Direct Entry MSN Programs 2013

meep05 · Oct 18, 2012

I might be going to Boston in a few weeks and I would potentially have the opportunity to meet with an advisor at BC and MGH. Do you think meeting with one of the advisor gives your face to the name on the application and can help you out? Or do you think its not that big of a deal? I live in California and I am unable to go to any info session or anything for any school so this might be a good opportunity, but i dont know if its really worth the trip out there, since im traveling every weekend in nov.! What do you guys think?

hopefulnurse24 · Oct 18, 2012

I actually did not do early admission. I was considering it for awhile, which is why I completed my application so early, but I ended up not doing it because I wanted to be able to consider all of my options (I am hoping that I have some!). I used two academic recommendations, and a nurse who is a volunteer supervisor and mentor, so I guess that could kind of be considered an employer. I don't actually work right now... I was a part time nanny, but I actually am no longer doing that due to major time constraints this semester.

I really don't think that meeting face to face matters. They get so many applications that they probably wouldn't remember, to be quite honest, unless if you had something that would make you stand out significantly compared to other applicants that you mentioned when meeting face to face, that would also be on your resume or transcript or something - and I mean something major. If you're already going out there, then I'd go for it, because it would be a cool way to get more information and to visit different campuses, but I wouldn't make a special trip out there for it. :)

RVLy · Oct 18, 2012

Hey anaboo5!

I agree with hopefulnurse, it would be nice to visit the campuses at least. I met with an advisor at BC and MGH. I always think its nice to put a face to a name especailly when they don't give interviews. What other schools are you applying to? and what specialty? I'm doing acute care for most of my schools and then BC is FNP.

CONGRATS hopefulnurse! That's really exciting! GOOD luck!

the healer's art · Oct 18, 2012

Anything you can do to stand out (in a positive way) is good. Going in person and meeting people shows that you go to extra mile and are sincerely interested. I've called some of these schools several times and emailed them several times. Hopefully that's not super annoying... haha but at least they know who I am for sure! Wish I could afford to visit them all in person.

Congrats on your interview hopefulnurse!

meep05 · Oct 19, 2012

I just emailed Maureen to make an appt at BC but no one has gotten back to be about MGH. Do you think its MGH is less competitive than BC? Also how did you like BC and MGH? I am going for FNP at all of the schools. I work in the ICU right now and LOVE critical care but I just am so sick of working holidays and every other weekend, this year will be my 4th christmas wahhh. I also work in an ALS clinic and love the NP role in the clinic, maybe later on after I get experience as an FNP I would go back for a critical care np certificate. I applied to UCSF, UPenn, Columbia, BC.. and will be applying to MGH, Hopkins, Emory, Marquette. UIC and Thomas Jefferson in the winter/spring if I get in no where! How about you?????

kdiem · Oct 19, 2012

Hey Ana,

Your list of schools sounds very similar to mine, but I am applying for mid-wifery. Good luck with your application process!

Btw, I work in the emergency department as a medical scribe and I totally understand what you mean about working holidays, weekends, and night shifts. But I think this will give us an edge for the real world/medical field too. Adaptability and flexibility are always good traits :) If you don't mind me asking, what kind of work do you do in the ICU?

meep05 · Oct 19, 2012

Hey kdiem!

Good luck in your application process too! I like the way you think about adaptavility and flexibility I am a respiratory therapist, so I work in all areas of the hospital but mostly the CCU and CICU. I worked at Ohio State Med Center and I moved to California last year and now I work at UC San Diego. I really love patient care and research and there is just so much to know and do and change about healthcare. I just really want to get into a program! lol

meep05 · Oct 19, 2012

I am unsure if I am going to apply to Marquette now. They don't guarentee admission to your MSN choice and it looks like it takes 3 years for that part instead of 2 and they don't have a Family speciality. Also I took Statistics and the class ended in Dec. 2012 so I think I would have to take it again for it to count. Is anyone else applying to Marquette and now how picky they are about stuff ?

the healer's art · Oct 20, 2012

Yes MGH is less competitive than BC. MGH also makes their students take some classes online.

Marquette is really picky. I took Honors Stats in 2007 and they won't accept it either even though statistics doesn't really change that much. But it's okay I don't really want to live in Wisconsin anyway!

meep05 · Oct 20, 2012

Thats fine, I'll take some online classes!... I am sad to hear how picky they are!!!!! What schools are you applying to? How do you know whats less competitive than the next because all of them seem to have such low acceptance rates?

scwolf · Oct 21, 2012

Hi folks,

I am also applying to the direct entry MSNs but I'm jumping in a little late in the game. I applied to UCSF. I'm glad about that. Beyond that, I was going to just apply to BSN program in my area, but I'm realizing that the NP path really suits me best. Now I'm looking out of state as well. (I'm in the California, SF Bay area.)

I was scanning costs. Is it true the MGH costs over $100K for the direct entry NP program? Or am I calculating wrong? Are all NP programs so expensive. Yikes!

Thanks for any help or thoughts on this. And good luck to all of you.

hopefulnurse24 · Oct 21, 2012

Yes, I believe that it does cost that much to attend MGH. These programs are very expensive because the majority of them are at private schools. I know that UPenn costs even more than that, and I believe NYU and Columbia do as well.

I didn't know that Marquette was so picky about prerequisites either. However, I believe that even though it isn't guaranteed admission into your specialty, it's VERY likely that you will be placed into your specialty. I asked them when I was writing my essay if it was okay to write about my hopeful specialty, because of that little note in the FAQ, and they said absolutely and they like it when you know your specialty before applying (I didn't think that many people wouldn't know, so that was a "huh?!" moment for me), so I took that as chances were strong with regards to getting your first choice.