Boston College Direct Entry 2018

Nursing Students School Programs

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Hey everyone! Starting a thread for Boston College Direct Entry MSN for the Fall of 2018.

I am also concerned about both of these things. The BC curriculum is starting to seem too short to me. If you look at their NP year classes in comparision to those at other schools, it just doesn't compare. I am thinking that I would rather take more time in school and feel more confident when I come out. BC is 77 credits while MGH IHP and Simmons are both 93 credits.

I was also given the option to pick AGNP over FNP. At first it seemed like a great alternative, but now I am starting to worry that I won't be able to get the job I want with that specialty. I want to work in a primary care practice in a high need area and an NP that I know said that her office would not hire any NPs that are not FNPs because they desperately need people who can cover all populations.

I guess we all have a lot to think about now.

I do know that Boston College does not award an interim BSN. This is where they are able to award less credits. You are essentially getting an RN then doing RN to MSN, which is possible as we also have BA/BS's. I spoke to a graduate of BC who said that her friend went to MGH. She said that the difference seemed primarily within the RN vs. BSN portion of the program. MGH spent more time to award individuals BSNs. For her, she said that BC was the better route as she felt this would have only prolonged the stress, as she found the RN portion more difficult and demanding. However, I can also see the merit of a longer portion focusing on this. I think the credits and length are partially due to the attainment of the BSN, though.

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I also got an acceptance, and am feeling grateful. Have they given everyone such a short decision timeline? I have to let them know by Feb 16th, which seems unreasonably short.

Does anyone know how they award the few scholarships they do have?

It is a complex decision for me since I don't have the best financial situation. It is unfortunate that there aren't as many scholarships for BC. I know there are many people deserving on the boards here. I believe my combination of academic merit and financial need qualifies me for scholarships, but haven't received one from BC (though I did receive one last year). Originally, I had decided to go the med school route after an mph and social science undergrad. Many of my science courses were of the pre-med level and taken at a rigorous institution. While I wish I had been more committed to the NP route earlier on, I decided this after some eye opening life experiences. In terms of extenuating circumstances, I was a primary caregiver for my mother who passed away from cancer for three years. My father concurrently is older and has depression. My GPA, which is a competitive 3.5/3.4, thus looks lower in contrast to students that may have taken courses elsewhere and I am not sure how this factors in. Apart from that, I have excellent GRE and MCAT scores. And a lot of community work.

I believe all of us have to let them know by February 16th, which is very short, as I won't have heard from other schools by then. I feel like this is also tough since you won't know about financial aid and other critical things. I was also hoping for a scholarship (of any amount) to alleviate some financial need. I am applying to another program (an accelerated DNP) that offers more diversity and financial need scholarships that I wish BC had. Are you attending accepted students day? I was planning to ask much more about scholarships and aid, as I am also in a complex financial situation.

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Waitlisted for PMHNP. I'm torn on whether or not I should take a pathophysiology class; if I don't get in off the waitlist I'd rather not have spent my money, you know? Plus, none of the community colleges in the area offer it (or if they do, not during a time I can attend) and I'd rather not have to pay out of state tuition for other schools.

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Hi! Did any of you go to Accepted Student Day? I couldn't make it and wanted to see what the day was like! Thanks in advance!

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@Kc1122 Are you applying to other schools that don't need pathophys? I took it online at Rio Salado College and it was approximately the same amount as if I took it at the community college in my state. It's a four credit, though, so still not super cheap. Definitely better than other options.

@aprnstudent2018 I was able to go. There was a presentation that introduced us to the program, a presentation from a Financial Aid representative but it was mostly a Q&A, lunch with your speciality's program director, a student Q&A panel (three second years, four first years), a presentation by staff of the diversity/inclusion office and regarding student support, and a tour of the learning lab.

The financial aid representative worked with federal loans. She was very helpful but wasn't able to speak to private loans or students that don't qualify for federal loans. The student panel was helpful regarding work/life balance, living in Boston, etc. The second years were primarily older with spouses (which I found helpful as I am a little older than the average cohort member). Regarding budget and social lives, they emphasized planning. The presentation of the program went over the curriculum in more detail with information like the kind of electives you could take, where you might be placed for clinical rotations, clinical days per week (generally 2 in first semester, three in second), etc. The tour of the lab was really cool - they have exam rooms, observation rooms, a large area set up with hospital beds. The more advanced robot-mannequins breathe, pupils dilate, sweat, etc. Via controls. You work with them and a partner while other classmates observe in a room next door via cameras. You aren't graded on sim labs, it is just meant for genuine learning.

