Applied to Penn, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt & Marquette...any out there familiar?

fionagurl · Jan 10, 2009

Hi alrees,

I also applied to the UPenn BSN/MSN Program specializing in Peds Onc and Johns Hopkins for the Accelerated BSN/MSN Peds NP Specialty. My undergrad degree was in Biology, with a 3.0 GPA, and I earned A's and B's in my prereqs. I received a 1300 on my GREs, and currently work in a hematopathology laboratory as the lead bone marrow technician. I also have volunteer experience on an HIV/AIDS hotline, as well as at an ER here in San Francisco.

How did your interviews go with Hopkins and Penn? I had my Hopkins interview a couple of weeks ago, and was surprised by the larger number of questions asked in comparison to Penn's, whose MSN interview I had today. Do you feel the same way?

Also, I asked my interviewer today the number of students Penn accepts to the Peds Onc program, and she told me they only take 4-5!! That is SUCH a small number! As I hope to pursue a career as a hematology oncology nurse practitioner, Penn's program is inching towards my top choice, however, this small acceptance rate is somewhat discouraging. :/

alrees · Jan 10, 2009

Wow, you sound like an exceptional canidate for Penn. I'm sure even though such a small number of applicants are admitted, you will probably be one of them. I agree with you though about Penn inching up on my list of schools. I definitely think the opportunity to specialize in the precise area in which I'd like to work is amazing. Where did you go to undergrad? Are you from San Francisco?

I agree that the Hopkins interviewer asked many more questions and my interview at Hopkins was much longer than the interview I had at Penn. Who did you interview with at both schools? I believe Megan was the name of the woman who interviewed me at Hopkins and at Penn, I interviewed with Kim. It was difficult for me to get a feel for how the interviews went, did you feel this way?

I'm not sure I'm in any way a competitive applicant for either Johns Hopkins or Penn but if I am not accepted this year, I will spend the next year working to improve me GRE scores, gain further experience in the healthcare setting and also take additional classes to raise my GPA.

Best of luck to you, definitely let me know how things turn out! : )

fionagurl · Jan 10, 2009

Thank you! However, my low GPA and a couple of rejections are giving me doubts about getting accepted.

You are a well qualified applicant as well, so don't give up yet! Your strong GPA, GRE scores, experience and positive attitude make you a well-rounded choice.

I am from Northern California, went to school at USF in San Francisco, and have lived here in SF for eight and a half years. What about you?

Regarding the interviews, it was difficult for me to gage how they went! My Hopkins interview was with Katie, and I felt that she was reading me questions from a list, and was difficult to engage. We did connect and share a few laughs, but it felt much more businesslike than I was told to expect, but I felt I gave strong answers. It could be a West Coast-East Coast disconnect, but I'm not sure. What was your experience with Megan? Filomena and Kim were much warmer during the Penn interviews, and I felt both connected and like we engaged in more of a relaxed conversation. As this is my first year interviewing, with both of them over the phone, I have no idea on how to gage their success/failure, either. I'm glad I'm not the only one. :)

dohzenOFF · Jan 12, 2009

Hey guys, thought I'd join in with ya'll. I only applied to Penn out of your list, but I also applied to Emory and Columbia. You two both sound like exceptional candidates. Good luck to you both!

I just completed my BS in bio w/ a gpa of 3.1 and GRE score 1350. I'm worried I won't be getting any acceptances this year because of my low gpa and I don't have much experience in a clinical setting. I was studying abroad in Sydney last semester and volunteered at the children's hospital there in the play therapy dept. It was so much fun! I applied for the peds acute/chronic np specialty and also interviewed with Kim. It was much shorter than my interview with Filomena, which also worries me a bit. I did both over the phone and had to do my interview with Filomena at 2am(!!!) since I was still in Sydney at the time. I feel my interview with Filomena went well, but I couldn't get a read on how it went with Kim. I thought she was very soft spoken and she said "umm" more than I did! Did you guys feel the same way?

Since I'm already anticipating rejections, I plan on retaking some classes to raise my gpa and reapply for the next cycle. I'm comfortable w/ my GRE score so I don't think I'll be retaking that, but I'm thinking I might try and get my CNA license and work as one for the next year to gain more experience. But who knows, maybe I'll get accepted somewhere and won't have to.

alrees · Jan 12, 2009

Wow, that is a great GRE score, I'm sure that will really help your application. Your gpa is not all that low, especially for having a degree in biology. I'm sure they will take into consideration your major. I thought Kim was very soft spoken too and I interviewed in person. I had a difficult time reading her. She was very nice but definitely quiet and I couldn't really get a feel for what she thought of me. That is awesome you spent time in Sydney, I would love to travel there and someday hopefully I'll be able to.

Definitely update me as you find out about your schools. Best of luck to you!!

Allison

KimmbaFNP, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 12, 2009

If you're in SF, why aren't you applying to the UCSF, USF, State or Samuel Merrit advanced entry programs?

I was part of the 2007 Marquette cohort - I highly recommend it. My husband had a job transfer 10 months into the program and the dean of Marquette actually made the personal effort to contact USF (another Jesuit U) and ask them to allow me to txf into their masters entry program. Marquette is very supportive & has a great program. Unfortunately, the program @ USF I txf into isn't an NP program, so I'm having to switch again, but at least it prevented me from losing my 30+ credits & I was still able to sit the NCLEX (although 1 semester later than I would've otherwise, but it's better than having to start over from square one, )!

Your credentials sound just like someone who would've been in my cohort. I don't know what the GPA was for everyone, but mine was a 3.7. I will say they put A LOT of stock in the essay you write. I met with the representative for the program before I was accepted and she indicated that the essay is where they really decide & especially so if it's between you and someone with a higher GPA. They don't go fully on GPA, as there's more to nursing than "book smarts". As a matter of fact, there was a gal who had been @ Bastyr Naturopathic College in Seattle. They don't give letter grades or GPA's - they do pass fail. They worked something out so that Bastyr gave them an "estimated" GPA to work with. Obviously if GPA was the primary driver she'd have never been accepted, but she was. They seem to really want people who have good upbeat personalities & who will have a positive impact as an APN.

Best success with it!

K

alrees · Jan 13, 2009

Thanks for the information! That is great that you didn't lose all of your credits in the process of transfering. Marquette's program is the one I'm least familar with out of those I've applied to so I really do appreciate your post.

Thanks again.

dohzenOFF · Jan 13, 2009

Thanks Allison, good luck to you too!

Traycie

fionagurl · Jan 14, 2009

K,

I applied to USF's and UCSF's programs as well, although have been turned down by UCSF (despite working there ).

Thanks for the support and kind words, and best of luck finishing your program at Marquette!

dohzenOFF · Jan 28, 2009

Hmmm...this thread kind of died....

Any new updates? Decisions for Columbia are supposed to come out next week and I'm so nervous! Does anyone know when we're supposed to hear about Penn?

alrees · Jan 28, 2009

Hey, I found out I got accepted to Johns Hopkins but I haven't heard from the other schools yet. I believe we should hear from Penn around the first of February so pretty soon. Have you heard anything?