Direct Entry Programs- How hard to get in?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Thanks for all of your responses to all of my previous posts. As you probably assume, I'm evaluating all of my options including ADN, BSN, and Direct-Entry MSN. The direct entry programs look extremely appealing, but seeing that they are at the best of colleges, I don't know how easy they are to get in.

Does anyone know what the typical GPA, scores, acceptance rates of these programs are? Anyone have any experience applying?

I'm in MD, so I'd consider Hopkins, but Columbia, MGHI in Mass, Case Western, Vanderbilt, Pace, and Yale also look appealing.

Seeing as nursing traditionally isn't an "ivy league" profession, are the credentials required for these programs less than what a typical "ivy" student would need?

I'd love to hear experiences with any programs.........

Specializes in Postpartum.

Another question for anyone out there ... is anyone planning on taking pre-reqs during the summer before their direct entry program starts? For example, if I go to Simmons, I will take both A&P and BioChem during the summer before actually nursing classes start in sept. As it gets closer I am getting nervous about the accelorated pace of the classes. Does anyone have any feeback on this?

Depending on the program I get into I will have to take Micro, Chem and maybe Nurtrition this summer. The cc I went to for some of my pre reqs require Bio as a prereq to Micro- but I'm going to see if I can get that waived since I did both A&Ps there. I don't really have time for another pre-req, you know? If I get inot MGH I will take a nutrition class online this spring to get that out of the way. There is a cheap one offered at BYU that I will probably take- you can start/finish it at any time and it is 1/2 what the colleges around here charge. BC is the only one that requires Orgo- so if I end up going there I will take an online general Chem class as well to brush up before taking Orgo. Many of these schools offer a "science summer" session so I think they would waive pre reqs to pre reqs (does that make sense? like a pre req of bio to take the program prereq of micro) for accepted students if you were taking your final few prereqs through the school. The way I'm looking at it is that if I get in I start back as a "full time student" this summer rather than this fall. For me that means lining up essentially full time childcare probably starting in May or June. That seems so close!!!!

-Jess

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Hello Jen, (Gennaver here-Jen)

Nice to read you. Are you planning on taking A&P 1 and 2 as well as Biochem all in the summer semester?

Gennaver

Thanks for the feedback Gennaver. Depending on where I end up, either Simmons or MGH, I plan on taking the "science summer" offered. Simmons rolls A&P I & II into one class. And I will be taking both A&P and BioChem but they will not run concurrently ... there will be seperate summer sessions. MGH also offers a similar structure. Timing-wise, this is really my only option, but the intensity of it makes me nervous!

- Jen

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Specializes in Postpartum.

I took A&P I last summer over an 8 weeks summer session. It was really intense- but I liked it. A girl in my class was taking A&P1, Micro and Orgo at the same time- and she was doing mediocre in all 3 because her time was so divided. Personally, I think 2 lab classes at once is the max that I would attempt. You should be fine. A&P is a lot of content and a lot of memorization- it's interesting and not terribly hard but *a lot* of memorization. BioChem is pretty hard for most people. Even science majors I knew in undergrad dreaded BioChem. My best advice would be if you find yourself confused in the first few classes, find a tutor ASAP.

-Jess

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Thanks for the encouragement, first of all.

MGH has distance learning prereq options for the summer if you're accepted into their direct entry program, and I would have to take chemistry, because I don't have that one yet.

I do agree with the advice given regarding community colleges and summer science courses, depending on what your location is also. I took Micro last summer and, while it wasn't hard to get into, it was very difficult to get through all that material and do well (I did get an A) and not feel like I was losing my mind in such a short time. People often have to wait several semesters to get into Anatomy classes here because of the demand, and Physiology can often be as difficult and there are prereqs, and taking more than one of these courses during the regular semesters is generally considered a true sign of masochism.

So check into everything early, and try to clear your schedule as much as possible. And if one community college doesn't have openings, see if you can take a class somewhere else.

The good news is that if you're already accepted into the nursing program, your grades won't be as important. Good luck!

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.

Many of these schools offer a "science summer" session so I think they would waive pre reqs to pre reqs (does that make sense? like a pre req of bio to take the program prereq of micro) for accepted students if you were taking your final few prereqs through the school. The way I'm looking at it is that if I get in I start back as a "full time student" this summer rather than this fall. For me that means lining up essentially full time childcare probably starting in May or June. That seems so close!!!!

-Jess

Hi Jess,

It seems that we are all going to have busy summers of science :p

I am lucky due to having been working on these for a while but, my A&P 1 &2 both turn five years old this year, (after this year I'd have to re-take them).

However I was planning on finally taking that organic chem this summer as that is the final pre-requisite for my pathophysiology, (not required for the direct entry but, they are both requirements for entry to BSN programs-which are my back-up).

I was also hoping that the pathophysiology would help me with the first semester of the direct entry program, (for them they have a 7 credit hour pathophysiology with pharmacotherapeutics course listed then, as well as a 8 hour concepts and skills course and then a 2 hour cultural fluency and communication skills course.)

Hoping, hoping, hoping...

Fingers crossed and trying to wait patiently for any response.

Today I do have a required orientation for the junior college's ADN program so I am missing class from my university today to attend it.

