Columbia vs. Hunter MSN and ANP vs. GNP

[austingrrl]

Hello.

I'm attempting to make a difficult decision: whether to remain at Columbia, where I'm working towards my ANP, or transfer to Hunter, which has an ANP/ GNP program.

My questions for you fine people are:

-Which school offers better preparation? My primary focus area is the geriatric population.

-How important is it to have a GNP to practice with geriatrics? I've heard in Houston [where I'm eventually ending up] the more specialized you are, the better; meaning higher salary.

I realize that Hunter is less expensive. But in Texas, it is not at all well-known.

Thank you in advance for your opinions and advice.

[S.Gettes]

selecting where to study can be a headache, takes plenty of thought and it is not a simple decision that you can make on a whim. i can see your dilemma, on the one hand you have columbia:

columbia university’s school of nursing is situated in the prestigious health sciences campus of the university. the college feels proud of possessing practical clinic facilities to achieve experience at the ny presbyterian hospital which is also is situated within school’s campus. the school posses many prestigious distinctions of being first in many ways:

• first with a universal faculty nursing practice plan.
  
• first school having a status of a who collaboration center for international nursing development of advanced practice.
  

although school doesn’t enroll students for undergraduate nursing degrees, it has a number of advanced studies courses offering best accelerated courses, which attract many opportunities.

and then you have hunter:

hunter college, located in the heart of bustling manhattan, is the largest college in the city university of new york (cuny) system. founded in 1870, it is also one of the oldest public colleges in the country. currently, 21,000 students attend hunter, pursuing both undergraduate and graduate degrees in more than 170 different programs of study.

hunter college is famous for the diversity of its student body, which is as diverse as new york city itself. for nearly 140 years, it has provided educational opportunities for women and minorities, and today, students from every walk of life and every corner of the world convene at hunter in pursuit of the american dream.

in addition to the myriad academic offerings in its prestigious school of arts and sciences, hunter college offers a wide breadth of programs within its preeminent schools of education, nursing, social work, and health professions. in 2011, the cuny school of public health at hunter college will open its doors, officially making hunter a phd-granting institution.

columbia is a great place to go to, and then you have hunter which will be spectacular in a years time, it is good already. i think maybe if you go to a site such as http://www.nursingstudenttutor.com/nursing/selecting-colleges-for-nursing-career.html you may be able to find something to help you with making your selection. good luck.

[Med Surg RN, BSN, RN]

Hi Austingirl, what was your final decision? I am currently wrapping up my BSN but would like to get my MSN in Geri. I am at NYU and not looking fwd to paying back my loans. Hunter seems to be a more affordable choice-- although NYU offers acute care and primary care for Geri whereas Hunter only offer primary care. I guess right now I don't know which I'd prefer. I was wondering if you ended up going to school at either Hunter or Columbia, and how your experience was! Thanks.