Direct Entry MSN Programs 2013

morganw1 · Jul 16, 2012

I wouldn't worry too much about the GRE unless you don't have a great GPA. Like for instance I am going to do the best I can on that because I need it to show that I can succeed at the graduate level. I played a sport during college and didn't really care about anything but that so i'm at a B- for GPA and in the lower section of it. I'm not that worried about it because I can't go back and change it, if anything i'd go back and add on Spanish as an associates. Which is my plan B if i do get rejected everywhere, i'll spend time saving and working on what I can. GRE is just another way of allowing others to compete too, that may have been out of school awhile or didn't do as well in school. Obviously if you do great at everything required it's an even better chance. I wouldn't worry! as far as UCSF you never know, they have a great program. I am applying to the south as well and I'm not from there at all. Duke's repayment program is the best out there, it's a great way to not be in debt and If I got in that's something I would also be doing. That's great to know about the chemistry! I will keep that in my mind.

I'm taking the GRE in October and I will be nervous and praying that everything goes the way it should.

hopefulnurse24 · Jul 16, 2012

I'm sure you'll do great on the GRE! I used the Kaplan book the first time around to study, but this time, I am finding that the Barrons book is the most helpful for GRE prep. I have also heard that the vocabulary flashcards are extremely helpful, and the PowerPrep software available on the ETS website (you must have a Windows computer to use the software, though!). I worry about my GRE scores for Penn because I know it is ranked number 1, and they like to see high scores (well above 1000, or 153 on verbal and 144 on quantitative for the new test). My GPA and volunteer/health care experience are both great, but my GRE score may not be. So we will see! Duke, Marquette, Northeastern, and Johns Hopkins are all GRE optional, so here's hoping!

UCSF does have a great program, but it is so competitive to gain admission. And since it is located extremely far away, it just didn't make my final list, but I agree that it is awesome!

I just found out UAB has a direct entry MSN program also, if anyone is interested. They have a wide array of specialties to choose from!

Britmum · Jul 17, 2012

MCG is the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. I think they are renamed now as GHSU, Georgia Health Sciences University.Thanks guys, standardized testing just freaks me out! I feel like no matter how much I study I'm never fully prepared. It's the math part of the GRE that has me most concerned! Plus who the heck wants to sit there for 4 hours....that's crazy!!

kdiem · Jul 17, 2012

Hey hopefulnurse24 and morganw1,

I'm trying to have hopeful thoughts and write a stellar personal statement because my GRE and GPA are not competitive. I do have an emergency physician writing a letter of rec (I work with him as a medical scribe), nurse-midwife (my mentor and person I've shadowed in birthing centers and women's health clinics) plus two graduate instructors to write my academic letters. I'm hoping that most schools will look at my application holistically, if not, I won't stand a chance for those schools that highly emphasize GRE and GPA's. My top choice are actually Oregon Health Science University (since it's midwifery program is #1 and it's the closest school to northern California where I'm from), UPenn (I know it's a long shot since I'm not well-rounded in all categories...) and probably UIC since I have family there. And yeah, my general chem and general bio grades aren't so good =\ Sciences at my university was very very competitive (darn those pre-med students!) My best friend who is in the Pediatrics NP program at Johns Hopkins says that every direct-entry masters applicant that meets their requirements will be offered an interview, so I'm looking forward to that!

UCSF used to be my top choice, until they took out the nurse-midwifery specialty just THIS year

Anyway, I wish you both luck with the application process! Columbia's application is now open too!

