For all NYU Nursing Fall 2010 prospective students!

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OK, I have to apologize that I've been so busy this week with the midterms and all, and just realized that I have set the date for our meeting waaaay too close to my post date, so nobody can make it tomorrow (except few of u). And many of you are out of state, so meeting at Starbucks in NYC tomorrow is impossible, lol... therefore I am gonna try to paint you guys a picture of what NYU nursing really is all about.

First of all, like many of you I had a choice to go somewhere else, and it's really hard to compare the programs, since every one of them has their unique characters/advantages. It's like apple & oranges; simple statistic comparison is simply impossible. I personally applied Hunter college's nursing, Rutgers's Nursing, and NYU's, got in all of them, and I knew people got in Georgetown, UCSF, Columbia yet they choose to come to NYU, so yeah, ppl love NYU, hopefully not just for its name!

1st question, and probably the most important, is it worth it?

OK, the tuition bill really is... about 42K/year, if you are dorming (which I would not recommend, will explain l8ter) it'll cost you around 61K the first year at NYU. Food around here could be expensive, and there are always textbook costs (around 1K for the first semester if you buy new); and COFFEE (which you will need a lot), yeah... my first month coffee bill was like 300 bucks... With that much money put down, you would expect a very very very ... hmmm... how do I put it? LOL! Anyways, as many of you already knew, the class size is relatively larger (actually much larger) in comparison with other Nursing schools. One of the reasons is that NYU does have the muscle; they do have access to many different major metropolitan hospitals around NYC, many of them are world renowned teaching hospitals. The clinical groups are usually ranging 6-8 people for the first semester, and a bit smaller for the 2nd semester (3-6, depends on which hospital you are assigned to), so you definitely do get a lot of individual attention when you need it, personally I loved all my clinical sites!

As far as the lectures, they were more mixed, especially for the 6 credit courses: Fundamental, Adult, and Geriatric. NYU did something stupid in 2009; they accepted way too many students. I think it was roughly 280 students. The class body was big (roughly 100 -150 people) for those 6 credit course, and professors quality weren't great either, I mean they were loving and caring, but just not that good at teaching, at least not at $7000 per class price tag! (With exception of Dr. Ea, if you ever get to have him, you'll love him!) So because the issue of the class size, and insanely negative feedbacks from the students last semester, many professors were "kicked out"/stopped teaching this semester. I guess it's a good thing for you guys =) But it did translate to a smaller class body for 2010. I heard they are def taking less than 200 this coming fall; therefore it will be more competitive to get in.

Over all, it's not a cheap school, and if you are planning to take pre-req, and at the same time not interested to go on for a master's degree, then I would suggest you to think it twice!

2nd question, how rigid/hard/tough/insane is the program?

OK, it's not EASY. If you thought A&P was hard, after the first semester you'll think A&P was a joke; then after 2nd semester, you'll think college was a joke; when it comes to 3rd semester you will wonder why you didn't just apply med school... I don't know how many of you looked into the "Student handbook" on college of Nursing's website, (if not take a look http://www.nyu.edu/nursing/academicprograms/currentstudents/handbooks.html ), because in order to get an A, you have to get 95 and above, and that is DAMN hard. Even if you just want to pass all the classes, you have to do a lot of readings! We talking about 30 chapters for each midterms, and they are all cumulative. I think there were at least 30 people who had failed a course/repeating course/kicked out from the program last semester. So it is not a joke, and you don't want to waste your money if you are not fully committed. I quit my job the 1st month while into the program. It's demanding, it's challenging, but at the same time it's incredibly rewarding.

3rd question, what is the school like over all?

NYU nursing is the smallest branch of NYU, I mean literally we got the smallest building with the smallest budget (they are putting up a new facility on 25th st, but the likelihood of we using that building is zero), all other schools got their flags, we don't! Not that many social events for the nursing students and many of our activities are either related to the Dental school or the general NYU population. Many of the lab/simulation courses are being conducted at 246 Greene st. The lab rooms are actually quite nice, on campus labs are usually 10-12 students. Once you start your second semester, you'll start to participate activities at the simulation rooms, where you get to do all kinds of crazy stuff to the super expensive manikins, and your every move is being recorded on tape for review/study. We don't have a nursing library, or study rooms, so if you want to study on campus, you have to go to either the Bobst library, or science library, not too bad of an experience but for those of you that got used to the rural/suburban library settings this might be a problem for you. The upside of NYU of course is you have access to most of their facilities, so you can always find your own little spot where you'll enjoy doing w/e you do, lol.

