Need some help: NYU spring 2012 application

ExpatHopeful, LPN, LVN · May 20, 2011

Hi Danger Kader,

You should email NYU directly and ask them. ******* is the asst. dean of admissions and her email is ********

Accelerated and traditional students are all mixed together in most classes so I think that it would be possible for you to do a spring start, but I'm not 100% sure. Ask Dean ******, she'll be able to help you.

Good luck!

dangerkader08 · May 21, 2011

Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

erica james · Jun 4, 2011

The Admissions team at NYU Nursing seems great, but I would check out all the details before you shell out that tuition, and be certain of what you are getting.

My cousin graduated from the accelerated program at NYU a few years ago and was generally pleased with her experience. She landed a job right away, but will be paying off her loans for many years. She is now questioning her decision to go to such an expensive college, since she works with graduates of many less prestigious places and they seem fine - and are NOT still paying off loans! She now thinks going to a name-brand masters program is way more important, and has recommended that to me.

I looked into NYU for 2011, spoke with current students, and found the following: their classes are huge - way over 200 and often they are all in 1 section! No personal contact with those teachers. The term for nursing classes only was recently changed from 14 weeks to 12 weeks, with no reduction in tuition. That's a huge difference and students are furious about it. They advertise the many clinical agencies they have for student experiences, but nursing students now spend HALF of their clinical time in a simulation lab, taking care of "plastic man". Not how I want to spend my time (and tuition $$). This means that students only work with "real people" every other week, so with the shorter term, that means 6 times per semester. Just doesn't seem enough. Check it out if you don't believe me - ask about these specific items when to speak with the Admissions team. The problem is prospective students don't know the questions to ask and are impressed by the name NYU.

Thanks to my cousin's advice, I may see you in the NYU MS program.

For now, I am going small, local and cheaper for the undergrad nursing experience - it just feels right.

kika72 · Jun 4, 2011

Hi!

I am currently in the NYU nursing program finishing up my last 2 pre-requisites before I start the accelerated track in the Fall. I love the school and the environment and I have to agree with Erica that the price tag is quite hefty!

A couple of weeks ago we had a mandatory orientation for all the students starting clinicals in the Fall and the main point each member of the faculty stressed about was exactly lab experience vs. real patients experience. NYU believes in this new teaching method where students are able to reconcile what they learn in the lab/simulation with patients at the hospital. The faculty believes that students who attend clinicals every week and deal with "real patients" have far less knowledge and chance to actually learn and familiarize with different settings because of the liability hospitals have to deal with. They believe that a practice of 8 hours a day alternated a clinical at a real hospital provides the students with proper skills and knowledge to actually deal competently in the hospital setting. During lab/simulation a student is able to relax, practice and experience all those settings that during a clinical he/she might not be able to experience. They can make mistakes and think critically without the fear of hurting the patient.

One member of the NYU faculty was also saying that the College of Nursing just received a re-accreditation and the board approved and was completely blown away from their teaching method. Now, since I'm not in the clinical rotation yet, I can't tell you for sure if this is true or not and I usually don't believe everything I hear. All I know is that NYU graduates seem to get hired fairly quickly and hold jobs pretty well....at least the ones I know!!

I also agree with Erica that if you're planning in getting your masters then you don't need a big name undergrad, but at the same time you have to be ready to deal with long waiting lists at all the other NYC nursing program.

Best,

Kika

MaleNurseInc · Jun 7, 2011

I looked into NYU for 2011, spoke with current students, and found the following: their classes are huge - way over 200 and often they are all in 1 section! No personal contact with those teachers.

I graduated from NYU's accelerated program in January. I think we only had one course with the entire cohort (Professional Nursing). Every other course was split into two sections.

The term for nursing classes only was recently changed from 14 weeks to 12 weeks, with no reduction in tuition. That's a huge difference and students are furious about it.

Students complain about EVERYTHING. It actually made sense to switch every semester to 12 weeks, so that your peds clinical was the same length as your elder clinical, allowing equal numbers of clinical days in both courses.

They advertise the many clinical agencies they have for student experiences, but nursing students now spend HALF of their clinical time in a simulation lab, taking care of "plastic man". Not how I want to spend my time (and tuition $$). This means that students only work with "real people" every other week, so with the shorter term, that means 6 times per semester. Just doesn't seem enough.

