Advice for Direct Entry Programs

bfx13 · Aug 5, 2013

Hey all,

I have three semesters left of my bachelors and just wanted to ask for some general advice.

GPA: I will be graduating with a 3.4. My grades have an upward trend with the last three semesters being straight A's.

Pre-reqs: I have not taken any hard science pre-reqs, but I am going to take microbiology and human anatomy/physiology this year. I hope to do very well in these classes and finish my pre-reqs by next spring.

Extra-curriculars: I have extensive experience in social services and healthcare organizations and have done case management and suicide prevention. I have done a lot of work with public health professionals using evidence based interventions and community intervention.

If I do excellent in my pre-reqs and score high on the GRE do you think that I will be competitive for a direct entry MSN program? Or, due to my GPA, should I just focus on absn programs?

Is there anything that you wish you knew before you applied to direct entry or accelerated programs?

My ultimate goal is to become a PMHNP and get my PhD so that I can conduct research as well as have a clinical practice.