CPMtobeCNM

Hi all, I was in your shoes last year, anxiously waiting to hear from YSN. Today I am posting negative feedback on the program in the hope this will spare someone the experience I had at YSN this Fall. I so wish someone had told me frankly there were issues with the program BEFORE I committed to attending (and spending so much money and energy). I wasn't struggling academically (although I know it's been the case for many) but there are cohort-wide issues at YSN impacting the quality of the education/training. These are systemic issues that weigh on both students and instructors. They might be in a better spot in a few years, but right now, things are quite iffy. In the end, I felt the GEPN year wasn't worth the hefty price tag and left in time to get some of my tuition money back. I urge you to ask very precise questions when you get a chance to meet current students. Do include questions re: how much teaching experience instructors have, AI-based adaptive learning, constant, last-minute programmatic changes, kindness, equity, whether any students are dismissed with massive debt---to name a few. Good luck as you all wait for these Feb. 1st emails!

I had a crappy experience within the GEPN program. I wasn't struggling academically but there are cohort-wide issues at YSN impacting the quality of the education/training. These are systemic issues that weigh on both students and instructors. They might be in a better spot in a few years, but right now, things are quite iffy. In the end, I felt the GEPN year wasn't worth the hefty price tag and just left in time to get some of my tuition money back. I urge you to ask very precise questions when you get a chance to meet current students.

Secondtimer-- I was about to DM you on FB b/c I wanted to get in touch for the same reasons. Feeling the same, needing to make decisions (although with a bit more time than you). I am sending you my email here by DM. Zooming also works.

That is wonderfully helpful, thanks so much!

Hi Flying nurse! Lovely to meet you. Fingers crossed for Vanderbilt. I heard there were very few spots for entry with an RN/BSN sadly (I enquired b/c I was tempted for a while to get my ADN and go that route). I had the option to keep my letters from last cycle on the app, I think I asked and Jana said that was fine but they'd like to see at least 1 new letter. I ended up hearing that one of my recommenders did write a letter that wasn't strong. That did sting a lot, as she had said she'd write me a great letter and I didn't see it coming at all (I had others options and I felt terrible about it for a while). Anyway, I had 3 great letters this time around and it worked. My advice is to make sure to keep in touch with Jana and ask for her feedback. She wants you to do well and will let you know, she knows the process 100% and is super helpful. Did anyone have advice about how asking/guiding a reference letter writer? I am not American and so I don't really know the process (in my country, 3 short lines confirming they know you and you didn't burn the place is seen as a great letter-- I felt terribly ill equipped about the whole process!) Good luck Flying Nurse!

TellmeSomethingGood, I haven't received anything yet. In fact, I haven't received anything new since the YSN email letting me know I needed to check my email on Feb. 1st. Has anyone received anything?

Does anyone know anything about deferrals?

Thanks so much secondtimer for posting the news about financial help. Well, this is it then. I am crossing my fingers that more will trickle down once ppl start declining offers. What a bummer. GymnasticsPrincess this is really useful info, thank you! Confused dog, if I may ask, have you also looked at DO schools? I didn't know about the DO route until I started working on research on physician identity and it's a more holistic route, and there are lots of schools, so maybe there's one that would be compatible with your significant other. And good for you for having completed all of your prereqs!

So many things to think of, confusedog. I want to share with you that I have considered Med school too. As an aspiring NM, the competing option for me would be Family Medicine and a residency that is OB heavy (I didn't really feel attracted to an OB residency which is just so surgically-minded) but these are hard to find except in the Midwest. Ultimately the difference for me would have been the ability to conduct complicated deliveries (instrumental and c/s) as opposed to low risk deliveries and being a surgical first assist at c/s when needed (which I think is amazing for continuity of care, how cool to not have to "abandon" patients when complications arise). Ultimately my goal is to reach the majority of low risk women (and keep patients as low risk as possible when they are higher risk and co-managed with an OB) and offer them as many respectful options as possible. The scope of practice for a NM is so wide that I can do homebirths or co-manage higher risk women if needed, and that will be it given where I am in life, but sometimes I think if I had been younger (in my 20ies) and American (with access to fin help that green card holders can't access sadly), I might have gone the OB way within a Family Medicine framework. So I hear you! Do you have all your prereqs? If you do, that might be an option. I have a friend who is a physician, she initially completed her prereqs thinking she'd go the PA way but ended up applying to MS instead. The cost of studies in the US is truly sobering.(end of my rant:))

I know there is also loan repayment available if you plan to work as a nurse educator (which I do!)

Thanks kc and secondtimer, really helpful, I appreciate it a lot!

Confused dog- I only know rural areas of Northern New England, no one wants to go there so it's relatively easy as far as I know... no idea about other areasof course. One more question: I am thinking of going part-time after the GEPN. Now they did tell me that would preclude financial help. Do you know if that also precludes the unsubsidized loans? I had planned on going full-time if I got really good financial help but if it makes no difference, I'd go slow and maybe work part-time with my public health degree...

@kc_FNPtobe, this is very useful, thanks! Just to clarify, did you mean the loan forgiveness programs also reimburse the living costs? that would be big!!

To those pondering the meaning and implications of these crazy high figures, I don't have enough knowledge of the process to bring you comfort or an answer--but know you are not alone wondering tonight. Ps to second Secondtimer, I have looked into salaries over the fall. I have an MPH and starting salaries are 50-70k, then progression is pretty flat. As an NP, you start at least with 80/90k, and then my impression is you can progress as well. I hope the events for admitted students will provide us with lots of useful information. And during my Master's, I wrote to tons of foundations and got quite a bit of scholarship money that way. Without interest!! I am not a citizen and wonder if that limits my option, as well. So many things to think of. I truly wish we had gotten these bummer letters tomorrow... Congrats to those who got merit scholarships btw!!

Thank you Secondtimer for emailing!! Hopefully we'll all get some merit help! I know things are going to be tight, so without help, that scares me a lot.