Columbia ETP 2015

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Has anyone started a thread yet? The application is due in 174 days and as you can see I'm already obsessing.

Anyone else?!

Hey all! Not sure if this is the space to do this, but I am currently in the Columbia ETP program and would love to answer any questions you have about the program or the application process from a current student's perspective. I'm in the midwifery track, though I won't be able to offer much insight on that since the ETP year focuses on just nursing fundamentals. I am originally from California and majored in English lit, so I can also answer questions about moving, housing, and being in an entirely new world/field. Good luck on your applications!

Hi! I have some questions. :) Can I send you a private message?

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Hi, BettyBones!

Would you kindly share with us any information that you may have regarding GRE statistics for those students currently in the program?

Are any of the ETP students employed?

What's a typical day like for you as an ETP student?

Thanks!

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Any tips on formatting the resume? >__> I'm having trouble listing stuff at the end, like it says here on the application:

  • Applicants are encouraged to include interests, hobbies, honors, awards, and travel experience on your resume. This type of information gives us a broader perspective of the applicant.

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I have a question regarding submission of the application.

If I click submit and realize that a week before the deadline one of my recommendations had not been submitted would I be able to open the application, delete the person's name who has yet to complete the form and replace that referee with another?

I'm also concerned about my GRE scores. Does anyone have any idea about the stats? I've read here and on Columbia's site that major emphasis wouldn't be placed on the scores.

I'm nervous to click submit. Le sigh! :(

EDIT: I've just learned that the application can be updated after submission. I'm still nervous, however.

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The format of my resume has titles for those sections followed by bullet point lists with brief descriptions.

ex.:

Honors and Awards

* ABC Induction and Award (2011)

- XYZ University Chapter

* BBB Travel Award

-2013 Women's Health Conference Chicago, Illinois

Hobbies

Writing, Hiking, etc.

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Haha, I feel like I'm in over my head... I don't have enough awards or honors compared to most people. Hope Columbia still accepts me!

For hobbies, would you still include those things even if they are not that related to nursing?

Columbia GRE Scores | Magoosh GRE Blog

That has some statistics for average scores in the past. Not sure how accurate it is.

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I had read through a forum for a previous year and learned that there were applicants with stellar stats but statements in their essays caused their applications to be denied per a Columbia SON information session. So, while you think that your honors and awards don't measure up to someone else's, there is still hope.

The resume examples above were just that, examples. I don't have hiking listed on my resume but I do have other things unrelated to nursing...

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o_O Certain statements?

Hm... better watch what I write, then. Do you have any other information on what things may not sound good? I am pretty sure I did not write anything controversial or offensive... but never hurts to be careful.

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Hi deeps88!

Columbia is definitely selective but I don't think it's as hard to get into as other schools. I don't know the details on my fellow students, but I can tell you what I got in with.

Alma mater: UC Berkeley

Undergrad GPA: 3.748

Prereqs GPA: 4.0

GRE: Verbal 165 (95th percentile) / Quantitative 168 (95th percentile) / Writing 4 (56 percentile)

Healthcare/related experience: volunteered as an abortion doula for 1 year, as a sex educator for 2 years. No hospital experience.

I also applied to UCSF and Yale. UCSF invited me for an interview but I was told I needed more birth experience for the midwifery program. Yale did not interview me and rejected my application.

Above all, you need to focus on your personal statement, as this is what will set you apart and make you stand out. Why nursing? Why your particular speciality? For midwifery, this latter reason is especially important--midwifery is one of the most selective specialities and you need to show you are passionate/serious about that world.

Honestly, I initially was looking for programs that were just WHNP, as I wanted to focus on women's health as an advanced practiced nurse. I didn't originally consider midwifery since my background is more about contraception rather than conception. However, it seems the general trend for nursing schools is towards midwifery programs over WHNP. Plus, as a CNM you can do what a WHNP can do and more! It also helps that I really like babies. :)

As for the women's health subspecialty: this is definitely a possibility, but note that if you apply as family, you will need to explain why you are interested in *family.* You're taking care of a wide range of people, and while many FNPs like to focus on a specific age group, you will need to be interested in providing family care. Also, keep in mind that you're paying by credit. Columbia is incredibly expensive, so pursuing a subspecialty means spending more money (or rather accruing more debt).

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Hi GuiltyLove! I saw your PM but I don't think I have been an active enough member on allnurses to reply to it. I think it said something like having 15 posts on here? Maybe after answering the other questions I will be able to respond to you privately. :)

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Hi PublicHealthNurse1!

I don't know the GRE stats for the other students in my program. These are mine:

Verbal 165 (95th percentile) / Quantitative 168 (95th percentile) / Writing 4 (56th percentile)

I don't think you should worry too much about the GRE. Focus on your personal statement and on showcasing any related experience you have to the healthcare setting or your intended speciality.

No ETP students are employed, at least not full-time during the semester. The summer is so intense that you will barely have time to go grocery shopping! You are taking 20 units in 10 weeks, in class/clinical/lab for 32 hours a week and twice you'll have three big exams in one week. It's often called "bootcamp," and sometimes I wonder how I survived.

CUSON actually has a great little blog that provides some insight into the ETP year. Here's a post written by an ETP student from last year on the daily schedule: » A Day In the Life of an ETP Student The Huddle

Here's how the week was structured for summer:

Monday: 2 classes, 8am to 4pm, 1 hour break in between

Tuesday: 3 classes, 9am to 8pm, 1 hour breaks in between

Wednesday: clinical (hospital), 7:30am to 3:30pm, lunch break

Thursday: lab, varies--4 hour block, 5-15 minute break in between

Friday: 1 class, 9am to 1pm

For the 3 and 4 hour classes, the professors would provide one or two 10-minute breaks.

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Very good input betty bones. Questions:

1. Do you have a feeling of why you did not obtain a Yale interview?

2. The video at Colombia nursing states that all direct entry RNs make it thru the program, is this a true statement?

3. The Colombia program I am informed does not interview and sends acceptance/denial letters; and that they hold a large invitation to their program (120 accepted students) and break these into small classes (groups), is this the case?

4. What percentage of applicants are accepted, my research mentioned around 30-40%?

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