Should I go to Yale's CNM program?

RadBSN · Mar 23, 2011

My first instinct is: OMG GO!

However, Yale is expensive and who knows what the economy or job market will be like in 2 years. Having a maternal child health job will definitely benefit you in CNM school. Will your current position pay for grad school after you've been there a year? I know Yale won't defer (at least they wouldn't for me 3 years ago). If you got into one school it means you're probably a good candidate for grad school in general, so I wouldn't be too concerned about getting in again.

PamCNM2Be · Mar 24, 2011

Have you figured out if you can defer your admission? This could be possible, and it seems like it may be the best of both worlds. I'm starting Yale's GEPN CNM program this fall and am incredibly excited, and yet it seems like you have a great work opportunity in front of you too.

RadBSN · Mar 25, 2011

Have you figured out if you can defer your admission? This could be possible, and it seems like it may be the best of both worlds. I'm starting Yale's GEPN CNM program this fall and am incredibly excited, and yet it seems like you have a great work opportunity in front of you too.

When I got into Yale the Admissions Director said that they didn't allow people to defer, that I would have to reapply, but didn't have to submit a new application...I decided not to go and now I'm a nurse on a Medicine unit hoping to start CNM school next year.

danceluver · Sep 4, 2011

@PamCNM2Be

How are you liking the GEPN program and the CNM program? by any chance, does their program offer a dual degree option in the specialty years?

PamCNM2Be · Sep 4, 2011

Well, we only started last week and clincals begin in a week, so I can't speak too much to it, but so far I absolutely love it. The faculty are absolutely amazing, and the community of students is supportive, accomplished, and and great. I'm not sure what you mean by dual degree. There is a cross over mph/msn if that's what you mean, and also a dual degree program with the school of divinity I believe. If you mean cross-specialties, then it depends on the specialty. They've been talking awhile about a dual WHNP/CNM but it's not in place yet. There is the possibility to stay an additional semester and do both though, I think. As for the midwifery program here, again, I'm just starting my GEPN year, so wont begin my midwifey specialty years until next fall, but the current midwife students love the program, and feel they're greeting a great education. From their experiences I absolutely am ecstatic to begin my specialty training next year. :)

danceluver · Sep 4, 2011

@pamcnm2be.

Glad to hear it. What i mean by dual speciality---can you get cnm/fnp (preferred) or cnm/whnp at yale? Would I just do a post-masters? The only thing i hear is that with post masters there is no financial aid, so i am looking into being able to mix it into one masters 'degree'. Do they stress having labor and delivery experience before beginning the clinical portion of the program? Do you think its necessary? Have they told you where you could possibly be doing rotations during your 2nd year? Really appreciate the feedback!

myelin · Sep 4, 2011

I would absolutely go, no questions asked. If your ultimate goal is to be a midwife, why wait to get there? I've known too many people who have put off furthering their education only to get mired by other aspects of their life and they end up never reaching their goal. Plus, given how crazy competitive things have gotten, just because you got in this year doesn't necessarily mean you'll get in next time around, unfortunately. :-/

Good luck making your decision!

PamCNM2Be · Sep 4, 2011

Hey Dancingnurse,

No, there is no formal dual specialty program, like you mentioned, but I do believe you can hold off and do the additional coursework and clinical work before graduating with your masters so it's not technically a postmasters to do both. (thereby still getting financial aid). As for rotations, they give awesome opportunities, around the entire CT area, in a variety of settings. Unfortunately I don't know the specifics of where placements are though. As far as stressing labor and delivery, I'm not sure. Almost all of the people that go into the program are not nurses, they're graduate entry students with no nursing experience. They may have birthing experience, but certainly no formal nursing on L&D. Thats for the 3 year program (1st year RN training, 2nd and 3rd specialty training). If you're already an RN, only one student got in (or at least only one accepted) as an RN going into the 2 year masters program for midwifery this year. She specifically is awesome and has cool experiences but hasn't ever worked on an L&D floor outside of her rotation as a student. Therefore, essentially they want to know why you want to be a midwife but don't necessarily stress having formal experience. I don't think it's required. I could give you more accurate info if I knew whether you'd be coming in as a GEPN or RN. :)

danceluver · Sep 5, 2011

That is the major question for me right now. I am deciding between going into an ABSN program or applying to direct entry programs like GEPN at Yale. Going to an ABSN program will save me a ton of money, which then I am more than willing to spend on financing my MSN (which to me is way more important). I am leaning towards more so following the absn route and then immediately jumping into an MSN program once i finish an ABSN program. But if financial aid works well for me, doing a direct entry will save me the hassle of applying again. I will be applying to both types of program but it depends on where I get in and how much it will cost me to get a bsn/rn license. If I end up going the MSN route only, that's where my fears/concerns arise with the lack of experience and not being competitive enough for that reason. I think i'll have strong grades and letters, but its the experience. I am still young and want to finish my education as efficiently as possible, so I can eventually settle down get a job in one place and raise a family and not have to worry about juggling everything at an inopportune time in my life. Truly, thanks for the help!

ea102 · Sep 5, 2011

dancingnurses13- you sent me a personal message about emory- but i dont have the ability to send those yet. what information are you looking for. i did the absn-msn program in FNM. i just started the masters portion. you just apply once for both programs. i am enjoying the program so far. the clinical sites have been amazing, some classes were not as great- but of course that all depends on the professor. financial aid has been a problem for some. emory is costly and they financial aid is not the best. many people get some financial aid then look for loans, scholarships, grants, etc. it is a little hectic because you dont get summers off with the Absn program. its straight through for 15 months. Emory does have a segue program that is the BSN in 2 years and you do get summers off. we also only had 2.5 weeks between the BSN and MSN portion. some of the specialties (FNM and others) start then clinicals in october so you have take and pas the NCLEX before then. many of us took it within the 2 weeks vacation or first week of school. so be prepared to not have a lot of time off!

so far the masters portion has been fantastic. the professors in the FNM program are experts in their field and try to work with you if you want a certain placement for a clinical site. you do not have to choose your clinical site, there is a coordinator that does that for you. but if there is a group that you wish to work with they will try to get a contract with them so you can.

i hope this helps. please let me know if you have any other questions.

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2011

I'd say no. I'd never encourage anyone to attend a school like Yale. Names like that equal "expensive." I don't think college is worth that cost personally. Old State U., on the other hand, is a good investment.