Morganw1: what undergraduate university are you attending?

kdiem · Jul 17, 2012

Also, how is everyone planning to pay for these ridiculously expensive programs? I haven't looked into financial aid yet but I was lucky to have financial aid cover all of my undergraduate tuition (my family does not make a lot of money). I know I'll need to apply for loans, but I'm wondering if there are a lot of grants/scholarships given for these graduate programs. I'm just applying with the mindset, I'll basically be in debt for a while...

hopefulnurse24 · Jul 17, 2012

kdiem - I wouldn't worry about general chem and general bio grades too much! I think they really like to see high grades in those microbiology, anatomy and physiology classes, since that is going to be most similar to nursing school! Of course, they'd love to see high grades in all of your classes, but I wouldn't stress too much about it! Have you considered looking into Marquette? It's in Milwaukee, Wisconsin which isn't too far from Chicago, and its supposed to be a great program, and I know the clinical rotations are supposed to be good since there's a lot of hospitals up there! Also, as long as you have above a 3.2 cumulative GPA, they will waive the GRE requirement! Your work experience and shadowing sound like they will be very helpful to you in the admissions process since they are so relevant to nursing (and your chosen specialty!), and will make you stand out from other applicants, so I would continue to stay positive!

That's awesome your best friend is in the PNP program at JHU! And it is very good to know that they offer everyone an interview! How many do they take for their program? I am applying there because they don't require the GRE, but I am a bit concerned since they don't offer pediatric critical care - could you maybe ask her about this? I'm curious if there are any post-master certificate opportunities to get certified in pediatric critical care.

I plan on paying for these programs with LOANS! Every program is different when it comes to offering scholarships and aid, but Duke is my first choice merely for the reason that they have an excellent loan repayment program where they will repay your loan for the BSN portion of the program while you work for Duke Hospital for at least 3 years (in addition to receiving a salary). You can work while you are working on your MSN, also! UNC-Chapel Hill's hospital also has a similar program, and is right around the corner from Duke. Duke isn't a direct entry MSN, but you have the option to apply early to their MSN program as an ABSN student. I know Columbia offers around 96% of their students a scholarship that covers around $30,000 (if I'm not mistaken...) but the overall cost of the program per YEAR is $100,000, from what I've read in old posts. JHU has a program where they offer scholarships, but its a very small group of people and I think you have to be a minority.

Good luck to you also, kdiem! I hope we can keep this thread going throughout the year so we can keep each other updated on the application process. I know it'll be a stressful time, and it'll be nice to have people to talk to who understand and are going through the same thing.

kdiem · Jul 18, 2012

Hi Hopefulnurse24,

I've never heard of Marquette University until I joined this forum! I just checked out their website and although they are not ranked as high as the other schools I'm applying too, their stats aren't bad at all. And it's only ~1.5 hours away from Chicago which is awesome! My boyfriend is also applying to medical school right now, so we're both trying to apply to as many schools as possible to avoid long distance I am going to add Marquette to my list now. One thing I found odd was that they state their applicant pool ranges from 100-200 and ~55 students are accepted yearly... that's a really good chance for people to get in then!

My friend from Hopkins says they don't have a critical care specialty, but she's sure you can specialize quickly elsewhere. The program there is also top notch. I'm hoping they do give interviews to all qualified master's applicants.

I'm also applying to Duke as a "back up" (though I don't think I really have any back ups...) I wish they had a midwifery specialty there though! I like their ABSN program a lot though.

Thank you for all the encouraging words! I'm working full-time right now, so all of my time is spent either at work or going crazy over nursing applications. It's indeed a stressful time. But we all must hang in there to make our nursing dreams come true. Good luck hopefulnurse24!

hopefulnurse24 · Jul 18, 2012

Marquette is ranked #44, which is pretty good! And yes, that means that there is a really good chance for people to get in to Marquette since they take so many people!

I'm grateful for the information about JHU. What were your friend's stats when she applied?

I think I am getting most nervous about the essays that I need to write...

morganw1 · Jul 19, 2012

Kdiem,

I am right there with you on GPA, only my prerequisites are good. You have very good people to write you a LOR. I wouldn't worry about that part. Are you retaking the GRE? and hey...you never know. I am sure there are people that get accepeted to programs that say the emphasis this or that and don't necessarily qualify. I think it's about experience, your motivation, and your passion! grades aren't everything and if they don't look at your APP this time around you can always ask and see what to add.

