Any UCSF Mepn Applicants?

PurpleBee · Dec 23, 2007

Dear friends,

I want to extend my congratulations to those who are invited for an interview: best of luck in January!

Unfortunately, I did not get a happy letter today. Although UCSF was my first choice, I will wait for other programs' responses; however, if no one takes me this year I will definitely reapply next year. I thank those who shared their stats and I will do the same: {fresh out of undergrad** BA in Integrative Biology and Minor in Anthropology from top UC school with a 3.45 GPA; shameful GRE score (V 360, Q 610, W 4) - I explained my low verbal score in a separate letter [The reason for this is that I started learning English once I arrived in the United States at the age of fifteen and a half. My English language skills were very limited and the only friends I had came from my ESL classes since at my high school the American cliques were not easily accepting foreigners into their groups. It was only after being admitted to university that I started making friends with the native speakers.]; A's in A&P and statistics; A- in A&P lab; volunteering experience: over 80 hrs in the postpartum department at a hospital, participated at 1 birth at the time of application (at the moment 4 births: 2 VBACs (lady partsl birth after cesarean), 1 lady partsl and 1 cesarean - I entered the OR), fluent in Spanish and my native language, some French [small talk]....

Happy holidays and chin up my fellow friends who received a rejection letter; I feel your sorrow, but do not despair.

doulalove · Dec 23, 2007

Hi all,

I also got a sad letter today; I applied for the midwifery specialty. Just a little about me... OK GRE scores (530 V, 640 A, 4 W); 3.6 undergrad GPA in sociology and social work; 4.0 in prereqs; working as a certified doula for a year; volunteering in a clinic for a year working with underserved, Spanish-speaking women; shadowing NP's; and lots of work experience serving low-income families. I'm a little disappointed, but had a feeling that UCSF might not be the best fit for me. I'm still hopeful about the other school I applied to, and am keeping my fingers crossed! Congratulations to all of you with interviews!! Good luck! I know that we will all reach our goals and learn lots from our journeys

Elizabeth

czyja, MSN, RN · Dec 23, 2007

{fresh out of undergrad** BA in Integrative Biology and Minor in Anthropology

Sorry you did not get in. Bummer! Did you go to Cal? (that is were I am at now) Are you of the traditional undergrad age? If so, I suspect that may have been the hurdle. Do make time to speak with them about you application if they are doing that this year. Best wishes

PurpleBee · Dec 23, 2007

volunteering in a clinic for a year working with underserved, Spanish-speaking women; shadowing NP's; and lots of work experience serving low-income families.

Hi Elizabeth,

Through what organization do you offer free doula services? BPAC?

If so, we might have seen each other at Anna's meetings.

Best of luck

star77, MSN, RN · Dec 23, 2007

Okay, today's my birthday, and I got a present!

I'm also interviewing for MEPN, and for ACNP specialty.

My stats: I've been out of school since 1999, have been an EMT since 2000, worked ski patrol and have done a lot in various clincial settings. Have worked for an underserved women's clinic for 2 years. I do NOT want to be an FNP, and was clear about that in my essay, which is what my clinic work has taught me. I am very clear about what I wish to do.

I also had a research internship at LLNL a few years ago. My last calculated GPA was 3.91 from classes taken Post-bac, although I graduated from UCSC before they gave GPAs with highest honors in my majors. My GRE was 610 V, 730 Q, and 5.0 A. All of my letters were written by NPs and PAs. I speak Spanish routinely with patients, doing complete medical histories, and often translate for our clinicians.

Hope that helps. Good luck everyone. :balloons:

czyja, MSN, RN · Dec 23, 2007

I am very clear about what I wish to do.

I get the feeling that the above is very, very important.

Congrats on the b'day. What a nice present. :balloons:

Go Slugs! I am soon to be a Cal grad but my lab mentor at LBNL (were you in the DOE program at LLNL? I was in the summer program at LBNL for two years) is a Slug and I love her. Slugs are much cooler than Bears. Ah well.

doulalove · Dec 23, 2007

Hi Elizabeth,
Through what organization do you offer free doula services? BPAC?
If so, we might have seen each other at Anna's meetings.
Best of luck

Hi PurpleBee,

Although I have provided free doula services, my work with low-income families that I was referring to is through different non-profit agencies as a social service provider.