Dorm rooms: many of the nursing students are being assigned to the University Hall on 14th street. It's at the heart of union square and right next to a very nice NYU Palladium gym facility, but the room size is just way too small. 4 people share a quad, and only ONE bathroom. It's a major NONO, especially for girls. Just imaging if all of you have 7 AM off campus clinical at a hospital in Brooklyn, that morning would be miserable.

NYU also have a "ticket central", where they have a lot free movie screenings, activities, shows, and discount for many events around city. School itself always invite many famous people, guest speakers etc. to come. And you'll always enjoy the neighborhood: East/west village, SO/NO ho, Union/Washington sq etc.

4. Application! Who gets in NYU?

Ok, many of you probably are still in the application process. If you have any question, ask Lindsay Sutton, she is the greatest assistant director one could have. She would go out extra miles just to make sure you application process goes smoothly. For those of you don't have all your pre-reqs yet, that being any of the classes NOT JUST THE SCIENCE COURSES!!, make sure you have them before fall, because you will not start any nursing course before you have your pre-req cleared. You can take these pre-reqs at NYU, but I'll strongly recommend you to take it somewhere else (NYU's pre-reqs course are not that great, especially the A&P). Now, I know they tell you that you can't "really" apply for NYU, get in the program, and then decide to take those pre-req classes somewhere else because you don't want to pay $7000 for a foreign language or nutrition class. BUT YOU CAN! (don't tell anybody I said this... lol), you have to file an application for re-entry the next semester with out apply the program again! So technically you are guaranteed for the classes next semester!

NYU admission is definitely not GPA based. There's a reason they wanted 2 recommendation letters, an essay, and 5 short questions. It is your opportunity to be creative (for those of you haven't submit your application yet, yeah, I know those who send everything in on the night of 2/29). I knew people with 3.3 GPA that got in the program, so you definitely will have a shot. As I mentioned before, this fall semester they will greatly reduce the class size probably due to the staff situation, so the competition probably will be higher, considering more and more people are seeking a second career.

Bottom line is this, if you get in any other school, and you have visited their campus, especially Georgetown/UCSF, I will recommend you to go to those two instead, I visited their school, and studied at Goergetown (absolutely loved it). A public school (CUNY, SUNY, other state) will just do fine for you if you simply want to be a nurse. If you interested to become a CNP, or DNP, or any other graduate program, I will recommend you to come to NYU, because they are wildly connected with many hospitals, it's a great opportunity to meet a lot great clinical professors/nursing mangers, a great outcome for future job hiring in NYC, etc. If you got any Cs or still don't understand like half of the materials in A&P, I would strongly recommend you to study hard during this summer!!! Because once you start the program, there is no breathing ground, and definitely no room for playing catching up. And then you'll be one of those many who got either kicked out or have to repeat.

Now I haven't slept for 50 hours due to my 2 midterms, nursing careplans, and 8 hr clinical this week, so I think I'll stop typing, cuz I don't think I am making sense anymore... I'll try to get back to those who PMed me early tomorrow morning to see if we can get together in the afternoon. If not, I'll see if next week will be a better schedule for everyone.

Feel free to ask any question, and I'll try the best of my ability to answer them! Good luck and have faith in yourselves, it doesn't matter which school you are going, it is the spirit of nursing that will make you a better person. You have to love what you do, don't just get in nursing because it's a good pay job. (it's kind of not... lol)

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Thank you so much for all this!!

I just sent you a text, not sure if you got it though.

