Direct Entry MSN Programs 2013

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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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!

Soulshine:Students are asked to rank order their top three units, and all in cent years have had one of their top choices (with most getting the first choice).In the course of the first semester the student meets with the unit manager to discuss possible capstone projects. The project develops from a student-perceived idea, or from a suggestion of the manager (ie, from a defined clinical need). Managers at UVA Health System all have a list of projects they would love to undertake if there existed sufficient resources. Most of these capstones concern quality improvement, patient/family/employee satisfaction, or safety issues. Many capstone findings have become posters and papers at national conferences, and become adopted as policies at the UVa Health System.

That's really neat. All those clinical hours are impressive. Especially 500 in an area of your choosing. Some schools only have 500 total!

I can't believe the average GRE for MGH. That makes me feel way more confident. It's a relief to know that you don't have to take the classes online. I hate online classes. It seems like a waste of money to move out there to just take classes online.

Just wanted to let everyone know I had my JHU interview too a while ago. I didn't apply early decision I just applied early. It went really well. Nothing to be nervous about. They ask the typical questions. But make sure you know a lot about national health care issues and why you want a Master's. You have the opportunity to ask questions and I totally flaked and asked something I already knew the answer to but did not ask how many clinical hours there are at JHU. So for those of you who have your interview coming up, please ask that question! I'm dying to know how all these schools compare to each other with that.

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Hi. I am also a respiratory therapist in Columbus. I applied to start in 2013. Did you end up gettin through your personal statement? I did that first, it took me a while to get it done. What specialty did you apply for?

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Hello All,

I am new to this thread and am applying to the ohio state direct entry np program. I am a respiratory therapist at a level 1 trauma center in columbus ohio. I will lay out my stats.

gpa: 3.46

gre: good on the math.. ok on the verbal

good clinical experiance

last thing to do is the personal statement.. anyone else having trouble with that?

any others looking into the Ohio state program?

Hi. I am also a respiratory therapist in Columbus. I applied to start in 2013. Did you end up gettin through your personal statement? I did that first, it took me a while to get it done. What specialty did you apply for?

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Hey everyone,

Just thought I'd wish you all luck with applications. I was in your shoes last year and remember how agonizing it was. But it was totally worth it and I'm loving my time in school (even when I feel like I am hating it). For what it's worth, I applied to 3 schools (BC, Northeastern, Columbia) and was accepted to the three, and ended up at Columbia. I definitely think I made the right choice for me. Feel free to ask questions if you have any and hopefully I can help.

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What ultimately made you decide against BC and Northeastern?

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phnursestudent,

Is your specialty Public Health nursing? That is so amazing that you were accepted at all three schools! How is Columbia so far? I also applied there. I have heard the program is very overwhelming!

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Hi all - I dont' see a current thread for Vanderbilt (just one from last year) but I went to an info session recently and will type up more information when I have a chance - but if anyone has any specific questions I can try to include them. I'm surprised it doesn't seem to be a very popular program here on these boards - is there something big I'm missing that is convincing people to apply to Penn or UCSF and not ?

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bbcc,

I was on a thread before. I was confused though because it seemed to be RN's applying to the RN-MSN program. So far what I've gotten from THIS thread about Vandy is that you have to find your own clinical placements ( someone stated that so don't quote me). That turned some people away on here. Either way, I am still applying because I need all the options I can get.

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Specializes in Midwifery/Women's Health.

Hi bbcc, I applied to too. I think the UCSF and Penn threads were made early on since the deadlines were earlier. I do get nervous hearing about having to find your own clinicals for Vandy. Their essay + interview questions were quite lengthy too! But I was content with my submission. I think it's awesome that you can add up to 5 letter of recs too for Vandy.

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Specializes in Midwifery/Women's Health.

Oh and bbcc, if you have any questions on the stats about the interviews offered and students accepted that would be great. I'm still unsure if requires an interview?

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Specializes in Midwifery/Women's Health.

phnursestudent, you must've been an awesome applicant since you were accepted into all three programs! I'm applying to over 10 schools and I still feel very nervous about the prospects of being accepted. I would love to go to school in NY but the living costs is probably the most expensive compared to any of the other schools I applied to. I visited NY for the first time in March and fell in love with the bustling city and Central Park :) I would love to hear more about your experience at Columbia! And do you have any advice for us applicants?

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I was never sold on BC and really only applied because I felt like only applying 2 schools was too risky and I knew that if I wasn't in NY I wanted to stay in Boston. The program just seemed way too short for my liking. And I had heard some not so great things from the staff at the hospital where I was working. I heard bad stuff about Columbia too, I would take all bad comments with a grain of salt. I think every school has issues, a lot of the same ones in fact, but the extent to which these will affect you really varies.

I was really excited about Northeastern since they are one of few schools with the Pediatric Acute specialty. I liked the idea of working full time as an RN before starting the Master's, I liked being able to stay at the Boston hospitals, there was a lot going for it. But when I went to interview I left feeling underwhelmed. There wasn't any specific thing that was wrong but I just got strange vibes. Maybe it was the rainy weather or the fact that I interviewed during my lunch break , or that I had found out I was accepted to Columbia the day before the interview, but I left far less excited about the program than I expected. The interview questions were standard, the woman interviewing me just didn't stand out. Also, 24 people with only 5 or so in Pediatrics is so small!

Why I chose Columbia: I am doing the dual program with the public health school so that was a big selling point for me. I think the program is maybe a little too big 170 or so people in my class but I would rather have too big than too small. When I came for visiting day I left excited, even if the campus isn't the most wonderful or bustling campus in the world it felt right. A big plus over the other schools in my mind is that Columbia is part of a medical center with 2 of it's own world-renowned hospitals, in a network of 5 or 6 others. There is also a medical, dental, PT, OT, and public health school all on the same campus. Right now the schools are fairly separate but there are a ton of opportunities available at all of the schools. And the faculty is working hard to create classes that bring together all of the schools which I think is amazing.

I am doing the Pediatrics specialty and while it is/will be challenging I don't think it is needlessly so and I am excited to take it on. Columbia does not coddle you. They are not mean, in fact I think the staff are wonderful (others may disagree) but to thrive here I do think you need to be a more assertive personality. Take initiative, speak up, advocate for yourself. If you are timid you might not do so well.

As for the application process, my best advice- and I'm sure this is nothing new to you- is to focus on the personal statement. During orientation they said they read and reread each and every one of our essays and I think that it is true. My fellow students have come from such a diverse background and have done amazing things. The beauty of a second degree program is the wide range of experiences people bring to the table. More than anything else Columbia seems to really take that into account.

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