Does it really matter what school you get your Master's degree from?

[melody_SJ/NYC]

Hello,

I am considering graduate school to get my Master's degree. I recently moved from California, and am researching for graduate programs in New York. I am considering FNP or WHNP and found the programs at Columbia University, SUNY Downstate and Stony Brook University. Can anyone who graduated from Columbia/SUNY/Stony Brook give me pros/cons about the school he/she graduate from? It would really help me with my decision as to what school to apply to. Thank you so much. Have a great day.

Melody

[Spacklehead, MSN, NP]

This is a question that always brings about two very different opinions on the topic, neither which are probably more right or wrong than the other.

I, personally, feel that as an NP who practices clinically it didn't really matter in regards to finding a job. What mattered more was my previous nursing experience and where I did my clinical rotations. I had 12 years of ED/cardiac experience and I did very intense clinicals with well-known docs/NPs in the area, and combined it has really helped me land interviews.

Now, if on an equal playing field with another candidate where all previous experience and rotations were the same (unlikely to happen), then you might get a slight edge to gain an interview for your first job if you went to say - an ivy vs. state school. However, there are many, many state schools and non-big name schools who have excellent programs that although not as well-known, are just as good or in some instances even better than the more popular-name schools. I personally find those US News reports to not be very reliable with their rankings. Think about it like this, at a state school, many times it is going to be the PhD-prepared professor teaching your courses, not the PhD candidate who HAS to teach the course in order to fulfill one of their doctorate program's requirements which you'll find at the bigger-name schools/ivy's.

Now, if you have plans to go on to academia, get your doctorate and become a professor, then yes - going to a big-name school or ivy would most likely benefit you the most - and that's my two cents on the topic. :)

[melody_SJ/NYC]

Thank you Softballmama. I appreciate taking time to provide your input and advice. It was helpful and informative.

[birdgardner]

I am wondering what NP schools follow the most rigorous medical model, and offer the best clinical experiences. That would really matter, in terms of your competence on coming out. Big name is secondary.

[melody_SJ/NYC]

Thank you birdgardner. I have to research the programs further.