Direct Entry Programs- How hard to get in?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Thanks for all of your responses to all of my previous posts. As you probably assume, I'm evaluating all of my options including ADN, BSN, and Direct-Entry MSN. The direct entry programs look extremely appealing, but seeing that they are at the best of colleges, I don't know how easy they are to get in.

Does anyone know what the typical GPA, scores, acceptance rates of these programs are? Anyone have any experience applying?

I'm in MD, so I'd consider Hopkins, but Columbia, MGHI in Mass, Case Western, Vanderbilt, Pace, and Yale also look appealing.

Seeing as nursing traditionally isn't an "ivy league" profession, are the credentials required for these programs less than what a typical "ivy" student would need?

I'd love to hear experiences with any programs.........

Hi Gen,

The website update is very strange- at work I cannot see the change, but at home I can see it. Maybe I have somehow hacked into their website due to the sheer number of times I have looked at it. It's on the "application materials" section of the GEP pages. It still has the same timeline posted. I will post the new text here:

Due to a large amount of applications, the following specialties are closed and will no longer accept applications for the January 2006 term:

Family Nurse Practitioner

Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Midwifery

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

All other specialties are currently accepting applications until spaces are full or the deadline is reached (June 1st). Please check back to this page for periodic updates. Applications for January 2007 will be available by September 2005.

>>>

My thought is maybe they are still planning to interview but they had so many apps they know they don't need to accept any more.

Or maybe our applications were so awesome they are going to admit us right away without even an interview :roll

Either way, we should know something soon... Have a nice day.

Courtney

Hi Courtney,

Do you have that link? I couldn't locate it in my brief search through the site.

This is somewhat baffling because the slots are filled before they have even completed the first rounds of interviews?

Their original intentions involved interviews and a secocnd round of applicants. Although, I guess they may have varied on their plans, (flexible) since this is their first full-fledged application process and I imagine they are working out kinks and also developing their routine.

Lets see how it goes!!

At first I was in doubt and thought that maybe it was the regular grad school that had all their slots filled, (again, under the impression that there would be first and second rounds of decisions for the GEP with final decisions around May 15th.)

Did they acknowledge this at all? Hmmm, anxiety mixed with confusion and bafflement :) Oy!

With good thoughts,

Gen

It took me so long to write my post I didn't even notice you edited yours:)

Well, I guess they want to make sure we can stay calm under pressure so they're dragging it out. Hopefully we will know soon.....

Back to waiting,

Courtney

Hi Gen,

The website update is very strange- at work I cannot see the change, but at home I can see it. Maybe I have somehow hacked into their website due to the sheer number of times I have looked at it. It's on the "application materials" section of the GEP pages. It still has the same timeline posted. I will post the new text here:

Due to a large amount of applications, the following specialties are closed and will no longer accept applications for the January 2006 term:

Family Nurse Practitioner

Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Midwifery

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

All other specialties are currently accepting applications until spaces are full or the deadline is reached (June 1st). Please check back to this page for periodic updates. Applications for January 2007 will be available by September 2005.

>>>

My thought is maybe they are still planning to interview but they had so many apps they know they don't need to accept any more.

Or maybe our applications were so awesome they are going to admit us right away without even an interview :roll

Either way, we should know something soon... Have a nice day.

Courtney

Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
It took me so long to write my post I didn't even notice you edited yours:)

Well, I guess they want to make sure we can stay calm under pressure so they're dragging it out. Hopefully we will know soon.....

Back to waiting,

Courtney

:) I'm goofy too about this!

I re-read on the page that all applicants should know by the first week in April whether or not chosen.

Hopefully we will get to anquish over the next phase too!! :chuckle

Gen

I got an e-mail that says I am invited for an interview!!!! Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just got it, I've been checking my e-mail constantly today!!

I hope you get the same good news, Gen. I'll have my fingers crossed for you!!!!

Courtney

:) I'm goofy too about this!

I re-read on the page that all applicants should know by the first week in April whether or not chosen.

Hopefully we will get to anquish over the next phase too!! :chuckle

Gen

Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
I got an e-mail that says I am invited for an interview!!!! Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just got it, I've been checking my e-mail constantly today!!

I hope you get the same good news, Gen. I'll have my fingers crossed for you!!!!

Courtney

Oh my gosh!! Congratulations!! I am so happy that BOTH of us found out!!

I just finished my outline for a presentation tonight, (took me over an hour) and decided to check me email!!

It was really good to come here to email and then to find out that YOU ALSO made it past first rounds!!

