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Nursing Students School Programs

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I'm from Boston. I got into MGH IHP Dual Adult/Women's Health Program Direct Entry program. I found out I got into this program AFTER Columbia University - FNP Program. (I chose FNP because initially when I was starting to apply, they got rid of their Women's Health program. So I chose FNP to keep myself a little broad, with hopes that maybe I can subspecialize in it?)

I am torn and am unsure what to do. MGH wants their deposit decision before 3/11/15, which happens to be before I even get to go to Columbia's Accepted Students Visiting Day. I need to at least see Columbia in-person for myself. Though it's more expensive than MGH and is world-known, I still want to see and meet faculty, current students, and other new students. I fell in love with the school online.

Boston is a different world from NYC, and I'd actually be moving with husband and pooch. So we'd most likely live in NJ and commute to our respective places. I'm in love with MGH too.

What should I do? What would you do hypothetically? Has anyone else gotten into MGH same program and is definitely going there?

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MissesOh I'm in the same (or very similar) boat! I live in Boston, got into both programs...I actually didn't plan to apply to Columbia at first. MGH was my safety, Yale was my reach. Didn't achieve my goal and now I'm deciding between the school I expected to attend and one that is significantly more expensive but sounds better.

I think Columbia has some curriculum advantages. But I expext I'll settle in New England, so I'm having to guess if those classes are really worth an extra $40k+interest. I'll be at the info session tomorrow. Maybe they'll grant us a 2-day extension on the deposit deadline?

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Hi Snoozyd. Yes I remember from the Columbia ETP post. I started this one to see if there was anyone else who was having the same dilemma besides us. Sorry about Yale! I actually was going to apply to Yale as well, but I was reading some blog about students who go there, and many people had like their cars broken into and such. So I didn't favor the area too much.

I called MGH to see if they can extend the deposit deadline because I really wanted to AT LEAST go to the Columbia accepted student day on 3/13, but the guy in admissions told me it was a hard deadline, and it's by 12noon on top of that 3/11/15! I think this is one of those life moments that should be made fair!! (especially since MGH doesn't even start until September. Why is their deposit due first?!)

I'll private message you. I got some more details too from an NP I shadowed.

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I apparently just spent a long time trying to make a private message, just to find out I can't because I don't have "15 quality topics"? That's stupid. I'm about to leave this forum. This is what I was trying to send:

Hi Susie,

Sorry I took so look to reply to your message. I'm at work, and we're having an office debate about the dress.

I think I may end up choosing MGH. My gut is really telling me Columbia, though the things holding me back from this decision though include:

-DISTANCE- My husband, dog and I would have to live in Jersey because Manhattan is too expensive for the space we need. I was kind of starting to think the commute would be worth it anyways. If I go to MGH though, I could most likely get a good size apartment much closer to school.

- COST - No matter what school you go to, you're going to be paid the same amount as an NP essentially because it would be based on your experience, class rank or so I've been told. You're going to be put in a salary grade. A Columbia nurse isn't going to be paid more than a nurse from another school (a current RN told me this.) So I'm thinking since I still have undergrad debt, I probably shouldn't add alot more debt. I definitely plan to look for more grants out there etc to lighten the debt load/loan forgiveness, but it's better to have less overall. The reason I didn't decide to go to med school because of the overwhelming debt.

- FAMILY (the BIGGEST REASON THAT IS MAKING ME RATIONALIZE MGH) - I've been with my husband for a total of almost 8 years, married for almost 3. I know that grad school is generally more intense than undergrad. With the business and difficulty I expect to have balancing family and school (and obviously I'm going to work hard at making time for my husband and dog), I'd rather we be close to our families and friends. Everyone is here in Boston. So if I'm too busy he can visit his family and friends easily. He would support me in either school he said, but I know deep down it will cause a drift. Also, I just had a conversation with an NP I shadowed last year in Women's Health. She recommended I do what my husband prefers becauase she has first hand experienced and personally saw grad school tear relationships apart. We always like to think "We won't be THAT couple." but you never know. So if I can get just as good an education at MGH, I'd most likely end up doing that. (However I small part of me is willing to force myself to make it work at Columbia. Hopefully this open house at MGH tomorrow will make me realize I should just choose MGH.) I also have siblings that I am trying to make sure I can look out for since our mother passed away about 2 years ago, especially my youngest sister who is only 14. We've been kind of struggling since our family has kind of fallen apart and we're all in separate places.

- WHERE I WANT TO WORK - I know I want to work in Boston. We do have some of the best hospitals in the nation. I think it may be easier to work in Boston because we can build connections through our rotations/clinicals at MGH. Therefore, I would hope it would make it easier to get my foot in the door for work. Eventually I may consider Columbia again though for their subspecialties. (They have an oncology subspecialty that I am interested in.)

I compared the courses and their descriptions at Columbia and MGH, and I like Columbia more. Columbia definitely has better academic track, although alot of the core courses between the 2 are the same. For example, I found that some of the courses we'd take in pre-licesnure year at Columbia aren't offered until like Year 2 in the Dual Adult/Women's Health track at MGH. (I forget which ones, the list is at my home.) Even the NP I spoke to said she would definitely go to Columbia over MGH, if family wasn't a factor. I do like the fact though that there is an option to do like a 1 week missions trip to Dominican Republic at MGH, which is something I'm looking forward to.

Truth is though in my case, family is a huge factor. I think at this point I'm trying to really push MGH over Columbia. Not that MGH is a bad school, but Columbia seems better. This is my second time applying to MGH same program. I didn't get in the first time, and maybe the fact that I got into it this time means I should go because I can be close to home and achieve my goal? Maybe Columbia is a trap for my relationship and wallet? I do fully believe in the awesomeness of the academia and work I'd be able to get in NY. You'd also have to consider getting board certified in both states, which is costly. I know in the grand scheme of things it seems negligible, but they are like a few hundred dollars?

Life is weird sometimes. Sorry about the very long explanation, but these are my current thoughts. The NP I spoke to though recommended you talk to someone higher than admissions (maybe the dean?) if you really want to try to extend that deposit deadline if you'd like to still go see Columbia and not waste $500. I RSVP'd to Visiting Day for Columbia anyways in case my mind changes just to make sure I have it covered. However, I'm hanging onto the fence still, but on the side of MGH.

Best,

-Ash

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Hey Susie, let me know if you want to meet up today. (I replied to the private message, and I think it went through? I'm unsure though, I didn't get the reply that I wasn't allowed to send private messages yet.) Email me [email protected]

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