Just wondering if anyone has applied to Umass Boston and Umass Medical (in Worcester), Simmons and MGH for 2009 direct entry and BSN @ UMB? I am a little confused on what is taking them so so long to get back to me. My undergrad GPA is 3.2, got a 3.85 in all the prerequisites, decent GRE scores...I got in last year at UMass Medical, they called me a week before the program started (I guess I was wait listed), but I couldn't attend since not all my prerequisites were completed. I just called Umass Med. and they told me they already picked the 25 students and I wasn't one of them. It would be nice if they send a notice once in a while, but nothing. Anyone please heard anything, I'm desperate, I hope I got in at least one school, not picky at this point, just desperate
the saying goes that there are 4 seasons. almost winter, winter, still winter, road construction. don't listen to that.
so it's cold up here... that just means that you get to buy a wicked cute patagonia or north face fleece/jacket, and a nice pair of boots i wouldn't let anything temperature related deter you. i am from nj, but went to college in worcester, ma (some call it the black hole of ma because of the weather), and it gets to the point that you don't even realize the cold anymore. my school had tons of people from the west coast and they were all totally fine! plus fall, spring, and summer all have something unique to offer. spring means baseball season (i agree with juliewoo, become a sox fan!) fall is obviously football season... but the fall in ma also means pumpkin beverages and haunted happenings in salem etc. summer has so much less humidity than other places in the country... i'm sure you're used to nice beaches and there are some great ones here too!
i'd say looking for places to live in and around the city is a good idea... but the closer to you are public transportation the more expensive it will be. however, as someone already mentioned, the transportation up here can get you pretty much anywhere. so brookline, brighton, somerville, cambridge, medford are all good options.
The culture is much different than California. People are pushy and the hospitals are much different too. Not trying to be negative but just need to warn people of the Boston culture. Volunteer for a hospital here. You will see. These hospitals are ranked highly because of the fast paced culture. People aren't going to be as warm as in California.
Hi guys! I'm a little late joining this group, but I got into MGH direct entry program and I'm from Ca too! Woo! Can't wait for that 4 day drive up... Anyway I'd love to chat with anyone else who knows for sure that they are going to MGH. Unfortunately I wasn't able to meet many people outside my specialty (Gero/Adult) in the program on the visiting day, but it seems like we have a really great group.
Bay area originally, but I currently live in San Luis Obispo- I went to Cal Poly and I can't seem to leave. What about you?
Right now i'm finishing up my last year at UC Davis. I'm originally from Pittsburg (Bay Area). So I read you went to the visiting day last Saturday, how was it? What is the area like? I'm excited to move to Boston, but a little scared at the same time! 8-)
To the people who went to the open house... was there anything you were totally shocked by, besides maybe the cost? I've seen a few posts about that... I was anticipating $34,000 before any fees and books. Fortunately I don't have to change locations for the program, so thats about $15,000 that I don't have to spend. But after looking at their budget worksheet, I'm suddenly overwhelmed! Obviously I realized that I would still have to pay car insurance, cell phone, credit cards etc, but seeing it all on paper like that really stressed me out!
To be honest, all these direct entry programs are expensive. BUT, good news is we will qualify for fixed interest loans and be guaranteed a job after graduation- not something everyone can say right now. Plus, there are some really good loan repayment programs that most large hospitals offer and an even better one the government offers so I wouldn't worry. PLUS at MGH we get summers off, so the first summer will suck cuz we're not RNs, but the following summer we can work per diem making around 50 an hour. My biggest concern with Boston will be finding housing that's affordable and in a fun part of town. I'm So excited. I wasn't really surprised about anything else about the program, but I've been scouring the websites for all these programs the last year. Jensen- you should know the campus is just a building- but it's really nice, and the labs look really nice, and it seems like they funnel a lot of our tuition money back into the school which is great- and not true about some of the other really expensive schools I've looked at. Boston is lovely, and really- every person I met, even on random buses and subways was super nice and helpful- they just might not come off that way at first. The hospital was also really nice, and it looked like a good place to work. AND the shuttle from the hospital to MGHIHP comes every 15 minutes on weekdays and I think it runs till about 11pm, which is really convenient, because the red subway line picks up RIGHT at MGH and I think it runs until 12. I have more info from the session if you want it. I'm also on facebook if anyone wants to chat- Kelsey Hamilton from Cal Poly SLO. Shouldn't be too hard to find me :)
Not to be negative AGAIN but just need to warn you that the reason people do not come off as nice at first is because they aren't all nice here! In fact, there are many nasty people in Boston, especially nurses!!!! If my family was not from here, I would NEVER choose to live here. IT is freezing or raining with wind for more than 1/2 of the year-
People are quite rude and pushy and if you don't keep up with the pace and their aggressiveness, you will be miserable. SO you start to give attitude back. It's a highly competitive place for jobs and schools. People will pretty much do anything to get ahead so be ready to be pushed around and not treated with respect. And read some of the posts about NEU not responding or about people being misled by MGHIHP...it stinks that I have to write all of this but I just want to warn you and I need to go to school here since my family needs me here. I would do anything for sunshine and warm weather. I have no clue why all of you from California are applying to schools here. There are so many nice schools in Cali and the weather and people are soooo much better. But good luck to you.
I think its wonderful to have classmates from the other side of the country! It will be a big change, but we're all in it together! It seemed like a big majority of students at the open house were from the area, so I'm sure you'll have a friend in every part of the city! Hope to see you at MGH this fall!! =)
I'm looking forward to meeting some of you Cali people! Though a majority of the people at the open house were definitely from New England, there were some from the south, one from Wisconsin (I think), I'm originally from NJ (as were two other people there) and the West Coast. So MGH admitting people from all over the country will make it an even better school IMO. All of the different personalities will provide a nice balance! I thought everyone at the session seemed really mature and focused, so I'm sure it will be a really great group of people.
goberun83
34 Posts
in regards to seasons in massachusetts...
the saying goes that there are 4 seasons. almost winter, winter, still winter, road construction. don't listen to that.
so it's cold up here... that just means that you get to buy a wicked cute patagonia or north face fleece/jacket, and a nice pair of boots i wouldn't let anything temperature related deter you. i am from nj, but went to college in worcester, ma (some call it the black hole of ma because of the weather), and it gets to the point that you don't even realize the cold anymore. my school had tons of people from the west coast and they were all totally fine! plus fall, spring, and summer all have something unique to offer. spring means baseball season (i agree with juliewoo, become a sox fan!) fall is obviously football season... but the fall in ma also means pumpkin beverages and haunted happenings in salem etc. summer has so much less humidity than other places in the country... i'm sure you're used to nice beaches and there are some great ones here too!
i'd say looking for places to live in and around the city is a good idea... but the closer to you are public transportation the more expensive it will be. however, as someone already mentioned, the transportation up here can get you pretty much anywhere. so brookline, brighton, somerville, cambridge, medford are all good options.
i love boston and i have no plans to leave