Starting UPenn this summer

Specialties CNM

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I'm starting the CNM program in UPenn this summer fulltime, 18 months. It's a dual program for CNM/Women's NP.

Wanted to share this info with you all. For those looking to see how the program goes, please feel free to email me.

I meant to go into the CNM program, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the Women's Health is built into the CNM program so that you can end up with a dual degree. It was very forward thinking of UPenn - to make sure that you can be licensed as a woman's NP as well.

Wish me luck.

Hi all:

Update of my Penn experience. Our first semester we are taking Patho, Primary care of women, and Physical Exam. They are all very intense, on the average of 2 exams a week. There were a few tears in the beginning, but I think we are used to the abuse by now.

Pros and Cons

PROS: I'm learning A LOT. There are plenty of resources, and the midwife/woman's health group is pretty cohesive, we get a long and are supportive of each other. In your final semester, you have a lot of choices in places to practice. Many people choose the place that they plan to work in - great way to get your foot through the door.

CONS: Not all the courses are taught well. You need to be a self-learner, know how the separate the good stuff from the bullshit. In my opinion, some of the stuff is a waste of my time, but the rest of the good stuff makes up for it.

Overall, I feel I made the right choice. I would have chosen this place all over again. I would say it meets 75 percent of my expectations. Also, it's made me realize, particularly because this is a NP/midwife dual major, that being ER nurse would have served me a lot better. Being in L&D taught me how to be an L&D nurse much more than a midwife IMO.

Anyway, I hope this helps. As usual, please feel free to ask me if you any more questions.

Hi epiphany,

I'm very happy for you and you're accomplishment. I have been interested in applying to UPenn for the dual degree ever since I started my BSN. I basically have the same questions that the user name: rchamp59, had for you.

I was told by someone at UPenn that if your GPA is at least a 3.0 you won't have to take the entrance exam, do you know anything about that?

You can feel free to let me know any other info that might be helpful

to me in my application process to UPenn.- Thanks in advance

Sorry, I missed your question - hadn't been checking. Yes, they won't make you take the GRE, if you score above a certain GPA. check online, the application will tell you exactly what. They told me that this was a case by case situation, but as far as I know, no one in my class had to take it.

This is to answer to the questions I am getting in my private messages. It's just easier to answer it once.

The issue of GPA - I would go ahead apply if I wasn't sure. I know how it can be nerve racking wondering whether you'd get in, but I have found the faculty and staff to be very helpful once the application process is complete, especially if you set up an interview and speak to someone. Showing up in their open house can also help you answer a lot of questions. In introduce yourself to the staff, so you can contact them later with your questions.

The worst thing that can happen is that you have to take your GRE, but I wouldn't worry about it till then. Hope this helps.

Hi epiphany

I am thinking about applying to UPenn for their CNM program. I didn't realize that it was a dual degree for women's health. Is this still the case? Were you able to work part time while attending school? Did you receive any scholarships from Upenn to help with tuition?

Do you have any pointers for the interview/application process?

Hi epiphany

I am thinking about applying to UPenn for their CNM program. I didn't realize that it was a dual degree for women's health. Is this still the case? Were you able to work part time while attending school? Did you receive any scholarships from Upenn to help with tuition?

Do you have any pointers for the interview/application process?

Hi kristadwn:

It is a dual degree. We started in last summer, and the women's health portion ends in this summer. For the rest of us who are pursuing the additional degree, we continue one more semester thru to the end of the year. I did not work part time, but many students in the program did. Some worked 3 RN shifts (!). I have to warn you, it's HARD to swing that, because you hit the ground running and program is INTENSE.

They do give out scholarships, but not as much as we want. They try to help you apply for loans, to make up for what you need. If you are willing to go into debt, you'll get the money you need.

The interview is not that hard. Be yourself, and show passion and maturity. Read up the the latest developments and policies so you won't feel flustered with nothing to say. The hardest part, IMO is the application and paperwork. Best recommendations are from midwives. Good luck.

I can't believe I'm finally here. We've had our wellwoman, childbearing woman, and finally we are catching babies. I have to pinch myself!

We are starting of with the usual "boot camp", delivery fake babies, suturing, neonatal assessment and then they send us off to our sites. The summer boot camps, which start off the semester are intense 3-4 wks daily courses that prepare you with basic skills & knowledge before you you venture out to the real world. I've started with STD's papsmears, gone to leopolds, pelvic exams, understand lab values, and now this is the stuff I was waiting for.

The midwives and the NP's have split - NP's have gone off to their integration sites (mini residency, sort of) and we are 14 people strong. We are quite a tight group although there are some personality differences, almost all of us get along with each other, and are pretty supportive, which I believe is integral to have a great learning experience. We do a lot things outside of school together, share, cry, get to know each other quirkiness.

We are also arranging our integration sites for next semester, many of us going overseas.

Will report again soon.

Specializes in Med-Surg.

Hi Epiphany,

How would you evaluate UPenn's program? Did it meet all of your expectations so far? Any tips you may have regarding such classes as patho, core nursing courses, clinical? Also, if you could give your best advice regarding success in the program, what would it be? Thank you for any feedback, it is greatly appreciate.

Congrats on your accomplishments thus far and best wishes in the rest of your program! :nuke:

Hi Epiphany,

How would you evaluate UPenn's program? Did it meet all of your expectations so far? Any tips you may have regarding such classes as patho, core nursing courses, clinical? Also, if you could give your best advice regarding success in the program, what would it be? Thank you for any feedback, it is greatly appreciate.

Congrats on your accomplishments thus far and best wishes in the rest of your program! :nuke:

I don't have much to compare with, but I would say I learned a lot - it's intense, which to me is a good thing. The program is well designed, but my only complain is that I don't find the faculty as knowledgeable as I would like them to be. I think it's just a personal thing based on the way I learn. I'm scientific and I like information hard core, but I find the information a little soft and on the surface. Tough questions are often rebuked with "well, you won't have to manage this - just refer" However, I find my classmates comfortable with this sort of learning and that's not to suggest one way is better than the other.

The patho however, a whole different experience. If the core courses are floating on surface, the patho is deep at the bottom of the ocean - very tough - be prepared to spend hours in the library - and go for review sessions wherever you can.

Most important advice I can give is to study in advance because one exam comes right after another and it can be stressful if you're not prepared. In fall when your clinical begins, think really carefully about what kind of sites you like because they do ask you and try to match you, though not always successfully. Good luck and welcome to a life-changing experience.

for those that can't afford penn's program. look at philadelphia university's program [color=#7c0426]ms in midwifery

i'm not sure this program is cheaper. the first year of tuition and fees in this program is $20,849. i didn't look up penn's tuition, but i know yale's tuition and fees for one year are much less than this and i'm sure penn isn't much more than yale...

and when you total all the credits for the entire program at pu, it is considerably more! maybe it's confusing because the per credit hour amount is lower....but they require a lot more credits, which makes the cost higher!

lp

Caught my first baby today!

Specializes in NICU.
:yeah::D:yelclap::w00t::anpom:CONGRATULATIONS Epiphany! hopefully to be in ur shoes in two years:)

Awww congrats Epiphany!!!!

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