First of all, they're not "plastic men." When working correctly, they can mimic a patient quite well. You can really improve your skills tremendously if you take sim lab seriously.

If you're that scared of debt, don't go to NYU. Since we graduated in January and passed the NCLEX in March, not only do all of my friends have jobs, but they're all at the top hospitals in the city.

JentheHen · Jun 8, 2011

I graduated from NYU's accelerated degree program and found it to be an infuriating place. I know there are problems in all programs, but I felt for such a hefty price tag, it was ridiculous that lab supplies would often run out, Simulation Man rarely worked or the lab instructors didn't know how to use him, clinical instructors were so often out way of their league (many had no experience bedside nursing) and there were too many students in clinical groups to really do much hands-on stuff. And that was before they doubled the class size. I did get a great job fairly easily (the name still has clout) but I work alongside ADNs from community colleges whose education was as good as mine and whose clinical skills were much better right out of nursing school.

erica james · Jun 13, 2011

I am just encouraging prospective students to spend time researching the programs they are looking into and speaking directly with current students in the program. I literally hung out on West 4th street in Fall 2010 and introduced myself to NYU nursing students, easily recognizable in their purple scrubs.

Of course I heard a variety of opinions, but many were in a med/surg class with 250+ students in one section. Several indicated that 2 teachers taught it, and they thought there had been problems with 1 teacher in the past, with many students failing that section, so this was the "solution". They were not pleased. They felt that a Kaplan course would be a necessity pass NCLEX exam.

The students had varied thoughts about the Sim Man (they called him "plastic guy"). Most liked the idea of practicing skills on him, but resented having real clinical time taken away for these sessions - they thought they should have both Sim time and weekly clinical with real patients. In fact this is the way most schools do it, I have learned in my research. And why settle for 12 weeks instead of the 14 weeks other programs seem to have. Every nurse I have spoken to says more clinical time is better, not less! For the tuition paid at NYU, what is the added-value, except the name.

Other areas to check out are stability of faculty (turnover rate), recent clinical experience of faculty teaching in the program and availability of faculty/advisors to students.

When I started this process of finding a school, my focus was really on: will I get in. Now I see it as much about the education as a business/financial decision. Will I get what I am paying for? What is most important to me?

We will all be great nurses in the end! Hope you are as excited about this new career as I am - I just don't want to be paying for it for the next 20 years!

grateful211 · Jun 20, 2011

How is the job placement rate from NYU? That's a tremendous consideration especially in this job market.

jenny108 · Aug 24, 2011

Let the buyer beware! Take it from an experienced nurse who has taught clinical at several nursing programs in the NYC area. All schools are NOT alike. NYU has undergone so many student-unfriendly changes in the last several years that it is barely recognizable when compared to the quality program it once was.

I recommend that you research any program you apply to very thoroughly before you pay any deposits. Ericajames has the right idea! Also, ask questions: like why have THREE Deans left their positions as Deans in the College of Nursing in the past 3 months? Why has the curriculum changed to reduce the number of actual patient contact hours? Other schools are adding simulation experiences, but maintaining the same clinical experiences. That is a much better deal for students. If you believe the lame explanation given by an enrolled student in this thread, then I have a Bridge to sell you! I believe that is what current students are being told, but ask nurses what they think helped them learn the most in nursing school. Clinical teachers think this is all about saving $$ on faculty costs. Paying for clinical teachers is expensive, but it is also an important part of any program. Going to "real" hospital experience only every other week, and cutting the term to 12 weeks has resulted in some long-time NYU clinical teachers bailing and opting to teach at other programs where student learning is respected.

This summer all NYU Nursing Masters Alum and previous teachers received an e-mail asking them to teach. In July there were still 40 openings for the Fall term! There are so many students that they are having trouble accommodating them all! Is this where you want to pay your tuition $$. Keep shopping - there are much better programs out there!

BTW, at least 1 major Manhattan Medical Center will no longer hire NYU Nursing grads because of their limited clinical experience in the program. Will more follow? This is INCREDIBLY important in this economy! Choose wisely.

UPennGrad2242 · Nov 18, 2011

Hi! I am highly considering applying for Fall 2012, but after reading this thread I'm a little worried! Anyone have any news from people who are currently in the program?

Jimminey Cricket · Nov 23, 2011

I'm currently in the program. Don't come.

But if you apply, you will get in.

They take everyone.

And you will get a job.