Experience needed for graduate entry programs?

brutus1959 · Feb 17, 2006

Hi Bellywoman!

The main thing is that you have experience working with women! It doesn't matter whether it is as a doula, at a women's clinic or at a hospital. If you are working with underserved populations it is even better. Shadowing a midwife also is a plus. If you are bi-/multilingual you definitely want to mention it on your application. You also want to mention any volunteer or mission work you have done. If you aspire to work with underserved populations in rural or inner city areas or abroad - elaborate.

When you apply to the program make sure to articulate your understanding of the role of the nurse midwife. Remember, you will be on call for 24 hours!

If you are looking at a dual CNM/FNP program be sure to speak to BOTH roles! So many people get dinged because they only speak to one role rather than both!!!

Some other little pointers... avoid the word medicine... don't talk about "free" healthcare (it's a little too idealistic)... have someone proof your stuff for grammar (they do look at it)!!!!! Finally, be very prudent about who you choose for references (you'd be surprised!) and tell your references to be sure to avoid saying that they are friends/acquaintances.

You may also want to post this on the pre-nursing forum to see what experience individuals who are getting into this year's class have.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

:wink2:

Admissions Professional

elizabells, BSN, RN · Feb 19, 2006

I'm applying to graduate entry programs in midwifery this fall and I'm wondering what sort of birth/women's health experience those of you who have gotten into those programs had when applying. Were you a doula? Did you work in clinics? Etc, etc.

It really depends on the program! Some schools require experience (although not all of them tell you this before you pay that app fee ... I'm lookin' at you, UCSF!) and some don't. Some that don't require you to do a doula training at some point before you do your clinicals (like Columbia). One word of advice - I'm at Columbia, and a lot of ppl were waitlisted for the CNM program. They ended up in the Womens' Health track thinking they could switch...but it's VERY hard to switch in. So if you get the CNM track at one school and waitlisted at another, I'd recommend going with the one that you got the CNM, even if it's not your first choice otherwise. Make sense? They have to limit the number of students bc CNM clinicals can be very hard to get, esp in a place like NYC, where birth is still very medicalized.

CEG · Feb 19, 2006

I'm applying to graduate entry programs in midwifery this fall and I'm wondering what sort of birth/women's health experience those of you who have gotten into those programs had when applying. Were you a doula? Did you work in clinics? Etc, etc.

I am in a direct entry program currently. I was a doula and I volunteered at Planned Parenthood and in med/surg at the hospital. Most people in my program have some health background but not all. Good Luck!

Editing to add that like the PP said I also speak two languages other than english. I am not sure how much that helped though because they are not incredibly commonly needed- Italian and French.

bellywoman · Feb 20, 2006

I am in a direct entry program currently. I was a doula and I volunteered at Planned Parenthood and in med/surg at the hospital. Most people in my program have some health background but not all. Good Luck!

CEG, what program are you in? How are you liking it?

CEG · Feb 20, 2006

I'm at UIC. I love it so far, although I haven't started the midwifery portion yet. The faculty and staff are very involved and friendly. I got great financial aid (although that office is not so friendly :rolleyes: ). The program is good so far, a little less intense than I expected. The only down side is I am paying out of state tuition and it is costing me more than Columbia or Yale. But the midwifery and nursing programs are both very highly ranked and labor and deliivery jobs are supposedly not too difficult for new grads to get in Chicago. So far I am really pleased with my decision.

lovingpecola · Feb 21, 2006

I just got accepted to direct entry programs at Yale and Columbia, and here is what I have:

~A BA in ENGLISH (will be granted at the end of the semester) good GPA in major (English) and in science pre-reqs and Statistics

~Good GRE scores (they say 500V/500A/3.5W is "competitive") so that was my goal, but I went over those

~I shadowed CNMs in different settings (ie: inner city clinic, hospital, teaching hospital)

~Provided labor support for some women in my own family (BUT I am *not* a registered doula)

~position as Director of University's Women's Resource Center - and I put all of my programming on my CV for the school to see (breastfeeding initiatives, services for single mothers, sex ed., etc)

HTH,

LP:mad: