Direct-entry MSN programs

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just moving the other thread to its new home. Here's where we talk about issues unique to Master's-entry programs!

Specializes in NICU.

Hey guys

I'm back at my parents' house in California, sitting in the sun, drinking lemonade, and reading Harry Potter. Finals were hell, but I made it through.

Jess, they all do seem terribly impressive, don't they? I was totally intimidated by a lot of my class when we first started, but it goes away. Especially if you guys do what we did and rent a party room at a bar after finals...any semblance of professionalism is goooooooooooooone. Hee.

I am such a nerd I brought the textbooks for my medsurg rotation home with me to get a jump start on the fall...

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Hi all

I've really enjoyed reading this thread (and the old ones) and seeing everyone's progress. You all have great advice, and so I thought maybe you could help me out.

SO - I'm seriously considering/have decided to apply to direct-entry MSN programs this fall, with the goal of eventually becoming a FNP. However, I'm NOT the typical applicant, and I'm wondering what my chances are and/or how I can improve them quickly (ie, in the next few months).

I'm a 4th year phd student in cell biology at Harvard, but I'm not planning to finish the phd. I want to become a NP instead. It's a bit of an unual switch, I know. My numbers are good - 3.95 undergrad GPA, 3.7ish grad GPA. GRE (pre-writing section days) 800A, 790Q, 640 V. I obviously have a ton of lab experience and a strong science background. Haven't actually taken A+P, but doing that this fall.

I have limited health care experience. Worked in a clinic in high school way back when. Currently volunteer doing outdoor education for people with disabilities - does that count? Am starting a hospital volunteer program next week. Grad school commitments mean I can't spend to much time on anything else without pissing off my advisor - and I know I'll need a good rec from him to get in.

Despite my lack of on-paper experience, I've researched this well and it's what I want to do. But do I even have a chance? Should I go back for an associates first? Become a CNA?

I'm thinking of appling to: UCSF (do I have a shot in hell? should i even bother?), Simmons, Northeastern, UIC, and Hopkins. Any comments on these schools?

Thanks, and hope school is going well for everyone-

janony

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Specializes in Postpartum.
Hi all

I've really enjoyed reading this thread (and the old ones) and seeing everyone's progress. You all have great advice, and so I thought maybe you could help me out.

SO - I'm seriously considering/have decided to apply to direct-entry MSN programs this fall, with the goal of eventually becoming a FNP. However, I'm NOT the typical applicant, and I'm wondering what my chances are and/or how I can improve them quickly (ie, in the next few months).

I'm a 4th year phd student in cell biology at Harvard, but I'm not planning to finish the phd. I want to become a NP instead. It's a bit of an unual switch, I know. My numbers are good - 3.95 undergrad GPA, 3.7ish grad GPA. GRE (pre-writing section days) 800A, 790Q, 640 V. I obviously have a ton of lab experience and a strong science background. Haven't actually taken A+P, but doing that this fall.

I have limited health care experience. Worked in a clinic in high school way back when. Currently volunteer doing outdoor education for people with disabilities - does that count? Am starting a hospital volunteer program next week. Grad school commitments mean I can't spend to much time on anything else without pissing off my advisor - and I know I'll need a good rec from him to get in.

Despite my lack of on-paper experience, I've researched this well and it's what I want to do. But do I even have a chance? Should I go back for an associates first? Become a CNA?

I'm thinking of appling to: UCSF (do I have a shot in hell? should i even bother?), Simmons, Northeastern, UIC, and Hopkins. Any comments on these schools?

Thanks, and hope school is going well for everyone-

janony

Hi Janony,

Welcome to allnurses! I think you have a great shot. Your stats are incredible- I think the challenge for you would be in your essays to build a coherent career/education arc and make a strong case for both leaving your phd program and becoming an NP. Since you don't have a healtcare background, I think it's also important to demonstrate in your essays that you know what the role of an NP is. I think volunteer experience is crucial when you have no healthcare background- but different schools will weight it differently.

UCSF has so many really qualified applicants that I'm convinced no one is a shoo-in there. Also, they really weigh direct care experience heavily. I think you would have an excellent shot at Northeastern and Simmons. UIC and Hopkins I don't know enough about to be able to judge, but Smile123 is at Hopkins now, so maybe she'll chime in.

Welcome again- and anything we can do to help- this is an awesome thread and totally saved my sanity during the application and waiting process.

