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.
Good job everybody!!!

I've been in NY at a Columbia infosession. It sounds like all the luck I got sucked out of me (snowed in at JFK!) transferred to you all. It makes it worth it. :chuckle

For any future Columbia prospies reading this thread: at the infosession, the dean said that their DScN program had 800 applicants for 20 spots, and the numbers for the Direct entry program were similar, which works out to around 6000 apps for 150 spots. Wow! Also, the neonatology track ends up being FIVE years instead of three, because of the new federal regulations. Basically, one has to work full time for 2 years in a level III NICU prior to beginning advanced studies. So we do the one-year pre-licensure phase, work for two years while taking the core sciences, THEN 1-1/2 to two years of advanced clinicals. :stone

Ok, in answer to the OP's question: PRETTY FREAKIN' HARD!!!!

LOL!!

Great job Elizabells and bruinlaura!! I'm sure you will love Columbia!!

-Jess

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
And I just got an acceptance letter from Boston College!!!!!

I'm in shock. I can't believe that now I get to choose between my three schools!!!!!

-Jess

This is really great news Jess! I imagine that right now you may not feel the ground underneath your feet. :)

Truly good news.

All that pre-letter anxst will have to hit the road!!

Gen

p.s. wait, no, that anxst is coming to Chicago!! :p

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.

The sad situation I'm in is that childcare for two kids for three years actually costs more than tuition. It's insane. If I think too much about it it just feels like it's impossible - but we'll figure it out somehow. :chuckle

-Jess

Hold on, :)

This is actually better than it looks at first. In my last year's class, (sociology of the marriage and families) we had to do many papers. One of my papers was to research the cost of child care from infancy until high school. I used my sister with her three daughters as an example.

The cost looked ridiculous! $36,000.00 for a full year and her job only left her with a couple of a thousand on top of that, it looked unworth it UNTIL....continueing calculations with mom working and children growing and the benefit IS that while your children are socializing, and learning and you are working and earning experience you are raising your EARNING POTENTIAL while their childcare costs are DECREASING.

This is a WIN-WIN type of situation Jess. Also, a doctor and a nurse that I worked with were talking one day about guilt over child care and a couple of doctors, (all moms) came over and joined in on how the benefits to your children with you working and realizing yourself is truly worth it, happy mom = better mom. :)

Another woman I know, (with her Ph.D. in developemental childcare) once said she thought she was a terrible mother, until one of her professors told her to look at her children...they were HAPPY, that is what mattered most.

You can do this Jess!!

Gen

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Wow! You guys are just firing on all cylinders! Congrats to all of you!

I just talked to the husband of our new Bishop, and I'm going to be applying for a year-long Certificate in Theological Studies at an Episcopalian Seminary in Berkeley, CA. Heck, I need to do something until I can apply again to nursing school.

Good for you, (and all who will be your future patients too!)

One of my recommenders is a theologian, she is a professor of religious studies at my university.

A former co-worker from a hospital, ( a clergy member and theologian) is a co-student with me this semester in my Health Psychology course!

Congrats to you too!

Gen

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Orthopedics, Occ Health.

It's hard to wait here in Portland from MGH! I checked the mail today.. nothing! I'm hoping it will be sooner than later!! :eek:

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Specializes in Postpartum.
It's hard to wait here in Portland from MGH! I checked the mail today.. nothing! I'm hoping it will be sooner than later!! :eek:

Oh Diana it's so hard to wait!!! Hopefully tomorrow will be the day! Fingers crossed for you! Let us know when you know!

-Jess

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Specializes in Postpartum.
Hold on, :)

This is actually better than it looks at first. In my last year's class, (sociology of the marriage and families) we had to do many papers. One of my papers was to research the cost of child care from infancy until high school. I used my sister with her three daughters as an example.

The cost looked ridiculous! $36,000.00 for a full year and her job only left her with a couple of a thousand on top of that, it looked unworth it UNTIL....continueing calculations with mom working and children growing and the benefit IS that while your children are socializing, and learning and you are working and earning experience you are raising your EARNING POTENTIAL while their childcare costs are DECREASING.

This is a WIN-WIN type of situation Jess. Also, a doctor and a nurse that I worked with were talking one day about guilt over child care and a couple of doctors, (all moms) came over and joined in on how the benefits to your children with you working and realizing yourself is truly worth it, happy mom = better mom. :)

Another woman I know, (with her Ph.D. in developemental childcare) once said she thought she was a terrible mother, until one of her professors told her to look at her children...they were HAPPY, that is what mattered most.

You can do this Jess!!

