Yale GEPN vs. UPenn BSN/MSN -- thoughts?

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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Hi everyone,

I'm wondering if anyone out there has some advise on this decision that I'm making. I've been accepted to both programs in the FNP specialty. I am interested in focusing on providing primary health services in low-income and immigrant communities and would like to go to a school where I will find mentors in this arena. I am also interested in alternative medicine.

I've heard that both schools have a heavy emphasis on research and kind of "academicize" (I think I made that word up) nursing in a way that concerns me. I know about the basic differences between the schools -- the BSN and tuition reimbursement opportunities at Penn, the slightly older cohort at Yale...etc, but I'd love to hear any thoughts on making this decision!

Thanks so much,

Tanya

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Hi Tanya! I was trying to choose between UPenn & Yale as well, and I ended up choosing UPenn! I know that UPenn offers a Complementary & Alternative Medicine course for the Women's Health speciality, but it might also be available as an elective for other specialties. There was a thread last year re: "Yale or Penn FNP", which you can probably search (there were some good responses).

I made my decision to go to Penn for various reasons. Financially, Yale offered me more money than Penn, so it was a difficult choice for me. Ultimately, after visiting the graduate open house last weekend, I definitely felt that Penn's program was the right one for me (the atmosphere, the current students were extremely nice & helpful, the campus is amazing). Frankly, I had an awful time when I was visiting Yale for my interview. My interviewer rushed me and did not give me a chance to ask any questions - I didn't want to be taking my majority of classes with her. Also, I think the BSN that Penn offers will go a long way - if I decide that I want to work in between the programs, I have a chance to make some money & gain some experience (we have up to 5 years to finish our MSN program). I had a chance to explore Philadelphia, and it was pretty fun! Also, we're not required to have cars during the BSN portion of the program (varies with the MSN). The faculty in my specialty (Women's Health) were extremely friendly and seemed very concerned about the students' welfare. I can definitely go on forever rambling, but yeah - good luck on your decision!

:nuke:

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if you're looking to serve the immigrant population, then UPenn is your place to be! i'm currently a FNP student at UPenn and they did a great job placing me in a clinical rotation where i serve heavy immigrant populations! You will love it here. :)

New Haven, from what I know, isn't culturally diversed.

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Hi Tanya - congrats on getting into both programs! As a YSN student finishing up their program right now, I have to say that actually, New Haven is exceptionally diverse. Much of CT is NOT, but New Haven - and actually, most of the urban areas in CT - are pretty significantly economically depressed and have Caucasian minority populations. As a student, I've had clinical rotations in community health - with very economically disadvantaged populations - and in the local jail. And if you have an interest specifically in working with immigrant populations, there are many clinical sites located in immigrant-dense communities, including one fabulous community health center right here in the Fair Haven neighborhood of New Haven. So...if you're looking for diversity in your clinical sites, you'll definitely get that here, particularly if you ask for it (and are persistent! as with anything at YSN). Now, as far as I know there may be other issues with the FNP program here (though I probably shouldn't speak to it, since I'm in another track) but lack of patient diversity should not be one of them. Good luck with wherever you end up - it sounds like both locations should definitely be able to provide what you're looking for!!

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Don't go to Yale; your initial impressions of BlueJune's interview visit are very indicative of things to come - generally speaking of course.

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Specializes in SRNA.

AK....As you seem to be posting brief statements of your opinion of Yale you may want to expand on your reasons. Statements such as "Don't go to Yale," don't do much for anyone looking for a valid argument. If you have relevant information to include I would highly suggest you add it to your posts, as that is the intended purpose of the threads and accompanying discussion.

In regards to sending private emails or Instant Messages I would search the FAQ in the yellow upper toolbar for procedural information.

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I did figure out the "procedure" after I had posted a few times; I apologize for my inadequacy.

If anyone wants to ask me questions on a personal level, I will be glad to answer them or point you in some direction. Yale University is over 300 years old and entrenched in doing things "the way they've always been done" contrary to all the movement towards evidence-based behavior. Some of that tradition is awesome, much of it needs rennovated. Regardless, it is an intimidating foe - this close to just finishing last May. I'm sure as time goes on I will be more open with my experience; I intend to be anyway. There is an air towards the necessity of keeping your mouth shut, and most were fearful of speaking out in such a closed/small environment. Of the 80 or so graduates that did finish, I can say I have had personal discussions with probably 50% of them about their dissatisfaction with the personal experience they had there.....but many would still deny that unless they really knew you. It IS tough to speak out when there are only three full time professors in your specialty area.

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