Going to Columbia?

wiscokid · Feb 21, 2005

I have also been accepted to Columbia, but am not sure if I will attend. Was accepted at every school I applied to (except Yale, had interview but missed out) so I have some choices. My biggest hesistation is the huge cost and I am having a hard time reconcilling if it is worth the price tag, i.e. will it pay off in the long run.

I am leaning towards Columbia & would like to go there - think it would be a great experience, but keep coming back to the $$$ issue, already have debt from undergrad and naturally it worries me.

Wondering what other people's thoughts are, is a school like Columbia worth the price tage? Im trying to not be swayed by its "Ivy" status as I dont really think that just because of its overall reputation that it is inherently a better nursing school, but there is no dout in my mind that it is a good school.

Really having a hard time with this, seems like its all I can think about recently, any advice would be appreciated.

moonbunnie · Feb 21, 2005

I think that you will probably be able to get an excellent nursing education for a whole lot less at another school, and you will definitely be able to get a job after graduation no matter where you go to school, the only difference is how much debt you will be in after you graduate. i know that colombia is tempting because it is a good, prestigious school, but if you have any other options that are also good schools but probably a lot cheaper, i would seriously look at them. but, i have always been a thrifty shopper :)

elizabells, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2005

OMG, have you guys seen the syllabus? Basically 12 hour days, 5 days a week. Wow. This is going to be fuuuuuuuun. And we're being tested on med-math the first week. Oh dear. :uhoh21: Well, this should help with my diet: I'll be too broke and too busy to eat anyway!

Mission · Feb 28, 2005

I'm also starting ETP this summer. :balloons:

I have been told by several graduates not to worry about the money, the financial aid is generous for the first year and most people do the Masters portion part-time and get that paid for fully by their employer. You should also take into consideration program length. I applied to Hunter as well, even though is *ALOT* cheaper than Columbia it takes a whole year longer to finish the BSN and that's a year I could be working at 60k+.

What specialties did everyone apply for? I originally applied for Informatics but switched to FNP because the informatics program was cancelled. I also know someone who applied for Anesthesia and was not accepted into the specialty but was accepted into the school.

wiscokid · Feb 28, 2005

Yeah I tend to agree, Im getting 50% of tuition scholarship the first year which helps a lot and 20% second year - which makes it about even with the other schools Im considering. Im 95% towards Columbia, need to decide in the next 24hrs though.

Im going into Acute Care. Did you get that housing, ect packet last week & check out that website? I was looking at the course breakdown and it says something like 30 credits one semester? That can not be right - am I misreading it? I know it will be intense, but that seems impossible.

elizabells, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2005

Yeah I tend to agree, Im getting 50% of tuition scholarship the first year which helps a lot and 20% second year - which makes it about even with the other schools Im considering. Im 95% towards Columbia, need to decide in the next 24hrs though.
Im going into Acute Care. Did you get that housing, ect packet last week & check out that website? I was looking at the course breakdown and it says something like 30 credits one semester? That can not be right - am I misreading it? I know it will be intense, but that seems impossible.

The fall/winter schedule is misleading. It's still a whole lot of work, but those practicums are broken up between the two semesters, even though they list them together on the page. Fall we have Pathophys and Assessing Clin. Ev, plus two of the practicals. Winter we have Evidence-based Practice and the other three practicals. I think they're going to break us into groups. But have you seen the summer schedule? Like, 8-4 or even 8-8, five days a week. :chair:

ETA: I'm going neonatal NP

Mission · Feb 28, 2005

I didn't get the packet yet I feel so left out of the early anxiety.

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Feb 28, 2005

I have also been accepted to Columbia, but am not sure if I will attend. Was accepted at every school I applied to (except Yale, had interview but missed out) so I have some choices. My biggest hesistation is the huge cost and I am having a hard time reconcilling if it is worth the price tag, i.e. will it pay off in the long run.
I am leaning towards Columbia & would like to go there - think it would be a great experience, but keep coming back to the $$$ issue, already have debt from undergrad and naturally it worries me.
Wondering what other people's thoughts are, is a school like Columbia worth the price tage? Im trying to not be swayed by its "Ivy" status as I dont really think that just because of its overall reputation that it is inherently a better nursing school, but there is no dout in my mind that it is a good school.
Really having a hard time with this, seems like its all I can think about recently, any advice would be appreciated.

Oops! Never mind you already anwered my question.

wiscokid · Mar 1, 2005

Yeah its 20 credits over the summer - and thats only in two months! But we know what were getting ourselves into, although it is still a little shocking. Then 22 in the fall and 18 in the spring of the 1st year = 60 credits in one year. Wow ! (Makes the tuition almost unbelievable)

Should be fun though, I cant wait to start.

What are people's housing plans? Anyone going on the 7th?

elizabells, BSN, RN · Mar 2, 2005

Yeah its 20 credits over the summer - and thats only in two months! But we know what were getting ourselves into, although it is still a little shocking. Then 22 in the fall and 18 in the spring of the 1st year = 60 credits in one year. Wow ! (Makes the tuition almost unbelievable)
Should be fun though, I cant wait to start.
What are people's housing plans? Anyone going on the 7th?

See you there! Don't know where you're from, but it's supposed to be in the low 30s and snowing, just so's you know. I'm planning on living in student housing, at least at first. I'm coming from CA, so it would be hard for me to find an apt there from here. I do have family in NY, but my aunt lives in Brooklyn, and the thought of coming home late at night from the library on the subway is not hugely appealing. Also I think it'll be good to build friendships, etc with the rest of you guys! I really did love living in the dorms for UG, and missed it when I moved off campus. From what I've heard, though, I may feel differently when I actually SEE the dorms!! :uhoh21: :chuckle

Mission · Mar 2, 2005

I'll be there on the 7th! I live in the suburbs of New York and I work in Manhattan. I live too far to commute to school though. I'm planning on getting an apartment (if I can find an affordable one) or dorms (shudder). Just an FYI 168th to, say Williamsburg (a neighborhood in Brooklyn just across the river) by subway would probably take about an hour. My friend who lived their and was going to the social work school (116th St) said don't do it, her commute is awful and would be worse for us, especially when you need to study. Within a few blocks of the school you might find something nice but Washington Heights is not the best neighborhood. I think the school website recommends Inwood, which is one of the few places in Manhattan you can get a decent apartment without having to give your first born as a security deposit and still feel safe enough to walk at night.