Columbia University ETP 2008

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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So where are the potential 2008 Columbia ETPers at? I think a handful of regulars around here have Columbia on their list of apps, so heres a thread to get us through until notifications in Spring 2008. If you'd like, reply here and let us know which specialty you are trying for! I just submitted my app online for Acute Care...Good luck everyone! ;)

Wow...it seems like a lot of us are going to be recent graduates from our undergrad schools. I graduate on May 14th! It will be a crazy 2 weeks:)

Craig,

So you decided to just go ahead and take the offer from Columbia?

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Specializes in Psychiatric/Mental Health.

I'm graduating May 2nd, there seem to be a lo t of us coming straight from our undergrad! I got Judy's email as well, but am wondering whether they will send the info. packet to my parent's in PA or to me in Boston...they sent my acceptance to PA so that's what I'm guessing. It's really a pain coaching my family to fill things out for me from here. I still haven't signed all of the financial paperwork...meh.

I was thinking the other day though and realized something. Even if ended up with $12ok of debt and paid it back in 10 years at $12k/year (as though I made that much less per year) it would still be at least three times more than I would've made with a different degree at half the time. Simple, but I never thought of it in those terms, and it made me feel better so I thought I'd share.

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When I asked Judy, she said the information would be sent to our mailing address not the permanent. Wish they would have done that with the acceptance letter :bugeyes:

I'll be graduating May 17th and heading to NYC!!

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Reading this thread is so funny now! I'm finishing the ETP portion this May, and I'm on the FNP track. I totally remember all your anxieties and how nervous I was! Believe me, it all works out. And, if you've read any of my previous posts, I don't regret my decision at all.

I just wanted to post part of a response I wrote to one of your future classmates that will fill you in on classes and workload, because I know I was super worried about that stuff last year (aside from housing...the major debacle).

During the summer, you will basically be in class 6-8 hours a day, 5 days a week. You have your lectures on Mon, Tues, and Fri. On Wed and Thurs, you're either in skills lab, where you learn technical skills and play with really expensive humanoid dummies, or you're at clinical. The summer is 10 weeks-ish, and I'll be honest, they call it boot camp for a reason. But it's doable. We all made it, but man, that break in August is a god-send! You pretty much will have an exam every 1-2 weeks, so time management is key. What got me through the summer is my study group. We literally studied almost every evening. Find yourself a good study group, stat! That support is crucial.

It gets easier in the fall when you start what's called your 5x5's. Basically, you have 5 rotations, each lasting 5 weeks. During those 5 weeks, you have two days of class in that specific subject, and two days of clinical in that area. For example, right now I'm in med/surg. On Mondays and Fridays I have med/surg lecture and on Wednesdays and Thursdays I'm at clinical on a med/surg floor. After these each of the 5 weeks are over, you move to your next rotation. The 5x5s consist of: Med/Surg, Psych, Community, OB, and Peds. You have 5x5s into the spring semester as well (We're all on our last rotation now! Woohoo!) In the fall you also take 2 other lecture based classes, and in the spring you only have one other class each week. It's pretty laid back by the time spring comes. At the end of your 5x5 rotations, you do what's called "integration" where you work one on one with a nurse and basically follow her/him around for 2 months or so working a regular nursing shift.

Pretty much all of your classes are multiple choice exam based. You have a couple of SOAP notes and care plans due for clinicals here and there, but there really aren't many papers (there are just too many of us for profs to read them all). In total, I've had to do 2 group papers, one major presentation, and two little presentations.

If you can, review Anatomy and Physiology as much as possible. I'm still looking things up all the time.

Oh, and get yourself a good NCLEX review book.

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Hey all,

Wow meagain that was really helpful, thanks so much! It's really nice to try and get a grip on this now that I've gotten myself into it lol.....PS to all the undergrads coming straight into this program, I'll be in that same boat with you....I graduate the day before we start! Talk about "seamless progression"!

Also, on the financial side of things.....nearly everyone I speak with, in the field and outside of it, thinks that the money is worth it. Sure, I've spoken to nurses who feel a license is a license and I'm sure that is true, to an extent. On the other hand, many more people seem to feel that Columbia is a real door opener, so to speak. And there really is something to be said for having the experience you want, and getting it in a timely fashion. The clinicals are at the top hospitals in the city.

Please agree with me so I can feel better about this massive amount of money and the 11K bachelors degree I am turning down from Downstate lolll

:):):)

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Oh, and one more thing about the midwifery/WHNP dual specialties.....I spoke with a CNM who said that she doesn't understand why they call it that - when you certify as a CNM, it is simply a fee and you are certified for women's health. Are we being duped or is there something I am missing?

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Specializes in L&D.

Micheleh,

Columbia adds an extra semester of classes and gives you a WHNP degree. I'm not clear about the extra fee to receive a WHNP license from the state of new york (mostly because I've heard what you have and haven't done the research). I know you can do that if you've gone to NYU but perhaps it's a difference in the program. If you find anything out definitive, please post.

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Just another thing to think about as far as the financial side of things go: Columbia is one of the shortest programs out there for what we'll be getting (about 2.5 years for BS, MS, RN, NP/CNS) so if you compare their 2.5 year program with a similar program that is 4 years, you have to remember that you have an extra 1.5 years to work and make money that someone going to that 'cheaper' 4 year program doesn't - which at nurses wages is pretty significant! Plus, if you are a student now or a professional not making as much as you will be as a nurse, if you keep living at the current financial level you are at, you can use all the increased income to pay off your student loans pronto! I'm a spreadsheet kind of person and I've compared Columbia to UCSF (which as a public school is much cheaper than Columbia but a longer program, esp if you do ACNP due to the step out year) and Columbia is - believe it or not - actually cheaper in the long run.

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The $500 deposit (which eventually will go towards the tuition in full) has to be made payable to: Columbia University School of Nursing.

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i got my housing/uniform/supply application package today! this is so overwhelming, anyone have any thoughts about which package you're planning to get? or on the uniforms for that matter? :)

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Hopefully we can find out something definitive on Visiting day regarding the whole WHNP thing - I'm sure they wouldn't have it if it was pointless, but I guess there are just those details we still need to find out. Any Midwifery ETPers a little nervous about entering the field due to the politics surrounding it? I am, but really am so drawn to it that I can't see myself doing anything else...maybe it will take a little more work to get a decent position but surely it will be worth it.

BTW- Everyone at my college with whom I have spoken to about this program has done nothing but encourage me to go here (people who have been in academia for some time now and advise students on health care careers). They think I'm crazy when I tell them I have had reservations because of the price - "With the money you'll make when you get out? PLEASE!" And you are right about the length of the program.....since we will be APN that much sooner, we will be able to start paying off the loans right away. Plus, student loans are not the worst thing in the world to have - tax deductable , right? Way better than credit card debt! lol

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i got my housing/uniform/supply application package today! this is so overwhelming, anyone have any thoughts about which package you're planning to get? or on the uniforms for that matter? :)

O boy, so did I....I am overwhelmed too, believe me...just last week I didn't think I would get into anything and here we are picking out uniforms!

Who knows about the supply package, but maybe it would be worth it to get the best one - what's $100 at this point, really? Or maybe we are being suckered in to buy the expensive one.....it seems like the only difference is the stethoscope? Maybe a good stethoscope would be a wise investment?

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