Anyone on here applying to direct entry MSN programs that begin in summer or fall of 2013? I think I have finalized my list of programs to apply to, and I am beginning to get everything together to start applying this summer/early fall (I know this is rather early, but I'm a bit anxious and I was wondering if there was anyone else on this board who is just as excited as me!). I am pretty certain that I will be applying to UPenn, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Northeastern, University of Massachusetts, Boston College, Columbia, Vanderbilt, and Marquette. I am also applying to a few Accelerated BSN programs in my state (Florida) - UCF and UF, for sure. I have all of my prerequisite courses completed, and currently have a 3.76, but my BS is still in progress and I have to retake the GRE this summer. I look forward to hearing from other people!
the healer's art, I know what you're talking about with Georgetown. They have strange prerequisites that I cannot meet - I've taken World Religions, but that's about it, and they require two religion courses! They also require two ethics courses! At least with Cincinnati, you have the option to enroll and take the prerequisites you haven't taken and then matriculate into the nursing portion after. I only had two courses left to take if I went to school there - pharmacology and pathophysiology. I thought it was weird that they had you take it before the program, and not during (at least, that's what the curriculum said).
There are certainly no "safety" schools, which makes it very scary when applying. If I don't hear good news in February, I have a few other schools I'm going to apply to that have March 1 deadlines, but I'm waiting until then just to save some money. I also know of a few programs that accept people in the spring, such as UAB and Duke, that I could reapply to if I don't gain acceptance to any of the schools I'm applying to. I hope I don't have to worry about that, but it's something I've been thinking about just in case! Gotta have some backup plans! I could always get my CNA license and work in the meantime. But like I said, hopefully I don't have to worry about that! I'll be praying about it!
I am having the same jitters and worries! That's why I'm applying to so many schools (and also burning a hole in my pocket in the mean time).
Ana- I've applied to UCSF, UPenn, Yale, Hopkins, Marquette, Vanderbilt, Boston College, and Columbia. And I'm working on OHSU right now. Crossing my fingers to submit that by the end of the week. OHSU... is so competitive though. I think I read somewhere that they accept less than 100 students, probably around the 50's or so. I could be wrong, it might actually be even more competitive.
I also looked into Georgetown! But like you said Hopeful, they have some prerequisites that other schools do not require....that's why I didn't apply there. If not I would totally have.
I've been having mini stressed out moments here and there wondering what is my back up plan if I don't get in this cycle. I'll probably have to change my career, maybe be a CNA. I'm really hoping I don't have to though!
I am new to this site and have spent the last few weeks reading the very informative posts. I have just heard from Hopkins and been invited for an interview. Can you tell me if all applicants to the BS-MSN program get invited for an interview? I was quite excited but it seems from reading the posts that everyone who applied gets to interview. Can anybody clarify?
salinn, I realized that I overlooked your post. I think that mentioning your interest in that program in your essay would be great on showing your commitment to serving vulnerable populations! Particularly if they ask about personal and/or professional goals in any of the prompts!
kharling, I do think that they interview most applicants for the BS-MSN program (not the regular ABSN program), but I really don't think they'd interview every applicant. They probably get a couple hundred applications for that program alone, and if you think about it, that's a lot of time they would have to spend just to interview every single applicant, along with also evaluating every application and transcript!
Hey Kharling, I was also invited for an interview and although I was very excited, I also know that they interview most of the applicants for the BS-MSN program. So I'm not sure how competitive this is, or why they are deciding to give everyone a chance! But I'm not complaining :) I already booked my flights for my interview. Which speciality are you applying to and did you choose to fly in too? Also, one thing I've heard about Hopkin's interview is that it's done by an general admissions staff, and not a faculty member of your speciality. It's a bit odd too that they only give you an interview, no tour or half-day filled with activities compared to Penn. Nevertheless, I'm still looking forward to this interview!
Hi all! I am applying to these direct entry programs too and I am getting REALLY nervous about not having a "backup" school! I took the GRE recently and got 154 in both sections, does anyone have any experience with these scores/have any idea if I am in a good range or not? I know these scores aren't great, but I am not sure whether I should be retaking the GRE or not. Please offer advice!
I have sent applications to UPenn, Columbia, and Northeastern... and will be sending in Boston College and Yale this week! Then comes Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and MGH. I'm looking to stay on the northeast, does anyone have any recommendations for a school that isn't as competitive as these schools are?
Looking forward to hearing back from you guys! This is all so new to me and I am looking for all the advice I can get! :)
Where are you flying in from? This is the only school that I am applying to that is fairly local being 1.5 hours away. I am applying to the FNP specialty as is my goal to set up my own clinic in integrative medicine. My interview is next Friday...and this is the first interview so far...How about you? Where else have you applied? I have applied to Yale, Penn, Pace, MGH, & Southern Maine.
I feel like John Hopkins really is rolling admissions if you guys already have your interviews! Do most people fly out or can you have a phone interview? Do you know if having a phone interview hurts you? I live in California and I am originally from the East Coast so I have been to all of the cities on the East Coast but I dont want to fly out there for each interview because I know if I get into Hopkins or Penn I would go there!
I think most people do phone interviews, to be completely honest with you. That's the trend I've seen in past threads, and what I've heard in general. I think that if everything works out and you can afford to go interview in person and it isn't going to break the bank, then you totally should, but if not it's no big deal! I would've loved to go, but since they offered the option to do a phone interview, I decided to take it and save some money!