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I was waitlisted as well! I figure I'll do the UNE self-paced online course if I get in by the end of March. BC accepts it! It is expensive though, so I don't want to take it unless I have to either, especially since I won't be working for a while! I have a couple of acceptances from other programs though, and if I don't get off the waitlist for BC by then, I'll go with another nursing program!

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I recently declined my offer of admission to Boston College for AGNP, I hope someone well-deserving earns my seat. I think the biggest push-back for me was the length of the program. Sure, students will walk out of Boston College in 2 years, which is great for people who want to just jump into the workforce, but I was very concerned with the idea of being an inadequate NP. Especially because the program is accelerated and we're all entry-level graduate students, the last thing I wanted to happen was for me to walk out of school feeling uneasy about my education and knowledge in nursing. There are so many other programs (as other users have mentioned) that offer more units and ensure that you are well-versed in the material over time, and I feel like especially with nursing (even more especially as a nurse practitioner), you can't just "kinda" know the material. That's just my two cents, let me know if anyone has any comments/questions on my little paragraph.

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I agree with you!! That's part of what makes me so attracted to the Northeastern direct entry program. I think the required work as an RN after finishing the BSN portion will be super valuable, but I'm a little nervous about rumors of the program being disorganized...

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I don't particularly like the idea of working as an RN for some time as I feel like the psychiatric specialty has a larger disconnect between RN and NP. My mother is a psychiatric RN and the differences in her position greatly differ from the NP. I would like to get some part time work as an RN, but don't want the requirement of years as I feel it doesn't touch on the prescribing and counseling that you learn as an NP. I feel like the RN would be building on other knowledge, like rapport and experience with varying psychological symptomology and severity. Though fantastic, I don't feel as though it is absolutely necessary as you can gain exposure through other positions (counseling, inpatient work on various units, research positions with heavy clinical experience, etc.). This is just my feeling, though, and is really geared toward the specialty.

Regarding program length, the other three year programs typically make the RN portion longer and have more coursework because you receive a BSN. I think it is a preference, but I don't feel more comfortable with more school as much as I do with more experience. The idea of a two year program and then completing a fellowship is appealing for this reason, as it is more hands on clinical training and gaining comfort in the role of the specialty. Also, I am in a financially difficult position and the idea of less loans for a two year program is appealing (sadly). I have an interview for an accelerated DNP and the loans for living and the program are the major obstacle.

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Thank you so much for your insight!! Really appreciate it.

@Kc1122 Are you applying to other schools that don't need pathophys? I took it online at Rio Salado College and it was approximately the same amount as if I took it at the community college in my state. It's a four credit, though, so still not super cheap. Definitely better than other options.

@aprnstudent2018 I was able to go. There was a presentation that introduced us to the program, a presentation from a Financial Aid representative but it was mostly a Q&A, lunch with your speciality's program director, a student Q&A panel (three second years, four first years), a presentation by staff of the diversity/inclusion office and regarding student support, and a tour of the learning lab.

The financial aid representative worked with federal loans. She was very helpful but wasn't able to speak to private loans or students that don't qualify for federal loans. The student panel was helpful regarding work/life balance, living in Boston, etc. The second years were primarily older with spouses (which I found helpful as I am a little older than the average cohort member). Regarding budget and social lives, they emphasized planning. The presentation of the program went over the curriculum in more detail with information like the kind of electives you could take, where you might be placed for clinical rotations, clinical days per week (generally 2 in first semester, three in second), etc. The tour of the lab was really cool - they have exam rooms, observation rooms, a large area set up with hospital beds. The more advanced robot-mannequins breathe, pupils dilate, sweat, etc. Via controls. You work with them and a partner while other classmates observe in a room next door via cameras. You aren't graded on sim labs, it is just meant for genuine learning.

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I declined my offer of admission from Boston College for AGNP. This was an extremely difficult decision to make, as BC has an enticing program. I've concluded my goals will be better met by another program. I hope someone here can take my seat. Best of luck and skill to everyone!

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I declined my offer of admission from Boston College for AGNP. This was an extremely difficult decision to make, as BC has an enticing program. I've concluded my goals will be better met by another program. I hope someone here can take my seat. Best of luck and skill to everyone!

I just put my deposit down for Women's Health. What did you decide to go with?

So stressful. I'm still considering Vanderbilt... and SUNY Downstate for an ABSN with the hopes of then getting into their NP program.

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