Boston College Master's Entry Program 2011

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Hello,

I've applied to Boston College's Master's Entry Program for 2011. Has anyone else applied? If so, have you heard back yet?

Hello!

I am a current BC student in the first year of the master's entry program! Willing to answer any questions you might have!

To answer catb - unfortunately BC is not the greatest at setting up meetings or keeping you informed. You will be paired up with a 2nd year (someone from my class) at some point in the summer and you can ask them questions. The first official BC interaction is at orientation in September though.

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Specializes in Family.

Hi Lynzie. Thanks for reaching out to us. I'm wondering what you do in your downtime outside of class? I only have Regis College info to compare to and while they both stress that it is an intense program, Regis allows 15hrs of work per week.

Just trying to figure what my day will be like once school starts. Can't wait!

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BC strongly discourages working, and I'll have to say that I agree. Here's a breakdown of your schedule for next year:

Fall: Class almost all day (9a-3p basically) MWF

1 day of clinical either Tues or Thurs, and a day off on the day you don't have clinical (Tues or Thurs).

That day off is so necessary though! From the last week in Sept through exam period you will have a test almost every single week. That extra day off really helps you to catch up not only on school work, but life things like laundry!

Spring Semester: Class M&F, 2 days of clinical Tues & Thur

For one half of the semester you will have clinical on Wednesdays (one half of the class does their Community Health clinical during the first part of the semester, and then you switch... so for one half of the semester you will have Wed off)

Tests are not as frequent this semester, but I still really enjoy my Wed off right now - not looking forward to when I pick up the Community rotation in mid-March!

Once I get home from school or clinical, I usually spend my afternoons studying/reading/writing papers. Same goes for the weekend. Since BC is only a two year program and you get your RN in August (one year after starting), they really cram things in as fast as they can, so keeping on top of your work is essential. That being said, you do have room for a "life" outside of school... I go to the gym a lot and make time for friends and my boyfriend. I'm just not so sure there would be room for a job. I don't think anyone in the program has a job, other than maybe babysitting or something that's extremely flexible with hours.

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Specializes in Family.

Awesome - I appreciate your detailed schedule. The sample curriculum just isn't the same as how you describe it. :) I am not even thinking of working but was just curious. Two years will go by in no time. Do you feel good coming out of your first semester?

Also, have any advice on how to decline a school's offer after you accepted and deposited money? It has been a couple days now and I am ready to tie things up.

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It's still a little scary to think I'll be a nurse in a few months, but we did learn a lot first semester. It's crazy how much I know now compared to when I started! This semester should help hone our skills too with more clinical days. In the summer there's a "summer synthesis" where you work side-by-side with a nurse for 6 weeks. Supposedly thats where you really get the most experience.

I would just tell the other school that you appreciate their offer and confidence in your abilities, but you've received another offer you cannot refuse and will be declining theirs!

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Congrats on those who have gotten in!! Does anyone know if rejections are sent via email or by letter? I haven't gotten an email sadly, I'm assuming I didn't get in. Now just waiting on Yale's decision! *crosses fingers*

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lynzie895 I was wondering if you could talk about how you chose BC versus other schools. It seems to be the only two year program and I am struggling with the idea if you can really be prepared in 2 years versus three years of practice.
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Hi Linzie! I have a question for you if you don't mind! I am currently on the wait list for BC, big bummer but I am keeping my fingers crossed. Do you know if any of your friends/peers were wait listed and ended up getting in?? I am just looking at my options and hoping that it will work out in my favor, the letter they sent me was pretty vague :) Thanks so much, and congrats to those accepted already!

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Hi kemh - I apologize for not seeing this message and responding sooner!

The shorter 2 year program has its advantages and disadvantages. You graduate sooner with less debt and can start working sooner. However, I am starting to see the advantages of the third year with more working experience. I'm not saying we're not getting experience or won't get jobs, but the experience is all within a clinical setting. A program like UMass or Simmons that requires a job once you have your RN might be beneficial to gain some experience out on your own.

In the end, we're all hoping that the year won't make a difference. The summer synthesis that I mention in another response should really help solidify what we've learned. I guess you have to decide if the extra experience, or money and time is more important to you

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Hi Caroline!

I do know people who got in off the waitlist, although I'm not sure when they heard or what the statistics were. I'd say there are about 4 people in our class of 40 that got in off the waitlist. I know one girl didn't find out until the end of August! Playing the waitlist game is never fun...

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Calinurse2011--

I hope you see this! I don't have permission to respond to private messages yet..

First of all, congrats on getting in! Just to clarify - you can't really take a year off in the program. The most you can do is part time after the first year. So you'd complete the RN program full time in 1 year, and then the master's part time in 2 years. I wil be going straight through and completing the whole thing in 2 years (as are most of my fellow students).

As for your other option, I feel I will be prepared as a nurse, and still have yet to see about the NP part of it! Unfortunately we've been told that NP jobs are just hard to come by, so many direct-entry students (from all schools, not just BC) often end up working as RN's first and getting some experience. What I'm trying to say is that with your other option, you would go to school, work as an RN for experience, then go back to school, work as an NP... correct? But if you did BC - you'd go to school then either work as an NP right away, or work as an RN to get some experience but still have your NP degree to eventually use. Saves an extra step right? Less schooling! Or you could drop down to part time and get an RN job while working towards your masters. Either way, it sounds to me like BC is the faster, more effective route to getting where you want to be.

Our reputation is actually pretty good in the Boston hospitals - and we get to work in some of the greatest hospitals in the country! The nurses are very accepting for the most part, especially once they find out we're not undergrads haha... they seem to think we're more mature i guess!

Hope that helps... let me know if you have any other questions!

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Hi all,

Congrats to those who have gotten in. I was on the waitlist and heard the good news this week that I was accepted. So there is hope for anyone out there waiting!

For those who have heard, what is your specialty?

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