Thanks,

Kika

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Hey, After reading your message I feel like crying. I really dont like to work hard. I am already in a really demanding school in the city. My gpa is below 2.8 but for prereqs is about 3.5. I hope I get in, I really do. How can you handle not sleeping? I cant go a night without sleeping. Where do you live if not on campus? I can't depend on my family for financial support, and I got married and live in Jersey. I work to help out my husband with bills, but I just babysit. I dont think I will be able to babysit next year in a nursing program. I dont know what your particular economic situation is, but do you think I will end up having to take out loans to support not only for ovbiously school, but for transportation and living situation. In other words, I am asking you, how are you paying for coffee? You seem well organized and all. You have to study this much even if you are on top of all your work? I am now working on my thesis and should go finish writing it lol, but it makes me so stressed. I cant believe, like you said, my thesis will seem like cake once I enter a nursing program. I let the application process for Rutgers and cuny/suny /Columbia pass lol. I was also not ready with requirements for the schools. I can only apply for the fall so that I have the summer to go in. I wish you the BEST OF LUCK. You are really going to be a caring nurse. You have taken out some time to write all of this to us. So where do you live? What do you know about being hired after graduation? Will you just apply for a job and probably get it right away? Also what did you write for your personal statement? Why nursing, why me? why NYU. seem like simple questions but they r hard, I will answer these three in my essay, sounds good? Do you know any nursing students with learning disabilities? I have no volunteer experiences, did you when you applied? OR any medical related jobs? Thanks so much! For all your information!!!

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You think a cumulative gpa of 3.0 is okay for nyu? My gpa is what is scaring me the most...

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Hey, After reading your message I feel like crying. I really dont like to work hard. I am already in a really demanding school in the city. My gpa is below 2.8 but for prereqs is about 3.5. I hope I get in, I really do. How can you handle not sleeping? I cant go a night without sleeping. Where do you live if not on campus? I can't depend on my family for financial support, and I got married and live in Jersey. I work to help out my husband with bills, but I just babysit. I dont think I will be able to babysit next year in a nursing program. I dont know what your particular economic situation is, but do you think I will end up having to take out loans to support not only for ovbiously school, but for transportation and living situation. In other words, I am asking you, how are you paying for coffee? You seem well organized and all. You have to study this much even if you are on top of all your work? I am now working on my thesis and should go finish writing it lol, but it makes me so stressed. I cant believe, like you said, my thesis will seem like cake once I enter a nursing program. I let the application process for Rutgers and cuny/suny /Columbia pass lol. I was also not ready with requirements for the schools. I can only apply for the fall so that I have the summer to go in. I wish you the BEST OF LUCK. You are really going to be a caring nurse. You have taken out some time to write all of this to us. So where do you live? What do you know about being hired after graduation? Will you just apply for a job and probably get it right away? Also what did you write for your personal statement? Why nursing, why me? why NYU. seem like simple questions but they r hard, I will answer these three in my essay, sounds good? Do you know any nursing students with learning disabilities? I have no volunteer experiences, did you when you applied? OR any medical related jobs? Thanks so much! For all your information!!!

No school, not matter how prestigious or elite can get you a job right away. Some people get lucky and can get a job out of school due to connections they made during clinicals. It all depends on the job market. A degree from NYU doesn't mean you're necessarily a better nurse. Just that your connections through nursing professors, managers and hospitals might be better than others.

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Thanks for the post. I was thinking of transferring to NYU but the price tag just can't do any justice for me, plus I already have a seat in my current school's nursing program. I'm barely able to go to my school for 25K so I can't imagine 41! I'm not going back for my NP for a couple years so I'm not all that concerned. It is good that the school is looking for a well-rounded person, I think when most people think NYU they automatically thing GPA. My nursing program was strictly on GPA, they don't care who the hell you are lol.

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Hi!

As a current NYU Second Degree student finishing up her pre-reqs and then entering the 15 month accelerated in the fall I want to contribute to this post!

Thus far I am really enjoying NYU. I know that they have made a great deal of changes to the Nursing Program that will come into affect in Fall 2010. This adjustments sound great and are posted on the College of Nursing's website.

As far as the pre-reqs go - I am taking A&P, Nutrition, Dev. Psych and an elective Medical Anthropology. I am truly enjoying everyone of these classes and love all my professors. I know that the A&P class's structure is a bit different from other schools - at NYU our labs are not dissecting animals or going to see cadavers, but with bodies similar to the "Bodies Exhibit." We have a quiz every week in class and have online tests and homework. This means that you have to keep up but keeping up and how much you use the book for your online tests is up to you (it reminds me of a liberal arts approach - your studying and how much you want to do is up to you). And personally, I love the professor, she is always available after class for questions and is very personable.

The nutrition professor is quite well respected here in NYC and is constantly on the news networks and in the NY Times. The dev. psych professor and the medical anthropology professor are both well established in their professions (one is a director of the Red Cross Disaster Relief and the other is a famous anthropologist with several books in print).

