JenLFutureMSN

I have never taken the GRE and I don't plan to. It wasn't required for my masters degree at Northwestern University and now that I have a 4.0 graduate GPA, it is a much better indicator that I can handle graduate work than the GRE would be. My thoughts on this, for you and anyone else, is that the JHU application process is holistic, like others have said. I wouldn't stress too much about GRE vs no GRE, but what I would do is try to put yourself in the shoes of an admissions person who has gotten 700 applications for 100 seats, and take a step back and look at your whole application. All they have to go off of to get an idea of who you are is what you include in your application... so what are you showing them? What kind of picture are you painting of you as a human being and future nurse? Grades are important, sure, but so is the whole person, and the experiences that person can bring to the table (in this case, the table is the program ? ). In the end, whatever is meant to happen will happen. As long as you put your best foot forward and you painted an accurate and positive picture of yourself to admissions, you should be alright. Keep us all posted! ? - Jen Christina, I just want to say that I love how you framed this. This is such an important topic and something we all must always keep in mind as future healthcare providers. It is our duty to do our best for our patients, and a part of doing our best is respecting all beliefs and values they hold, regardless of our own personal feelings. A former boss of mine used to tell us "leave your feelings at the door"- I think that sentiment is especially important working in healthcare.

Hey Everyone, Im the one who began this thread and I’ve been totally MIA a lot of the Summer- my bad! ? loving seeing so many people on here though! I have asked JHU to push my Jan 2021 application to the fall so I don’t overload myself trying to get my pre-reqs done. I do thrive in accelerated fast pace environments (I do want to be a trauma nurse, after all ? ) but even so, I figured it’d be smart. I saw some people asking about addendums- you can totally do those after you’ve submitted. Just email -------------------- in admissions- she’s awesome. I’ve done this myself too. I hope you’re all having an amazing Summer! Jen

Hi Bottman, Thanks for your thoughts. You said you’re assuming I am applying to more programs- I am not. If I don’t get into JHU I’m sticking with my existing policy work in global health. This is the only program I’d consider for a second masters degree. I’ve looked at it for years so I’m giving it a shot but I also don’t want to be in school beyond 35 so this is the only program I’d like to attend. Yes, of course I wouldn’t put myself in a position to make my 4.0 pre-req GPA go down, that’s most important, but I also am used to being very busy :) Thanks again for your thoughts and best of luck to you in starting this fall! Jen

Who else is taking pre-reqs right now? I started Anatomy and Lifespan Dev. this week with JHU online, and then I'm also finishing up some Northwestern work for my other masters...so I'm drowning over here haha. Trying really hard though! I'm considering doing EMT Basic this fall alongside the rest of my pre-reqs, but I dont know if thats a really bad idea or not, because it'd be a crazy schedule.. On the flip side, it would probably help me a lot with getting various body terminology down and medical terminology..and maybe could be useful once I start the MSN and clinicals. So many big changes! Exciting but terrifying. Is anyone else considering doing something short term like that to help them with the transition into nursing? ?

KAS- Good luck with your fall application!! Hopefully see you on campus someday (I hope we both get in) ? - Jen

Has anyone else submitted their applications yet? Is anyone else super nervous (even though we have months to wait?) haha. I was thinking about post-bachelors courses...I took a bunch after my bachelors... do you think that just gets factored into the overall undergraduate GPA? I'll have a graduate level GPA too, but, I would think post-bac stuff is a part of the undergraduate GPA??

Christina, I had to laugh when I read your comment because about 15 minutes ago I went on a rant to my dad about how I felt I needed to be present for a project I am consulting for so that things were "kept on the ball". I can completely relate to what you wrote! It sounds like were definitely cut from the same cloth haha. I think as I was ranting I said something like, I'm on the ball, why aren't they on the ball? We all need to be on the ball. Let's get things done. (of course my dad just laughed at me). At least we both know we will be excellent nurses because we will advocate for our patients and get things done! ?

Christina, Yes!! So much of the mind and body is interconnected. I feel like it is nearly impossible to treat one without the other. I am definitely wanting to do a specialty, and so far I've thought a lot about trauma and ED work. I work my best in very fast pace situations- it's weird, when I have to work at a really fast pace, I feel like I can think more clearly, like everything else kind of fades away and I see a direct path to what needs to be done..so I think that could be a useful skill in trauma and the ED. I'm interested in volunteering with search and rescue down the road too, which relates to trauma as well. However, I also know that maybe something in clinicals will surprise me and really pique my interest, so I'm also trying to keep an open mind. I do know I eventually want my DNP as well. What about you? ? Jen

Oh- I forgot something I was going to mention in regards to the application. I saw that they allow up to 4 recommenders, so I included a 4th person on there. I don't know how much it'll help, but I figured it can't hurt since they allow up to 4 anyway. Has anyone else done this, or is thinking about doing it? I had 3 professors from my Northwestern masters program and then 1 person I used to work with at Lens Crafters, who was a manager, since Lens Crafters is health related (eye health, anyway).

