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!

17 hours ago, PsychNP2Bee said:

If you have any questions please feel free to ask me here or send me a PM if you are able to and I will try and answer to the best of my ability.

Hey there! It's exciting you're just beginning your journey to become a PMHNP. I'm applying for the psych route this year and I'd love to know what that program is like. Values, focus, training, etc. I'm trying to get this information for every school so I know if it's a good fit for me.

I'm coming from a business background and my only experience in psych has been as a patient; my closest healthcare experience has been in pharmaceutical sales so I worked with nurses and healthcare providers. What should I focus on in my application? It sounds cheesy, but I'm excited to work with the homeless population as that's who I volunteer with now. Any feedback is super helpful, thank you!

P.S. how was your first semester??

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Submitted my app mid aug. Thank you for starting this thread. I wish you all luck!

On 7/8/2019 at 3:02 PM, NicoleFC said:

Yes, I am also happy that they don’t require the GRE! I am still kind of iffy about applying though after hearing about the poor financial assistance they give. Good luck to you too!

Just apply lol. Make that choice later.

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On 7/8/2019 at 6:13 PM, icuhopeful95 said:

Currently filling out my application right now! I just finished my video essay and timed writing portion. I literally had 3 words left to type and I ran out of time but I'm praying thats not going to knock me down. I thought my video essay was okay, but I never know how these things turn out. I only have one pre req left to take in fall so hoping to completely submit the application soon. Going to be asking my references for letters within the next few days .. Good luck everyone!

My mind went blank writing that timed writing portion. We’ll be fine.

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I am nervous about timed writing. Are there words limits?

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@january987 I don’t think so. They only give you a short amount of time to gather your thoughts and write.

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Any one going to the open house sat September 14?

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Anyone who completed the timed writing and video essay, how'd it go? anything you can share that might be helpful? This is probably the part that gets me nervous a little (particularly the video essay). Thanks in advance! ?

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Public Health.
On 8/11/2019 at 11:57 AM, PsychNPWA said:

Hey there! It's exciting you're just beginning your journey to become a PMHNP. I'm applying for the psych route this year and I'd love to know what that program is like. Values, focus, training, etc. I'm trying to get this information for every school so I know if it's a good fit for me.

I'm coming from a business background and my only experience in psych has been as a patient; my closest healthcare experience has been in pharmaceutical sales so I worked with nurses and healthcare providers. What should I focus on in my application? It sounds cheesy, but I'm excited to work with the homeless population as that's who I volunteer with now. Any feedback is super helpful, thank you!

P.S. how was your first semester??

I can't speak too too much on the DNP PMHNP program as I have not coursed through there yet. But I can tell you that upperclassmen have said they enjoy it. It is consistently ranked top 10 in the country. Recently the program was reduced to a 2 year program for those entering from the MDE program. The simulation center has a therapy room and is equipped to train future Psych NPs. I will push to see if the school, and specifically the PMHNP program would want to do program specific videos for the School of Nursing Youtube channel. I think it would be great for prospective students.

There are plenty of opportunities to connect with your specific patient population, just down the street from CUMC we have the Armory that functions as a homeless shelter for those with mental illness and chemical dependency. All CUSON NP programs will reflect the values of the university, which is a globally oriented, health equity focused, trauma informed care focused, and interdisciplinary program.

For the application, just be you, focus on how your personal experience informs your desire to become a PMHNP, speak about your desires and what populations you want to help and understand better. Columbia accepts a large cohort, and there are roughly 20-30 seats on the MDE/DNP for Psych roughly though the number changes cycle by cycle.

Good Luck!!

Hope that was of some help.

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On 8/10/2019 at 11:30 PM, PsychNP2Bee said:

@FuturePNP18

While I can't give too much personal info I will say this. my undergrad GPA was a 3.29, but I also have an MPH, and come from a diverse life background. Columbia has room for many individuals, takes a pretty large cohort (180-200 students on average), and it truly takes a holistic approach to applications and every year is making acceptance more accessible while still maintaining its standards. We have students from all walks of life, alot of amazing minds and great people, alot of competitive folk too. It is an ivy after all. Make sure to be sincere and shine in your essays, get all your pre-reqs in, and just make you, not your grades, speak for you. Let the adcom in a little bit into the real, palpable you. Being a nurse means being able to connect to humanity, to have a warmth in your soul that allows you to connect to those in need of healing. The video essay is a great tool for the adcom to get to know you. Everyone here is pretty amazing, I must say, really caring and open. Please do not feel afraid to reach out to them, with any concerns.

In reference to your Global Initiatives Placement discussion, I did not have that as part of my application process, though Columbia has made their Global department an important part of our program. You will have an amazing Global Health course in your first summer. You will also get to meet those of us in the current cohort who will end up going abroad come Spring. Not sure what the Global Initiative Discussion entails, so can't really speak on it.

Take care.

?

I am applying for June 2020 for the psych mde/dnp route as well. I know other are applying just to apply but this is my number one choice. I have pretty much based my prerequisites off of this program. I have been to many open houses and met with graduates of the mde to discuss their time in the program. they all have amazing things to say about the experience with the exception of the price tag. I have no debt coming out of undergrad and have thought VERY carefully about the tuition for this program. all that said, I do not get the feeling I got when I went to any other open house then when I went to Columbias. I am by no means a perfect student but I have changed and my prerequisites and last year course work show that. I am just so worried about getting in because this is my only choice and my number one choice...even if I get into a diff program idk if I would go.how was the difficulty of the MDE and also how is the dnp going? thank you for taking time to speak with us!

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Halloooo any future nurse midwives on the thread?? Want to know what y'all have heard about Columbia's program.

Also- the student life list seems kinda meh. Does anyone know if Columbia has programs along the lines of student run clinics, volunteer medical programs etc? Or fun extracurricular opportunities?? Nursing is first and foremost- understood- but the profession can learn a lot from interdisciplinary opportunities like theater, music, all that.

Let me know thoughts/insight.

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12 minutes ago, birthjunki said:

Halloooo any future nurse midwives on the thread?? Want to know what y'all have heard about Columbia's program.

Also- the student life list seems kinda meh. Does anyone know if Columbia has programs along the lines of student run clinics, volunteer medical programs etc? Or fun extracurricular opportunities?? Nursing is first and foremost- understood- but the profession can learn a lot from interdisciplinary opportunities like theater, music, all that.

Let me know thoughts/insight.

Before applying to this program you should be doing ALOT of research. Columbia has a global initiatives program (described in depth at open house) and they have two Columbia nursing group clinics. This program is extremely rigorous (esp in the first summer of the program) so the focus shouldn’t be on extracurriculars. BUT at one of their open houses they give detail about many clubs they have that are nursing specific. Some I remember were men in nursing, and African American nursing club, there are MANY.

I am not looking into midwifery but their DNP program for midwifery is very small/competitive. Just really make sure to do your research because this is an expensive program although imo the pros far outweigh the cons but cost can be a deterrent.

I am not a student of the program but I have gone out of my way to speak with current and past nurses/students of the program and they give really good insight and are honest about the program. If you look at last years thread you’ll get a lot of info on there too because this one is still new. There are also current students in that thread. Best of luck to you! Also try and attend an open house.

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Thank you so much! I have gone on their website to see that there are six student nursing groups, but none of them mention providing clinical care. Rather, they seem to be community/networking based. I understand that Columbia's program has a strong global health focus, but as someone that is passionate about providing local, community based care, I was surprised to see the lack of options online regarding collaborative student-run clinics (knowing that Yale and Vanderbilt tout those options on their student life tabs).

I'm signed up for an info session, hopefully that provides more insight.

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