How many schools did everyone apply to?

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Mar 12, 2006

I applied to 2. There are only two in my area that are close enough that I would not have to move. Its nice when people are not married and have no responsibilities and can apply where ever they want, but for me it just makes me mad. Last year 80% of the nurses that graduated from the program were from out of the area and moved back home as soon as they graduated. I feel as though, not only do they make the nursing in this area suffer, but getting their schooling and applying it else where, but they take up seats of locals who can not apply all over. I would understand if we lived in a big city and people from rural areas were applying.....but WE are rural....

lilboboxox · Mar 18, 2006

I applied to one and got in (thank goodness!). I wanted to apply to more but my time and money's very limited (I am still a senior in my undergrad nursing program). I originally wanted to apply to four though.

YellowBoneRN · Nov 16, 2008

I have applied to 36 graduate schools across the country. I am a working RN making pretty good so I have a few extra resources to spend 1500 on application fees. Plus, last year I put all my eggs in one basket and did not get in and it hurt so bad. I did not want to make that mistake this year. I am already into one program. Ground campus UOP Phoenix AZ MSN FNP program. It is a 2.5 year program every other weekend I have to go to Phoenix for class. I will have a FNP or MD as a preceptor here in Dallas. But that is one of the 36 so I am waiting to hear back from others. My first choice is to move to Baltimore and go to Johns Hopkins. I'll keep you all posted. Any Johns Hopkins applicants for Fall of 2009? :nurse:

Cardiac-RN · Nov 16, 2008

I will add myself to the group who only applied to one and were lucky enough to get in! There is only one local program and applying elsewhere would have meant a move- something my family was not quite ready for yet. But I was ready! I figured if I applied and got in locally, great, and if I didn't then I would take some time and figure out another plan.

Graduating soon-yay!

Cardiac-RN

MikeyJ, RN · Nov 19, 2008

I will only be applying to one, and it is the school I graduated with my BSN. Reason I am only applying to one is because I am locked into a 2 year contract with my hospital and cannot realistically move at this point. If I am not accepted, my school allows students to take 3 or 4 classes as a non-admitted student -- thus, I would begin taking those classes and apply again.

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Nov 19, 2008

just one :-)

barefoot_girl · Nov 21, 2008

I applied to three - and now I've been accepted into all three programs and am in a dilemma as to which one I should pursue. I never dreamed I would get in to one much less all three.

I am a bit older (52) and was afraid my age might hurt me. Not that any university would age discrminate, but figuring there is such a shortage of APNs that the reviewers might prefer to see someone with more than 15 or so productive years left. Of course, after my 401k swan dive, I may be working another 30 years.

Debbie

Mahage, LPN · Nov 23, 2008

I am wondering how many schools everyone applied to. I have heard that you should apply to 4-6 at least. I was thinking 3-4. Should I do more? I also read that it is okay to send more than the required number of references. That way if one is late in coming you have a better chance of getting them in a timely fashion. If they all do get there than that is fine and that grad schools don't really mind extra paper work. What is everyone's experience with these topics.
The more questions I get answered the more I come up with.

I only applied to one. It is the same school where I got my ASN and my BSN. I had originally applied for accelerated RN-MSN option and was accepted to start Aug 2007, but since I only lacked 7 hours to get my BSN, I decided to wait and enter the regular program Aug. of 2008. By the time Aug. 2008 rolled around I was just too tired. Learning to be a nurse was much harder than getting my degrees and Lord knows that RN degree was harder than my MSW had been! The first year of nursing proved to be a very steep learning curve for me. I am still not very confident, but due to my age I felt like if I am going to get my MSN that it is now or never.

I worked out a schedule with my advisor which will allow me to to take from 5-9 hours during the fall and winter semesters with summers off and then finish clinicals in the summer of 2011 after starting this Jan. of 2009. If all goes well I should be a practicing FNP just before my 60 th birthday!

So since the folks at Southern know me and have been so willing to work with me, I don't think I can go wrong there. They also have a great pass rate for the NP boards. Tuition is high, but if I can manage a little overtime, I should be able to pay as I go, if not Stafford is an option. I had looked at UT Memphis but they made it into a DNP program without the MSN option and I didn't want to sign up for 3 years full time. So bottom line, I only applied to 1 program and I feel good about going there. Best choice for me.

Mahage

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Nov 25, 2008

I applied to one. During the second semester, I became dissatisfied and applied to another. I was accepted by both. I see no need to apply to more than your top 3 choices, unless your GPA is below 3.00 or you have less than a year of RN exp, or those pescky manslaughter charges are still on your record.

Dr. Tammy, FNP/GNP-C · Nov 25, 2008

I don't think I can go wrong there. They also have a great pass rate for the NP boards. Tuition is high, but if I can manage a little overtime, I should be able to pay as I go, if not Stafford is an option.

Check out USI. 100% pass rate on boards--never had a graduate who failed. Cheapest tuition and credits in the US ($229 x 42 TOTAL units).

http://health.usi.edu/acadprog/nursing/grad/fnp.php

YellowBoneRN · Nov 25, 2008

Check out USI. 100% pass rate on boards--never had a graduate who failed. Cheapest tuition and credits in the US ($229 x 42 TOTAL units).
http://health.usi.edu/acadprog/nursing/grad/fnp.php

I applied to this program also. I applied to all of the online FNP programs that did not require GRE. I have no criminal history, have a good GPA 3.00 and more, have 14 years experience as a nurse. I saw the earlier comment. Apply to as many as you can afford to apply to. I did because of that reason.

I think it was a great idea to apply all over the country...I don't mind moving and may find it good to experience a different part of the country.

Like I said in a previous post, Johns Hopkins is my first choice, then Union University in Tennesse. If any of the online programs say yes...I will reevaluate it closely, pray over it, and decide what to do. But if Johns Hopkins says yes...all bets are off. I'm there!!!

I got a call today from the recruiter at Johns Hopkins Bayview for a position there. I told her I would wait to hear back from the university and then accept a position if offered.

Good luck to you all.....

Keep your head up. These blogs are great for information but ultimately it's your decision to make on all these issues.....

czyja, MSN, RN · Nov 25, 2008

one - I very much wanted to go there - and I got in.