As a second degree student I love having access to such professors. I can not comment on the nursing clinicals yet nor the specific nursing courses (e.g. nursing fundamentals, patho etc..). Also most importantly, we have a great group of people finishing the pre-reqs that are second degree students as well as having great support from the administration and professors!

Just thought I would pass on my experience thus far. - albeit very early in the program.

Good luck to all of you applying to schools! And speedingticket get some sleep if you can! And good luck on your midterms!

Cheers!

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Specializes in SICU.

I just happen to run into this thread, it's ben almost 5 yrs since I graduated nursing school and I've worked with nurses from all different types of programs and schools. I really don't think it matters where you go to school, it depends what you get from the program. I know great nurses that graduated from NYU, and some who I wouldn't allow to touch my mother if she were sick. And that is the same from RNs from CUNY, SUNY, Ivy leagues, private schools.

The point I'm making is whatever program you get into, just study hard, make good friends ( you'll need nursing buddies to vent to when you start working), and love what you are doing!

BTW, I graduated from a SUNY (debt free) and currently working in a teaching hospital in NYC. I'm challenged everyday, in everyway and loving every moment of it.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!

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I just happen to run into this thread, it's ben almost 5 yrs since I graduated nursing school and I've worked with nurses from all different types of programs and schools. I really don't think it matters where you go to school, it depends what you get from the program. I know great nurses that graduated from NYU, and some who I wouldn't allow to touch my mother if she were sick. And that is the same from RNs from CUNY, SUNY, Ivy leagues, private schools.

The point I'm making is whatever program you get into, just study hard, make good friends ( you'll need nursing buddies to vent to when you start working), and love what you are doing!

BTW, I graduated from a SUNY (debt free) and currently working in a teaching hospital in NYC. I'm challenged everyday, in everyway and loving every moment of it.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!

Thanks for your post. So how was job hunting when you graduated. I need a job right after I finish!

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"Aspiring nursing", I am sorry if I freaked you out a little bit, but you shall not be deterred just because it seemed difficult. I think all careers have their challenges, what important is that you love what you do. Especially nursing, I don't see how one could go on in nursing without the passion for it. Financially it is going to be difficult for many, since NYU is a private school, that's why I would strongly recommend you to sought out how you going to pay for it first, (whether through loan, scholarship, government aid), there are plenty out there, don't be afraid to look or apply!!! You probably won't have time to work, and I would not recommend, it is really intense, and if you want to be an excellent nurse you need to spend all your time study. As far as "hiring" after you graduate: one thing I know NYU does offer externship during the summer, you have to have a minimum 3.5 GPA during the first semester to apply the NYU medical center's externship (it is a great one) and almost definitely lock you a job at NYU after you graduate. It is a little competitive, but they do take 30 students! Most people will find job placement after they graduate, I mean it depends how good are your grades/personality/interview skills, it really depends. There's a great potential on the West Coast since they have a lower Nurse/patients ratio, but with all the budget crisis that's going on in California, I dunno which direction the job market will go. As far as myself I know many people (nursing managers) in hospitals, so I am not too worried about job placement, that's one of the benefit of attending NYU, because you get to go to a lot different clinical sites, meet a lot different instructors/nursing managers (which is exactly what Guiltysin was talking about). And you shouldn't worry too much about graduation/job search, you need to do things one step at a time. Look so far ahead can only give you extra stress, and interfere with ur performances.

Ackalison, I dunno about the NYU A&P class. It is one semester right? I don't know how the hell you guys learn everything in one semester. I think it's a great disadvantages in terms of preparing you guys for the nursing courses. Best of luck next semester. At least you'll get Dr. Ea, you'll be in good hands!

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Specializes in CSICU/CTICU.

Speedingticket --

Thanks for the insight on the program! Could you, perhaps, give me a sample of what a week's schedule might look like? For example...Monday Class 9am-4pm, Tuesday Clinical 7am-7pm..Something along those lines would be helpful! Also, how do you think the grade deflation impacts grad school admissions? If a 94 is an A- from NYU, but an A from any other school...wouldn't this put NYU students at a disadvantage GPA-wise for grad school admissions? This means that a student with a 92 average from another nursing school would have a better shot at grad school than someone with a 94 average from NYU? I was wondering if you thought about that... Thanks again!

Elle

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Telemetry, Geriatrics.
speedingticket you're amazing! thanks for all the great info!
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