Thought I would start a Columbia thread for all of us who were eagerly waiting for that acceptance letter in the mail last week. Guess you can call this the meet-n-greet and maybe wear like a sticker with our screen names so we can recognize each other during the Visiting Day (ok, might look a bit goofy) but hey, what a way to start off our nursing careers together at Columbia.
I was estactic when i opened that letter, seemed like a thin envelope and was prepared for the worst, and then read the first line! I can't wait and indeed it was a life changing letter for both me and my wife, who also got accepted!! I also got into my first choice of specialty, Nurse Anesthesia, and getting into that program without ICU experience (besides being a nursing assistant in the ER and neurosurg unit as an undergrad) is just simply overwhelming. It took the whole weekend to sink in, and now, I'm psyched! I look forward to meeting all of you and enduring the next 12 months of craziness starting in June together.
Great info again, LB. This is all so good to know. thanks a million!
Yeah, I think moving to NYC from elsewhere is such a hard adjustment, and then adding an intensive program of a brand new career on top of it is just that much harder. I've lived here for about four years on and off and it's taken me about two years to feel comfortable and used to the lifestyle, which is basically unlike anywhere else in so many ways. So to those of you moving to NYC for the program--be extra gentle on yourselves, b/c NYC is NOT the most gentle place. It's amazing and fun and inspiring, but it can be rough too. Creating a strong support network is key.
But I'm hoping that's what we'll all be for each other, as we've started to do here!
To those of you already in the city, happy snow day :)
Great info again, LB. This is all so good to know. thanks a million!
Yeah, I think moving to NYC from elsewhere is such a hard adjustment, and then adding an intensive program of a brand new career on top of it is just that much harder. I've lived here for about four years on and off and it's taken me about two years to feel comfortable and used to the lifestyle, which is basically unlike anywhere else in so many ways. So to those of you moving to NYC for the program--be extra gentle on yourselves, b/c NYC is NOT the most gentle place. It's amazing and fun and inspiring, but it can be rough too. Creating a strong support network is key.
Also, if ETP is not everything you fantasized it would be, don't let that get in your way because I can pretty much guarantee that it won't be. Good luck everyone!
IIRC, deferrment is only available if you have no outstanding pre-reqs... but call the admissions office to be totally sure. Are they still allowing online courses to be used for prereqs? If so, consider taking them online. I know your schedule may be crazy now, but it'll get crazier come June... this could be a great way to prepare yourself.
Are they still allowing online courses to be used for prereqs? If so, consider taking them online.
The admissions people told me they would accept a Developmental Psych course from Excelsior--the online university. I never ended up needing it, but as of January this was the deal.
I'm aware that Excelsior credits can be used to satisfy Columbia pre-recs. I have extensively researched classes at Excelsior and completing the required exams by May.
However, I work full-time and my nights and weekends are sometimes not my own. The only way this would work is if I quit my job to take the pre-recs, not a realistic option.
And I am looking at this realistically. I worked two jobs while completing my previous Master's degree. Crazy schedules are my speciality! If I think I can't handle it, I can't.
I guess at this point my best option is to decline. A very depressing thought!
Before you decline, call the admissions office and the ETP office! I can't guarantee my info about admissions is 100% correct as I wasn't faced with this problem when I applied. There was a gal last year (not midwifery, but ETP-to-FNP, IIRC) who couldn't defer because she had an outstanding prereq upon application, and ended up leaving after about a month... however, she was basically told that if she reapplied next year, she'd get priority. I don't know if this was ever put into action or if she reapplied... but check it out before declining. If this is your dream, don't give up on it. :)
I'm aware that Excelsior credits can be used to satisfy Columbia pre-recs. I have extensively researched classes at Excelsior and completing the required exams by May.
However, I work full-time and my nights and weekends are sometimes not my own. The only way this would work is if I quit my job to take the pre-recs, not a realistic option.
And I am looking at this realistically. I worked two jobs while completing my previous Master's degree. Crazy schedules are my speciality! If I think I can't handle it, I can't.
I guess at this point my best option is to decline. A very depressing thought!
I'm kind of confused. When you applied did you plan on being able to complete the pre-reqs and something came up? Or did you always have the intention of deferring? Or did you think you could finish but realized you bit off more than you could chew?
I would say before you decline to actually ask whoever it is you need to ask, especially if something has come up to prevent you from finishing your pre-reqs. After all, there is a reason they accepted you. None of these programs are easy to get into so there is something they saw in your application that they liked and they want you to be part of their student body. The worst that can happen is they say no. No sense in declining before you at least try.
Thanks for the advice. (Sorry for semi-hijacking the thread!)
I had planned on completing the pre-recs when I applied. A family member passed away and I was in rural Arkansas settling up their affairs during Spring registration. Got back and the classes I needed were closed. Such is life...
Sorry for your loss May_baby, and I really do hope that the admission office will understand and allow you to take the pre-req during the first semester. it will be rough to do so, but it's better than declining. You've worked hard to get accepted and should be proud, and like what bruinlaura had said that there's a reason why you were accepted in the first place even without the pre-reqs completed. Best of luck and let us know what they say/what you decide to do.
So I don't know if anyone will see this until after the fact, since you're probably all on your way here already, but I don't think I'll make it today. I have three careplans due tomorrow and since I didn't hear from anyone, I wouldn't know where to meet y'all anyway. So have fun, good luck, and let us know how it went!
Sorry we missed you yesterday during Visting Day hope you did't lose too much sleep getting the careplans ready. The Visiting Day session was very informative and I especially enjoyed talking to current students in the ETP and in our specialty field. A lot of questions and concerns I think were answered quite appropriately, and my wife and I are simply excited to get started. I got to see the sim dummy lab which was great. Hopefully to see you around campus and good luck with the rest of the semester. when are you sitting for the NCLEX?
Krystellmarie and Suziechapstick-
It was a pleasure meeting both of you, and I guess we've got our study group all set, huh? That is of course if SuzieChapstick decides Columbia over Stony Brook....you know you want to come here SuzieChapstick...Columbia...Columbia.... enjoy the next couple of months before we all head into the "bootcamp!"
Good luck everyone!
hope you did't lose too much sleep getting the careplans ready. The Visiting Day session was very informative and I especially enjoyed talking to current students in the ETP and in our specialty field. A lot of questions and concerns I think were answered quite appropriately, and my wife and I are simply excited to get started. I got to see the sim dummy lab which was great. Hopefully to see you around campus and good luck with the rest of the semester. when are you sitting for the NCLEX?
enjoy the next couple of months before we all head into the "bootcamp!"
SuzieChapstick
13 Posts
Great info again, LB. This is all so good to know. thanks a million!
Yeah, I think moving to NYC from elsewhere is such a hard adjustment, and then adding an intensive program of a brand new career on top of it is just that much harder. I've lived here for about four years on and off and it's taken me about two years to feel comfortable and used to the lifestyle, which is basically unlike anywhere else in so many ways. So to those of you moving to NYC for the program--be extra gentle on yourselves, b/c NYC is NOT the most gentle place. It's amazing and fun and inspiring, but it can be rough too. Creating a strong support network is key.
But I'm hoping that's what we'll all be for each other, as we've started to do here!
To those of you already in the city, happy snow day :)