UPenn BSN/MSN -- Questions and Answers

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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Hello Everyone,

Lets post questions here in an effort to help us and help others. The UPenn students who are/were in the BSN/MSN program are kindly asked to help us get a better sense of what we are getting into. ^_^

Thus far I came up with this set of questions. Feel free to post yours.

1) How likely is that once you are accepted to BSN you are also accepted to MSN? The online letter reads something like this:

"Dear ...,

Congratulations on your admission to the Bachelor of Science Program in Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania for 2007.

The Graduate Division of the School of Nursing will contact you directly regarding a decision on your application to the MSN Program."

2) How do you like the program? From reading other threads it seems that the first year of any accelerated BSN program is very very intense and many people give up. How stressful is it? What is the surviving rate?

3) How is the typical week of the program, especially in the beginning? (how many days in the classroom/lab, how many days in the hospital doing clinical)

4) How are the classes? Do we have exams (multiple choice, short answers, etc) papers, etc, etc.. you know, schoolwise.

5) Do you know anyone who has a nurse student blog which we can read?

6) How is driving in the snow? Do we need a car to go to clinicals?

Can we carpool?

Thank you much!

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Was anyone placed on the waitlist? And if so did they give you more information about it than just to contact the office and let them know if you want to be kept on it or not?

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hi purplebee

have you decided to attend Penn already? :) i applied and got accepted to the PNP speciality but am still waiting to hear back from Columbia before I make my decision. how about you?

anyone else out there that is thinking of attending Penn for the BSN/MSN program?

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hi Joey86,

I still haven't heard anything from the UPenn Graduate Division, but I wanted to do some homework and get more info about the program in case I DO get into MSN as well. ^_^ It seems quite hard to collect more info, so I am glad I began the search earlier.

Good luck!

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Hey everyone!

Finally, a Penn thread! Has anyone visited the campus and done a tour with the School of Nursing? Is there a tentative Open House date for the Accelerated BSN/MSN program? I want to come visit, but live in California so I'm a little hesitant on spending $200-300 for airfare. Anyone in the same boat? When do we have to let Penn know we're attending? I'm waiting to hear from Yale, but Penn is #3 and the program seems to be more appealing to me.

BTW, I only heard from graduate division on Friday so maybe it depends on the specialty and others might take longer to contact applicants. Congratulations everyone :)

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I dont think there was a date specified for an open house, maybe they'll let us know later :) As for visiting Penn, I went there last year for an open house, I loved it, the campus, the faculty, the students, everyone was so nice. I also think the PNP Masters program acceptance letter said we needed to let them know our decision by Feb. 29. I'm not sure about other specialities though because the Bachelors one said sometime in March..

What specialty did you apply for lisaa?

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apparently, they have an open house on february 9th, which is this saturday: http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/admissions/events/detail.asp?t=1&id=237 . filomena said that they won't have another event until may.

i applied to the women's health specialty. my master's letter said that i have to let them know by march 8th. i guess it depends on our specialties!

joey86, are you for sure attending penn? :)

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I applied and was accepted for the BSN program last year (I didn't apply for the MSN). I would have gone in a heartbeat if there was any possible way for me to afford it! Visit campus if you can...there's a lot of energy there between the city, the school, the students, and the faculty.

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Hey.

I am currently a PENN Nursing Student! I love it. I thought I'd take a minute and try to answer some of the questions.

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1) How likely is that once you are accepted to BSN you are also accepted to MSN? The online letter reads something like this:

"Dear ...,

Congratulations on your admission to the Bachelor of Science Program in Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania for 2007.

The Graduate Division of the School of Nursing will contact you directly regarding a decision on your application to the MSN Program."

I think most people get into the Masters as well. I have never heard of anyone getting into the BSN and not into the Masters. I think the BSN is the hardest part and the Grad part is a little less competitive. I'm not sure about that, just the impression I get.

2) How do you like the program? From reading other threads it seems that the first year of any accelerated BSN program is very very intense and many people give up. How stressful is it? What is the surviving rate?

I don't know anyone who gave up. Some people left for other opportunities, but everyone I started with is still in it. The program is really very good. It has its problems, like all other programs but it's really quite good. The summer part, I'm not going to lie, is a crash course and most people were unhappy with it. Essentially, they fit in all year of Sophmore nursing classes into 12 weeks. It's not fantastic, but it's over quick. Once the normal semester starts in fall you are in Junior level clinicals and my classes have been amazing.

It's stressful and kinda competitive. But as with most things, you find your place and it tends to work out really well. If you have a positive attitude about things you'll be better off. Some people can complain about anything. It's all about time management. My first semester I worked, but I wouldn't do that again. If you can at all, I recommend throwing yourself in 100% that is what we are here for.

3) How is the typical week of the program, especially in the beginning? (how many days in the classroom/lab, how many days in the hospital doing clinical)

The summer you start, I believe classes are M-TH 9-5. It's pretty unpleasant, but everyone does it and survives. Once fall starts, we are all on pretty much the same schedule. Clinical class meets M&W from 9-12 and then 6 hours of clinical on each Tues & Thurs. Most people take two other classes (Theory or research etc) and those are 3hours a week and most (maybe all) meet once week. Monday is my only "bad" day where I am in class from 9-7:30. But most other days are ok, and no class on Friday. :)

The summer is mostly lab with a couple of ???DAYS??? in clinical. but, in the normal clinical it is 2 days in the hospital, 2 days in class and lab is open 5 days a week and you schedule about 2 hours a week.

4) How are the classes? Do we have exams (multiple choice, short answers, etc) papers, etc, etc.. you know, schoolwise.

Every class is different, but most clinical classes do NCLEX style tests. Being multiple choice with 2 correct answers where you have to pick the "best" one. Most classes are a mix of several things. Two tests, a paper, clinical participation, oral presentations etc.

Personally, I think the classes are great. But, I'm a big nerd. I read before and am really invested in it. Many classes have experts come in to talk about most topics.... so a lot of the time it is NP's and Physicians from HUP talking about their speciatly. Obviously research and ethics and stuff is great too, but less guest lecturers.

5) Do you know anyone who has a nurse student blog which we can read?

I don't. But, I can keep you updated if you are interested in learning more. :) Just let me know.

6) How is driving in the snow? Do we need a car to go to clinicals?

Can we carpool?

Honestly, it's not that bad. It has snowed 2x this winter. I don't drive though... I just take public transportation and i is 100% fine. They say you need a car, but no one I know has one. All clinicals so far have been in the Univ. of Penn health system. Either next door to the nursing school or up the street at Presbyterian or downtown at PA Hospital.

I guess that's it. Let me know if you guys have any other questions.

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hello people,

it is possible to get accepted to bsn and not msn. i found out this a few weeks ago. i was very disappointed when i received the msn rejection letter .. it also came very late: the letter was dated january 31 and the date on the postmarked envelope was february 11. however, for people who are in this situation, they have the option to go to upenn for bsn and apply to msn after their first semester. there is a 90% acceptance rate. this year upenn had 10 students and all were accepted, last year there were about 8 students and 1 was not accepted. if a bsn second degree student sub matriculates into the msn before completed the bsn the plan of study will be the same as if they were an admitted bsn/msn student.

i personally have decided to attend a school which gives me both bsn/msn: there is no guarantee that upenn will like me more after the first semester of bsn; plus, my specially is very, very competitive anyway: midwifery.

good luck to everyone

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Hi Purplebee-

I'm sorry! I didn't mean to lead you astray with the BSN/MSN thing. I hope your new place is great. Best of luck!

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