Columbia or Yale?

dg05, RN · Mar 23, 2008

I'm at Columbia now and all I can say is YALE. They have such a smaller program, from what I hear there is a lot more support there for their, etc. I'm almost finished with the ETP program here and it's been tough but manageable. However, the last few weeks have driven me over the edge. When I was deciding between the two, I thought people like me were just whiny grumblers, but if that's true than 98% of us here fit into that category.

The administration here is amazingly disorganized and the program is just TOO BIG. Case in point: we're waiting for our 8 week integration (which theoretically starts tomorrow) -- some people haven't heard yet and others aren't getting the integration experience they were promised (IE one-on-one time with a nurse) and are being grouped with other students to do their integration, which is just unfair and not worth the 60K it costs to be here. I hate to be a naysayer but I know people from both programs and the Yale people are SO much happier.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Mar 23, 2008

I heard that YALE does not allow midwives to do deliveries; just post partum and prenatal. If this is true how would you get your hands on experience for L&D?

dg05, RN · Mar 23, 2008

HeartsOpenWide, I don't think this is true. Midwives at Yale definitely get hands on experience. You couldn't sit for your boards if you didn't have any actual deliveries under your belt.

babycatcher12 · Mar 24, 2008

I've heard some negative things about the ETP program but I'm already an RN applying for post-masters. Does anyone have any experience with that? I'm going to be doing midwifery and women's health NP dual specialty. The option to do both alone gives Columbia an advantage in my mind. Is the post masters part just as bad as the RN part?

ICU08 · Mar 24, 2008

Hey there,

I would go to Yale, I am currently in the ETP program and I would not make the same decsion again to come here. Alot of people are leaving after this year and I haven't heard all that great things about the midwifery program here.

Good luck.

fnp4me · Mar 25, 2008

Is anyone happy with Columbia?

ICU08 · Mar 25, 2008

There are people who are happy here, but there are also many that are leaving after the ETP portion. Many of us expected much more from Columbia, so we were dissapointed. If I could do it again, I would go to a state school get my BSN get some experience and then the NP portion. But hey thats just me. Don't let my opinion change a decision for you.

babycatcher12 · Mar 25, 2008

I understand a lot of the frustrations that come with that first year of the ETP program. I did an accelerated BSN program and it was much the same. Most people were very unhappy and I tried to keep a positive outlook knowing I was getting my degree in the end and in a short period of time. I really think that it's going to be different for me already being an RN with experience. I've decided to go to Columbia part time which still is only 2.5 years and allows me to work full time my first year. I have hopes that Columbia will live up to the high expectation for the midwifery and women's health NP part of the program. I much appreciate everyone's feedback and welcome more of course.

dg05, RN · Mar 25, 2008

From what we've been told, working AT ALL during the midwifery specialty is not allowed. You might want to check with the program director about your plans.

Also, I think in NY if you have a CNM you are already qualified to sit for your Women's Health boards -- I'm not sure on the details but doing it that way would save you $$$ and time, allowing you to begin practice sooner.

babycatcher12 · Mar 25, 2008

Since I'm going part time, I am able to work full time my first year. I found this out today speaking with the head of the department. Thanks for the info about the women's health NP, I'll look into it.

SteveNNP, MSN, NP · Mar 25, 2008

I'm in Columbia's traditional MSN/NNP program, and I'm happy with it so far. A lot of my friends were very dissatisfied with the ETP program, primarily due to its huge class size and disorganization. That being said, my advisor has pretty much left me alone. I got my program plan last summer, and just register on my own each semester. I really don't ever see or speak to her. The core classes I've taken so far, while not particularly useful for my super-specialized neonatal field, have been interesting. You can't deny the great clinical sites here in the city. I unfortunately can't do clinicals at MSCHONY where I work. I'm probably heading to Cornell, Westchester, or a few hospitals in NJ near where I live.