MEPN 2015

birdie85 · Feb 6, 2015

I know someone who knows the Dean of the nursing school. She told him that they may have made their decisions already, so hopefully it won't be too much longer! eek!

Rhubie_807 · Feb 7, 2015

I found out on valentine's day last year via email. The email came in around 8pm east coast time. Hang in there!

bkz81 · Feb 8, 2015

We got emails on valentine's day that said the status changed in the portal; I think mine was 4pm East Coast time. You have to log into the portal to see the status. UCSF sends decisions all at once, though i don't know about any changes due to the new application website (we got a whole new website this year). Good luck! Can't wait to see you all around campus!

viksss · Feb 9, 2015

I wonder if this year the notifications could go out earlier since the system is more automated?

#dreamingstatus

Half Windsor · Feb 9, 2015

I don't think this year is any more automated than last year, I'm sure they try to get statuses uploaded to the webportal as quickly as they can following the final committee meeting. Last year they met on the 13th and notifications were uploaded on the 14th. Unless someone has a direct contact with a committee member as to what date their final meeting is scheduled for, I would hazard a guess it will be on Thursday the 12th, with notifications hopefully going out on Friday the 13th.

tenta · Feb 10, 2015

How is everyone holding up this week? I'm making the (somewhat unfounded) assumption that we're not going to hear anything until Friday and am doing my best to stave off the anxiety until then. I'd love to hear from other folks about how they're making the decision of where to go. I'm currently in for AGNP at UPenn and Columbia, and waiting to hear at UCSF, where I'll go if I get in. Anyone else?

viksss · Feb 10, 2015

Just curious - why UCSF over UPenn?

Half Windsor · Feb 10, 2015

I'm burying myself in my work during the day and filling my evenings with social activities to try and keep my mind occupied. It's not really helping however, I still incessantly think about it. I've only applied to UCSF this year, I was going to apply to Columbia and Johns Hopkins but found that I would rather stay at my current job and re-apply to UCSF next year in the event I don't get in. Congrats on getting into both UPenn and Columbia tenta, I wish you the best of luck on getting into UCSF as well! Any day now...

fpjc · Feb 10, 2015

I'm keeping myself busy and trying (but failing) to avoid counting down the days - and hours! - until Friday. I only applied to Seattle U (where I'd love to live) as a backup and Johns Hopkins (another research-based school), but I'm starting to think I may just continue working and apply again to UCSF next year if I don't make it in this year. I've come to realize that I really have no interest in living on the East Coast, hence my preference for UCSF. Silly reason, I know.

viksss · Feb 10, 2015

Tenta,

btw, did you apply for the AGNP or AGCNS program at UCSF?

This might be a silly question, but what is the difference when it comes to practicing?

Also, are those two going to be in the same cohort?

I didn't hear about the CNS option till after I applied, so now i'm curious :)

tenta · Feb 10, 2015

Just curious - why UCSF over UPenn?

Hi viksss, a couple reasons. UPenn's first year is double the cost of UCSF's. UCSF has an explicit focus on undeserved communities, which is really important to me. I've been working at UCSF for the last three years and have a lot of love and respect for the mentors I have here, all of whom have nothing but good things to say about MEPN. Last but certainly not least, I'm from San Francisco and am pretty settled here. I plan on living and working in the bay area no matter where I go to school. My whole family is here (and I could live with them for free) and I'm in a serious relationship and uprooting/long distance sounds not so fun.

The main thing I think UCSF is lacking is a BSN after the pre-licensure portion. I know that a BSN can be important in securing a job during the masters portion of our training, but I also have been told repeatedly that the best possible way to get new grad jobs is to make good impressions/connections during clinicals. If UPenn was in the bay area, I'd have a much harder time deciding.

Tenta,
btw, did you apply for the AGNP or AGCNS program at UCSF?
This might be a silly question, but what is the difference when it comes to practicing?
Also, are those two going to be in the same cohort?
I didn't hear about the CNS option till after I applied, so now i'm curious :)

I ended up applying AGNP. I originally was planning on applying AGCNS (I see you've been through my post history) because of the focus of that specialty on seniors. There isn't the opportunity to practice (semi)independently as a CNS, and if I wanted to become an NP in the future I'd need to do post-masters training. You're also required to do a step out year if you're a MEPN in the AGCNS program, which I didn't want to be required to do if I felt ready to move forward into the masters portion. In an ideal world I'd be working part time and doing the masters portion part time. There seemed to me to be a lot more flexibility with the AGNP degree, which I value right now. I've been realizing more and more that I'm sure there are populations I'll love working with that I haven't experienced yet, and that it won't be until we're in clinicals that we'll be sure which settings we're best suited for. I know I want to work with teens or older, and AGNP gives me tons of wiggle room there.

Good luck to everyone! Hopefully we'll all be getting *GOOD* news soon :up:

viksss · Feb 10, 2015

Yep, i stalked you Tenta :)

I'm AGNP as well - didn't get to meet many during my interview day, so I was curious if any of us were on here haha.

Good luck everyone!