Columbia University-ETP

dohzenOFF · Feb 9, 2009

Boy I sure missed a lot not being on here over the weekend! I haven'te gotten my aid package yet either, but I got an email from Oscar last week saying that they got my FAFSA and to expect it today. Has anyone not gotten their letter in the mail yet? I still haven't...

planet612 · Feb 9, 2009

anandam & caffreak - thank you so much for the info and encouragement. At the hospital I volunteer in CA, most babies were delivered by midwifes, who were professional and well-trained. Therefore, I am glad I chose this profession!

I guess right now I should consider double major in WHNP, but crossing my finger that they will let me do it. "double major" I still sound like a college student:imbar

I watched the document before. It is nicely done. Two thumbs up. :up:

fnp4me · Feb 9, 2009

As far as last year's forum is concerned...
It was truly shocking to see how much negativity was allowed to permeate the 2008 group.

I was part of that group last year and you're right...it was a constant battle with people saying "don't go, it's not worth it", "Columbia lets anyone into their nursing program", etc, etc. All I have to say is keep your head up, weigh your options, and do what you think is best. I ultimately decided not to go but it wasn't because I didn't want to, it's because I couldn't. For those of you that said you don't have the means: I started an inexpensive Accelerated BSN program and now I'm almost done...so where there's a will there's a way. For those of you that are going: best of luck and I know you guys will have a great time

sweetblyss143 · Feb 9, 2009

anyone here coming straight from undergrad? I feel so young, lol

I was originally pre-med, but decided to follow the nursing track instead of going to med school

Redsox17 · Feb 9, 2009

I'm coming straight from undergrad. I don't have any undergrad loans which is why I decided to go straight through and get my master's.

freyalisa · Feb 9, 2009

I have lots of undergrad loans, having lived and worked in the real world for 6 or so years. Struggling to make ends meet to pay my $350/month in loans is really making me triple guess if its worth tripling that amount..... I always wish I had planned better in undergrad, and I don't want to make the same mistake again. Its a hard pill to swallow, and I'm having a tough time with the whole thing.... :uhoh21:

aspiring.midwife · Feb 9, 2009

anandam - I'm also 25 and majored in religion. I genuinely loved studying religion, but don't see myself doing that for the rest of my career. I originially thought I'd become a religion professor, but obviously have chosen a different route. :)

I, too, loved the Business of Being Born! I'd forgotten the midwife was Columbia-trained. That's encouraging. I've been somewhat concerned about the price vs. quality of the education as well.

To those who have received financial aid info yet - I haven't heard anything yet either. Hopefully soon...

SEVILLAES · Feb 9, 2009

RedSox and SweetBlyss,

I am also an undergrad right now (I'm in my last 5 weeks at Northwestern, though I'll have to go back and graduate in June). I'm nervous about being so young as well, but I'm really excited to have such a great jump on my career!

sogreenrn · Feb 10, 2009

If anyone is in the bay area and would like to meet up and freak out, please PM me. I'd love to grab some food and a drink or two and talk about Columbia or anything else!

caffreak · Feb 10, 2009

I just finished my undergrad and have small loans but n/t compared to what I'm gonna be taking out for Columbia.

so here's what I figured out about the price of our education. In theory we are all accepted in order to go straight through and become nurse practitioners. The value of an NP is directly related to his/her education and I want the best there is in NY which is definitely Columbia. However, many people join the ETP because the RN portion is so quick and then opt out for the masters. so if you don't plan on becoming an NP any time soon and you're not into name brands, then a cheaper college makes sense if you have the option.

correct me if my logic is wrong but that's my rationalization for spending gobs of $$$ on my education.

freyalisa · Feb 10, 2009

My only worry is does the "Columbia" brand really matter, when you're looking at working in community health, or with underserved people, like I am - those agencies don't have the big bucks or the ability to have salary wars, so I worry if it will really pay off for everyone? Maybe NP salaries are higher in NYC, but i want to hopefully move back to Vermont at some point, where the salaries are lower - thus the loans have more of an impact. Its such a tough decision. I'm not closed to the idea, but just really thinking carefully.... if I get into University of Vermont, i may go because it's a goodl program and the price is much, much more reasonable. But i'm always going to worry that I'll regret not going when given the opportunity. New York has so many opportunities, and I think it woudl be such a good expererience and then I get sad.....Blah!

aspiring.midwife · Feb 10, 2009

freyalisa, I definitely see what you're saying. I don't plan on staying in NYC after school. I want to serve underserved populations, in the US and abroad, and I'd like to work primarily in out-of-hospital birth as a midwife. The salaries are not as big in these areas - which is fine, b/c that's not why I'm doing it, but it does make you think about the cost differently. I'm thinking more about trying to go to the visiting day b/c it could help me decide if it's really a good fit and is worth it. I don't know!