Columbia ETP Program 2012 entry

Doula Kerry · Feb 20, 2012

Idk, but I wrote about a particularly compelling birth I attended that was a stillborn and how it shaped my life. I think we all have that ahha moment or moments that shape our lives, that was one for me.

barbiemafia · Feb 21, 2012

Where is this facebook group? I can't find one....

bluskyy · Feb 21, 2012

fyi -- the email confirmation for visiting day has been sent out =)

BigMoses · Feb 22, 2012

Hey everyone, I was wondering if you guys could help me with an issue. I've been accepted into a couple of PMHNP programs, including Columbia's and i'm having trouble deciding which one to go to. What's sealing the deal for you guys when it comes to choosing a nursing program? How do you feel Columbia's nursing school compares to others around the country?

barbiemafia · Feb 23, 2012

does anyone know if we need to wear scrubs to classes?

LookingAhead · Feb 23, 2012

In pretty sure we don't.

dedicatedone · Feb 23, 2012

@BigMoses. I too am looking at a variety of programs. I think what I am most drawn to about this program is that it does in fact offer both a BSN and MSN upon completion. Most programs do not offer this. Now, I am not sure how much of an impact this as on our ability to be accepted into new grad programs to follow, but I believe it will help us in the end.

I have not committed to Columbia as of yet, but hoping to make a decision within the next 2 weeks.

cpsnap · Feb 23, 2012

@BigMoses. I too am looking at a variety of programs. I think what I am most drawn to about this program is that it does in fact offer both a BSN and MSN upon completion. Most programs do not offer this. Now, I am not sure how much of an impact this as on our ability to be accepted into new grad programs to follow, but I believe it will help us in the end.
I have not committed to Columbia as of yet, but hoping to make a decision within the next 2 weeks.

The BSN is definitely a big pro for me. In addition, I am definitely drawn to Columbia's master's sub-specialties as well as the program's general flexibility (ability to work for a year between BSN and MSN).

LookingAhead · Feb 23, 2012

For me, specialty-specific details/reputation are more important than the nursing school as a whole. Yes, we'll all go through the ETP year, but we're all doing these programs so that we can be NPs/CNMs/CRNAs, not RNs. I would have a good chat with the director of your program and see if they're someone you feel will teach you well and structure your program well, look at what the clinical placements are going to be like for specialty, talk to students who are currently in the masters portion of your specialty to get their perspectives, find out where recent grads from your specialty have gone on to work, etc.

When you look at all of that for each program you've been admitted to, maybe you'll decide that Columbia is the best place for you, or maybe you'll decide that another program is a better fit.

Congrats!

jqfish · Feb 24, 2012

Hey Mollymargaret!

Just found your post. I'm not on financial aid (ouch), I am over 24, but just happened to have leftover $$ in a 529 account after college. So I get to spend that down until I qualify. (double ouch, but I guess that education account was made for this). The ETP is undergrad so they take your parents income into account for that year. Once you get to the master's, they do not take your parents income into account.

The majority of girls in the program got the Columbia scholarship of ~$25,000 for the BSN year (there's a separate scholarship for the MSN). Then a vast majority have taken out loans (private or federal- yeah, it's what you do for grad school). There's an entire financial aid presentation during visiting day and they'd be the ones to check with on all this. If you're not going to make it to visiting day, they're going to send you a fin. aid package with all the numbers. That's why they want your FAFSA in early, so they can send you the package earlier.

Anyways, sorry I'm no help on that. When you come for visiting day, you'll be meeting a bunch of current students for lunch and tours if you want to ask them about how they financed this.

cthomson · Feb 24, 2012

Has anyone heard anything concerning the waitlist?

melismor · Feb 24, 2012

Hey Everyone,

I got into Columbia as well as Penn and Johns Hopkins for the acute care NP specialty. I know it is a good problem to have, but I am stressing a bit over which school to choose! Right now, I feel it is between Columbia and Penn. Penn has an abroad program, which really interests me and unfortunately Columbia does not have one. I really like Columbia's program though, and have a friend there currently who really likes it. Any advice?