It is rolling admissions, but I applied for fall so I won't hear until February, from what I understand
this is so cliche, but since everyone is basically applying to the same schools can everyone say what their grades/gpa/undergrad/work/research experience so i know what im going against haha! i guess ill start.. im SO mediocre--- i have a 3.5, 153/150 gre. my undergrad was in resp therapy allied med prof- resp therapy where i got over 1000 hrs of clinicals in a variety of settings and ive been a respiratory therapist for the past 3 years have worked at 2 large academic medical centers in all icu, floors, er, als clinic, etc done so much seen a lot which has been awesome learning experience.. i was a bls instuctor for 2 years. im bls, acls, nrp certified. i did research in undergrad and i do research now will be presenting 2 of my abstracts at a national conference in a few weeks which will be cool but scary!!!
Wow anaboo5, you're so accomplished! Now I don't want to say mine if you think that's mediocre. Congrats on the conference!
Let's not think of each other as competition .. but fellow classmates. I think the schools should give us extra points for being obsessive We care more than the average applicant for being on here, right? It would be fun if we all ended up at the same school. What's everyone's first choice school? And where is everyone applying? Am I the only one that's covering my bases with ABSN programs and (one) CNL program?
I already said my GRE score but I think I am going to take it again (at least for scholarships) 165 verbal/150 quant. I was SHOCKED that I got a 4.0 in writing I was convinced it was going to be a 6.0. My prereq GPA is a 3.8 but I did retake Chemistry so that puts me at a disadvantage. I've been working for a year as a CNA/PCT. I have lots of volunteer hours working with children in various capacities. I've done research. I want to specialize in acute pediatric care (to work in a PICU). I don't want to leave too much identifying information so I won't say my major but I earned a BA not a BS although I did double-major. The university I graduated from is ranked in the top 80 schools
I'm graduating from the University of Florida in May, and it is a top 20 public school and top 50 university that's also having a lot of success in football right now (which is really, really fun for my last year)! I've retaken statistics, and from what I understand it doesn't put you at that great of a disadvantage, the healer's art. I've been told that they take the higher grade, which is why you fill out the prerequisite forms and identify which school it was taken at! My GRE score was 153/143/4.5 but I'm mainly applying to schools that waive the GRE, with the exception of Penn (which is why I tend to think it's a bit of a reach for me, haha). I am a CC transfer into my school, so my GPA situation is a bit complicated, but right now I have a 3.86 only at UF (past two years), but overall like a 3.75, and a 3.66 if they average in my statistics retake. So I guess a 3.66, to be safe. I do have a health related major which has given me a lot of great opportunities and also taught me quite a bit about community outreach and communicating with diverse populations regarding health. I was originally pre-PA until I figured out what exactly I wanted out of a career!
I have significant volunteer experience in a hospital (IE: more than just stocking shelves and handing out blankets, I was able to write multiple admission essays about it), including in my hopeful specialty, pediatric acute/critical care. I've spent time in a peds oncology unit, and a PICU, along with regular peds experience. It's been WONDERFUL. I've also volunteered in the emergency department and the operating room (not as exciting as it sounds, I had to clean blood off the OR floor and beds for half of my shift in order to watch a surgery), along with mother/baby and the NICU. I also shadowed a pediatric oncology NP, a PA and an orthopedic surgeon. I have also volunteered at a free health clinic sponsored by our med school, which served the underinsured and underserved community here in town. I have some research experience through that, but it isn't significant.
I also have a few leadership positions. One is for my major's honor society, which participates in health related activities, and also for an research organization that also provides physical activity for a school here in our community for people with disabilities. There has also been some research that I've participated in through that as well. I also have recently been HIV 500/501c which means I can test people for HIV, and participate in counseling after giving results. I will be putting this to use in December for World AIDS Day through the honor society I am a part of, which I am very excited about! We are also required to complete a mandatory, 40 hour per week internship to graduate from my college and mine will be taking place in the PICU! I am incredibly excited, as I've built great relationships with people from volunteering there and I can't wait to continue to work with them and have the opportunity to see the PICU from many different standpoints.
I am applying to one ABSN program, for now. I may add more to the list later. I don't want to list my first choice on here, for some reason that makes me nervous, but many of you probably know from talking to me via private message... I will say that I have 3 choices that are all very appealing to me due to affordability, loan repayment options, excellent clinical opportunities and great academic reputations! I am applying to Penn, Marquette, Northeastern, Duke and Hopkins. I will apply to a few others in the spring with later deadlines if I don't receive good news in February.
I wish I had certifications like being a respiratory therapist or a CNA! You guys are very lucky for that experience. However, I am trying not to compare myself to others, because at this point it really doesn't matter because I can't change anything now, and it is what it is, I suppose. I just have to hope for the best!
hopefulnurse24
502 Posts
the healer's art, I know what you're talking about with Georgetown. They have strange prerequisites that I cannot meet - I've taken World Religions, but that's about it, and they require two religion courses! They also require two ethics courses! At least with Cincinnati, you have the option to enroll and take the prerequisites you haven't taken and then matriculate into the nursing portion after. I only had two courses left to take if I went to school there - pharmacology and pathophysiology. I thought it was weird that they had you take it before the program, and not during (at least, that's what the curriculum said).
There are certainly no "safety" schools, which makes it very scary when applying. If I don't hear good news in February, I have a few other schools I'm going to apply to that have March 1 deadlines, but I'm waiting until then just to save some money. I also know of a few programs that accept people in the spring, such as UAB and Duke, that I could reapply to if I don't gain acceptance to any of the schools I'm applying to. I hope I don't have to worry about that, but it's something I've been thinking about just in case! Gotta have some backup plans! I could always get my CNA license and work in the meantime. But like I said, hopefully I don't have to worry about that! I'll be praying about it!