Columbia University ETP 2011

cu1234 · Nov 11, 2010

Hi yogaseli,

The disorganization you are referring to had to do with a few years ago. The program is pretty well organized. It's so well organized it maximizes time spent in school and clinicals...basically in the beginning that is all you do. So, it's hard to have much of a life in the summer. I believe the dysfunction had to do with the larger class size of a few years ago. This will not happen again (according to administration). The school learned from their mistake of 190-200 students. They know now that the right size for Columbia is 130-150 or so.

You asked about student feedback to administration. Administration has a committee of student reps to discuss how ETP year is going and how it can be better. All the feedback last year's class gave improved my year and all the work they do this year benefits the incoming class. That said, they rectify anything that is urgent and can be changed within the year. Administration really does care about the students.

Sorry the Professor did not respond to your request. I can't say I'm surprised though. The professors are very busy and may not feel a connection with someone who is not in the program? I'm not saying it's right but try to look it at it from the professor's perspective...they don't know you and you are still in the application period. I can assure you, once you are in the faculty and administration does care about students and want to see you succeed. As with any school, some are better than others but I do feel supported and engaged by my school.

NPs in hospitals, I see a lot of them. They seem happy and are in high acuity and highly respected jobs... That's all I can add on that subject as I'm not at that level yet :)

Hope this helps.

yogaseli · Nov 11, 2010

Thanks so much cu2140 -- its really good to know that there are systems in place to address concerns and that you have had a positive experience with the faculty. Despite those initial concerns, I am still really excited about the program so thanks again for helping to clear those things up :)

hopkins76 · Nov 17, 2010

Just wondering if everyone else saw their status online and was surprised to see "incomplete" eventhough everything has been submitted. Anyone else in the same boat? I have email confirmation that my materials were previously received so am wondering if they just need time to match-up our surface mail materials with the online materials. Thoughts? Thanks!

cartwheel · Nov 17, 2010

Hey Hopkins -

Hmmm, my "Submission Status" only says submitted and then has the submission date (10/17 for me). I've received three separate generic emails from them instructing us not to call or email because they are inundated with processing applications. You got an actual confirmation saying that your application is complete? When did you submit?

C.

hopkins76 · Nov 17, 2010

Hi, C-

Mine says submitted and the date but then you scroll down and it lists the various parts of the application (recommendations, transcripts, GRE scores). My transcripts and GRE scores are marked as not received and while I'm not going to worry yet because Jose said he'd email us if he was missing something, its just a wee bit concerning as I shipped those docs in September :) I'll give it a week or two and see if my status changes--here's hoping!

A1551 · Nov 17, 2010

Hello Yogaseli,

Saw cu already gave a shot at your questions and I totally agree with that response!

In terms of disorganization -- I hear that all the time. Not only about Columbia but almost every accelerated program. For what it is worth, in my opinion the program is very well organized and I have no complaints. I feel like they've had so many years to "get it right" that the program as a whole has reached a fairly stable and functional level, I felt like everything was pretty clear, the classes well run, the administrative side of things (minus financial aid) etc are all pretty good. With that said it's not perfect, there have been issues. I can certainly think of a few of my classmates who would disagree with me about the program being well organized, but I do believe overall the program is well run. CU mentioned that they previously accepted 200 students into one class -- I've heard the same thing that they had a lot of problems THAT year, and since then they've been much stricter about limiting the class to 150. So that might be a good example of "mistakes they've made and now know to avoid" :)

On feedback -- each 5x5 group (about 30 people who you rotate with for most of your classes) has representatives who meet with the program staff and discuss concerns, ideas for future program improvements, etc. They do listen to feedback and make changes. Funny you should mention it actually but mentoring is one example, last year's class felt the mentoring program that existed was too sporifice and underdeveloped so this year they ramped it up.

You had a lot of other good questions in there I'd really like to answer but I gotta get back to work! I will quickly say the faculty are outstanding and supportive overall and VERY willing to go above and beyond for individual students. At this point I've been through way more college courses than could possibly be healthy and would say my hands-down top three most amazing professors ever are ETP instructors, and all of them teach multiple classes in the undergrad portion.

-A1551

KKandes · Nov 18, 2010

Hey Everyone! As the waiting begins I was just wondering if anyone is also applying for the oncology route? I can't seem to find to many people going this route, so I would love to chat with anyone who is! Good luck to everyone!! :)

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Nov 18, 2010

hello everyone, i am the op of this thread. i originally started this when i thought i was going to apply to the 2011 etp. unfortunately, i have since decided i won't be able to financially swing it any which way so i decided not to go through the application (not to mention i had absolutely no time to study for a gre). i am currently applying to state universities for my absn, that way i can save $$ for grad school, at which point i would like columbia to be my only choice.

just stopping by to wish you all good luck in the admissions process!!

yogaseli · Nov 18, 2010

Hey A1551,

Thanks so much for taking the time to give your feedback. I really appreciate it. It sounds like Columbia has some good feedback systems in place -- that is so important!

Best of luck with all your work and thanks again :)

nkelly1 · Dec 2, 2010

Hello everyone! Just decided to join allnurses! Everyone's responses have been super helpful and have answered so many questions I had that I did not want to bother the admissions staff with :) KKandes I am also applying for the women's health oncology specialty! Columbia is my first choice nursing school so we shall see... waiting these past few months for a decision has been tough!

KKandes · Dec 2, 2010

nkelly1

I am excited I have finally found someone who is also applying for oncology! It seemed I was the only one out there. I am applying for adult oncology. Columbia is one of my top choices too and the waiting is also killing me !! I want to know so bad, but I am hoping the time will past quickly :).. have you heard anything about their oncology program? Have you worked in Oncology before? Hopefully good news will come for us in Feb!

KerryR · Dec 5, 2010

hi all,

i just wanted to give a shout out to everyone whos applied the gepn program, i'm among the applications too. i live/lived in new haven. my undergrad major was in maternal child health with a focus in evidence based lactation consulting. i don't actually graduate until april but i applied anyway. my program makes me a non-nurse ibclc (provided i pass the boards). i say live/lived because i've subleted my apt in ct to a friend in the yale forestry school and this yr i'm an americorps volunteer birth doula at a freestand bc here on the border. i'm a doula (both labor and pp) by trade (for the past 5 and half yrs) and i do the bulk of my work in the labor area with women who can't afford to hire a doula, basically i do it probono. i'm wicked, wicked scared about this application process. my gpa is okay, not great (3.65), and my gre's were average as well. i feel like the only thing i've got going for my app. is the experience factor. i also studied direct entry midwifery for a while in sc so i'm hoping all that combined will help. i'm so, so nervous but i know it's out of my hands now. anyone who wants to contact me (and please, please feel free, particularly when those acceptance letters start coming) my email is [email protected]. there's a prayer at the begining of varney's midwifery, the nurse-midwife text book, there's a line it it "a prayer for us the midwives and the almost midwives", i actually repeat that along with many other lines from that poem daily. anyway, i hope we all find what we're looking for. :) k