Hi folks, lots and lots of info to share from the info session yesterday!
First off: the session was hosted by Filomena Circelli (pronounced "chur-chellie"), SON's Associate Director of Enrollment. She is very friendly and *very accessible* -- answering our questions is what she does. So if you have specific questions, definitely do email her:
filomena@nursing.upenn.edu.
Applications:
They look at your application HOLISTICALLY. This point was made time and time and time again. GREs and GPAs are a very small part of the overall picture they make when weighing the all the aspects of your application.
GRE scores: they should be in the 50th percentile range; 62nd %ile is average.
Prerequisites: All prereqs must have been completed within the last 7-8 years, though they have made some exceptions. All prereq classes are intro classes; if you've completed higher level classes, that's great, too. They accept online classes. Yes, you can still be completing your prereqs now, but you MUST send in the mid-semester grade report in by Dec. 1. Average GPA of last year's class was 3.4/3.5.
Recommendations: they will take a 3rd recommendation, if you have one. Email Filomena to let her know that you would like to add a third recommender to your application, and she will facilitate that. She says that they value LORs from supervisors/bosses/professors -- basically anyone in a position superior to you -- over a coworker/colleague. They value LORs that give them an idea of
how you function as a student, hence the stress of academic recs.
They will be processing applications during the next 5-7 weeks; they will email you if something is missing (like a transcript) and
will not hold this against your application.
Admissions timeline & info: Interviews: Penn interviews ~75% of applicants. They are held sometime in the month of December, depending on staff/faculty availability, altough you can be contacted all the way up to Jan. 25th for an interview. F *stressed* that phone interviews and in-person interviews
are assessed EQUALLY. (One exception: anaesthesia applicants must visit in person.) So don't stress if you can't make it to campus for an interview. They make a day of on-campus interviews, including a tour of the school, simulation lab, and lunch. Come prepared to the interview: faculty are looking to see if you know what your specialty entails, so do your research. Have questions, be confident. Interviews are one-on-one and can be 20-40 minutes
Most popular advanced degree specialties: FNP, Midwifery, Anesthesia. They are *very flexible* regarding changing your MSN choice; you are not locked into your specialty.
Stats: BSN, BSN/MSN, and BSN/PhD applicants are pooled together. All students are vying for the same BSN spots. If your desired specialty is full, for example, you can still submatriculate as a BSN student and re-apply to the MSN program after the first summer clinical. Last year ~600 people applied; 100-125 were admitted; they hope to matriculate 80-85 BSN students. Filomena did not have stats for the individual specialties.
Money money money:
BSN tuition & fees: $95,000
MSN tuition & fees: $45,000 avg., though cost depends on specialty
Financial aid is based on need -- they have no merit-based scholarships at present. They offer 2 need-based scholarships: the Robert Wood Johnson Scholarship and the Accelerated Nursing Scholarship.
Deadline for financial aid is Dec. 15th, 2013. If you are under age 30 by Dec. 1st, 2013, they require info from parents as well -- that's right,
financial aid data is based on your parents' financial status. The exception to this is if you are married (!!!).
That's all for this post... to others who attended and have found errors above, please correct me... Filomena covered lots more about the program itself (courses, clinical sites, study abroad, dual Master's degrees) that I can reiterate if you're interested -- just say the word.
Oct 19, '12 by PNPhopefulHi reinventor, I actually used my PI for one of my references. I worked in his lab for three years which I'd consider an academic setting. Although I never took one of the classes he taught at the University, I did have to write papers for him during my senior year and I actually got units and grades for it. I hope this is ok because unlike you, I've submitted the app already >.<