Columbia BSN/MSN ETP 2014

Nursing Students School Programs

Published

I was surprised that there didn't seem to be a thread for this year's applicants to Columbia's ETP program. So I thought I would start one. The information session was today, but I wasn't able to go. :( I was hoping someone else went and would be able to post any admission statistics or tips for the personal statement they gave.

Hi Everyone - I too am applying for the ETP Program for 2014, the FNP route at Columbia, but will also be applying to Vanderbilt and Boston College. I am retaking the GRE on wednesday since my math scores were really sad :(

I still have to finalize most of my personal statements, as well as get letters of rec back from some. I am completely stressing out! Nov. 15th is right around the corner.

Heyy,

I'm also retaking my GRE thanks to that score select process. My scores were okay but I know I can do better. So, hopefully this next one will be better scores for both of us! November 15 is so close. I'm finishing up everything, too. Hopefully I submit by the 14th hehe. That's the goal!

Hey Everyone!

I havent scrolled through the whole board yet, but I am a current student in the ETP program and am happy to answer your questions.

I am in the FNP program and my roommate is in the midwifery program. We are happy to answer questions the best we can.

I remember being in your shoes and totally wigging out. The nursing field and nursing education are going through a lot of change, which makes figuring out the right program for you all the more complicated. The cities, finances, hospital options, relocating, student and faculty interpersonal relationships...it is all tough to know fully until you are in the thick of it.

I don't work for admissions, so I am totally comfortable giving you a really candid response on the program. To be honest, I had really low expectations for this program. After looking at previous blogs on this site, having a general distaste for academic snobbery and hearing from other direct entry students I was sort of expecting the worst. I have been really pleasantly surprised though! Some of my negative expectations were met, but others were totally dispelled.

I don't want to write all that much and project concerns on you all, but do let me know if you have any specific questions. I am busy in the middle of the ETP program, but I will try and look on here to post as much as I can.

Best wishes!

Hey lifeismuzik :)

Thanks for making yourself available to the forum. That's really nice of ya! What kind of changes do you think the class of 2014 should be aware of? Which classes do you feel you needed more time to prepare for? And how's studying for NCLEX going with all your rigorous school work? Hope your experience has been fabulous, hopefully the rest of us can join you next year!

Love,

Nesy :geek:

I'm also from California with undergrad studies in Behavioral Sciences - hoping to enter the FNP specialty.

At this point, I am pretty close to finishing my application. Still waiting on one LOR and keep going back to my personal statement for little tweaks, but know at some point I need to let it go.

I agree that this whole process is nerve-wracking! Anyone else get intimidated after combing through postings from previous applicants? hehe...

:nailbiting:

Hi! I am new to writing on this site, although I have read quite a lot. I am applying to Columbia's ETP program for 2014. Nervous! I am curious what other applicant's gpa and GRE credentials are? Just want to get an idea. I have taken only a few of the pre-reqs as of now - and just took the GRE earlier this week. Also, does anyone think not having a letter of recommendation from a professor a detriment to the application? I did well in some courses but don't have a relationship with the professors to give myself confidence they would put much thought into a valuable recommendation. Thoughts on all, anyone? Thank you and good luck to everyone!!

Hi Marissa, I too only have finished a few prereqs - just psych and stats and in the process with chem and a&p 1! I have around a 3.5 undergrad gpa and a 4.0 so far in prereqs. I took the GRE about 5 years ago, straight out of college, and scored in the 90-something percentiles and verbal and writing but soooo low in the math... like too embarrassed to say low haha. So I hope they do not place too much importance on the GRE!

I'm several years out of college so I was worried about getting a prof to write my rec too.. I just had my chemistry professor do it even tho he doesn't know me that well. He was happy to do it and I think it's probably important to have an academic reference.

Good luck!

Specializes in Pediatric CICU.

Hi Marissa!

My undergrad GPA was 3.81 and my GRE scores were in the high 80s/low 90s for percentile. I think that if you can, it would be great to get a recommendation from a professor. I've heard that since the BSN portion of the program is so fast-paced and there is quite a bit of material, they like to hear from a professor that you are ready for the challenge. Hope that helps!

Wow Mewei! Very impressive stats! To me, you seem like a strong candidate. I am certainly rooting for you! :)

Marissa - I second Mewei's thoughts on the value of a professor's LOR.

Specializes in Pediatric CICU.

Thanks aiwish, likewise! :) I am still working on finalizing my personal statement. Anyone else having trouble sticking to the two-page maximum?

It's definitely been a challenge sticking to 2 pages. As it stands right now, I have managed to shave down the verbiage to 2-pages, but keep going back for edits. There is so much I want to say and I am really concerned that the "shaved-down version" is not conveying my passion adequately.

I haven't been able to find concrete info about margins on the website or previous threads. I've read not to change the margins, but nothing on what the accepted standard is. Can anyone help?

Thank you!!

Specializes in Pediatric CICU.

I would assume its 1 inch for both the sides and top and bottom of the pages? That's just based on my own guess though, so I am not 100% sure!

+ Add a Comment