Columbia University ETP 2008

Kevn2bNP · Feb 11, 2008

Hey Kevin,
I think we are all really curious about what's in store for us- would you mind giving us a quick overview of what to expect in the beginning? For example, what is a typical day/week like for you? What time to classes start/end, how many hours of studying per night? Is it true what they said at the open house day- that you better not get sick/married/pregnant/divorced your first year?
Any info you can share would be greatly appreciated!
thanks ;-)

hi l_eisha,

First off, it's good you went to the open house. Lots of good info. is given there. As far as your questions: it depends on where you're coming from prior to this program. I was a career changer with no science background (excepct for prereqs). Others were just out of college and had a biology or other science degree.

Regardless of your knowledge base and skills, the summer session is the 'boot camp' of the program. I think if you can pass all the classes then, you're chances are really good to excel in the program. As for a typical day, the summer is the 'busiest.' You'll spend Mon, Tues. in class from 8 to 4. Then, depending on how you are split up, you'll have skills/assessment lab on either Wed. or Thurs. and clinical the other day. Pharm is on Fridays (and was my worst class to study for). The summer is nine weeks long, but extremely tiring because you juggle so many classes. I had very little of a life outside of class during the summer and mostly studied pharmacology, but that was my weakness going into the program.

The fall is when you start your rotations (five weeks each with two clinical days). You still have two classes in addition to the five by five classes, but the schedules seem a little more manageable.

We're just now starting our last five by five and only have one additional class, so this is the best situation so far. Next, we begin integration: a 10-week intensive part of the program where we follow a preceptor's schedule. The most intense, but most rewarding part of the program.

Hope that gives you an idea of what to expect.

Here's a brief rundown:

Summer: M-T 8 to 4, Fri: 8-12

Fall: M 9-4, Tues 12-2 or 3, depending on class, W,T-clinical, Fri:12-3

Spring: integration.

Best of luck!

LovetoTravel2001 · Feb 11, 2008

Thanks for the info Kevn2bNP! That is really helpful. Do you (or does anyone else) know how the student housing works? Price, size, how they determine priority, when they notify you about it, move in date, etc... My husband and I are trying to figure out where we will be living once we move and whether we need to look into other options besides what Columbia has. Any advice from anyone would be appreciated.

jbazoola · Feb 11, 2008

" Any ETP applicants also considering Molloy college??"

I was planning on applying to molloy and pace. Originally stonybrook was the most attractive to me because of the quick progression to RN and then the option to continue for a masters in a specialty. plus it was so much cheaper there. But they wouldn't accept my pre-reqs through distance learning credits. I had a very hard time trying to work my work schedule around the limited classes with seat openings at local community colleges.

I like molloy. they work with mercy hospital I think. out on long island. and they made the process for applying relatively easy to understand. they have a combined degree bachelors and masters program. And pace also has one. they say they encourage students to take time off between the bsn and masters to work at a hospital and hopefully arrange tuition reimbursement. your considered accepted to the masters whenever you take it (i don't know if their is an outer limit on that). I'm not sure the same is true on molloy.

I have tons of stuff on the other schools from doing research. I know that pace and molloy have June application deadlines. if anybody needs more info or even catalogs or other documents from the school pm me.

elizabells, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2008

Thanks for the info Kevn2bNP! That is really helpful. Do you (or does anyone else) know how the student housing works? Price, size, how they determine priority, when they notify you about it, move in date, etc... My husband and I are trying to figure out where we will be living once we move and whether we need to look into other options besides what Columbia has. Any advice from anyone would be appreciated.

They start with the students who are coming from the farthest away and move inwards. I know one girl from South Dakota who wasn't going to get housing, but she was dx'ed with lupus shortly before school started and wouldn't have been able to manage a commute, so they found a room for her. She was the only person west of the Rockies to get housing in my year.