Gen

Gen- Thanks so much for this post. I struggle so much with this "mommy guilt". I just got of the phone with my mom (who stayed at home with me and my bros but was miserable) and she was like "well it's obvious to me you need to choose the least demanding, most flexible school and put your kids first- this is about not disrupting their lives any more than you need to" I know I should just let it roll off my back but she really made me feel selfish for even considering going back to school at all. I do believe a happy mom is a better mom- but only to a point, you know? At some point there has to be a balance. Is it ok to use child care 20 hrs a week, 40, 60? At what point are you "outsourcing" your kids' upbringing? I know this is a little OT for this thread- I apologize. :uhoh21:

-Jess

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At some point there has to be a balance. Is it ok to use child care 20 hrs a week, 40, 60? At what point are you "outsourcing" your kids' upbringing? I know this is a little OT for this thread- I apologize. :uhoh21:

-Jess

Do not feel guilty in the least. You need to look at the big picture. Go to a school that will give you the best training and opportunity to open doors for YOU. You are changing careers and investing time in yourself. You deserve it!

If your kids are in child care 20 hrs or 40 hrs/week, that's OK. They know you are their mom who loves them. They also know you are only doing the school thing for a short while. I don't remember how old your kids are, but you could say, "now mommy and her kids are doing homework" and going to school. They can certainly relate to that.

As long as you show them you love them and your support network (dad, friends, etc.) help out, that should be no problem. You can do it! :p

Smile123

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Gen- Thanks so much for this post. I struggle so much with this "mommy guilt". I just got of the phone with my mom (who stayed at home with me and my bros but was miserable) and she was like "well it's obvious to me you need to choose the least demanding, most flexible school and put your kids first- this is about not disrupting their lives any more than you need to" I know I should just let it roll off my back but she really made me feel selfish for even considering going back to school at all. I do believe a happy mom is a better mom- but only to a point, you know? At some point there has to be a balance. Is it ok to use child care 20 hrs a week, 40, 60? At what point are you "outsourcing" your kids' upbringing? I know this is a little OT for this thread- I apologize. :uhoh21:

-Jess

Another wonderful professor of mine, (for the marriages and family class) once talked about how her kids all knew that mommy needed to do her homework. While she worked for years on her Ph.D. and everything that goes with it.

She said that when it was all said and done her youngest daughter was so 'unimpressed' that mommy was not 'that' type of doctor!!

I believe your feelings and concern are natural because you deeply love your children and want to do what is best for them.

At the center where those doctors were that I worked with, one of the docs had five children, another four, another two, another a few and one of the lab techs had five, an office clerk had five and all of those workers agreed wholeheartedly that your heart is with your children and that you will indeed have to make trade-offs, (mostly with sleep and with you taking the short end, by choice). Another nurse told me that when her little ones were young and she was still in her BSN program that she laminated her note cards to take them to the bathtub with her.

:)

You are right to let the comment with your mother slide, (I think so).

Gen

p.s. this is not too far off topic in the least!

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Specializes in NICU.

Jess, darling, I don't have kids, so I can't really know what you're facing, but I do know that I was in daycare when I was little and I'm going to Columbia and am only mildly insane, so don't let your mom make you feel guilty! Just love them! I grew up in a town where my mom was one of a very, very few who worked outside of the home, and we caught a lot of heat (i.e., got kicked out of Brownie Scouts because she wasn't as available as the other moms!), but we just stuck together and I always knew she loved me. There were plenty of other kids whose moms stayed home that ended up a lot more screwy than I did. Feminism is about the freedom to make your OWN choices about what's best for you and your family. And I'm not saying this is your situation, but what if you gave up the program you really wanted because of childcare issues and then you were sad about it? Kids pick up on that stuff. Not in any way saying you'd resent your kids or take it out on them, but the little ones are mighty perceptive and apt to figure out a way blame themselves for things in their parents' lives. Just go with your heart. It's at most three years. I promise it'll be okay, no matter what you decide.

steps down off soapbox

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Specializes in Global Health Informatics, MNCH.

Jess, I also don't have kids, but I think you're doing the right thing. My mom took a job at a local community health center when I was young because my parents were struggling and her not working was not really an option any longer. Her taking that job is the whole reason I became interested in health care and am going into nursing now. When I was in high school I was able to intern with her in the summer. My experience there has opened so many doors and opportunities for me that I can only imagine that my life would be completely different if she hadn't taken that job. You never know, your kids my follow in your footsteps someday.

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Specializes in Postpartum.
Jess, I also don't have kids, but I think you're doing the right thing. My mom took a job at a local community health center when I was young because my parents were struggling and her not working was not really an option any longer. Her taking that job is the whole reason I became interested in health care and am going into nursing now. When I was in high school I was able to intern with her in the summer. My experience there has opened so many doors and opportunities for me that I can only imagine that my life would be completely different if she hadn't taken that job. You never know, your kids my follow in your footsteps someday.

Ok, you guys are awesome!!! Thanks you so much for telling me I'm not abusing my kids by sending them to daycare. I have worked so hard for this and really want to see it all fall into place. I know it will be hard on all of use for a time- but you are all right- the payoff will be huge. And I think I will be a good role model for my girls. My mom has issues- I need to not let her comments replay over and over again in my mind! Once I find the right childcare setup I think I will feel so much better about it all! Thanks everyone, for your support!

Jess

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