GPA they know we can't change once we've graduated, you can only add on classes post-graduation that they still look at. I always tell myself there's hope and that someone out there may like my application on what I have done. Personal Statements are the best thing really, they tell admissions who you are. Just go for it! I've stopped worrying a long time ago, rejection is always out there in everything. The worst they say is no and you try again. :) When i was interested in Midwifery, UCSF was a top choice for me. Same with UIC, but i'm going with schools I "think" I will have the best chance but I don't know for sure lol. I just walked from California State University, Fullerton. And yes, I do know they have excellent nursing( everyone tell me this) or they ask...Why aren't you applying to Fullerton? BTW, they have a great Midwife program they offer an Entry-Level Masters and Entry-Level BSN. You have to take the HESI now last I heard.

For those of you thinking about applying there my only major cons are, I spent five years here. I didn't think it was worth the time or money to be some place I have already been. Tuition steadily increases every year and that's including the master's program. Secondly, there's no graduate housing and they use a Point System to judge their applicants at least for the BSN. Pro's: its still "State School Tuition" which is enormously cheaper than privates and some UC's. its Southern California always a plus. It's a small campus and teachers want to know your name and who you are, I would imagine its exactly the same for the nursing program. I get a feeling of them being strict though, I don't think it's holistic.

morganw1 · Jul 19, 2012

I'm planning to pay through scholarship and loans. Cost is always an issue but it's not like undergrad to me. It's worth the money wherever you get in because at the end of the day you have a career you always wanted.

kdiem · Jul 20, 2012

Hey Morganw1 and Hopefulnurse24,

I'm not 100% sure about my friend's stats but I think her undergraduate GPA was 3.2 (Berkeley's science courses are hell!), prerequisite GPA was probably >3.8 I think she got A's in all of the classes except human physiology. Her GREs was somewhere around 780 for Math, 470 for Verbal and 5.0 for Writing. She volunteered 3 years at Children's Hospital, worked as a math/reading tutor for children and also as an instructor for kindergarteners. She didn't have any research though. But she also shadowed some nurse practitioners. Her GPA, GRE and prereqs are definitely better than mine, but we are interested in different specialties so I can't compare our volunteering/working experiences. She says the JHU program is pretty intense and rigorous if you choose the summer entry vs. the fall entry.

I came across Fullerton's program too. But I don't like how they assign points to your GPA, prereqs, extracurriculars in order to give you an interview. I don't even think they have a personal statement. Which means I probably wouldn't have a good chance if they don't look at my application holistically. So as much as I want to stay in California, I'm not going to apply here, plus they require that test now!

As for Marquette, my friend knows a nursing student there that said Marquette is an okay school and it's better to spend your money on another program. I also asked around about the city of Milwaukee and it's becoming unappealing... but it's still on my list for now. Another thing is that the program only gives you and RN and not an actual BSN degree.

The personal statement writing process is so crazy. Yale has the worse statement thus far. But that's why I'm trying to start early :)

hopefulnurse24 · Jul 20, 2012

Hello! So I really wouldn't stress about the GRE. The GRE is no longer required for JHU - it isn't on their website anymore, so I emailed to inquire, and they said it was no longer required. I'm so glad that some schools are no longer requiring it! I am working on shadowing a NP relatively soon. I already emailed one about shadowing! I wonder why summer entry is more intense than fall entry? You would think that summer entry would mean that you had a little bit more time to get things completed!

That's interesting about the Marquette program. I guess I will have to think about that one if accepted, then, especially because of the whole RN degree and no BSN degree.

I actually wrote a personal statement today. I found that a few of the schools I am applying to have very similar prompts, so I wrote one today... and I will tailor it to specific schools, or completely rewrite as needed! Duke is completely different from any school in that you write 3 very short essays (250 words) answering very specific questions, so of course, that school will require a completely different essay.