Columbia University-ETP

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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.

I'm wondering if anyone got into Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions also and is going to both the Columbia an MGH visiting days?

Looking for a travel buddy up there? I live in NYC so I will def go to the Columbia visiting day, and I figure I can hop on a bus to Boston on Fri afternoon or really early Sat morning.

PM me if you'll be going!

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Hi Tanguera, I will be going too! I'll be at Columbia's visiting day on Friday and then I will be heading up to Boston, most likely on Saturday morning. I'm actually in Boston right now for my fiance's accepted students weekend at HBS, so I couldn't believe it when I found out on Friday that I'd have to make the trip again next weekend! It will be nice to compare the school back-to-back though. Looking forward to meeting you!

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I took out a 65k loan from MedCAP loan from wellsfargo. 4% over the prime rate, no co signer.

I think it's the best I could do after all of the looking.

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Congratulations, Tempest! This is scary, no matter how we do it, but I think it'll all be worth it. I also did the same loan - may Wells Fargo turn out to be a good sugar daddy for us both! :)

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Hey! I'm going to both columbia and MGH this weekend too! Have you figured out how to get from New York to Boston? I was going to take amtrak, but then I heard something about a chinatown bus..? I'm worried about taking a bus and getting there on time (I'm planning on leaving Saturday morning). How are you planning on getting there?

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The Chinatown bus is super cheap ($12 one way), but doesn't guarantee a seat. Bolt bus (http://www.boltbus.com) is also very cheap and reserves a seat for you when you book the ticket. The bus prices beat the train, and only take an hour or so longer..

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I have used the Chinatown buses before with no problem at all! I used to visit friends who were in school out in Boston and the buses never failed me. I'm trying to figure out if I want to get there Fri night to crash at a friend's place... but I still haven't figured it all out. PM me and we can figure this out and maybe we can ride up together if schedules match up. Originally I wanted to go out there with my mom so she could see the school... I also wanted to stay there and maybe catch up with friends, but looks like it will be a short trip b/c of the Columbia visit on Fri and I have a party in NYC Sat night, and a wedding on Sunday... so it's going to be busy for me but let's try to coordinate!

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I'm going up to Boston on Sat too to check out Northeastern. I am flying on JetBlue. . not sure what prices are like now but I got my tickets for like $50-$60 each way.

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Hopefully Saturday morning, traffic won't be too bad. I have probably taken the Chinatown bus literally 50 times - it is very cheap and easy. If you take the 8pm bus on Friday night it will be crowded but you probably won't hit any traffic and you'll get to Boston before the T shuts down. I am planning on taking a bus (maybe trying Bolt Bus, 7 or 8am) on Saturday morning because my fiance is coming too, and insists that that bus will be less crowded. We are taking the amtrak back on Sunday to avoid traffic (Sunday afternoon/evening traffic between Boston and New York is pretty bad!). Anyway, I am an expert on Boston-New York transportation if you need any advice! You're absolutely welcome to travel with me on Bolt Bus on Saturday morning!!

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Hi everyone!

I live in Boston and I also got into MGH and Columbia but I'm only going to Columbia's visiting day. I'm leaving for a vacation at 6am Saturday morning, from Boston, so I’m also doing the crazy back and forth NYC-Boston travel.

I'd love to hear about the MGH visiting day, though, and I hope to meet you at the Columbia day. I'm very torn between these two schools. They seem so different in terms of size, general feel etc. I wonder how the quality of the programs compare. I’ve heard great things about MGH and its clinicals will hopefully be in some of the best Boston hospitals. MGH also seems like such a good deal, tuition-wise. I am just concerned that the MGH program doesn’t grant a BSN. Does this matter in the long run, when looking for a job as an NP or RN?

See some of you Friday

-Christine

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I am just concerned that the MGH program doesn't grant a BSN. Does this matter in the long run, when looking for a job as an NP or RN?

There's a lot of debate on whether or not it matters - the way I see it, it matters if you need to or want to step down to work as an RN (BSN usually get slightly better pay than just NCLEX assuming equal experience) or leave the program before finishing out the NP (since to do graduate school later they usually/always require a BSN). The other time it matters is if you're looking to work abroad, as a BSN is required in other countries. Along those lines, I'd also worry slightly at the reason a BSN is NOT granted (ie, is it because there aren't enough clinical hours? Credits?) in terms of preparation for RN work and international transferability.

Assuming you are 100% sure you can and want to do the full NP program and stay in the States, I can't imagine it matters too much whether or not you get a BSN.

Gl with your decision-making!

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Charmed - MOST of the programs i've looked at do not offer a second bachelors - they are considered an entirely graduate program with the goal to be NPs, not RNs. Therefore, I don't think it matters much whether you get the BSN or not, because you will have the MSN and that is what obviously matters. Most programs seem to offer conditional RN licenses contingent upon completing the program, to discourage people from "fast tracking" to BSN and then leaving.

MSN hopeful - my friend went to MGH, loved it, and had no trouble finding work. I really wouldn't let that BSN vs. No BSN be a big factor in your decision. A bonus to NOT getting the BSN is you are considered a graduate student for the entire program, and therefore can just take out GradPlus loans, which are easier to get and have a fixed vs. variable rate. Good luck!

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