Anyone applied to UMB, MGH,Simmons and Umass Med for 2009?Any news PLEASE?

U.S.A. Massachusetts

Published

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 :o

Am I gonna get slammed in Boston? I'm a die hard Yanks Fan!!

Slammed for liking the yankees? Yes! Slammed with work? If you've lived in NYC, you can survive Boston..I'm not sure what your post bf your last one was asking but good luck! Where did you apply?

I got an interview at Umass Worcester for the FNP GEP program. Can anyone give me any advice on the interview process? I couldn't figure out if they interview everyone or just some candidates.

I know very little about the program. Does anyone have anything to share about it? Class size, costs, clinical experience, faculty, etc.

Thanks

Specializes in cardiac electrophysiology, critical care.
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.

Hi, I saw your post and just wanted to help by giving you some more info that might be useful as you plan your school budget (I recently finished an accelerated, 2nd degree BSN and now work in a teaching hospital in Boston).

Honestly, I am NOT trying to be a Debbie Downer- I just want you to have the right info so you are not so surprised when you get here!

As far as starting salaries for new grad RN's in Boston, it is not anywhere close to $50/hr ($30/hr is just about the max before taxes, plus differentials for weekends, nights, etc).

Also, most new grad RN's cannot start off working per diem (typically nurse managers require you to complete at least a couple months of orientation full time).

It is my understanding that most hospitals here do not have loan repayment programs (at best they usually offer a couple thousand dollars per year for "tuition reimbursement" if you decide to go BACK to school and continue working full time- but they give you nothing for education already completed).

Also, the market for new grad RN's in Boston is extremely saturated right now. Some people I know who graduated last year and this year have had to move out of state in order to find work. I certainly hope it will change very soon- it might be different by the time you are a RN. I am just saying, don't bank on landing a RN job right away because of the "shortage" the media keeps telling us about. If hospitals have any new grad positions at all, they give first dibs to current employees (so I would definitely advise you to get a CNA job in a hospital here to get your foot in the door, if possible.)

Lastly, when I looked into direct-entry programs a couple years ago, I found out that federal fixed rate loans will only typically cover a portion of the tuition for most of these schools- of course I don't know your financial situation, but if you need to finance more than is permitted with fed loans, the other option is private loans which (as far as I can tell) always have a variable rate (and are therefore to be avoided if at all possible : )

Good luck and welcome to Boston!

For direct-entry programs Stafford and Grad Plus loans can be used to cover the "cost of attendance" set forth by the school/program. This includes tuition, fees, books, health insurance, room and board etc. You can also request an increase in the "cost of attendance" set forth if you have circumstances such as child care, medical expenses of whatever. Currently the loan interest rates are higher than they've been in previous years probably because of the state of the economy but these are fixed rate loans. Just what I've learned from going through the process so far. Haven't started my program yet. :)

I think the economy is tight everywhere. I don't know if it's true or not but I've heard in the Boston area (I don't live there now) some of this has to do with the mandated health insurance laws. That this has changed the hospital environment, some beds have been lost etc.

Specializes in cardiac electrophysiology, critical care.

Oh yes, I forgot that fixed rate Grad Plus loans can be used for the cost of attendance for direct entry MSN programs. (In my accel. BSN I was not eligible for those and had to take out a dreaded private loan, silly me).

Thanks for the correction, 26faster.

+ Add a Comment