UVM MEPN 2012

U.S.A. Vermont

Published

I'm wondering if there are any other UVM MEPN applicants out there for fall 2012?

Hello to those that were accepted-

Congratulations!

I am in the current MEPN class (to be done first year this August). We, current MEPN's, want to let those accepted know that we will be having a "yard sale", which will include: wine colored scrubs (official MEPN color) with patches sewn on, various white shoes (including many danskos), and perhaps other items (although I think we'll be using everything else in our practitioner training coming up).

I just wanted to give you a heads up, as the months do go by fast and soon you'll be thinking about these details. We'll contact you more regarding details.

Enjoy the rest of winter and get ready for an intense program! :D

P.S. We created a Closed-Group for our class. It has been a really wonderful way to meet, stay connected and coordinate everything. We use it daily.

Specializes in Transplant & HPB Surgery, Heme/Onc, LTC.

Hi vtnfp! I think we chatted last year on this forum. I'm curious if there was anything you wish could have done leading up to August, and more specifically, advanced reading on any subjects? I'd love to hear more about your first semester experience.

Wine sounds like a decent color for scrubs. I wondered if we would have something different than the undergrad green.

Hey Crs249,

I didn't need to take any summer classes, but I still made sure to review my anatomy and physiology. Other than that, you could always start some pathophysiology reading, as there is so much information and that class is packed with no enough time to "get it all" in one semester. I also made sure to relax and get a lot of time outdoors and enjoy myself because I knew school would take over in the fall. It may seem simple, but doing that helped me stay balanced as I had zero time for outdoor activity once classes started (I also have a son, a husband and commute from 45 min away. Others who don't have kids and lived in town had a bit more time). Also, you only get about a 2 week break after fall semester, before you go into winter-intersession on med-surg and then start spring classes 1 or 2 days later. The learning curve is steep, but very satisfying as you see the pay off with all the time and energy you devote.

First semester is pretty intense as your are doing clinical 5 weeks after you start as well as taking patho and drug therapy that take a bit of time as well. This spring semester is much better as we all have more experience and get to be in the hospital in our chosen rotation (I am on cardiac floor). I'd say that most every one who chooses the MEPN track is the kind of person that enjoys a challenge and wants the rigor that an accelerated program brings, which is what helps get you through some of the tougher days.

Part of orientation will include a couple of us coming in to talk about more details and answer questions that you may have.

I hope this has helped.

Specializes in Transplant & HPB Surgery, Heme/Onc, LTC.

Thanks for the insight!!! Especially the part about taking some time to enjoy summer. I'm in the post-bacc/premed program at UVM right now and will be wrapping up in May. I'm looking forward to relaxing for a couple months before the craziness begins. Good luck with your spring term!

Hello and congratulations to those of you that have been accepted! I can only imagine how thrilled (excited, nervous, etc) you must be. I am still waiting to hear and, I must say, each day that passes makes me more anxious. Anyone else out there that still has not heard either way?

Thanks

@Freeland

I'm sorry that you're still waiting! That's the worst.

Those of us that were accepted were given until 2/17 to reply. Perhaps, at that point, once they have concrete answers the admissions office will send out notice to waitlisters?

Good luck!

I also wanted to send out an FYI to admitted MEPNs as they roll in:

We did start a Facebook page for the new class under the same title as this thread.

Connect with us there!

Thanks.

Specializes in Dialysis.

Hello everyone, I received a phone call from (MODERATOR EDIT OF NAME - PLEASE DO NOT POST NAMES ON THE PUBLIC BOARDS PER TOS) (person in charge of graduate admissions) this morning telling me that there is a space available. She also sent me an email telling me that I'm in the ANP track! I am to respond by 4/18. So for all those who are still waiting.. don't give up!

For those who are planning to go, I do have several questions for you, in particular to vtfnp, who is already in the MEPN program. I am interested in the school but am having a hard deciding if I should accept since information about the program is so sporifice. I'm coming from sunny California, so I'm a little skeptical of the cold weather. However, that's not really what is bothering me. I think I'll survive. I was reading some reviews on other websites on the school and they mostly say that the school is not very diverse ( with 85% of white, rich, and hipster people), large (professors do not pay attention to you as much as other schools), and is a party school . I feel that I am pretty open given how I come in contact with a diverse population of people from Cali, and money is not a big deal for me (since I'm hoping that once I have a job, I'll be able to pay everything back). I guess what I'm asking is if the program is worth it? Is it as prestigious as it sounds on their websites? I was accepted into University of San Diego and loved it when I came in for the interview. Its tuition is expensive as hell but the professors really made me feel welcome. And we had a chance to talk to the students there and they all say that professors are easily contacted outside of class if you need any help. Their simulation lab is top of the line and those who graduate most often always have a job since USD is so well-known in the area. however, the reason why I'm not going there is because it's not the program I wanted. USD's program is 21 months, but when I graduate I would just be a regular RN with a master's degree. If I want to do NP I would have to reapply for another 2 years.

