Yale GEPN Applicants 2013

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dmilstein

5 Posts

Interviews are officially finished today, but in case someone is looking on this thread to apply for next year:

Today's orientation was divided into several 1-hour sessions: The GEPN program director gave a hilarious and informative overview of the first year program and how it differs from other graduate entry programs. We were then divided into smaller rooms with other candidates applying in our areas of specialization, and the director (or a professor) of that specialization summarized the specialization courses and answered any questions we might have in our field--I found this session helpful, because it gave me some ideas to discuss during the personal interviews held later in the afternoon. We then went back to the commons room for an overview of life at Yale and the new West campus location, returned to our specialization rooms to share lunch with fellow applicants and other professors in the field, and then to move on to one-on-one interviews. A current GEPN student (at least one) will sit with you during lunch hour, so you may want to prepare some questions about the program and student life for him/her.

I applied to the Psych-NP program and felt both relieved and perplexed by my interview: Coming from an academic background and going through tenure-track interviews, I had prepared answers that were much too detailed; where I expected a rigorous assessment, the interview was more like a casual dialogue. Some of the questions included: Why this career path? What experiences have you had in this field? Why Yale? Many of the interviewer's remarks were based on personal experiences I had mentioned in my application letter, and she seemed genuinely fascinated. But then, perhaps because of my qualifications, I was asked how I would handle working with bad professors or preceptors, which was a bit disconcerting and left me flabbergasted for the remainder of our chat. I was also asked how I would handle hard science courses with a background in the Humanities, which I couldn't answer with any objective proof. It was clear that the interviewer had read through my materials and simply wanted to determine skills, motives for attending Yale and earning an NP degree, and to make sure I was intellectually and emotionally capable of handling the program.

For reference, we received these numbers:

500 people applied to the GEPN program, and only 200 were called to interview

31 people applied to the Psych-NP track, and 15-16 will be admitted

My interviewer liked my skills and said I was a good candidate, but also hinted that one year of science courses might be in order before I reapply to this program and other schools. So, I don't know if I will be accepted, but I appreciated her candid approach, her constructive feedback, and her willingness to help me prepare to succeed in this field whether I am accepted to the program or not.

If you got an interview, you already accomplished something phenomenal! In the Psych-NP group, I seemed to be the only applicant who did not hold a Bachelor's in Psychology, although I was also the only candidate applying with a doctorate and book publications. Everyone applying was actively involved, whether through employment or volunteer work, in a mental health services capacity.

The faculty are supportive, charming and devoted to making your orientation day both helpful and enjoyable. The 30 minute interview goes by very quickly, but they do encourage you to email them with any questions or reflections afterward. Try to be relaxed and not to over-prepare--think of it as a conversation rather than as a traditional job interview, and you will be fine!

Good luck to everyone applying next year, and congratulations to all of us who went through the interview process the past two weeks - I know we will end up exactly where we should be, whether it is Yale or another school!

So it was my understanding that we will hear back from admissions mid-February, right? That's what I was told by S.E. in admissions on interview day.

dmilstein

5 Posts

I think MP said we would be notified on March 1st so that the letter would be accompanied by a financial aid offer.

Yep. You were right. This puts me in such an awkward situation. I just got accepted into UCSF (Yippee) however, they want a response by Feb 21st at midnight. I won't hear back from Yale until March 1st.... I'd rather go to Yale than UCSF....

what to do...

Great situation to be in, I know. But still. How do I handle this?

dn26

14 Posts

Congratulations feminista!!! It's a hard choice between UCSF and Yale, I feel you... One strategy which might work is that accept the offer from UCSF (pay the deposit if they have one) and then wait to see what happens with Yale. If you get into Yale, you could accept Yale's offer and write to UCSF and let them know you won't be accepting their offer, and if you don't get into Yale, UCSF it is. Hope this helps, and good luck!

Thanks, @dn26. But I feel like if I do that, I might screw someone else out of the opportunity to get a spot at UCSF in time. I think I'm going to email both the schools and be candid and just see what they say. Perhaps if UCSF has enough admitted applicants who are in the same situation, they'll be willing to wait another 11 days. We'll see...

dmilstein

5 Posts

Congrats!!!MP did also say that in cases like yours they might be able to release the acceptance news early but not necessarily the financial aid info. So it's worth calling her!Good luck!

Congrats!!!MP did also say that in cases like yours they might be able to release the acceptance news early but not necessarily the financial aid info. So it's worth calling her!Good luck!

dmilstein, you were right! I was so relieved to read that email she sent today! pheww.

kge9234

6 Posts

Hey! did MP say around when to call regarding the release of (early) acceptance news? I'm in a similar boat, so I'd love to know early if possible!

Great post!

You summed up the day very well!

I was also interviewed on 2/1.

I am not a fan of waiting, so 3/1 seems a bit far away, in all honesty.

I tend to wonder if each interviewer highlights the strengths and weaknesses in each person's specific application packet. Where you had weakness in not having hard science classes, I had weakness in not enough out-patient work - I have a reasonable amount of inpatient but very little outpatient.

My understanding from my interviewer was that the professor interviews a certain number of candidates...I believe mine was interviewing 10. Then she ranks her interviewees and then "defends" her ranking to her peers. I believe the final decision is made my committee, and she inferred that it is almost an antagonistic process where the specific profs "fight" for their favorites (I doubt there is any true antogonism since the professors all seem extremely respectful of each other, but that was the way it was described to me).

Honestly, the group of peers was pretty impressive.

I was far more confident BEFORE meeting my fellow applicants than I was AFTER I met them. ;)

I thought your statement above ("So, I don't know if I will be accepted, but I appreciated her candid approach, her constructive feedback, and her willingness to help me prepare to succeed in this field whether I am accepted to the program or not.") was very insightful and balanced.

Best of luck!!

CNM hopeful here. Interviewed on 1/31. Well it sure is agony to wait. I suppose it will only get worse as the month drags on. It is very exciting not knowing what will happen, but it is so hard to wait! Does anyone else feel like a young lovestuck teen with a huge huge crush? Waiting for a word? Day dreaming all the time about your Yale program of choice? Google-ing things about the school and the program incesssantly because it is so pleasing to fantasize about being there? For me, the acceptance letter won't be enough, I am anxiously awaiting to see if I can qualify for loans and such to obtain adequate financing! The financial aid to me is making me nervous and anticipatory. It's like, maybe I will get asked out by Yale, but I can't actually date it until I can afford it !

Hey! did MP say around when to call regarding the release of (early) acceptance news? I'm in a similar boat, so I'd love to know early if possible!

I've been in contact with her this week regarding this issue. She is very sympathetic and had originally planned on trying to get decisions to people in our situation as soon as possible, but the storm and snow days this week threw off the schedule. She said she is pretty confident they will still meet the March 1 deadline, but not before that.

On the bright side, if your other school is UCSF, call them. Trust me.

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