Columbia University ETP 2008

Hi everyone. Haven't been on in forever. My head has been in text books rushing to get everything done in order to apply for 2008. Just got the last of my transcripts, waiting for one more recommendation (oh yeah and that pesky essay) and I'm finally done.

Hoping to enter Columbia's ETP for Acute Care

Good Luck Everybody!

I went to an online info session recently and someone asked this. They said they would accept a postmark of the 15th for the materials. I think I'm just going to go to the campus and drop off my materials, since I'm here in New York.

Hello all, does anyone know how the timeline occurs after the Nov. 15th deadline? Is there an interview process? When will they typically send out the acceptance letters? Many thanks.

Scott

Hello all, I received an email from the school stating that a file was being created for my application. It also stated that I would receive an email by December 1st stating whether or not my application would be sent to the admissions department for further review. Did anyone else get this email? I took the GRE on the 12th of this month, so I don't think that they could have received my scores yet.

One more thing, did any of you go to one of the information sessions? Do you think it was very helpful and did you get to meet some the faculty/admissions people? Did you think it was somewhat like an interview process where they can put a face to the name, or were there just a ton of people there and you were a just a face in the crowd?

Many thanks, Scott

I actually came on today to see if I could start a new space for people applying to ETP/MEP programs and happened to see this thread, so thanks! I am finishing up my BS in Psych. from Northeastern U. in Boston and am planning to stay in psych. I am definitely feeling the pressure having put in my application at BC and Columbia so far. I am still planning to apply to MGH's program in January, but NYUs program is a different concept (you go in as a transfer in an accelerated program, 15 mo. and then apply for the NP portion while you are finishing)...its the same principal, just packaged differently. If I am accepted to one of the other schools I don't think I will get a chance to apply there so it's kind of my "back-up".

I was wondering what the program schedule was like, so thanks dg05...I have a much better idea of what I would be getting myself into. Are you enrolled at Columbia right now? After reading through old posts about the various masters entry programs I have heard the good and the awful and I would love to hear what some people in the midst of it all have to say. I keep wondering what my actual chances of getting into these programs is, being hopeful, but afraid to count my chickens. Does anyone know how many ETP students they admit...how many for psych.? I've heard that psych. is a less frequently chosen specialty, but I have no idea. Nice to hear from other people in the same boat as me, fingers crossed for all of us. ~Alexandria

Alexandria, I am enrolled at Columbia right now. I'm in the middle of my ETP year. No one really knows how they select people - we're all varied. I think they probably chose people who are interesting and who show promise but who are not necessarily the head of the class. I bombed my GREs for example.

I love Columbia but a lot of people are frustrated and I can see why. I knew what I was getting into when I chose an accelerated program -- Columbia has very limited goals in the first year -- preparing us to pass the NCLEX so we can go on to be great NPs who do interesting and important work. That means that we don't get to dive very deeply into things and we don't have a lot of time to absorb information. It sticks, and I know 10 times the amount I did when I started, but like any new nurse, I will need the orientation I receive at the hospital.

The administration is also very frustrating at times but if you learn to accept that and expect the worst, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

There were 184 people accepted this year. I don't know if they'll do that again because seems to be more than the number of clinical placements allows.

dg

Thanks so much dg!
It definitely puts my fears to rest knowing that you are enjoying Columbia despite flaws that I definitely accept are going to be in any relatively new and accelerated program. I am currently at a school where the admin. is terribly disconnected, something which I was warned about before I chose this school, and I guess it was expecting the worst (as you said) that left me pleasantly surprised in the end. I know that the work will be incredibly demanding, but hearing that it is still manageable makes me feel so much better.

I can't believe they accepted 184 people! I think they only accept something like 40 people at Boston College, so that makes me feel a bit more hopeful! My stats are decent, I am finishing my BS in Psych. and currently have a 3.7 GPA, I got a 610 verbal, a 680 quantitative, and a 5 for the writing on my GREs. I got A's in the prereqs. that they will be seeing at the initial review, but may be getting a B in A&P II this semester. I have been working at McLean Psych. Hospital as a Mental Health Specialist for the past year and have worked as a Residential Counselor at group homes for both co-occurring diagnosis (substance abuse and mental illness) and a DBT house solely for women with Borderline Personality Disorder (and all the fun that comes with personality disorders...my personal favorite).

I got an amazing reference from a Psych. NP that I worked with at McLean and its the only reference I read, but if the other two are half as nice it should serve me well. I feel pretty confident about my essay given that I had so much to write about from my work experiences...and I think I was able to make it interesting considering the drama that goes on regularly in psych. I don't know if you know any of the psych. people, but any thoughts on whether I have a good chance or not? I've been so intimidated applying to these programs hoping that I'm not beat by Harvard grad.s with 4.0's and a slew of worldly tales to tell. Thanks so much, you have been so helpful! ~Alexandria