Boston College Direct Entry MSN 2019

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Starting a thread for Boston College Direct Entry MSN applicants for Summer 2019. Looks like we are the last class before BC goes to a DNP direct entry program!

I'm applying for the Psych/MH track, based on work/life experiences in the mental health realm. My cousin went through the BC program a few years ago, loved it, and has a job she really enjoys.

I didn't realize the course options mentioned were self paced!

Thank you for clarifying :)

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Does anyone happen to know what the breakdown is of speciality applications that BC receives/accepts? Is the cohort of ~40 evenly distributed among specialties? I didn't get the opportunity to attend an information session as I am from the west coast, and am wondering if this is something that they ever mentioned. Thanks!

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For patho consider University of Northern Colorado online. Its $750, self-paced (max one year), and very easy. You can learn from this class, sure, which I imagine is a good goal for us future NP hopefuls.

Or you can get an easy A by using Google during tests, as all of the questions and answers are on Quizlet. Your call, but it took me 3 weeks to finish it. I learned very little but am self-studying my weak areas.

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Thanks for the info it is cheaper than UC Berkeley. This definitely something to consider as long as BC accepts the course.

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How is the patho course at UC Berkleley? Do you recommend it? I am starting to freak out about how much material everyone says it is and while I would like to do well, I also am nervous about cramming it in after hearing from BC. Is anyone else only applying to one school? I now realize this may be a big mistake :(

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I called to ask for suggestions about where to take patho (preferably online). they do not care as long as it is from an accredited university so if U of n colorado is, it works!

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The UC Berkeley Extension online pathophysiology class is pretty good. I'm happy with it so far - halfway through it.

Pro's as I see it:

-Online and self-paced (You have up to 6 months to complete it. But they require you to have been in the course for at least 3 months before you can sit for the final exam, which is fine because there is plenty of content to get through.)

-The Canvas platform is pretty easy to use/navigate. I actually like it better than BlackBoard other schools use

-The material consists of textbook reading, handouts and video/PPT lectures

-You're graded on a worksheet following each module (open book), you can take a non-graded self-assessment beforehand that is also open book. For some modules, you also submit case studies for a grade (also open book), which are interesting and helpful--I enjoy them. There are 3 closed-book exams, with each covering 4 modules worth of material. And there's a proctored final exam - you need to identify your proctor.

-There are 12 modules total. It's a lot of content, but I also work a full-time job as well as a per diem patient care tech job on the weekends with other family obligations, so I don't have a ton of time at the moment to dedicate to studying as much as I'd like to. That said, given the topic, I think it's reasonable.

Con's

-As with any online course platform, there are some glitches. If you don't put in the exact term, like you put a singular term vs plural, it'll take a point off. The professor will go in and account for those platform errors and give you the points back in most cases. There have been some cases where I haven't gotten them back even though I put in a term exactly how the test word bank has it, but it's not a huge deal

-I may be old school, but I like the in-person interaction with a professor and classmates. Online feels rather in-personal since there's no online discussion forums/interaction, but for these purposes, I think this works best for my schedule to do it online and self-paced.

I originally signed up for this just to take for BC's pre-req, since no other schools require it. But even if I don't end up attending BC, I think it'll be helpful for me personally in terms of laying the groundwork for other programs.

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thank you for your super thorough answer, i appreciate it! you are smart to be taking it now, even if you end up taking it again in a program. From what my friends in nursing school tell me, it is a class you should try to take before starting even if it is not required like at BC.

best of luck to you! it sounds like you will do great in the class.

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Has anyone gotten an email or something yet.

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I have not gotten anything. I read somewhere that last year the acceptances went out the first week of feb. i am not sure how this year will be though as they seem to be in transition. when i asked about the july dates for the start of the program (they are always super friendly on the phone) they said that this year would start in august but they did not have the dates yet!

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Happy to help, violeta1975! Best of luck to you as well!

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As for hearing back - no, I have not heard anything yet. At an info session earlier this year, I heard the same thing - they try to send out decisions around February.

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