Hi Michelle and Christina, Hope you both are having a great day!! Michelle, I sort of did a combo of both. I put some of my more recent volunteer experiences in the "experiences" section, but I figured since they have my resume anyway, they'll probably just use that as the go-to document anyway. At least, I would think that'd be the case. It is kind of strange that they have you essentially re-type what is already on the resume, though. As for my volunteer experience, I've been a crisis counselor with Crisis Text Line since 2017, which JHU confirmed counts as "healthcare experience" in a volunteer capacity. I also included international volunteering I've done with underserved communities and refugees, which had nothing to do with healthcare, but I think it still is impressive (I hope? haha) because it shows I'm more than willing to go to foreign countries where I can't speak the language and do my best to help out. Christina- I hope you get in this time!! ❤️ Rooting for you!! I have heard that early application makes a huge difference, so let's hope we both get in! ? Michelle- ahh, come to JHU with us! haha. That's exciting about the whole law school thing and not quite knowing where you'll end up- it's like one big adventure! Love that. Is he applying anywhere that you really don't want to live? haha. Also, I think you should put any and all health related volunteer stuff on your application. They can't know about it if you don't include it, and you never know what they might want to see or be happy about seeing. One thing I've learned in working with NursingCAS is that they take quite a while to process things. I have everything done on my end and today I was told it would take them 2-4 weeks to process everything.. I really sincerely hope it doesn't take that long, but if that's how long it takes for them to eventually get my application to JHU then there's nothing I can do except just be patient. Also, I think one of you asked me about how my background fits into nursing- I think... in a broad sense...it fits in because I have always sought out roles where I can help people in a practical way. I basically boycotted the idea of corporate jobs pretty early on haha, I refused to do anything that was more about a bottom line than about helping people. I can't imagine working in a position where I don't help people, somehow. I had always loved classes that were detailed about the human body as well. As a psychology major, my favorite classes were cognitive psych, which was all technical information about the brain, and perception, which again was a lot of brain knowledge and how we process things.. I remember studying like crazy for an exam about how our eyes work, rods and cones etc, and I loved it. Then, in my Northwestern masters, I had one global health class that was very involved- tons of reading every week, multiple assignments each week, a quiz each week, and one day I sat back and realized that I had no problems with the workload because I loved the content so much. I even wanted more. So when I realized I had that intense passion not only for learning about health and disease, ways to prevent these things, etc. coupled with my strong passion for helping people, I decided to stop fighting my instincts that told me for many years to apply to a nursing program, and finally just do it. So here we are! ? haha Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. ha!

Hey Christina! I'm Jen. Only guessing your name is Christina because of your username..if, for some reason, it isn't haha please correct me ? Your post just sort of reaffirmed that I'm moving in the right direction! I got into Columbia University for a MSW that was supposed to start this past January but I turned them down. I had debated between the MSW (doing clinical/therapy work) and the MSN literally for years... and ended up choosing the MSW because it aligned with my background better..but then I constantly thought about the MSN. Eventually, I swallowed my fear, applied for Hopkins, and started my pre-reqs (yay!). Are you excited to make the switch from therapy to nursing? Do you want to become a PMHNP, or are you totally moving away from psych related work? I have a bachelors in psychology as well, so I hear you there - I bet a lot of psych people go into nursing. Will you be doing any pre-reqs with Hopkins?? I'm taking Anatomy and Dev. Psych this Summer with them, and then this fall I'll do microbio, nutrition, and physiology. We should take a class together if you still need any ? If you don't mind me asking, what do you think threw off your application the first time you applied? I'm so nervous!! I read somewhere that they have something like 800 applicants typically for 100 seats. Ahh! I hope we both get in! (fingers crossed) Jen

I just want to post a word of advice to anyone applying.. If you use the professional transcript service by NursingCAS, make sure you really look over the transcript entry before you click approve and submit. I found multiple errors from the professional transcript entry. Thankfully, NursingCAS is being really kind and fixing it all, but I wanted to share this here because I would hate to see anybody have their GPA messed up due to not really going over the entry job the professional transcript people did. Excited to connect with more people who are applying! ?

Hey! Sorry for the delay - been busy. That's awesome! What is your background in? My bachelors is in psychology and I'm finishing up a masters at Northwestern University in public policy and administration with an emphasis in global health. Also, Happy belated bday! Totally hear you on not wanting to lock into goals just yet- I think thats probably really common since its an "entry" into nursing program ? I feel the same way...although I'm definitely most interested in Emergency medicine and trauma..but who knows, maybe clinicals will get me really interested in an area I didn't even consider. I definitely want my DNP as well, so I hear you there! Have you submitted yet?? I did on Sunday and I'm so excited! We have a long wait ahead of us though haha. By the way, my name is Jen. ?

Hi! That's awesome. I wonder if we're some of the first applicants ? Maybe. Cheers to being super early! Is this a big career change for you as well? I'm in my early 30's and I'm so excited to make this change. What are your goals with the MSN?

Hi Everyone, I wanted to start a thread for the Johns Hopkins entry into nursing MSN program for January 2021 applicants. I just started my application this week, aiming to get it in well before the July 1st deadline. Anyone else?? ? Also, if anyone previously accepted here has any application tips, please do share. Thank you!