Columbia BSN/MSN ETP 2014

Nursing Students School Programs

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I was surprised that there didn't seem to be a thread for this year's applicants to Columbia's ETP program. So I thought I would start one. The information session was today, but I wasn't able to go. :( I was hoping someone else went and would be able to post any admission statistics or tips for the personal statement they gave.

Hello! I'm a current Columbia ETP student, and I remember well how nerve-wracking this entire experience is!!! Agonizing over every single word in my application essay, stressing over my letters of recommendation, studying for hours for the GRE... it's hard work, but it feels good when you finally get it done.

I wish you all the best of luck. If there are any questions you may have about the program, please feel free to ask.

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Hi everyone! I'm also applying for the 2014 cycle (Family NP), and wanted to say hi and wish everyone the best of luck! I am nervous but excited about the whole process. I went to an info session this past April, and the two main things I took away from it were to follow directions closely and put a lot of thought and effort into your personal statement.

@ARickli, what specialty area are you in? How do you feel about the program overall? Thanks!

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@mgh26 Welcome! Happy to have another FNP applicant here!

@ARickli Thank you for offering your help! You couldn't have described my current state of mind any better! I have some questions:

1) The first summer is reputed for being an extremely rigorous time in the program. What was your experience like? Did you feel well prepared for clinicals?

2) Is there a strong sense of camaraderie within the students in your cohort or is it more competitive in nature?

Thank you again!

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@ARickli, is there anything you wish you knew when you were applying that you found out once you were in the program? Thanks!

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Sorry it took me a little while to get back to you guys... to say the least, I've been busy! To answer your questions:

@mgh--- I'm in Adult NP with a subspecialty in Oncology. But please be aware that during your first year, the entire cohort is in the same boat. Just because you are in one specialty or another does not mean that you will have more time or a different experience within your specialty. (That comes in the Master's portion.) So, during the 5 x 5s, we ALL have to do psych, med-surg, peds, obstetrics, etc. I've heard that your integration period (6-8 weeks at the end where you are paired up with an RN and work their shifts), they *try* to put you in your specialty, but this is not guaranteed. I'm not there yet, so I can't swear to it. Also realize, that with the exception of Anaesthesia and Midwifery, you can switch out of your specialty into another if you later realize that you are more comfortable in one area or another.

As to the program overall? I adore it. I am so incredibly happy to be at this school, having the opportunity to work with this caliber of staff, instructors, and hospitals. Of course, no program is perfect and no experience is the same, but for me, this is a dream come true.

@aiwish, the first summer is THE HARDEST experience I have ever gone through in my life. 21 credits in only 9 weeks is extremely challenging!! However, if you are organized and study hard, it can be done. The clinical experience was not the challenging aspect for me, it was the massive amount of information that was required to be read, internalized, and recalled as needed for exams. Clinicals were fun, actually! I had a great preceptor who left me feeling incredibly confident in my abilities and I was able to be hands-on with patients my very first day. As to camraderie, absolutely!! We are all in the same boat together, so there's a lot of helping each other out when needed. There is no advantage to compete- while we get letter grades and our class is ranked, there is no valedictorian and the only time that your class ranking comes into play is when people are invited to join Sigma Theta Tau (the international nursing fraternity). At that time, the top 1/3 are invited in. In my experience, everyone is quite lovely and I have made some wonderful friends.

@susifen, I think I knew fairly well what I was getting into. I made it a point of going to an information session at the school prior to applying, asked a ton of questions of current students on this site, and researched all I could. Accepted students were also invited to come to the school for a day to walk around and speak with current students, and I took advantage of that opportunity.

Best of luck to you all and I hope that I can meet you on campus one day!

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@ARickli - Thank you so much for your insight! Hearing your experiences make me excited for what might be ahead.

How is everyone doing on their applications? Only a few weeks until the deadline and I am nervously waiting for one recommender!!

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Specializes in Pediatric CICU.

I've just submitted my application to UPenn's program, so now it's time to focus on the one for Columbia!

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@ARickli Thank you so much for sharing your experience and answering our questions! It means a lot during this stressful time of applying :)

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Hi all, just found this thread! I am also a 2014 Columbia hopeful and working on my application - still have to write my essay. My two main concerns are my GRE and the amount of prereqs I have finished. My verbal score is great but math not so much - below the 50th percentile for sure! Does anyone know how much emphasis they place on the GRE?

I also will only have two prereq grades done by the time the app is due but set to finish them all before the start date .. Hopefully they will still consider my app!

Has everyone finished their applications? Good luck!

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@ARickli

Thanks for the helpful insight and sharing your experiences with the forum. I am currently applying, just waiting on a 2 LOR to be submitted. If you find the time, could you tell us a little about your class? What different qualities makes them stand out and what qualities do you all share? It's so nerve-wrecking just thinking about the soon deadline and how we all will be judged and selected. Good luck to everyone, I know I need it! :shy: #1 Goal: PNP by 2016!

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So where is everyone from? What's your educational background? What specialty are you applying to?

I am so anxious for Feb:geek: to come around to know CUSON's selections. I really hope we all meet each other next year! I am hispanic, studied medicine and hope to be a PNP in the future. Anybody care to share? :yes:

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Specializes in Pediatric CICU.

I'm from Northern California, studied chemistry at the University of California, San Diego, and am applying to the anesthesia specialty! I am really anxious as well, hoping applications are going well for everyone!

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