-Jess

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Specializes in Postpartum.
SO - I'm seriously considering/have decided to apply to direct-entry MSN programs this fall, with the goal of eventually becoming a FNP. However, I'm NOT the typical applicant....

Also, I wouldnt worry about it, because from what I've seen in my program (BC) and on this thread there is no "typical applicant" profile.

-Jess

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Specializes in Postpartum.
Hey guys

I'm back at my parents' house in California, sitting in the sun, drinking lemonade, and reading Harry Potter. Finals were hell, but I made it through.

...

I am such a nerd I brought the textbooks for my medsurg rotation home with me to get a jump start on the fall...

Yay you!!! Congrats on finishing finals and earning some well-deserved down time.

Yeah, you're a nerd- but that's what got you into to Columbia, so don't knock it! :roll

-Jess

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Janony,

You go for it! Everyone in these direct entry master's programs has a bachelor's degree in a non nursing area. So everyone entering these programs has done a career change. You have great grades, great GRE's and part of a doctorate done-in the science area. This shows that you are smart enough to do the program. All you need to do is write an essay explaining why you want to be a FNP and showing that you are motivated in that area. I have been told that these programs, just like medical schools, look for students from varied non traditional backgrounds. They like to have classes filled with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise.

I am an RN with a BS, a teacher(elementary school) with an MA plus 24 post graduate education credits in teaching and administration, and now I am going to be starting a nurse practitioner's program in psychiatric nursing in the spring. They are not even asking me to take GRE's. It is never too late to change careers. And we all bring something special to our new careers. That's what makes for a good medical/nursing/teaching team.

Good luck to you in your new career.

Krissy

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Wow, Krissy - they didn't make you take the GRE's? How lucky are you! I am starting a Direct Entry program at UMass Medical School, Worcester next week for my NP as well (terrified/excited!), and I was running around like a madman just trying to get my pre-req's finished up, and then I realized through the cloud of working 60+ hours/week and school @ night, that I still needed to take them!! AGGH! You know, one of those, "I will do it later" kind of things. I almost forgot to take them! HAHA!

Anyway, for all of you that don't have to take the GRE's, how lucky you are! I honestly think they have become yet another part of the "weeding out" process for grad school.

Good luck to you with your program! And good luck to all of you starting/going back to school this fall!

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I think in general ADN programs may accept a higher percentage of candidates but also have much higher attrition rates because they are not as selective in their application proccess.

Jess

Not flaming Jess, but the CC I am attending had a very selective process. Things have changed in the last few years because there are so many people trying to get into nursing. There were more than 600 applicants for 50 slots in my entering class. At orientation, I met some of my classmates and most of them have a bachelor's, many have a Master's and a few had PhD's. One is an MD from a foreign country. I looked at all the programs and decided to go with the CC because it cost so much less to earn the RN and it has a good reputation in the area. I will eventually become an APN, which is why I read these posts. I like hearing about the programs you all are attending.

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Specializes in Postpartum.
Not flaming Jess, but the CC I am attending had a very selective process. Things have changed in the last few years because there are so many people trying to get into nursing. There were more than 600 applicants for 50 slots in my entering class. At orientation, I met some of my classmates and most of them have a bachelor's, many have a Master's and a few had PhD's. One is an MD from a foreign country. I looked at all the programs and decided to go with the CC because it cost so much less to earn the RN and it has a good reputation in the area. I will eventually become an APN, which is why I read these posts. I like hearing about the programs you all are attending.

I'm glad you found a good CC program. You are from MA, right? I did some of my pre reqs at Mass Bay, which does not have a very selective process (it's basically an unweighted waitlist) and their attrition rate once accepted to the program is horrendous. My A&P prof from there also teaches at Bunker Hill and says they have the same problem with people flunking or dropping out. I'm all for the idea of community colleges and giving access to higher ed to a broader section of the community. But with nursing, I just don't think these programs are doing students any favors by accepting ones who will not be able to succeed in it. A selective process which gives weight to proven predictors of academic success is ultimately, I belive fairer to all involved.

Jess (I'll get off my soapbox now... :) )

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Hi all

I've really enjoyed reading this thread (and the old ones) and seeing everyone's progress. You all have great advice, and so I thought maybe you could help me out.

SO - I'm seriously considering/have decided to apply to direct-entry MSN programs this fall, with the goal of eventually becoming a FNP. However, I'm NOT the typical applicant, and I'm wondering what my chances are and/or how I can improve them quickly (ie, in the next few months).

