Hi there,
I applied to all the same programs for the 2nd degree bsn/msn/cnm program. I can only speak to UPenn's program, which I chose, ultimately because they gave me the best financial aid package.
However, I was sorely--appallingly--disappointed in the program and left. I stayed long enough to finish my BSN and took 4 of my MSN classes during that time. I found the academic standards to be insultingly low---it was very easy to get straight A's without attending a day of class. I expected a lot more out of an Ivy League school, especially for the price! I work alongside new nurses who graduated at the same time from local state RN programs (even just associates degrees) who I think got a much better clinical education than I did. Throughout the undergrad portion, I should in theory have had lots of interface with the midwifery faculty. It's a small program--only 4 students in my cohort, and 20 in that year's midwifery class. But I found the faculty to be completely disinterested and unresponsive to students' needs. I ended up doing my senior thesis with a professor of GERIATRICS (can you believe it? so my area!!!) b/c I couldn't find a midwifery faculty member who gave a darn. My own advisor in the course of a year woudn't respond to either ph calls or emails (not even to sign my graduation application! I had to find a proxy!) I'm not sure if they're just so into their research that they don't care much about students, or if they just have really low standards/work ethic...I've always had great relationships with professors at other schools...so the Penn midwifery faculty left me pretty befuddled, but also pretty bitter. And financially kaput!
Of the 29 people who started our BSN/MSN program, 13 people left at the end of BSN (about half because they hated Philly, the other half b/c they were disappointed with the school).
Needless to say, I just transferred to San Diego State (now doing the "traditional" master's route, since I already have my BSN). It may not be a fabulous program, but at least it's not 45 grande a year. And it's not Philadelphia! (which--Penn aside--is not a locale I would recommend to anyone!) I am much, much happier. I can honestly say that I had more direct communication (wonderful communication) with SDSU faculty long distance during the application process than I did with Penn's midwifery faculty over the course of a year and a half.
So, I guess I would say, don't go for a place just for the big name (which I doubt you are); no guarantees that you'll get a good education. I think that when it comes to grad programs, you can get just as good of an education and often better at a public university, because those schools tend to have faculty who are there because they love to teach, not because they have to teach in order to keep their research grants.
There were a couple students at Penn who transferred from Columbia's program because they weren't happy there--I'm not sure why though. I know 2 people who went to UCSF and loved it. And I've heard nothing but wonderful things about Frontier's program.
I wish I had better things to report about Penn, but I just really wouldn't recommend it. And I think the attrition rate speaks for itself. All the best to you in whatever program you choose!
Originally Posted by rigbyk
Does anyone have any feedback on the qualitative differences between Yale's, Columbia's, U-Michigan's, UCSF's, Penn's, and Georgetown's CNM programs? I am interested in all of them but am wondering how to distinguish between them. I suppose if I got in with more financial aid at one or something; or if I like/dislike the towns/cities they are located in...but other than that, what are the real academica/program differences? Is anyone an alum that can give me benefits of one over the other? Anybody recently applied to these schools or visited?
Would you like to comment?
