Columbia SON MDE 2019

Nursing Students School Programs

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Hey Everyone!

Just wanted to start this thread for those who are all applying to the Columbia School of Nursing MDE program for 2019 Entry.

I figured we could all share our thoughts/ questions/ concerns here, or just use this to meet some new people ?

My name is Gurdeep, I'm from NY, and I'm a recent Grad from Binghamton University. Looking forward to meeting all of you ?

Just now, abcdenrse said:

Hi, I thought the merit scholarship for your cohort is $27k. So together with the $24k need-based is $51k?

Hi, this may be my mistake. I don't recall whether the financial aid was merit or need-based but the TOTAL scholarship each person could have gotten was 27k... 51k would have been better haha

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2 minutes ago, abcdenrse said:

Hi, I thought the merit scholarship for your cohort is $27k. So together with the $24k need-based is $51k?

I believe the 27K was the number from the previous cohort. But to answer your question, no. It was 24K+8K = 32K as the most I've heard. Others I've spoken to received the 24K if they only filed FAFSA. Again though, ask fin aid! They would be more help as this changes year to year.

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I think the confusion is that we’re mistaking the merit scholarships with the need-based scholarships. I did not receive the 15k merit scholarship for MDE but I did receive a 28k need-based scholarship. Both of these are an increase from the 8k and 24k awarded to the previous cohort. Whether anyone received both, however, I’m not sure.

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Thanks so much for telling us more about last years cohort! Will you be continuing on to the DNP portion? Does your need based aid (24k) repeat next year or is it just the seamless scholarship after the first year? I was accepted to the MDE/DNP PMHNP program but running the numbers makes me feel a little ill ?.

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13 minutes ago, thaifood122 said:

Thanks so much for telling us more about last years cohort! Will you be continuing on to the DNP portion? Does your need based aid (24k) repeat next year or is it just the seamless scholarship after the first year? I was accepted to the MDE/DNP PMHNP program but running the numbers makes me feel a little ill ?.

I also wonder how much need-based scholarship we’d receive for the final summer semester of the MDE program

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1 hour ago, abcdenrse said:

I also wonder how much need-based scholarship we’d receive for the final summer semester of the MDE program

The financial aid director made it clear to our cohort last year that there is no need-based aid during the last summer semester of the MDE program. It is applied for Fall and Spring semesters. This is why they always remind us to budget carefully.

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does anyone know what need-based aid in the DNP tends to be like?

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1 hour ago, kjck397 said:

does anyone know what need-based aid in the DNP tends to be like?

According to my most recent emails with financial aid, there is no need based aid aside from seamless scholarship.

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9 hours ago, thaifood122 said:

According to my most recent emails with financial aid, there is no need based aid aside from seamless scholarship.

I also want to emphasize to confirm with Columbia/Financial Aid about the DNP residency. Our cohort was repeatedly promised that the residency is fully paid and that we are paying 10 credits total for that year. That was great, since we can start paying back loans ?However, after being admitted, we were told that the residency is NOT paid, you may receive a stipend but in most cases, it's not paid because the school will negotiate with your residency placement/hospital. For some programs, I heard from our peers you pay full flat-rate tuition for the residency so check with your specialty director and admissions director!

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Hi everyone! I'm trying to decide between Columbia MDE/DNP (FNP), UPenn's BSN-MSN (also FNP), and Johns Hopkins Masters Entry (I'll have to apply for a DNP afterwards).

@The_Salty_Cat if you have time, I would love to hear your thoughts on the program.

1. What is the vibe at the school? Is it a caring environment, or do they really run you ragged? I want a rigorous program and have no qualms about hard work and lots of study, but I want to be around professors and students that are feeling positive and not totally burnt out. Life is just too short to spend any of it being miserable. I haven't visited UPenn or CU yet, but I found Hopkins to be a very nurturing place. I'm curious what your experience has been.

2. Similarly, what is the burn out rate? I've heard a lot of people don't go on for their DNP right away because they're drained after the prelicensure year.

3. I'm worried about money. I got pretty good packages it seems; Hopkins gave $45k, Columbia $43k for MDE and then the $40k for seamless, and I'm still waiting on aid from Penn. Still, it's so, so much. I'm curious what working is like during the DNP portion of study. I'm cool with doing a living loan for a year and a half, but not for four years. Can you work enough as an RN during the DNP to make it through?

Thank you so much for all your posts, they've been beyond helpful.

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31 minutes ago, eastwest said:

Hi everyone! I'm trying to decide between Columbia MDE/DNP (FNP), UPenn's BSN-MSN (also FNP), and Johns Hopkins Masters Entry (I'll have to apply for a DNP afterwards).

@The_Salty_Cat if you have time, I would love to hear your thoughts on the program.

1. What is the vibe at the school? Is it a caring environment, or do they really run you ragged? I want a rigorous program and have no qualms about hard work and lots of study, but I want to be around professors and students that are feeling positive and not totally burnt out. Life is just too short to spend any of it being miserable. I haven't visited UPenn or CU yet, but I found Hopkins to be a very nurturing place. I'm curious what your experience has been.

2. Similarly, what is the burn out rate? I've heard a lot of people don't go on for their DNP right away because they're drained after the prelicensure year.

3. I'm worried about money. I got pretty good packages it seems; Hopkins gave $45k, Columbia $43k for MDE and then the $40k for seamless, and I'm still waiting on aid from Penn. Still, it's so, so much. I'm curious what working is like during the DNP portion of study. I'm cool with doing a living loan for a year and a half, but not for four years. Can you work enough as an RN during the DNP to make it through?

Thank you so much for all your posts, they've been beyond helpful.

Hi eastwest, Congratulations on all your acceptances! Feel free to PM me, thanks!

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Hi @eastwest & @The_salty_cat, following this convo as well! I think i maxed out on what Columbia could give me for the MDE (the 15k merit and also a ~28k need based). Still its a lot of money and I'm wondering if a MSN degree with no specialty is worth it?

I think its important for us to note that MDE graduates ARE NOT able to go straight to a post-MSN certification program, which is something I asked during a webinar last week.

Ultimately I want to go into a CNM specialty and I know that the ACNM and also every midwife I've asked has said that they dont think a DNP is necessary for Midwifery at all.

I'm having a hard time deciding between Columbia and Mount Sinai (havent gotten a finaid award from them yet). Mount Sinai is an accelerated Bachelor's program but I'm not sure if it matters since the MSN from Columb is non-specialty and I would have to do another MSN to gain NP privileges.

If there are any DNP students out there who are currently in the program (especially the Midwifery DNP) and have any insight-- please reply!

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