:roll

Gen

p.s. I have to let it sink in, I read the email header and thought it may have been spam! when it dawned on me my eyes opened and you are the first person I knew could understand, (yippie!!)

That's hilarious, I thought it was spam too.

Congrats.. Now we just have to wait for someone to contact us:)

Oh my gosh!! Congratulations!! I am so happy that BOTH of us found out!!

I just finished my outline for a presentation tonight, (took me over an hour) and decided to check me email!!

It was really good to come here to email and then to find out that YOU ALSO made it past first rounds!!

:roll

Gen

p.s. I have to let it sink in, I read the email header and thought it may have been spam! when it dawned on me my eyes opened and you are the first person I knew could understand, (yippie!!)

That's hilarious, I thought it was spam too.

Congrats.. Now we just have to wait for someone to contact us:)

Congrats to both of you !! I'm sure you'll both do great on your interviews !!

:balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons:

Hi Seahorse!

Well that is a tough decision to make, but here is my .02 for what it's worth. :)

If you go to SFSU and take classes for one year and then switch to UCSF the next year, it seems like you would be repeating classes, which is very expensive. You might want to call UCSF and find out if the classes at SFSU are the same and if you can get credit for them so you don't have to start from scratch if you switched schools. I know the first year at SFSU is about $15k, right? And then if you start fresh at UCSF that is probably about another $20k. AND you are looking at a little over two years before you go finally sit for the test. If you go to SFSU now you will be working in a year and a half. And you can still get your PhD at UCSF!!

At the same time, if your heart is on UCSF and you are 100% sure that is the program for you, then don't compromise what you want and wait and try again next year. It sounds like you will definitely get in next year.

I think at one point you said you were in your early 40's?? Well you have plenty of time! At least another 20 years of working. $$-wise, however, I think you should go with one or the other. To do both may be a waste of $$.

Specializes in Postpartum.
Courtney,

Gosh, this IS reaching the wire now. I am looking forward and hope to be able to send you some 'congratulations' smilies. :)

One of my biggest anxious concerns is that my BA won't be complete until the third week of May so I am glad that the Adult NP specialty is going to continue to take apps until June. Maybe that will help? I don't know but, gosh, I hope they call for interviews. That in and of itself is a big deal too!!

More good thoughts. :)

Gen

Congratulations you guys!!! I'm so happy for both of you!! I have no doubt you will ace your interviews too- you are on your way!!!

-Jess

Specializes in Postpartum.
Hi Seahorse!

Well that is a tough decision to make, but here is my .02 for what it's worth. :)

If you go to SFSU and take classes for one year and then switch to UCSF the next year, it seems like you would be repeating classes, which is very expensive. You might want to call UCSF and find out if the classes at SFSU are the same and if you can get credit for them so you don't have to start from scratch if you switched schools. I know the first year at SFSU is about $15k, right? And then if you start fresh at UCSF that is probably about another $20k. AND you are looking at a little over two years before you go finally sit for the test. If you go to SFSU now you will be working in a year and a half. And you can still get your PhD at UCSF!!

At the same time, if your heart is on UCSF and you are 100% sure that is the program for you, then don't compromise what you want and wait and try again next year. It sounds like you will definitely get in next year.

I think at one point you said you were in your early 40's?? Well you have plenty of time! At least another 20 years of working. $$-wise, however, I think you should go with one or the other. To do both may be a waste of $$.

I totally agree. Unless you are really sure your classes will transfer and you would be able to enter UCSF as a second-year - I'd say it's too expensive (and time consuming) to be a good option. Is SFSU the one that's a generic MSN program? If so, maybe you could get your masters there and then do your specialty NP certification at UCSF? Maybe I'm thinking of a different program though...

-Jess

Dream2nurse and Jess,

There's so much to think about and now you've given me more ideas. I really had my heart set on the UCSF GNP track, but I'm going to go ahead with SF State Generic and see if the classes will transfer. I'm afraid if I let State go I may end up with nothing next year.

Someone just told me that 3 Gerontology people from the waitlist last year were called in the day before classes started at UCSF. They were from back East and had to fly to California immediately. Talk about stress. :uhoh3:

I wish you both well and thanks for the advice.

Oh my gosh!! Congratulations!! I am so happy that BOTH of us found out!!

It was really good to come here to email and then to find out that YOU ALSO made it past first rounds!!

:roll

Gen

Congratulations to Gen and CEG for getting to the interview round!! That's a BIG DEAL!!! :nurse: :balloons: :balloons:

Let us know when your interviews are and we will keep positive karma flowing for you!! Congrats again you guys!

Smile123

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