Anyone applying to Yale GEPN program for Fall 2009?

sprinklez · Aug 28, 2008

hey Lilly,

I am too applying to the Yale GEPN program with a specialty in psychiatric nursing. I haven't even started the process yet -- still brainstorming on my essay. It's been pretty hard considering there are 6 questions and a 2 page limit. And also deciding who to ask for recommendations -- Ive been out of school for 5 years now and I doubt my professors in undergrad remember me... My main anxiety is that I didn't do well in undergrad. Since then, Ive been working a lot in the psychiatric field, hoping that my work experience will compensate for the low gpa.

What about you? Any concerns?

ExpatHopeful, LPN, LVN · Aug 28, 2008

Hey there,

I'm applying to Yale for Fall 2009 too. I'm hoping to do the Women's Health NP speciality. I haven't even started my essay yet, but I guess I've got to get around to that pretty soon. Mostly I've been busy working and trying to finish up this online statistics class I've been taking to boost my app. My chief worry is that I haven't taken A & P and that it'll count against me. That and that I won't finish this statistics course in time for the transcipt to get there by Nov 1st!

I'm also applying to NYU and Pace since you're allowed to apply before you do your prereqs and then take them at those schools before starting their acclerated BSN programs. Trying to narrow down my final list of where to apply this year has really taken loads of time too.

You'd be surprised Sprinklez about your profs remembering you. I graduated five years ago too and was sure my adviser would have forgotten me, but luckily not.

Have either of you been to New Haven before? I'm going to visit in October since my husband's got an interview there. I've heard mixed reviews so far.

Here's hoping we're all Yale bound by next spring!

LillyB · Aug 28, 2008

Hi Sprinklez,

From what I heard and read on this forum, Yale looks at the total "package" in each candidate. I believe that the psychiatric nurse practitioner specialty is not the most competitive, as it requires a special person to be able to handle that kind of job. So with your experience in the field, the admissions committee will look favorably on your application because they will believe that you know what you want and what to expect. I think the most important part of your application will be to write from your heart about exactly why you want to pursue psychiatric nursing. As to the recommendations, I know that they prefer that at least one recommendation letter comes from an academic source. Did you have an adviser in college? Sometimes if you contact them and refresh their memory, or explain that you went to school there and what your goals are, they will write a letter for you. My biggest worry is writing a great essay. I did well in college and have some graduate work and research experience, but never did any kind of nursing. So it is really hard to tell what our chances are.

Expathopeful, I actually live in CT and have been to New Haven many times. It is a nice city with lots of great restaurants and several theaters. The Yale campus is beautiful and as with every city there are also bad areas as well. I don't think that there is any city in the US where everywhere you go you are safe. I think you will like Yale and New Haven. I am close to sending my application in. Which is surprising because when it comes to things like that I am the biggest procrastinator.

I asked the admissions office about A&P, and they actually teach their version during the first year. It did not sound like it was a big deal not taking the course before starting Yale, and they prefer that everyone is on the same page so they teach the "Yale A&P".

Lilly

ksahlberg · Aug 30, 2008

I was curious to see what your guys' backgrounds are. I've noticed a really broad demographic when looking into accelerated programs. Have you all worked for several years? Are any of you current/recent grads? have kids? And what's your past grades/work experience like?

ksahlberg · Aug 30, 2008

also, have u all taken the GRE's? Should we be aiming for about 1000? If not, when do you all plan to take them?

ExpatHopeful, LPN, LVN · Aug 30, 2008

I graduated five years ago in Chinese Lit & Lang from a liberal arts college with a 3.10, which was average for my school. After graduation I worked for a year in Japan teaching English and decided I didn't like teaching. Then I worked at a women's health clinic in Oregon for a year doing a variety of things including assisting NPs with exams/visits and doing pregnancy and HIV testing and counseling. After that I moved to England with my husband for him to do grad school and have been working for almost three years here now as a nurses's assistant on a very diverse med/surg ward. No kids yet because we've decided to wait until we're both done with school which will hopefully not be too much longer!

I did my GREs in May because I wanted to get them out of the way as soon as possible and was very happy with my score. I suppose there's no way of knowing what the average score of their admitted students is short of asking, or of knowing how much weight they give to it anyway.

I'm just happy that I finally found the right career for me and can't wait to actually start nursing school and be a nurse. Hopefully I get in somewhere this year and don't have to do prereqs and then apply to another round schools.

How about the rest of you?

sprinklez · Sep 3, 2008

I was curious to see what your guys' backgrounds are. I've noticed a really broad demographic when looking into accelerated programs. Have you all worked for several years? Are any of you current/recent grads? have kids? And what's your past grades/work experience like?

I took the GREs last year. I did decently although my undergrad GPA is pretty bad. I have a BA in psych and I've been out of college for 4 years now. Since college, I've worked at a foster care agency, a community mental health agency, and I am currently doing research at a psychiatric hospital.

What about you?

ksahlberg · Sep 3, 2008

I actually started off my undergrad degree at St. joes planning on a nursing career. But after financial difficulty having to care for my mother I transferred to a community college to be closer and save money and then earned a degree in biology from UCONN. I've always wanted to be a nurse but I seem to be taking the long route! I hope to take my GRE's in sept or October, but I want to make sure it'll leave enough time for yale to recieve the scores. any advice for studying for these GRE'S?

ExpatHopeful, LPN, LVN · Sep 4, 2008

Try here Ksahlberg:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f223/gre-study-guide-tips-306919-2.html

There are a couple other threads that have GRE tips too if you do a search.

So are you applying to any other programs in Connecticut? If I wind up moving to New Haven and don't get into Yale I'm thinking of doing my prereqs and then applying to SCSU, Quinnipiac and maybe Fairfield or UConn too. Know much about any of them?

ksahlberg · Sep 4, 2008

Thanks for the link,

I'm taking some pre-req's at uconn now. The UCONN program is very specific: They demand B's or better in several classes including genetics, A&P, micro, etc. But the program seems great. The 3rd semester, or a few months into the program, you can elect to start taking masters classes that will go toward obtaining your APRN in your choice of specialty. There are some upcoming info sessions. Take a look at the site:

http://www.nursing.uconn.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=52

I'm not too sure about the other programs. I am also looking into fairfield but they are very expensive, and require religion classes that I've never bothered with...

What do you know about Quinnipiac?

Have you heard anything about Bridgeport Hospital's program?

ExpatHopeful, LPN, LVN · Sep 4, 2008

I hadn't really heard of Bridgeport, but I just took a look and I guess they only offer a diploma. Since ultimately I want to be a NP I don't think that would work well for me.

I'm not that into Fairfield either really. It seems like a crummy commute from New Haven and going to a religious school would be weird for me, although I did take Chinese Religions in college years ago so I've got that prereq covered!

Quinnipiac seems allright to me. It's a 12 month second bachelor's, the only prereqs I'd have to do would be A&P, Micro and Pathophys, and I think it'd be about $50K for the whole program according to my quick calculations. Not cheap, but considering you'd finish in a year maybe it'd be worth it. Anyway, it's not like Yale is bargain-basement either. I contacted Quinnipiac to ask about prereqs and they said they encourage people to take them at a CC or wherever and then apply rather than taking them there as a transfer.