Columbia SON MDE 2019

Do they accept many people off the waitlist? 

To those of you who are choosing Columbia over other schools, how did you decide? Additionally, to current students, what are your thoughts about the program having gone through a semester or two? Thanks! 

On 3/3/2019 at 10:18 PM, minnie324 said:

To those of you who are choosing Columbia over other schools, how did you decide? Additionally, to current students, what are your thoughts about the program having gone through a semester or two? Thanks! 

After a ton of soul searching and talking to a lot of people in health care, I think I decided to go with an in state program rather than Columbia. 330ish in student debt is just way too much to be a mid level practitioner and would have a huge impact on my life, job opportunities/choices, and future family. It’s kind of terrifying to think of paying over half my take home pay in student loan payments for years. 

Im still wrestling with this decision and it’s really hard to turn down Columbia and wonder about whether walking away is closing future opportunity doors, but the debt is just a really huge concern for me.

1 hour ago, thaifood122 said:

After a ton of soul searching and talking to a lot of people in health care, I think I decided to go with an in state program rather than Columbia. 330ish in student debt is just way too much to be a mid level practitioner and would have a huge impact on my life, job opportunities/choices, and future family. It’s kind of terrifying to think of paying over half my take home pay in student loan payments for years. 

Im still wrestling with this decision and it’s really hard to turn down Columbia and wonder about whether walking away is closing future opportunity doors, but the debt is just a really huge concern for me.

You are not missing much. Columbia’s lastest NCLEX passing rate is 88% from its website. It doesn’t seem to be a competitive program to get into anymore, but one that’s more money-driven due to its Ivy status and location in nyc. 

You will most likely end up working in the same settings as Columbia nursing graduates provided that you work hard in your state school. 

Good luck!

Edited Mar 5 by abcdenrse

11 minutes ago, abcdenrse said:

You are not missing much. Columbia’s lastest NCLEX passing rate is 88% from its website. It doesn’t seem to be a competitive program to get into anymore, but one that’s more money-driven due to its Ivy status and location in nyc. 

You will most likely end up working in the same settings as Columbia nursing graduates provided that you work hard in your state school. 

Good luck!

Thanks for reminding me of this and pointing out the NCLEX pass rate! That’s kind of abysmal compared to other programs I’ve applied to. 

I have heard a LOT of complaints from multiple current students which has also turned me off. Meanwhile, the people Ive spoken to at UT Austin are all wonderfully warm and encouraging and it’s a hell of a lot cheaper. 

Sigh. Decisions this big are never easy but I hope everyone makes the choice that leaves them feeling happiest! 

1 hour ago, thaifood122 said:

After a ton of soul searching and talking to a lot of people in health care, I think I decided to go with an in state program rather than Columbia. 330ish in student debt is just way too much to be a mid level practitioner and would have a huge impact on my life, job opportunities/choices, and future family. It’s kind of terrifying to think of paying over half my take home pay in student loan payments for years. 

Im still wrestling with this decision and it’s really hard to turn down Columbia and wonder about whether walking away is closing future opportunity doors, but the debt is just a really huge concern for me.

Thank you for this! I'm in the same dilemma and will need to do a little soul searching on my end too. The name and prestige of Columbia was really appealing to me in the beginning, but I've also been hearing mixed reviews about the program. I'm considering another school as well but both are relatively the same costs, so I'm looking at the quality of the education and faculty and how fits with me and my career outlook. Having a cohort of 200+ as opposed to 60-70 in other programs sounds daunting -- i'm not sure how supportive the faculty and admin are to students as well as support between students. I wish I was able to attend visiting day and get a feel for the environment, but I live out of state and don't have the means to travel right now.

Decisions are coming up quick, and I'm super nervous about my ultimate choice!!

14 hours ago, abcdenrse said:

You are not missing much. Columbia’s lastest NCLEX passing rate is 88% from its website. It doesn’t seem to be a competitive program to get into anymore, but one that’s more money-driven due to its Ivy status and location in nyc. 

You will most likely end up working in the same settings as Columbia nursing graduates provided that you work hard in your state school. 

