MGH IHP Direct Entry NP 2015

U.S.A. Massachusetts

Published

Hi folks! I couldn't find a post about the 2015 application cycle and I'm interested to see how other people are feeling about it. Since so many other schools have November deadlines, I've already finished up my MGH app (save my letters...) and submitted it.

I'm going after the psych direct-entry NP program. One of the nurses I work with had been in their NP program and recommended it very strongly. My own NP went to Yale and, weirdly enough, told me she hated Yale and wished she went to MGH. She then raved about all the MGH NPs she works with and how great they are. I'm applying to Yale anyway, since who knows what might happen, but I am reeeeeally hoping to get in!

They ask if you've worked for any Partners hospitals...anyone know if this actually affects your chances? Or what the estimated acceptance rates are by program?

Hi everyone, just wanted to pop in here and wish everyone good luck! I was in your shoes last year at this time, so I know the waiting to hear a decision is the worst part of the process. I'm currently in the first year of MGH's NP program class and we received our admissions decisions on 2/12 last year, but I think our application deadline was 12/1 last year, so admission decisions may be later this year due to the later deadline. I think they mention 6-8 weeks on the application, and we heard back almost exactly eight weeks after the deadline.

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Good to know, amagoo! I was surprised by how late MGH's deadline is - Vanderbilt started sending out admissions decisions before MGH was even done accepting applications! I contacted the school a month or so ago and they said they're expecting decisions to go out 8-10 weeks after the deadline. Anything sooner than that would be welcome, though!

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How do you like it?

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BlackSkimmer- I've really enjoyed the program so far. My clinical instructors last semester were really helpful and knowledgeable and I felt like I got a lot of hands on experience in my clinicals. Med/Surg rotations are all at MGH and other rotations are spread out throughout various sites. I came into this program from a marketing/liberal arts background for the most part, so I had no healthcare experience at all, so I felt they did a very good job of preparing us. Med/Surg is probably the hardest class the first semester, but there are review sessions and TAs that are there to help, so they are really invested in you understanding the material and passing the course.

Admissions-related, Our class has about 100 of us in it and everyone comes from all sorts of backgrounds/work experiences/majors so it's safe to say they consider the whole application when choosing a class and don't really have a set type of student they look for.

Overall, the only drawback is that sometimes the schedule each semester can be a little wonky the first week while everything is getting figured out and a routine is being established, which isn't a problem for most people, but I am working part-time so setting up a schedule to balance both was tricky at first.

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Thanks for the insider info, AMagoo! I have a few other questions for you if you have a second to tell us more. Did you apply to any other programs? What made you pick MGH over other schools? In info sessions everyone said it would be really hard to work part-time in the first year, what kind of work are you doing (if you don't mind my asking)? I've heard that MGH's financial aid is pretty weak compared to other schools - do you feel that's true?

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No problem! I applied to MGH and Regis since I wanted to stay local to the Boston area and got into both. I was considering BC, but I really wanted to have both a bachelor's and a master's degree, and since BC doesn't offer a bachelor's, I didn't apply. It's a great program, I just wanted to keep my options open and I figured the more degrees I have, the better. With MGH, I just heard a lot of positive feedback from other students that went there and liked the sequence of courses/the program more. From my experience, there are no "bad" choices when it comes to nursing school in Boston, it's just more of what fits you and what you are looking for.

In regards to working, I worked about 16-18 hours a week and definitely found it hard some weeks, but it was doable. It all depends what you can handle. Right now, I'm nannying, which I did full-time while taking prereqs last year also, and after hours of cramming for tests, I find it relaxing to just sit back and play with Legos for a few hours haha I know some other students also work per diem as CNAs and later on, RNs, so I'd say a job that is flexible, doesn't require a lot of hours, and doesn't require a set schedule is the best bet if you want to do both.

Financial aid wise- I find a lot of grad programs in nursing to be weak in financial aid unfortunately, besides the typical federal loans. There are some merit scholarships at MGH, but they are limited. Since I only applied locally, I don't know much about financial aid outside of the Boston area so I can't be of much help there.

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I've been so wrapped up in other schools that I completely forgot MGH grants a BSN as well as an MSN! Are you given the BSN after the RN component so you could work through the MSN portion? Or all at once at the end? I know that Columbia (they do BSN/MSN as well) tells applicants to do their FAFSAs as 5th year undergrads on a second bachelor's degree, is MGHIHP the same way?

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The BSN isn't awarded until the end of the program but you can sit for the NCLEX after the second Fall semester term, so about roughly halfway through the program, and work as an RN. Alumni and students have spoken that are already in the NP portion of the program said they didn't have a hard time finding an RN position without their BSN outside of the major hospitals in the area. So, most worked in rehab, community hospitals, etc. during the second half of the program.

For MGH's FAFSA you're considered a 1st year graduate student the first year of the program so you don't have to file as a 5th year undergraduate.

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I just checked the status of my application online today. It is "submitted", not"reviewed". I am just wondering if anyone has different status? I am worried because I submitted my online application on Jan 1st, the deadline. At that time, two of my referencer hadn't submitted their letters. Would this affect my application?

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suesueyale, mine also says "submitted," and says "Application is complete for review." It added that status once all of my letters were received by the school. If your application still says it's awaiting your reference letters, you might want to reach out to MGH and ask them about it. They're usually pretty good about replying within the same day.

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Thank you so much! My application didn't say "application is complete for review", nor"

awaiting your reference letters". All my recommendation are submitted online as shown under the status. I sent an email to them to see if there is something wrong.

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They are likely sending the applications on to the reviewers in waves, I wouldn't assume that it has anything to do with the "doneness" of your app :)

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