Columbia School of Nursing MDE 2018

Guest1043899 · Sep 23, 2017

Hi all!

I have a question about the essay. We don't know the topics until we start filling our applications. It surely takes a time to write an essay, thinking, writing and proofreading. How do you guys prepare for the essay?

HopefullyNP · Sep 24, 2017

1. I love the program so far! There have been numerous complaints about it being disorganized, but I have to disagree. All of our professors are in contact with each other and with all the administrative staff. For example, one time two different professors were gonna have a review session at the exact same time, but when they noticed this conflict one immediately changed her time. TAs are always trying to work around our schedule to fit in review sessions and office hours. Whenever we get some sort of administrative email, the professors know that we got that email. I think the coordination is great overall. The only "disorganized" part is that in one of our classes it feels like we have 10 things going on at once. At the beginning of the semester it was confusing but 2-3 weeks in most of us got the hang of it. Clinicals are great and a really awesome way to learn. The only part that no one likes is our long days. It feels like we practically live on campus because we spend so much time in class and at the library studying.
2. The curriculum is rigorous enough to prepare us but not so rigorous that we can't handle it. Almost all professors make their exams multiple choice and NCLEX style. To give you an idea, we have integrated testing throughout the year using Kaplan test prep and the Kaplan exams, which are made specifically to help us pass the NCLEX, have been very similar to our in class exams. I think Columbia's pass rate is about 95% but if someone doesn't pass it's probably because they didn't use the tools that were available to them, not because the school didn't prepare them.
3. Everyone in the program is very very supportive. All professors are very approachable and more than happy to answer questions. Administrative staff are very easy to get ahold of and very responsive via email. My clinical instructor is awesome and I've only heard good things about other instructors. Peers are pretty supportive I would say. A lot of people study together, but that's not for everybody. Obviously if you have a group project (which we have a lot of) then you can't avoid working with others. But even outside the group work many people have study buddies. I do have to admit that some students are very competitive and it shows. But I should have known to expect that. It is Columbia after all!
4. The pace of the program is fine. The tricky part is using your time wisely. For example, we spend Mondays 8AM to 5PM in class. Not many people want to head to the library after that many hours and continue studying. If you rest and relax every evening and then get some work done before bed you'll be fine. And it's also important to get some studying in on weekends. But yes, you will have plenty of time to study and surprisingly even some time to go out and enjoy yourself. I was under the impression that I would never do anything fun all summer but that's not the case at all.
5. I do not work and I don't know anyone who does. I highly discourage it because if you use up your little free time working you will never get around to studying. Here's our schedule this semester to give you an idea:
-Monday classes 8AM to 5PM
-Tuesday classes 8AM to 4PM
-Wednesday labs 8AM to 12PM usually followed by about 3 hours of group work
-Thursday clinical 7AM to 3:30PM
-Friday class 9AM to 1PM and an optional review session for that class 1PM to 3PM (that a lot of people go to)
(Wednesday half the class has clinical and half has labs. Thursday we switch. Also half of us have labs 8AM to 12PM whereas the other half have them 12:30PM to 4:30PM. For those with afternoon labs they might do their group work in the mornings before class.)
Throw in time spent watching tv to unwind, time making dinner, time studying, showering, grocery shopping and whatever else. And sleep of course. Sleep is very important and something we treasure nowadays!!!
6. Most of us got the MDE scholarship which is $27,000. But if I remember correctly the cost of tuition for the MDE alone is $109,000 so most of us have close to $100,000 in loans to cover the rest of tuition, books, health insurance, housing, food, transportation. Unless your family can afford to pay for it, in which case you're VERY lucky!
7. My advice is this: stop stressing about whether your GPA or GRE or experience is good enough. I know someone in the program whose undergraduate GPA was a 2.8 and another person who had a 2.9. There is a reason Columbia doesn't have a minimum GPA and that's because it doesn't take straight A's to make a good nurse. Some people bombed the GRE but still got in. Some of my classmates have all kinds of medical experience on their resumes while some of us have none. Our cohort is made of teachers, paramedics, people who worked in business, people who did public health, musicians, students who came here straight from undergrad with no work experience whatsoever. Some people have degrees in neuroscience and some of us have degrees in liberal arts. Some of us are older in our 30's and 40's while some are barely 22. We have lots of married students and students with children! In my opinion, anyone can get in with good essays, good videos, and good recommendations. Just make sure you show your passion for people and a good reason for why you chose nursing and Columbia.

THANK. YOU. This was so helpful and for someone with a lower undergrad GPA, very inspirational!!

soontobeRN89 · Sep 24, 2017

While I think grades in prereqs are more important than your overall GPA, it's not a requirement to have straight A's in them. I got B's in half my prereqs and still got in. Believe me when I say that essays and recommendations are the most important!

As far as the essays, last year the prompts were on the admissions site, so you could start writing them before even beginning the application. And for the video essays, they say you only get two attempts but last year some people re-did them like six times. It seemed like we had no limit. But I'm not sure if it's the same this year.

I know applications are due in a few weeks so if anyone has any more questions feel free to ask and I'll do my best to respond in a timely manner. Good luck to every single one of you!

HopefullyNP · Sep 24, 2017

@soontobeRN89

sorry, didn't mean to quote that whole thing - no idea what I'm doing here (brand new to allnurses)

Luckilly, I've made A's in all my prereqs but struggled in my BA a few years ago. Hoping this will redeem me! I keep hearing to focus on essays, which sounds so simple but when you start to write it, I realize how hard it is to not sound like a cliche. To be continued I guess! Thanks again

The_Salty_Cat · Sep 24, 2017

Has anyone completed the video response and timed writing portion? If so, do you complete both in one sitting?

aksea · Sep 24, 2017

I completed mine, and yes, you do the both in the same session. You only have one chance to get the video right this year, and one chance on the timed writing as well! Best of luck everyone! With my application in, the wait has begun, and it's already killing me!

The_Salty_Cat · Sep 24, 2017

Did you receive a practice question to help you get used to the video process?

chelseacaressa · Sep 24, 2017

Yes you will get multiple times to practice with the practice questions to make sure that your sound works properly and webcam is set up well.

akmaa · Sep 27, 2017

Hi everyone! I'm excited to apply for the MDE/DNP program this year. I'm a bit nervous about the timed writing portion. Any tips?

The_Salty_Cat · Sep 27, 2017

Thank you! Good luck to you :)

The_Salty_Cat · Sep 27, 2017

Thank you @chelseacaressa! Good luck to you :)

MeliCatiz · Sep 27, 2017

Hi All

I am also in the process of applying for the MDE for 2018 and all these responses have made me much more confident in applying. I am planning to do the video essay and timed writing tomorrow and I'm very nervous about the video essay. I appreciate all the current MDEers that are willing to take their time to help us prospective MDEers =) it helps a lot to get insight of the program from current students and not only from staff. Good luck to all the people who are applying in a couple weeks!