Accelerated BSN in NYC

U.S.A. New York

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I am a recent graduate of Pace University with a BBA in Public Accounting, however, I would like a change of careers. I am currently a Confidential Investigator which is pretty cool but can get boring at times depending on the case. Anyway, I would like some assistance from you experienced and knowledgeable folks about schools in NYC that are not that expensive and where I would be able to do the accelerated BSN on a part time basis, mainly evenings and weekends.

I would also like to know, if the 3.0 GPA these programs request are ever waived. I graduated with a 2.7 and would really love to enter a BSN program. Thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!

We did have to take the GRE for Columbia - I prepared for about two weeks, using the Kaplan CD - just take the diagnostic and run through the program it puts together. I got 740v/670m/5aw. I didn't reeeeally have a GPA because I went to UC Santa Cruz, and only about 20% of my classes gave grades - we had narrative evals instead. The GPA for the classes I did get grades in was around 3.2, but if you sort of assigned a grade to the evals it would probably have been around a 3.6 ish.

Thanks for the info. I am starting to freak about the GRE, as I really don't know that much info about it, except that I have 2 months for the nursing application due, and they require the GRE. If I have heard right, don't people take months and months to prepare for this?

Nonetheless, thanks for the info.

Did you think the Columbia program was worth the money?

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Specializes in CTICU.
I am curious whether you had to take the GRE for admissions to columbia and what your gpa was to get in. I am looking to get out of my current nursing program and want to find an accelerated nursing program, and then on to my masters. Did you also have to take the GRE for Columbia? If so, how long did you take to prepare for it? Do you have any advice?

i am starting columbia this summer and my gpa was 3.15 from ucla and gre's were 710m/630v/4w. i pretty much just used the ets practice book and the practice tests they post on the gre website but i only graduated in sept 03 and proceeded almost immediately into taking pre-reqs, so multiple choice testing wasn't very far removed from my life (took in oct 04).:chuckle

i don't know what exactly on my app they liked (my gpa is lower than most of the other people who posted on the direct entry thread and i still cant believe they let me in) but i'm pretty sure that any healthcare experience helps volunteer or paid (i'm working as an emt). also i think volunteer experience in general helps (i volunteered as a micro research asst for a med school prof). and of course get really good letters of rec. a lot of people thought i was making a major mistake when i asked a prof from a pre-req class i took at a community college and one of my ta's from ucla for recs instead of 3 of my ucla profs but they knew me better and i'm convinced those letters helped so i would look for the highest quality and not just a prestigious name at the bottom (although the med school prof was more prestigious).

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Specializes in Global Health Informatics, MNCH.

To be honest, I didn't study for the GRE at all and got over a 600 on both parts. I'm sure they mailed me my writing score but I don't know what happened to the letter. I wouldn't spend a lot of time stressing GRE scores unless the rest of your application is weak, I know too many people who go to Columbia and other top schools who got crappy GRE scores. Then again, I have 5 years of work experience in health care, so if you're applying right out of undergrad then you'd need better scores. I would focus more on writing a solid essay, getting good experience and good letters of recommendation.

I haven't started Columbia yet to really decide whether it's worth the money. The graduates I've spoken too all say they thought the program really prepared them well. I did kind of my own evaluation though. First, I asked the hiring manager at the place I want to work at what schools in the NYC area would he have no hesitation about hiring graduates from, he said Columbia, NYU and Hunter without a doubt and that Pace was also ok. I also asked other nurses and medical directors what schools they thought were good and those were always mentioned. So from there I looked at those programs. Hunter I ruled out almost right away. Even though Hunter in theory is much less expensive it's 9 months longer to complete the BSN and their application has so many requirements I would have had to wait another year to two years apply. Pace and NYU are pretty similar programs and the cost is about the same so I was going to use Pace as a backup in case I didn't get into Columbia or NYU. For a long time I was strongly considering NYU over Columbia. Both are strong programs with their own hospitals but NYU has some interesting study abroad options between semesters, better location, and seemed less expensive. But when you look a little more into detail, Columbia is actually a better deal. First, Columbia's program is 3 months shorter. Staff nurses in NYC start at 60K+ so right there NYU just cost you another $15,000 (plus benefits!). Also, most of the hospitals in the city will give you 10K for tuition a year once you've worked there 6 months. I'm planning on doing the FNP specialty for the masters, I'm not sure about the other specialties at Columbia but the FNP classes are all offered the same 2 days a week (when your full time) so what most people do is do the FNP full time and take three 12 hour shifts at the hospital (so your only working 3 days a week but you're a full time employee). So since I can work full time (with 10k tuition reimbursement) and go to school full time (so I can still get fin aid and scholarships) it works about better financially at Columbia.

Mission

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Thanks for all the replies, WOW, i guess I have to really decide what I want to do being that I am a single mom, and quitting my job is NOT AN OPTION. I guess I will continue to study for my CPA exam and hopefully be able to combine nursing and business some time in the future. :uhoh21:

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Does anyone know if the Pace accelerated program has a good reputation? Has anyone graduated from this program? It's a lot of money and I know its not an IVY like Columbia so I'm wondering if its worth the money. Please help!

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Specializes in Telemetry, Perioperative.

Does anyone know the cost of SUNY Stonybrook's BS accelerated nursing program? the 12 month one?

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
Does anyone know the cost of SUNY Stonybrook's BS accelerated nursing program? the 12 month one?

This should have the info you are looking for:

http://www.stonybrook.edu/bursar/tuition/ug.shtml

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Specializes in Telemetry, Perioperative.

oh great. Thank you so much!

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Specializes in Telemetry, Perioperative.

it appears that the accelerated nursing programs are highly competitive. What advice would you give a person who would be applying to this type of program as a second degree and has absolutely no ties to the healthcare profession? Volunteering??

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it appears that the accelerated nursing programs are highly competitive. What advice would you give a person who would be applying to this type of program as a second degree and has absolutely no ties to the healthcare profession? Volunteering??

Cannot speak for the rest of the state, but in NYC the "second degree BSN" programs are mostly swamped because of the economy. Many with college degrees are either unemployed or under employed and have heard the media reports of a "nursing shortage", and have headed off to nursing school. It seems everyone from LE, to firemen, to lawyers and everything else in between is trying to get into a nursing program. Then of course you have persons who truly want to make a career change and wish to become a nurse adding to the influx.

As for prior healthcare experience, different nursing programs use various methods for entry. Some programs will give weight to a personal interview and or anything that shows one wishes to enter the profession for some other reason than to make a fast buck,others go strictly by grades and test scores, and so forth.

Your best bet is to pick out a program or two (or three....) review their entry requirements and do some research. Most all schools have an open house and or will schedule appointments with faculty who will answer any questions you may have.

Personally, I always suggest strongly that persons with limited to no exposure to the healthcare field or nursing take some sort of job in a hospital. These days volunteers probably have limited patient care exposure,but if you could swing some sort of nursing assistant spot, that would be better. The later would give you strong insight as to just what nurses do and if patient care is up your street. Cleaning goo,spew, and poo along with blood is not something everyone can deal with 40 hours per week.

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