I guess I'm just confused and still considering my choices. I would appreciate it if those who are planning to go could put in their insights. Thanks!

Specializes in Transplant & HPB Surgery, Heme/Onc, LTC.

Hi Chiflavored!

Congrats on your acceptance! I am currently a student at UVM in the post-bacc premed program, so I can tell you about my experience with the school in general. In the spirit of full disclosure, I will also tell you that I am a 46-year old career changer, so my perspective may be different than others. But here it is...

I can be cold here. But, a good winter coat, hat and gloves can combat that. You can take a shuttle across any major distance, and classes will be clustered on the medical campus, so you can minimize your outside time on those miserable days. The worst of it is November to March. I've already switched over to a hoodie and windbreaker.

Vermont in general is not very diverse, but the UVM student body is. I don't know the percentages, and the majority is certainly white. There will be no comparison to a more urban area such as Cali because VT itself only has 650,000 people. (About 40k in Burlington during the school year.) Burlington is a VERY diverse city, it's really unlike any other part of the state.

UVM is large, but it doesn't feel that way to me at all. I have had a mixture of classes, both large lecture-type science courses (150ish people) to small classes with less than 30 people. I find the professors to be very personable and easy to reach outside of class. Quick story... I took a large lecture hall Chem class last semester. Sat about 15 rows back. I was a B student, so I didn't stand out academically in either direction. I never had any personal interaction with the prof because I wasn't one to ask questions. I passed him on the sidewalk on my way to the final exam, and he called me by my first name. After our finals were complete, he handed us all pencils he had made up that said, "I survived Chem 23!" Having worked at a small private college for over 20 years, I expected to be pretty anonymous at UVM. It's not been that way at all. My understanding is that the MEPN program will allow us to be pretty tight knit as a group even though we may be in some larger classes.

UVM is very highly regarded for medical education, both in New England, and nationally. (I was a college administrator, so that is information I have from experience. Plus, UVM was a competitor for our students.) I've been in the sim labs for another class, and they are state of the art. The hospital is literally connected to the medical campus. It's a BEAUTIFUL campus.

As for the party school reputation, it's all in what YOU choose to make of it. That story has been around since I was a freshman in college back in the dinosaur age. Burlington is a college town with UVM, Champlain College, Burlington College, St. Michael's College and the Community College of Vermont all within a 10 mile radius. It's a busy city during the academic year. My biggest advice if you choose to go here is to think carefully about where you want to live. The apartments closest to campus attract college students who can be rowdy. Public transportation in great in Burlington and the buses are free with your UVM id. If you need peace and quiet, I would go to the outskirts of the city instead of living right within walking distance.

I'm also in the ANP track, and I'm really excited to have the chance to stay at UVM for my nursing education. If you have other questions, feel free to PM me and I will give you my email address. Also, one of the accepted students created a Facebook page called UVM MEPN 2012 - send a request to join, and you can meet the rest of the group. There are quite a few people coming from Cali and Washington, so you will be in good company!

Hi Chiflavored!

My understanding is that the MEPN program will allow us to be pretty tight knit as a group even though we may be in some larger classes...

Yes, you get very close to all those in your class. There are larger classes that you matriculate into during the first year (patho, drug therapy), but for the most part it's just you as a class (during NP year, matriculate in with other masters students). It is accelerated, so everything is condensed and intense. If you like that kind of learning, you will enjoy it. Yes we have a great sim lab, but honestly, we don't use it much as the program puts you straight into your rotation working with real patients by week 5. I picked this program knowing that it would cut out all the excess and get right to the "meat" of becoming an RN. I was also a medical assistant for 5 years used to working with patients and was ready to be challenged. Like each program, there are the positives and negatives, but so far it has been challenging (in a good way) and diverse in learning experiences. Fletcher Allen is a teaching hospital so all our rotations are done there and they are used to having students. I just finished a 3 month rotation on the cardiac unit -- it was very intense, the learning curve was steep, but was an wonderful experience. I can now interpret 6 EKG strips in a matter of a few minutes.

Also, it's all about getting the rotations and instructors you want (when there is a choice), so talk to others who have been in the program for details regarding your own needs and wants during specific rotations.

If your passionate about being an NP, then pick the program that will get you there.

Regarding weather and diversity: don't come if you want sun all year, it's VT and you never know what you'll get; Diversity is not just represented in skin color, it is a intermingling of varied and mixed thought processes, ideas and experience.

I wish you well with the choice you make.

Specializes in Dialysis.

Thank you so much for your help! Your guys' inputs actually made it better. I will be sending in my deposit soon. To be honest, I have another interview in a couple of weeks, and if I am excepted I will most likely go there instead. But if I dont, then you can see my butt there in Vermont! The school looks beautiful and the program sounds great!

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