ECU Alternate Entry MSN Program Fall 2008

Hey! I just saw your post, I was just accepted to the ECU-AE 2008 program!! I applied early admission in November and found out on Feb. 1st. Good luck with everything--let me know if you have any questions.

Good luck at your interview OBX & Congrats Enzo. First my app. was held up in the grad. school but it now being forwarded. I hope I'm just a little behind in the process, but not counted out.

I interviewed yesterday and it seemed to go well. I was told that I would hear something from them around March 15, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I've been trying to find some posts from previous students with stats about the number of applications they usually receive, how many they interview, etc. to get a better idea of my chances but haven't had any luck. I emailed Erin in the admissions office last week and asked if she had any info on the stats for Fall 08 but she said they were still processing applications and she didn't have any details except that the class size would be 30.

Any info anyone can share would be greatly appreciated!

Enzo - what masters specialty are you hoping to pursue in the program?

Suhija - Good luck with everything and I hope you get called for an interview!

Wow. From what I recall (at last year's open house) the class was of 40 then. Perhaps they cut the numbers or I'm just wrong :-X. Then, they said they'd had about 100 apps for the previous year. Things change and I think the program is gaining popularity around here so you never know. The odds seem better @ Duke with those numbers :-X Best wishes!

100 applications seems like a lot for 30 slots! I wonder how many of those people get invited to interview? I'm also wondering how many of those 30 slots have already been offered to early decision applicants? Even if only 6 people were offered a seat, that's 20% of the class right there! I wanted to apply early decision but didn't have my GRE scores in time.

Thanks! I am really excited--not sure yet which MSN concentration, looking at FNP or maybe even Nurse Educator. I need to do a little more shadowing/discussion with people in those fields. I am sure that your interview went great, it feels like so long before you find out, but March 15 will be here before you know it. Keep us updated!

Enzo - how did ECU notify you of your acceptance? Was it through email or letter?

Also, I've been having trouble getting responses back to emails I've sent to the program contacts and was wondering if any of you guys have had this problem? I emailed on Monday of last week with a question I had about the program and haven't heard back - it's been over a week! It makes me a little concerned that if I do get into the program I might have to deal with poor admin for the next 3+ years. With some of the other programs I applied to, the admin contacts were super fast at getting info back to me and made me feel really confident that I would have a great experience with them if I attended. Any thoughts?

In any event, maybe you all might know the answer to my question...the AE MSN website gave me the impression that after Phase I of the program you can choose from any of the MSN specialties they offer as long as you have met the work requirements. However, at some point during my interview I thought I remembered one of the faculty saying that we would be ineligible for the CRNA program. Does anyone know if this is the case? Although I don't know for sure what masters specialty I would choose, the CRNA program is something I am considering and would hate to get into a program where that isn't even an option.

Thanks! :nuke:

OK, I think I answered my own question...Before I emailed and asked the question I checked the website and the CRNA was still listed under masters specialty choices for AE MSN students. I just went back on the website today and now it is no longer listed. So I guess it isn't an option anymore.

I think that the AE program at ECU is very new, I remember looking at ECU in 06 and they were only doing the online MSN at that point in time. That may be why you're having a hard time finding previous posts about it! I would consider ECU if it wasn't for their chemistry requirement, I just don't have the time to take organic chemistry right now!

Hey OBX, I have a friend in the program who said that it is not that they don't let you go into CRNA but that they want you to first do the critical care nursing, for example I think if you did the RN segment then worked in an ICU and took classes for the clinical nurse specialist and applied to the CRNA you could get in possibly. I don't know for sure though. I do know that to get into any CRNA program it takes a year or two of experience(prob more from what most ppl tell me) and a BSN so you might as well do the clinical nurse specialist in the mean time--it will let you be more of an expert in the field which would help you to be a better CRNA one day and give you an edge when applying to school for CRNA--this is just my 2 cents worth. You should contact the program director to get more info. The admin is lacking, I often emailed several times and then found that calling the college of nursing and telling them that I cannot get anyone to return my calls/emails in the AE program worked best. I also just kept on emailing everyday until I had a response.

They notified me via mail on the exact day that they said I would know by...it really stressed me out bc I was sure that they would send something a few days before the cut off date, so don't worry if you don't get anything until that exact day. GOOD LUCK on your trip to the mailbox...by the way my letter was a thin envelope with just a one page congratulations letter. I was sure it was a rejection bc of how thin it was-they send the other info a few days after.

Let me know if I can answer anything else!

Thanks so much Enzo for your input! If I get accepted I will contact the program director and ask sepcifically about what the options are for a student who decides after Phase I that they want to do the CRNA program. I get the impression from the school that they really want you to succeed and to make sure you are happy with the masters specialty you have chosen, so maybe they would work with me even if it's not the norm.

I'm going to be so nervous going to get the mail the next few weeks!

Are you from the Greenville or will you be moving for the program? I am in Raleigh but my younger sister is a current undergrad at ECU in the business program, so I'm somewhat familiar with the area.

I get the same feeling about the program--it seems like they want you to be really into the MSN concentration you choose and they seem to want to support that choice-we will see though. I live in Raleigh (well really Morrisville/Cary)-but pretty much the same. What is your BS in? I feel pretty comfortable with commuting mostly to g-ville, I may get an apt to share through the week though.