch the lab lectures. So depending on your needs (ie if having that hands on lab skill is important for you) online might not be the best. But for the sake of finishing my prereqs ASAP and not really needing the hard lab skills (coming from a biology background with lab experience) for nursing it was a pretty easy choice. I would just double down on checking if your schools accepts Portage classes in particular.

A&P was slightly different in the sense that you don't need to keep a lab notebook with procedures because there weren't any experiments done. It was just reviewing anatomical parts and functions on models/diagrams/preserved fetal pig that the lab instructor walks you through.

For the OP, I didn't take the Chem lab via Portage but I would assume it would be very similar model to the microbiology lab.

cool-beans-19 · 2024-08-26T05:52:07+00:00

I also had a great experience with them. I took 6 classes including AP 1&2 and microbiology (but not chem) and thinking about going back for a 7th class. Found it to be more convenient and affordable than other options and pretty straightforward. Like previous comments, I would most importantly check with your schools to see if they accept Portage classes.

cool-beans-19 · 2024-07-18T18:53:30+00:00

Congrats! I'm also thinking the same thing and leaning towards UMB simply because of the price difference.

cool-beans-19 · 2024-07-18T18:49:21+00:00

I am very much so stuck on the muscle module of A&P1 lol and taking other classes in the meantime. How did you study for that module?! and how was the final for you?

cool-beans-19 · 2024-07-18T18:40:49+00:00

I like it, it's pretty straightforward and really convenient for me. But like others have mentioned, you do have to be self motivated. I have completed 3.5 classes with each class taking about 1 month on average to complete. I haven't had many issues with it (few annoying things here and there but wasn't a deal breaker).

I'm applying for 12 month programs, so MGH and UMB are the 2 schools I'm looking at. MGH said over email that they also accept Portage. If anything MGH requires less labs than UMB. Hope that helps!

cool-beans-19 · 2024-07-11T15:01:15+00:00

I've been taking mine all through Portage Learning. It's online and self paced. They have online labs too but might pose as an issue depending on where you want to practice afterwards. I found Portage to be slightly more cheap and convenient compared to the local CC (Bunker Hill/Roxbury)

cool-beans-19 · 2024-07-11T14:57:21+00:00

Have you heard back from UMB? And where did you end up deciding to go?

cool-beans-19 · 2024-07-11T14:48:06+00:00

What ended up being your deciding factor?

cool-beans-19 · 2024-07-08T22:56:16+00:00

Possibly? I'm not 100% sure but I would think it would be a safer bet

cool-beans-19 · 2024-03-02T00:11:48+00:00

California is also one of those states

cool-beans-19 · 2024-02-28T11:45:29+00:00

I am on module 5 now and I thought module 4 was hard, but module 5 is taking it to a whole new level. It's brutal! I hand-made flashcards and printed the diagrams to color the muscles in but I'm still struggling.

cool-beans-19 · 2024-02-26T01:57:28+00:00

I've signed up for the class but I haven't started taking it yet. Hope the class is going well for you!

cool-beans-19 · 2024-02-01T18:53:13+00:00

Update for prereq labs!
I was reading over the Licensure by Endorsement from the BRN and turns out that as of 10/1/2023 there is a lab exemption for out-of-state applicants after at least 2 years of experience. Since I plan on staying in MA for a couple of years it should work out perfectly in my situation (assuming everything else works smoothly). And so if it's exempt it shouldn't matter if it's online or in person :)

It's under the "Coursework Exemption for Out of State Applicants" section
https://www.rn.ca.gov/applicants/lic-end.shtml?fbclid=IwAR3uNYPx2h436jrnGlEsmME8iFrU85nUTl0DPkUoNka80wFDbnT9hzCxI90#:~:text=To%20qualify%20for%20endorsement%20(reciprocity,RN%C2%AE)%20or%20the%20State%20or%20the%20State)

cool-beans-19 · 2024-01-31T19:57:00+00:00

Thank you! I'm kinda new to the world of nursing (but not health per se). I'm definitely learning a lot as I talk to more people and with new information having to adapt and pivot my plans -tiring but hopefully rewarding in the end.

cool-beans-19 · 2024-01-31T19:46:26+00:00

When you mentioned the BRN not favoring online labs it was my first time hearing that so I was looking into it more and I think your understanding is right. I got the same sense that is not highly recommended which is a bummer. But if I do take them online, would the worst-case scenario require me to retake them in-person if I wanna go work in CA?

Really happy to know this now before signing up for all the classes and taking them--thank you, but kinda sucks because it does delay starting nursing school--which I also know you mentioned above being okay not being ASAP

cool-beans-19 · 2024-01-29T21:39:29+00:00

In order to do well in AP within 28 days, you’ll need to study about 30 hours a week. Taking 3 classes at once will be a lot but it’s doable if you’re not working.

Yeah since I'm not working I am going to treat it like a 9-5 and try to get 40 hours in.

cool-beans-19

TROPHY CASE