Anyone applying to Yale GEPN program for Fall 2009?

Published

Hi,

Since there was a very extensive thread last year about application process to Yale, I thought I would start a new thread for 2009 hopefuls. I am working on my application and wanted to know who else chose Yale as one of their options. What program? How is the application process going? Essay writing? Any anxieties? I am applying to the Adult Advanced Practice Nursing but still deciding on the specialty. The hardest part for me is the essay writing as English is not my first language, but I have been working on it for some time now and getting close to finishing the final version. Anyone else wants to share?

Oh Biddy, I'm sorry! I am also even more confused this weekend. I may call you! So, yes, I do think you have a shot at negotiation, given what someone up there said about Yale being afraid to lose people due to aid elsewhere. I had asked before submitting my FAFSA if they take into account that you'll obviously not be making ANY money when you enter the program and they said they understood that but for now have to go by the FAFSA submitted this year. I can't remember what she said about appealing it after the fact (I asked every school these questions but can't remember who said what). Re expenses, the way I calculate it, based on what they post for 2008-2009, tuition is more expensive at JH regardless -- for the accelerated into MSN, it's $118,000 for tuition only (~$58k for Acc BSN + ~ 60k for next 2 yrs); at Yale, it looks to be ~$98,000 for all 3 years, including the extra summer tuition. This really surprised me! In terms of what Yale calculated for parking (I haven't gotten my aid letter yet), remember that you don't HAVE to pay for parking anywhere necessarily. If you live within walking distance, or on the shuttle line, and in an apt that includes parking, then that is a non-issue. I stayed with a current student, and she has free parking, and walks to school. Staying with her and meeting other students through her is what really gave me a great impression of Yale, besides the laid-back & warm atmosphere the next day. All the students I spoke with are really happy there -- didn't have one bad thing to say about it. Which is interesting, because I haven't gotten that same response from JH students. I did talk to a woman this weekend just finishing her MSN/MPH this year at JH, and she was really happy there. At both schools, I should note, students say the "best thing about this school" is the other people in their program. A common comment between all of them is that the accelerated year is really really hard, and that once they get into the specialty years, they really begin to love their program. The girl I stayed with at Yale recently wrote to see what was going on with my offers & acceptances, and said she is "officially loving school now" (her 2nd year). I will be talking hopefully today with another Yale-ite, who was an acquaintance of mine in Peace Corps, to get yet another perspective. This makes about 5 people from JH, and 4 from Yale -- and I'm still not sure! For me, it really comes down to tuition and scholarships, because I think cost of living isn't that much different, and no matter what, we will have to tighten our purse strings. Long message, but I just had to respond! Biddy, you could put down your deposit at JH and await their financial aid package -- which should get to us before we have to respond to Yale right?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Lauralou2008, call me. I'm home...thinking, debating...we can share impressions.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

yeah... I receieved the max on the fed loans. and 7,500 for scholarships. I don't know if I can afford taking out 60k the first year either..... I still have to buy a car withj insurance....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi all, I haven't been on here in awhile. I've decided on Yale and will be in the ACNP specialty. I'll be coming from CA with a car (2 cars actually). Anyone by chance know if Yale grad has couple's housing? Not sure whether to live on or off campus. Part of me really wants off campus since I lived on campus all 4 years of undergrad. Anyway, just wondering if I met any of you at my interview (Jan 22, AAPN group).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hey Jess,

I'm also going for the ACNP program. I was at New Haven the 22nd but had my interview on the 23rd I think... I'm also stuck figureing out where I want to live. When I was in undergrad I also lived in the dorms for all four years, which is why I am also leanign toward living in the dorm.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych/mental health.

Has anyone considered the Health Professionals Scholarship Program(HPSP) offered by the U.S Army? They pay full tuition, books, reasonable living expenses, equipment plus a $1900 monthly stipend---------------of course, this is in exchange for a service commitment equalling 1 year of service for each year of financial support. It's something to consider. Recruiters will be visiting me at home on Saturday, but seeing as we are a nation at war, i'm quite hesitant to commit to anything that could potentially lead to a relatively long-term separation from my family(3yr mission), serious injury/handicap or death. Anyway, i'll listen to what they have to say-------although all things considered, massive loans seem more attractive in the long run. I'll post my findings... Good luck with your decisions.

PS: I'm also undecided about housing and would love to have roommate(s)----male, female, whatever.... If anyone is certain about Yale(inspite of FinAid woes), then we should get a conversation going.

Very much like some of you, I will be taking my car to YSN so i'll have to look further into parking, fees, taxes etc. I'll advise you of my findings as well.

Best wishes to all.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've heard of the HSPS but the possible sacrifice just isn't worth it for me. One thing you should ask is if they can enact a "stop loss" action on you. If the US is in a protracted engagement and the army needs service members, the army can stop anyone who's unit is set for int'l deployment from leaving their post, even if their service contract is supposed to end at X amount years. I'm not sure if this applies to those in education- and loan- related service agreements but I know that it happens for regular enlisted members.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well, I just spoke with Lauralou on the phone, and she said it sounded like I was settling on Hopkins...spoke too soon.

After speaking to financial aid at both schools, while the award at Yale leaves much to be desired, the second bachelor's program at Hopkins is horrible (not eligible for as much in federal loans and there's no grad plus loan equivalent for a BSN). Thus, I'm going to Yale. Decision made. Feels good to know.

Yale it is! Now, I can relax...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych/mental health.

Congratulations on making a decision Biddy! See you in August!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm really glad you decided on Yale!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

congrats biddy! it's such a relief to make a decision. i decided this weekend to do yale over columbia. the financial aid package isn't great, but at least we're starting out as grad students and are eligible for more loan money. oh, and re the scholarship, i only got $5,000. it's so irritating that they take the expected family contribution into account, seeing as how that contribution is going to be zero come august. i'm having that problem with a lot of scholarships i've looked into; if your EFC is above a certain amount, you can't apply. ugh!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, it's definitely a relief...I'm glad I made a decision. For some reason, I kept feeling like I needed to find a "reason" to go to one school over the other. And it ultimately came down to getting screwed on loans by starting in a BSN program. Now, the work of finding lenders starts. Need a lender for stafford and then will apply for the Grad Plus loan for the rest of the amount. It's a lot...a bit scary...I think this year is more than my entire undergrad education cost. (But I have less than $5000 in undergrad debt, so that's something). I'm also optimistic that my husband will be able to find a good paying job in NYC (he talked to people at his former company yesterday...it's a branch of News Corp). If he can find a job quickly, I'm hoping I'll be able to send back a lot of the loan money right away. Fingers crossed.

Now, that the decision is made, I'm going to have to find a new hobby. I'm thinking of writing a trashy romance novel...I've always wanted to do that--I don't actually read romance novels, but I like camp. And I can't think of anything campier than a bodice ripper with Napoleon, and his S&M fetishes, as a main character. And there are definitely going to be pirates! Thank god I'm ready to move onto something new...

Those of you still contemplating, make the decision...it's so nice to have it figured out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion