Columbia University-ETP

[jcarranz5]

Hey everyone. I was just wondering who applied to Columbia University's ETP program.

I got an email today telling me to keep logging into the website where I applied to check on the status of my application. Has anyone else got this email? And does anyone know approximately when they begin to post decisions?

I'm nervous as this was my #2 school.

[freyalisa]

I just got the same email! It's nice as a reminder that I'm actually in and it's not some fluke! hehe

[freyalisa]

tanguera - i think the summer is going to be tough too, so i'm mentally preparing myself to not have a life for the next 12 months! I can't live it up too much tho, as I've got to save all money money! Ugh - that is the stressful part... how exactly does one support themselves for that year! do you know anyone that sneaks work, or are you actually forbidden to work?? Right now my only plan is my boyfriend stays in VT until our lease runs out, and basically finds a roomate, and sends me half his money..hehe. I don't know how he feels about that tho

[Tanguera, BSN, MSN, RN, NP]

hey freyalisa,

Yeah, it will be pretty crazy. I don't think it is possible to sneak work into the program. I think it's probably best to just take out the loans. You'll need all the time you can get to study while you're in the program, and the money from a side job probably wouldn't be worth the extra stress of a job on top of the program. Loans, baby. Loans!

[freyalisa]

I know, but I just did a payment calculator on 100,000 in loans for 20 years, and it was $750/month! How do you ever afford to buy a house, or have a life with that kind of payment??? Well i guess i'll wait and see what the package looks like... and go from there. if it is meant to be, it will work out...

[Tanguera, BSN, MSN, RN, NP]

Well, it's def something important to thnk about. I think when it finally settles in that I got accepted then I can think about the financial part more realistically. I do know what you mean about wanting to buy things though. Also, I am sure a lot of us in the program are still recovering from our undergraduate loans and the thought of taking on more debt is a bit disturbing!! I actually am going to wait and see about SUNY Downstate since they would be a more economical option. Still, I think my heart is already set on Columbia.

[freyalisa]

I hear you. The problem is my undergrad loans are bad enough! So, yeah i'm a bit nervous about taking on more. Most of me is screaming IF you don't take this opportunity you will regret it! So i almost feel like I need to take a leap of faith and say this is my path and things will work out. I am still waiting on UVM, which would be waay cheaper - but the prospect of moving to NY and being exposed to all that is soo tempting - i don't know what will happen. I guess i need to wait and see if I got in to UVM first... but i think my heart is set on Columbia too...

I'm really banking on a student loan repayment program. I think my career goals would actually fit in really nicely with the underserved areas they send you, and then i could erase 60% of the debt in a couple years.

[btlejoos]

hey everyone- I am new to the forum and am ecstatic to say I got an acceptance from Columbia yesterday for the Adult NP track (after a near heart-attack from Judy's emails!) I currently live in Brooklyn and would be more than happy to answer questions about New York (I've been here for about 4 years) and if any of you are coming in a day early or staying the night after visiting day I'd love to all meet up at a bar and hang-out and get to know my potential classmates (still waiting to hear from Yale).

Anyway I just wanted to say "congrats" to everyone and I look forward to reading/hearing more from all of you.

i'm in brooklyn as well! what neighborhood are you in? i'm in propsect heights near the park.

a couple girls that i met at the yale interviews are staying with me when they come to visiting day, so i'm sure there will be some drinking going on afterwards, and anyone is welcome to join!

[btlejoos]

i really doubt that it'll be possible to work in the first year. i went to an info session a few months back and they said the two people that failed out the first year had both tried working part time. at least after the first year, it is a possibility to work as an RN and go part time if money is an issue.

i also heard that perkin's loans get forgiven after 5 years if you pay on time every month, so at least that's something!

[freyalisa]

i have perkin loans and they're still going strong... it will be give years this year, so that would be cool if they disappeared!

[btlejoos]

interesting...well the condition was that you had to be working in health care (which is why i was told it'd be forgiven if we did nursing). so maybe your current ones won't be forgiven unless you have been doing something in the public health arena.

[freyalisa]

Oh i wasn't in healthcare. That would explain it. Anyway - that is good information! YAY!

[steffiemac751]

oh nice- I didn't really get to meet too many people at the Yale interview. I am in Bed/Stuy area and I work in Williamsburg- I love Brooklyn and am contemplating a way to live here on the A/C and be at Columbia! We definitely all need to hang out- I'd alos love to chat with you about Columbia vs. Yale (not that we have the Yale decisions yet) but still... we have so little time to make a concrete decision!