This applies to the dorms in Bard Hall. Not 100% sure how the apartments for married couples are divvied up, but I imagine it's similar. I guess the rationale is that those coming from CA and such can't really come and apartment hunt before school starts.

kevkev1986 · Feb 11, 2008

So I feel very disappointed with the way the Financial Aid Office at the Columbia SON is working. :madface:

I'm sure all of us are aware that attending a highly regarded educational institution such as Columbia is not going to be anywhere cheap. Before I applied to this program, I spent a good hour talking on the phone with the director of the financial aid regarding financial assistance as an incoming ETP student.

It is also stated on the FAQ part of the admissions page:

Is financial aid available?

Absolutely! The School of Nursing strives to provide students with sufficient resources to meet their needs and to distribute funds to eligible students in an equitable manner. Scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities are available.

However, things aren't quite working that way. I emailed the very same person late last week to confirm that things are the same as he promised before I decided to apply for this program. I just now received the answer to my questions; it was a one, short sentence that totally showed his carelessness about these prospective students:

Hi, Sorry we do not offer scholarships.

Oh well ... I know Yale is sending out decision letters this week, along with the financial aid offers that they may have to offer me. I'm just hoping for the best.

Good luck, everybody!

Asherah, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2008

Hi, Sorry we do not offer scholarships.

So the $30,000 former students said they've received during the 3-year split is no longer applicable? (as long as you remain full-time and continue through to the MSN portion)? As far as you can tell they do not grant any free money? That's just a tad off-putting. :uhoh3:

kevkev1986 · Feb 11, 2008

So the $30,000 former students said they've received during the 3-year split is no longer applicable? (as long as you remain full-time and continue through to the MSN portion)? As far as you can tell they do not grant any free money? That's just a tad off-putting.

Asherah,

That is seriously what his reply was. There's no explanation, not even a "thank you" or something. Just that, period.

Asherah, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2008

Asherah,
That is seriously what his reply was. There's no explanation, not even a "thank you" or something. Just that, period.

And this was the infamous Oscar? Perhaps Elizabells or a current ETP student can suggest some strategies for getting some more comprehensive information out of the Fin. Aid Office?? If this information is indeed true, I'm afraid they're going to have a fair amount of declining students on their hands.

kevkev1986 · Feb 11, 2008

And this was the infamous Oscar? Perhaps Elizabells or a current ETP student can suggest some strategies for getting some more comprehensive information out of the Fin. Aid Office?? If this information is indeed true, I'm afraid they're going to have a fair amount of declining students on their hands.

You bet you're right. It was him.

I'm sure that they have expected a good amount of declining students, because they admit ~70% of the applicant pool each year.

How disappointing ... :uhoh3:

smit1989 · Feb 11, 2008

Of the 3 times I emailed Oscar, asking him multiple questions per email and giving him lots of details, he has always answered with ONLY ONE sentence. You would think Columbia would be ashamed to have someone like this on staff. His job is to assist us with giving Columbia a small fortune, you would think he'd be more willing to help! If I choose not to go to Columbia, I will definitely email Judy or someone else to make our frustrations with Oscar apparent.

traveler2000 · Feb 11, 2008

kevkev1986, did you receive your actual financial aid package yet from oscar via mail or email? If you haven't, maybe you should wait and see? I recently received mine and got the $20K in scholarships (the other $10K will come in the MSN portion). Good luck to you!

coopsc1 · Feb 11, 2008

You are not alone scott
I got the big rejection letter too. I was crushed. I really thought I was on top of my game.
I was applying to anesthesia too.
sigh.
I dont know what to do now.

Scrubs,

Sorry to hear that you did not get in to either. I actually was accepted to two other schools and have decided to go to Loyola in Chicago. I don't know if I would have even accepted the spot if I would have been accepted to the ETP? The thought of picking up and moving to NYC in 2 months is pretty scary! I applied to the anesthesia specialty and I thought I was a good candidate. I did not do so hot on the GRE but I have an undergrad in Chem and a PharmD. I guess I wasn't what they were looking for. So, now I will have to complete an accelerated BSN and work for a year or two and reapply to anesthesia programs in Chicago. Did you have a backup plan?

Congrats again to all.

Scott