Cal's Career Center Health Team

Travel nursing/nurse blogging websites

One of our readers, who happens to be an RN recommended these websites for pre-nursing students.  If you love blogs, many of these sites are blogs which also reference other blogs.  Get some behind-the-scenes information about what nursing is like...especially "on the road." 

Travel Nurse

http://jackienewman.iblog.com

Nurse Blogs

http://nurseblogging.com

Travel Nursing Sites 

http://nursingsites.wordpress.com

Travel Nurse Blog

http://ustravelnurse.blogspot.com

When in doubt..."ASK"

Application season is underway, and your Career Center health team is standing by to provide assistance.  But what should you do if you can't make your mini appointment, you're far away from Berkeley for the summer or a 45-minute appointment just isn't feasible with your summer work schedule?  Ask us a question via our online Q&A system, ASK THE COUNSELOR.  In 2-3 working days your question will be answered.  ASK has been around for long enough now that your question has probably already been answered in the archives.  Simply search by keyword (ex: pass/no pass) and you'll see the entire history of ASK questions and answers. 

Here's an example from our archives: 

In regards to the BCPM gpa, what courses other than MCB and IB courses can be labeled as a biology class? Nutritional Science classes? Public Health Classes? Psychology classes? Can these classes be classified under BCPM? Is the BCPM gpa weighted much more than the AO gpa?

Starting on page 66 of the AMCAS Instruction book, there is a list of what courses typically fit under each category. See AMCAS instruction booklet. You will see that Nutri Sci, Psych, and Public Health courses are usually AO (all other).

It is up to you to decide which categories your classes fit into, but AMCAS has the right to change your classifications and they will not be held responsible for any delays in processing your application that this might cause. So, use your best judgment!

It is up to each school as to how they look at your GPA. But, it's a safe bet that since all students must take certain BCPM courses, that they will be closely scrutinized.

Using the Student Doctor Network 101

Whether you're chewing your fingernails down to raggedy nubs thinking about your health professional school interview, or trying to determine what particular schools are REALLY like, the Student Doctor Network is an excellent source of information...and no, it isn't just for pre-med students, it's for every pre-health student from psychology to podiatry. Many of you already know about SDN, but the health team still meets a fair number of students who have never heard of it.   Consider this a quick tutorial: 

Forums:  There are separate forums for every health specialization where you can interact with other pre-health students and professionals across the nation and exchange ideas, give and receive support and tap into new resources.  Sample topics range from "MPH programs, how competitive?" to "Medical School Husbands" to "AMA supports ending DO discrimination."  If you've thought of it, chances are somebody from SDN has already started a forum on it.  Check it out! 

Schools:  Search for almost any kind of health professional school by region.  SDN also provides an overview of schools, including curriculum, tuition, and facilities.  They also refer you to the school's website. 

Interview Feedback:  By far the most sought after SDN resource, this is where students go to report what questions they were asked during interviews with specific schools.  A veritable treasure trove of interview preparation material exists here...it almost feels like you're getting away with something.  Your Health Team uses SDN as a resource to prepare students for mock interviews.      

Blogs:  Want to know what it's like to be a first-year nursing student, or how academically rigorous pharmacy school feels?  Find out directly from the source in the SDN blogs.  These blogs are usually hosted by current students who have already been through the application process.  Remember:  most schools like to know that candidates have a firm grasp of what they're in for; if you stay current on student blogs, you might just gain some helpful insights that help you craft that powerful personal statement and cinch that interview.

Links:  After connecting you with a plethora of useful information, SDN sends you off with links to a mother lode of useful information via other relevant websites. 

Okay, those are the basics.  Now get to SDN right away, and revel in the many fantastic  resources and your own cleverness! 

www.studentdoctor.net