Advice for applying to UPenn MSN in psychiatric nursing program?

mzaur · Nov 14, 2013

Most of the good programs (UPenn, UCSF, BC, Yale, Vanderbilt, etc) like to see volunteer experience that reflects a desire/willingness to help those who cannot help themselves, like an underserved population. I volunteered at an out-patient mental health clinic with a dually diagnosed population (psychiatric and developmental/cognitive disabilities). I think it will boster your CV if you did something similar.

Also, try to volunteer in a psychiatric ward in a hospital. I am guessing that since you have a psych degree, you have some experience with research and maybe some volunteer experience too. This is all good, but if you want to really show admissions that this choice wasn't just a backup plan, go volunteer at a hospital setting, even if it's in-patient psych which is still in your ball park. Lastly, try to do very well on the GREs, I'm talking at least 90th percentile verbal, at least 60th percentile for math (those damn engineers are killing the curve for the rest of us), and at least 5.0 on writing.

I have read a bunch of times here about how certain accelerated programs weigh the GRE pretty heavily since it's standardized, and may even decide who to give grants to based on their score. So do very well on this if you can (and you should, it's easy as long as you study a good guide). Oh and really work hard on your personal statement and get great letters of rec from professionals that know you, but you know this already.

EDIT: I forgot to mention. Be sure to write in your personal statement about how you want to be a nurse, about the advantages of the nursing career instead of other mental health careers (the nursing model, the scientific foundations, etc). Be sure to demonstrate that you know exactly what a PMHNP does, namely that you will be prescribing psychopharmacological treatments. Do not write about how you want to do psychotherapy.