I'm a 4th year phd student in cell biology at Harvard, but I'm not planning to finish the phd. I want to become a NP instead. It's a bit of an unual switch, I know. My numbers are good - 3.95 undergrad GPA, 3.7ish grad GPA. GRE (pre-writing section days) 800A, 790Q, 640 V. I obviously have a ton of lab experience and a strong science background. Haven't actually taken A+P, but doing that this fall.

I have limited health care experience. Worked in a clinic in high school way back when. Currently volunteer doing outdoor education for people with disabilities - does that count? Am starting a hospital volunteer program next week. Grad school commitments mean I can't spend to much time on anything else without pissing off my advisor - and I know I'll need a good rec from him to get in.

Despite my lack of on-paper experience, I've researched this well and it's what I want to do. But do I even have a chance? Should I go back for an associates first? Become a CNA?

I'm thinking of appling to: UCSF (do I have a shot in hell? should i even bother?), Simmons, Northeastern, UIC, and Hopkins. Any comments on these schools?

Thanks, and hope school is going well for everyone-

janony

Hi Janony,

You have an amazing background! Johns Hopkins will definitely want you! Your stats are great and doing research in cell biology is all goodness (they are a big research oriented school). I would make sure you have excellent recommendations and really spell out why you are making this switch. It would also help if you could talk to some NPs (especially for UCSF) and do some volunteer healthcare experience, so you can talk briefly in your essay about your commitment and if you understand what you are getting into.

At Hopkins, they look at your academic record, GREs, recommendations and essay. Also be sure you will have done all the pre-reqs by the time you enter next fall. (Hopkins increased the pre-reqs to match the rest of the schools, with A&P, nutrition, statistics, psych - human development (make sure it includes birth through death). Here's the link for the pre-reqs:

http://www.son.jhmi.edu/academic_programs/undergrad/undergraduate.asp

Hopkins does not require any heavy duty health care experience, so I think you would have an excellent shot of getting there. I like the fact you worked with people who had disabilities; even though that isn't health care per se, it counts.

I know that UCSF really likes applicants who speak another language (Spanish) and people that have worked with the underserved health care environment (AIDs, homeless, inner city, etc.), so if you haven't had a lot of volunteer health care experience, you may not be as viable a candidate. They are extremely selective, especially with the FNP focus (the most popular area for applicants). Stellar candidates apply who typically have been in the health care field for 3 or 4 years. It also depends on how many slots are open for each area. I know people who got in UCSF after they were rejected the first time.

I have no doubt you'll get in somewhere! Just be sure to apply to several schools and then you'll be able to choose where you want to go.

Smile123

Just finished summer semester and am now in vacation mode - yeah!

A Hopkins gal

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Hi all

Thanks so much for your input! Yah, I'm reconsidering applying to UCSF - they actually were the only school that rejected me when I applied for phd programs. My roomie is an MD and did one of her residencies there and knows a lot of people in the program, so she's been strongly encouraging me to try there, but I'm not sure I'd have much of a chance. Plus, they require 4 recs and the application deadline is early!

I have a question about pre-reqs: how carefully do they check them? I took a grad class called "Micro 230", but it was a critical reading/discussion class of primary literature, not your typical swab-bacteria-and-watch-it-grow class. I could take one this spring, I suppose, but it seems so repetitive given that I've been WORKING with microorganisms full-time for five years!!

I'm already signed up for A+P 1 this fall, and will do AP2 in the spring. I was going to take stats in the spring, but if I need to take nutrition AND stats AND development - how on earth am I going to fit all those in for a summer start? Or is it ok to take them in the summer? 2 classes is the most I can possibly handle at a time while still working full-time in the lab and hospital volunteering!

Do they ever waive pre-reqs for candidates that have a lot of science coursework, even if it doesn't fit perfectly? Could I take a proficiency test in nutrtion or something?

Anyhow, thanks for the votes of confidence. I really appreciate that. :-)

janony

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Hi Jess!

Wondering if I should add BC to my list of schools. How did you decide to go there? Where else did you consider? Do you have any idea how competitive it is to get in?

NO OFFENSE INTENDED TO YOU AT ALL, but-

I kinda have a philisophical problem with BC... last year the students/faculty tried to get sexual orientation added to the non-discrimination policy but the administration rejected it. Grrr. I'm gay (and Jewish, but the Jesuit affilition doesn't bother me so much) and am not sure I'd want to be at a place that condones discrimination based on sexual orientation.

But I've heard it's a great program and I like Boston and it would make life easier to not have to move, so maybe I should get off my high horse and apply there as well!

janony

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