I'm in Sacramento, and am a member of a doula collective here, so we probably haven't seen each other before. Best of luck to you, too.

Elizabeth

rwbabycatcher · Dec 23, 2007

Hi doulalove,

See, there must certainly be an element of randomness in this process. I also applied to the midwifery specialty and it seems like my stats are similar to yours. Similar GPA and GRE scores, and similar types of volunteer experiences (I also worked at a clinic with low-income Spanish-speaking women, although it was only for a few months here and there, and it was in the capacity of assisting with prenatal and postpartum care and birth). I have never worked as a doula and am not certified, although I have taken training. So...who knows? But I do feel like UCSF will be a good fit for me (so far), and I didn't apply to any other programs this year. Regardless, it is great to see so many here applying to Midwifery--the world always needs more of us!

Take care, and best of luck with your other schools.

doulalove · Dec 23, 2007

Thanks for the encouraging words, rwbabycatcher :) I am also soooo happy to know that midwifery is one of the most popular specialties. We need LOTS more midwives in this world, and I'm sure that those of us with our hearts in the right place will succeed and make a difference in the lives of many women and babies. Good luck with your interview and your journey to becoming a midwife!

golucy · Dec 24, 2007

I just got a letter to interview on Jan 25th. In response to questions regarding stats on those that did get letters and to offer some assistance to those who may be applying in the future I will share my particulars. I am proof that prosective applicants should not be discouraged if they have less than stellar GRE scores. I applied as an Advanced Practice Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and was invited to interview with what I consider to be embarassingly poor GRE scores-something like 550verbal 470math and writing a 4.5. I did however have a 4.0 GPA in graduate school. I have been working at CPMC in S.F. as a developmental specialist with children birth to three with disablitiles for approximately 13 years. I will probably be the oldest person in the program at a month shy of 44 if I get in. Oh, I don't speak Spanish either although I do speak French which is not terribly useful. I had excellent referrences from a pediatric neurologist, a pediatric nurse practitioner, a LCSW and a pediatric occupational therapist. I definitely feel that high grades and GRE scores are not the entree into this program. It is reassuring to know that UCSF is not giving lip service when they say that they are looking for a diverse applicant pool and at the totality of what an applicant offers. Given my situation, I can't help but feel that my professional experience helped tremendously. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will interview well and be offered a slot.

Newtonian · Dec 24, 2007

veni, vidi, vadi

PotreroLCSW · Dec 24, 2007

Mea Culpa!

In my glee of getting that "special letter", I totally forgot to wish those of you who didn't receive one, good luck in your continuing endeavors in working toward your goals just the same.

If you want it, keep working toward that goal, and if you don't get into UCSF, their may possibly be something better in store for yourself.

When I originally was applying to graduate school for my Master's in Social Work, I wanted to go to what I thought was a "good school". I had applied to UC Berkeley, Univ of Washington, both very highly rated, and San Fancisco State, which I thought was a "for sure". I was rejected from all three of them. I was not, however, devestated. Instead I contacted a professor from my undergrad program, who assisted me in obtaining an application to Cal State Long Beach. Within a week I was accepted there. Had I been accepted at one of my original schools, I'm sure I would have gotten an excellant education, but I would not have met and made the wonderful friends I did at CSULB.

It turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

My stats going into this current process, were not as stellar as some of you who did and didn't receive the "special letter".

My GRE's were about the same as golucy's at V: 480 A: 570 W: 4.5. Which was identical to when I had taken it in 1993. I didn't get any better 14 yrs I didn't get any worse either! My undergrad GPA was about 3.88 and my graduate GPA was 3.95.

I have been a licensed clinical social worker for the past 5 years, and have 12 yrs of psychiatric treatment experience working with geriatric chronically mentally ill clients. I have about the same time in doing volunteer work providing some form of care or service to the HIV/AIDS population. I worked as a CNA before many of you were born in the mid '70's in SNF's.

If I am so fortunate to be accepted into the program at UCSF, not only will I be excited, but will also be embarking on my third career, and will have 10 yrs on young golucy at 54, when the program starts in June. If I'm not accepted into this program, I may or may not reapply next year. Either way, I will endeavor to do the best job I can in whatever path I choose.

Again I want to say congratulations to those of you who have made it this far, and to the rest: I wish you continued success in your careers, whatever they may be.

Happy Holidays to all!