Direct Entry MSN 2020 at Columbia University

Nursing Students School Programs

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Hello Everyone, The applications for June 2020 at Columbia University has now opened. I haven't seen any new threads for this year so I wanted to start one. I am in the process of applying and half way done! References already sent their recommendations!! and an upside to this year is that Columbia University is no longer requiring the GRE. SO I am pretty happy about that!!

Good Luck!

Hey Everyone!

Glad to see I'm not the only one sitting here waiting around anxiously. So cool to hear about all the cool experiences everyone here has. I feel a little out of left field, career swapping from a Certified Public Accountant in business advisory to nursing. My GPA is okay ~3.4, but stable through both my under grad and grad studies in Accounting. Not sure if coming from such a different profession is a good thing or not, but I've been volunteering at a local hospital and definitely love working with patients 10,000x more than working in a corporate setting. Feels so impactful and always leave with a full heart.

The discussions around financial aid are a bit harrowing, but still hopeful to hear some good news in the next few months (hopefully sooner than later)

Fingers crossed and good luck to everybody else!

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any current or former mde student here who can share their experience about the program? maybe give their opinion about which semester was the most difficult and other things to look forward to. thanks

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Just now, Gmilitar said:

any current or former mde student here who can share their experience about the program? maybe give their opinion about which semester was the most difficult and other things to look forward to. thanks

Hi @Gmilitar Current student here. The first summer semester is definitely the most trying. Any time you walk into a class and the professor starts off by saying "this IS possible" you know you're in for it. It's only a 10 week semester and the course load is heavy. Most weeks there will be at least one exam. Weekly quizzes and so many assignments your head will spin. BUT it goes by extremely fast and you'll be amazed how much you learned in such a short period of time.

Currently finishing up the second semester and it is a mix of accelerated and regular pace courses so it is a tad bit lighter. Basically, if you can make it through that first summer semester you are golden. Just be ready to devote your life to this program. Sit down with your friends and family and explain you will be MIA and will need all the support you can get. It is intense but totally possible if you're dedicated.

The clinical sites are easily my favorite aspect of the program. What you see at Mt Sinai and NYP you're not likely to find in your local hospital. This is where patients go when their cases are very complicated or they're in need of the newest innovations. It's an awesome opportunity to network with some of the best healthcare institutions in the nation.

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Specializes in RN.

Thanks for sharing this, FNP2B1210! Is there anything you recommend brushing up on academically-speaking before the "boot camp" semester that will help in any way? I have already been doing my best at home (I have kids) to establish the expectation that I will be 110% focused on school during that time. But it is daunting! Best of luck to you as you continue in your studies.

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1 minute ago, oneday_nursepoundcake said:

Thanks for sharing this, FNP2B1210! Is there anything you recommend brushing up on academically-speaking before the "boot camp" semester that will help in any way? I have already been doing my best at home (I have kids) to establish the expectation that I will be 110% focused on school during that time. But it is daunting! Best of luck to you as you continue in your studies.

Thank you! @oneday_nursepoundcake Honestly, I'm going to say no. The prerequisites are there to prepare you for the course work. There will be some recommended reading so that's certainly something you can do.

What I believe will benefit you most prior to beginning the program is lots of rest and time with family and friends. Do what you enjoy and get it out of your system. I can not stress enough the importance mental health will play during this year.

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1 hour ago, FNP2B1210 said:

Hi @Gmilitar Current student here. The first summer semester is definitely the most trying. Any time you walk into a class and the professor starts off by saying "this IS possible" you know you're in for it. It's only a 10 week semester and the course load is heavy. Most weeks there will be at least one exam. Weekly quizzes and so many assignments your head will spin. BUT it goes by extremely fast and you'll be amazed how much you learned in such a short period of time.

Currently finishing up the second semester and it is a mix of accelerated and regular pace courses so it is a tad bit lighter. Basically, if you can make it through that first summer semester you are golden. Just be ready to devote your life to this program. Sit down with your friends and family and explain you will be MIA and will need all the support you can get. It is intense but totally possible if you're dedicated.

The clinical sites are easily my favorite aspect of the program. What you see at Mt Sinai and NYP you're not likely to find in your local hospital. This is where patients go when their cases are very complicated or they're in need of the newest innovations. It's an awesome opportunity to network with some of the best healthcare institutions in the nation.

Thank you for sharing. Wow. It’s not the first time that I heard about the rigors of the summer term. I also thought about studying ahead but, given your advice, I think might just enjoy my free time and brush up on my sciences here and there lol do you guys do clinical rotations during the summer or is it all didactic?

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2 minutes ago, Gmilitar said:

Thank you for sharing. Wow. It’s not the first time that I heard about the rigors of the summer term. I also thought about studying ahead but, given your advice, I think might just enjoy my free time and brush up on my sciences here and there lol do you guys do clinical rotations during the summer or is it all didactic?

This is assuming that I get accepted off course lol

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8 hours ago, Gmilitar said:

This is assuming that I get accepted off course lol

There is one clinical day each week during the first summer semester. During Fall and Spring it is two days. Final summer semester is strictly didactic and NCLEX prep.

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19 hours ago, FNP2B1210 said:

Thank you! @oneday_nursepoundcake Honestly, I'm going to say no. The prerequisites are there to prepare you for the course work. There will be some recommended reading so that's certainly something you can do.

What I believe will benefit you most prior to beginning the program is lots of rest and time with family and friends. Do what you enjoy and get it out of your system. I can not stress enough the importance mental health will play during this year.

can you tell us what those readings are? if it's recommended prior to the start of the program. thanks

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10 hours ago, Gmilitar said:

can you tell us what those readings are? if it's recommended prior to the start of the program. thanks

Although it may change for the next cohort, one of the books required was "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" by Anne Fadimen. Regardless of what program you find yourself in, I highly recommend this book. It addresses the importance of cultural competency in healthcare. Great read.

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Does anyone know what they're going to do if they don't get into the program? I applied to multiple schools and I just got my email today that I didn't get into NYU (which sucks) but I wonder if anyone else is in this limbo feeling of "I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself" come February.

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Specializes in RN.

Hey @FuturePNP18 - Glad you asked this. I've been curious as well. There don't seem to be tons of fabulous alternatives in the area. I'm sorry to hear about NYU. I couldn't quite make their application deadline for the spring, but may try for the fall 2020. The other 'big contender' for me is Philips School of Nursing at Mt. Sinai, which I thought seems like another good option for ABSN (and less costly/smaller). Yet I have not met anyone else who's applying there and that seems weird to me. Is there something I don't know?

I've also applied for RN program candidacy at my community college, where I've taken my prerequisites. It's super competitive so obviously many people are happy to go the associate's route for their RN (at a waaaay lower cost). I'm not super excited about the idea, however, because I'm 43 and want to emerge from school ready to launch into the workforce full-force. Needing to still go back and get a BSN *after* all that... sigh. Just too much. Plus it sounds like new BSN RNs are even having a hard time getting jobs in NYC these days.

Best of luck to you! I'm almost glad to be distracted by finals at the moment, but I know January is going to be torture in terms of the wait.

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