Good luck!

I’m curious, where did you find this pass rate? Last time I emailed the school in regards to this figure I was told 92%. The information on the website doesn’t seem to have been updated for the year of 2018. 

3 hours ago, OpiePl said:

I’m curious, where did you find this pass rate? Last time I emailed the school in regards to this figure I was told 92%. The information on the website doesn’t seem to have been updated for the year of 2018. 

http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/nurse/nurseprogs-nclexrn2013-17.htm

 

Heres the information from the state. 2018 has not been released. 

Edited Mar 6 by thaifood122

3 hours ago, OpiePl said:

I’m curious, where did you find this pass rate? Last time I emailed the school in regards to this figure I was told 92%. The information on the website doesn’t seem to have been updated for the year of 2018. 

Here you go: http://www.nursing.columbia.edu/about-us/facts-and-figures-0

23 hours ago, thaifood122 said:

After a ton of soul searching and talking to a lot of people in health care, I think I decided to go with an in state program rather than Columbia. 330ish in student debt is just way too much to be a mid level practitioner and would have a huge impact on my life, job opportunities/choices, and future family. It’s kind of terrifying to think of paying over half my take home pay in student loan payments for years. 

Im still wrestling with this decision and it’s really hard to turn down Columbia and wonder about whether walking away is closing future opportunity doors, but the debt is just a really huge concern for me.

I’m having some of the same issue of the price. I’ve been to an open house, I live Columbia and I have heard good things from the students. Two I’ve spoken to said they felt very prepared for the NCLEX. But my concern is also the huge price tag. The MDE alone is about 110k ..I think the mde and dnp combined is 270K before any aid or scholarships. It’s a huge price tag but I don’t even know if any other program in New York that offers an MSN in an MDE setting. So it’s very daunting. 

3 hours ago, Aw1992 said:

I’m having some of the same issue of the price. I’ve been to an open house, I live Columbia and I have heard good things from the students. Two I’ve spoken to said they felt very prepared for the NCLEX. But my concern is also the huge price tag. The MDE alone is about 110k ..I think the mde and dnp combined is 270K before any aid or scholarships. It’s a huge price tag but I don’t even know if any other program in New York that offers an MSN in an MDE setting. So it’s very daunting. 

Don’t forget to add in the 4th semester and living expenses. The financial aid package only covered the first 3 semesters of the MDE. When I ran the numbers it was around 130k for MDE and around 330k final debt for whole program without the 3% yearly tuition increases

In the end, I realized that if I wanted prestige, I should have gone MD or PhD Psychology. I chose NP because as a career changer in my late 20s, I really want the job and role as a mental health provider, but I didnt want the debt or time commitment either of those other two routes would take. By choosing Columbia, I’d be taking on the debt of medical school (without the eventual salary of a physician) which defeats the entire purpose of me choosing to become an NP in the first place. 

Of course if it’s the best way you have of attaining your goal, or you pursued the nursing path for a different reason, then go for it! I’m sure it will open some doors for you! One I’m worried about closing in teaching in a similar program down the road. 

But really my much cheaper in state program (around 80k total - tuition/fees/cost of living - for the entire NP journey) better aligns with my future goals than going to an Ivy for nursing school (like saving for a house down payment, being able to work part time when I have kids, and continuing with plenty of international travel - goals that will be made far harder with student loan and interest payments).

Columbia is one of the most expensive pathways to NP out there. And after REALLY thinking about how I want to spend my 30s and 40s, I realized that while it’s a great opportunity with a ton of prestige, it’s ultimately not the financial future I want for myself.

I think anyone taking on this amount of student debt should really consider how it will impact the life they want over the next two decades, because it is not an insignificant amount of money and student loan forgiveness is not guaranteed. 

Edited Mar 6 by thaifood122

@thaifood122

I completely agree with you and I’m in the same boat as you too. As someone who’s also in late 20s, a career changer, and who love international travel, I’d defintely choose financial freedom over prestige. In the end, the path and the salary as a nurse/NP would be similar no matter which route we take.