MENP or BSN? Clever marketing tactics? Or not?

[studentinchicago]

I'm a freshman at a Chicago City College.

My ultimate goal is to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.

I'm confused on which route I want to go from here.

I've always wanted to transfer to UIC for the BSN program. Then go into a Master's Program. Probably at UIC.

Recently, I discovered a BioScience Concentration at DePaul (BS degree). It has an emphasis on how 'societal issues influence individual health'. I love that, because I'm a strong believer that our country's food preferences attribute to most of our preventable diseases. I really want to study especially topics regarding that, because I am passionate about it and want to educate patients correctly. DePaul also has a minor in Urban Agriculture, that's starting this year. That sounds interesting, as well. In addition, Depaul also has an MENP program.

What if I went the Depaul route? Is it just clever marketing to take all my dollars and keep me in school longer?

Kind of sounds like it as I re-read my post here...

Please. Give me opinions and experiences!

[BostonFNP, APRN]

I just glanced at the Depaul curriculum and it seems strange to me, to be honest. I just don't have any experience with this MENP; seems to me that it is trying to look like a DE NP program without the NP.

As a freshman, I would honestly try and transfer to a BSN program right away. Get good grades and apply direct from undergrad to a 18-month RN to FNP program. This would mean 4 years of undergrad plus a year and a half of grad to be eligible to sit for FNP boards.

With the Depaul route you would be four years undergrad, two years MENP, then another year of APN work to sit for FNP boards. Seven years vs 5.5.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

de2013 has a good plan, and i would add that if there are courses in the other program that appeal to you, i'm all for recreational scholarship. perhaps you can take one or two there on an exchange program-- many colleges allow students from other colleges to take coursework for credit-- and you might even find that, since you are a freshman, you will like a different path in life once you start learning new things.

there is no shame in that. nowhere is it written (except perhaps at west point, annapolis, the coast guard academy, the air force academy, and the federal merchant marine academy) that you have to do what you thought you would do when you were a freshman.

college is a great time to learn a lot of things, and some of those will be about... yourself. go where your heart leads you; don't be too committed to one path so early in your career.

[New_Journey]

One thing to remember is the MENP program requires that you already have a degree (in any field). If you don't, this info may help you make your decision.