[starryeyed]

Hi. I have been accepted into both Columbia and Vanderbilt's midwifery program. I have heard some negative comments (second hand) about Columbia, but nothing about Vanderbilt. Did anyone out there attend either of these programs? If so what did you think of the quality of education. Both are really expensive, so I want to make the best choice.

Thanks!

[epiphany]

I hope I am not answering too late, but I have heard about Columbia through friends who went there and were not too happy with the program. In my personal experience, in the hospital where I worked, they send their CNM students to be doulas in our hospitals, for those who are on the fast track programs. I guess they wanted to have L&D floor exposure. There was no one supervising them, and some of them just sat in a corner and did nothing, and I felt they were a little lost.

Good luck with your decisions.

[shhh]

I know about 4 people who started at Columbia's nursing school with the intention of continuing on through midwifery school and then ended up transferring elsewhere for midwifery. it really does not have a very good reputation in NYC.

[starryeyed]

Thank you for your replies. I have been leaning towards Vanderbilt. I keep hearing negative comments about Columbia's program. It is strange that Columbia has such a poor reputation. It would be nice to hear from someone that attended Vanderbilt's program.

[Selke]

Originally Posted by starryeyed

Thank you for your replies. I have been leaning towards Vanderbilt. I keep hearing negative comments about Columbia's program. It is strange that Columbia has such a poor reputation. ...

Just bear in mind that the Ivy League isn't what it's cracked up to be ... Ivy League nursing schools aren't bad, they are average programs with that "Ivy League" name which makes one assume they're ranked at the top. They want to attract and cater to a certain type of student. Some of their other academic programs are likely to be top notch. You're paying for the name, which is a marketable commodity, a brand, as it were, but in nursing you may not be getting your money's worth. Higher education is a business. I wonder if RNs entering Columbia's program have a better or easier time of it than the DE programs. Maybe Columbia doesn't do the direct entry thing very well.

[lovingpecola]

I had to choose between Vanderbilt, Columbia and Yale. I was able to quickly disregard Vanderbilt because they lacked organization, which I just could not accept. Their financial aid/admissions process was just not put together very well...but, they have since had someone contact me about my application process and why I chose not to go there (they called and interviewed me about the experience of applying and choosing) which means they are actively trying to improve the process and their organizational issues...

So that's just one more thing to consider.