I guess we should make friends with these jitters that we have now, (seems they will be here for a while, especially if we all get accepted!)

Gennaver

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Gennaver - Sorry if I've missed it, but where have you applyed for direct entry programs?

Jess - What is BYU? That is a good idea to possibily take a refresher before jumping righ into BioChem. I have only took inorganic chem and it was close to 7 years ago now ... yikes !!

As far as MGH's science summer ... it makes me nervous to take A&P online ?!?!

Wow - so much to consider !!

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Specializes in Postpartum.
Gennaver - Sorry if I've missed it, but where have you applyed for direct entry programs?

Jess - What is BYU? That is a good idea to possibily take a refresher before jumping righ into BioChem. I have only took inorganic chem and it was close to 7 years ago now ... yikes !!

As far as MGH's science summer ... it makes me nervous to take A&P online ?!?!

Wow - so much to consider !!

BYU is Brigham Young University in Utah. They have a huge online course offering. And their online courses arent tied to a semester. You can start them any time and you have a year to finish them. They don't offer lab sciences though. But I figured I would take chem just to brush up - not as a formal prereq. Most classes are between $275 and 400 which is pretty cheap for around here (Boston).

It's a Mormon school so many students marry in college. If one spouse graduates and has to move away for work before the other spouse has finished their degree- this is a way for them to finish. I have a few friends who went to BYU and then finished their undergrad online- and they were genrally positve about BYU online. I'm taking a Psychology of Gender class though them right now and it's pretty good. It's just hard to stay disciplined, you know?

-Jess

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Specializes in NICU.
Thank you all so much for discussing being freaked out about not getting in, and . . . getting in.

I feel the same way. I think OMG I've worked so hard and put so much time and emotional energy into research and applying, that if I don't get in, I'll be crushed. But when I imagine getting in, I think, oh gawd I'm not so young anymore how will I ever make it through that first year. I'm 44 and I get tired a lot faster than the young ones. What if I get sick? What if my back goes out? And on and on my mind goes.

Knowing that others are going through the same tells me that this is a normal part of the process, and also the normal result of not knowing whether we're even in or not.

I don't have children myself, but I did have a friend who made it through the UCSF master's entry program and she had two little ones. She was older like me, and she made it through. So it may not be easy, but it can be done.

All we can do is take it a day at a time. I try to remind myself that if I get in, and that's a big if, I'll do the best I can and if it doesn't work out I'll at least have tried. Some things are beyond our control, kids get sick we get sick, spouses act up, but we have to try. If it doesn't work, then we try again, or try something else. But at least we know in our hearts that we took a risk and tried our best.

Hi seahorse! I'm having trouble remembering where everyone's going; will you be applying to Columbia? Because I'm in the SF Bay as well, and if we're both headed to NY, we should get together!

I think I'm going to be the baby of the group, I'm 24, single, no kids, etc. Yay, you can all take care of me!!! :chuckle

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Hi seahorse! I'm having trouble remembering where everyone's going; will you be applying to Columbia? Because I'm in the SF Bay as well, and if we're both headed to NY, we should get together!

I think I'm going to be the baby of the group, I'm 24, single, no kids, etc. Yay, you can all take care of me!!! :chuckle

Hi Elizabells,

Wow! To find your direction so early in life, and then to get into Columbia! That's really impressive. Congratulations again!

I just applied to the local programs; UCSF, SF State and CSM. I'm wait listed at State and should find out about UCSF after next week.

Take Care

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Specializes in NICU.
Hi Elizabells,

Wow! To find your direction so early in life, and then to get into Columbia! That's really impressive. Congratulations again!

I just applied to the local programs; UCSF, SF State and CSM. I'm wait listed at State and should find out about UCSF after next week.

Take Care

Thanks! Although, I think my age actually counted against me at UCSF - everyone I know that applied who is under 30 didn't even get an interview. I think some schools look more at academics (like Columbia) and others look more at life experience (Like UCSF and Penn). Because otherwise, um, how did I get rejected from the latter two and get into the first? :uhoh21: When I got the letter from Columbia I kept turning it over, looking for the part that said "Just Kidding!" because I had already been rejected from the two other schools. :confused:

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Specializes in Postpartum.
Thanks! Although, I think my age actually counted against me at UCSF - everyone I know that applied who is under 30 didn't even get an interview. I think some schools look more at academics (like Columbia) and others look more at life experience (Like UCSF and Penn). Because otherwise, um, how did I get rejected from the latter two and get into the first? :uhoh21: When I got the letter from Columbia I kept turning it over, looking for the part that said "Just Kidding!" because I had already been rejected from the two other schools. :confused:

That's such an interesting point you make. I have to say when I read your initial post I was very suprized that you didn't get into (or at very least, waitlisted at) UCSF and Penn considering they are comparable schools to Columbia. They all do seem to value pretty different things. In a way, I'm kind of glad because then you will be in class with others who share your basic profile and the instructors will ideally tailor the program to that same profile. Also, even though it may work against me- I'm glad that these programs aren't just increasing their seats to meet the demand of increasing numbers of applicants- and churning out more NPS than the market really needs. Who wants to go to school and then not be able to find work?

-Jess

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