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Hi all!
Just wanted to start a thread for the people applying to duke for the fall of 2012. I am super excited/nervous to be filling out the application! I know that there are others out there feeling the same way. If anybody is willing to comment I would love to hear from some people who have applied, accepted or denied, or applying right now, or even going to apply in the future. :)
I seem to be the senior member of this forum...41 years old, changing careers after finishing a master's in social work in 1995 and working since then...mostly as a social worker in hospital ER's and in mental health settings. I speak Spanish and have also worked as an interpreter/translator. I feel pretty good about my GPA and GRE scores - hopefully I have a shot at getting in, if I don't screw up in the interview.
Duke has been my #1 choice, but my real goal is the MSN and Family NP certification. I'm a little concerned because this year they changed from a direct pathway (guaranteed entrance to your MSN specialty, as long as your grades were good in the BSN) to an early application (but no guaranteed MSN spot) process. I know for certain that I want to be an advanced-practice nurse, so I'd sure hate to move across the country to Duke, not get into the graduate program, then go through this crazy application process again!
I have an interview coming up at Yale for the direct-entry master's, as well as the Duke interview, and I already interviewed at UT-Austin. This process is nerve-wracking but we'll all survive it! Good luck to all - looking forward to meeting some of you on February 3rd.
Hi All! I too wrote a post back around the end of September that seems to have disappeared. I am 23 years old and graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Health Management and Policy. I worked in the Finance Department at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA for almost 2 years before I decided I really wanted to be on the front end of clinical care. I've been working on a floor at BWH now for a few months as a clinical secretary to try and get a little experience on the inpatient side of things, which has been a great experience so far. Duke is 100% my number 1 choice, and I am soo exicted to be attending the interview on Feb 3! I'm also exicted to be getting out of the Boston weather for a few days, it's freezing up here! Good luck to everyone!
dancergirl185-- I also have a Bachelor's degree in psychology, and want to work at a children's hospital on their mental health unit! I graduated in 2008 and went straight into my MSW because my advisors strongly recommended that as the degree to get for my goal, but since graduating in 2010 I've found the job market for social workers to be impossible and I'm stuck working retail instead How did you get into your job? And what do you do as a nurse on that unit? I'm very excited about going to Duke for Duke Days on the 30th...maybe we'll meet there!
I'm interested to know about your experience applying with MADIN, if you've been in touch with them already (they interview separately, right?)...I'm eligible but didn't apply, so I'm curious.
Hey laflaca, I won't be applying to Duke or MADIN until later this year, however, I've spoken to one of the MADIN coordinators and I believe there is a separate interview for the program. Not surprisingly, acceptance into the MADIN program is contingent on acceptance into Duke's ABSN program. Definitely call them and see if you can still be considered as its a wonderfully unique opportunity that isn't found at many nursing schools.
Best wishes!
poodle5
67 Posts
I'm 23, I have a degree in history from UC Berkeley...my gpa is 3.95. I have been volunteering recently at a hospital and shadowed a nurse, but I would say I am lacking in experience. Although I am going to start working at a plasma donation center this month so that will help (although it wasn't on my application). However what I lack in medical experience I am well rounded in other areas, I had had some history grants during my undergrad and done quite a bit of history research. I speak 2 extra languages fluently....so I am hoping that that will help me. I am not going to be able to go to interviews, but arranged a phone interview...although that of course doesn't make the same impression as gong in person. My husband is in law school...that's not related but, it will be an important part of my eventual decision. Hope that gives you a better picture of the pool!