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Hi Ashley, I am about to complete my second semester at Wilkes. Full Time coursework (2- 12wk courses a semester) is challenging with or without kids and a FT job, especially patho and pharm. Patho is difficult because there is so much information to take at one time, not because it is "innately" difficult like organic Chemistry. Pharm takes more thinking things through. Every course so far (Patho, pharm, research, role) have had discussion boards that will be what take a lot of your time instead of just being able to focus on studying. Patho had 4 exams plus a small project, Pharm 3 exams and 1 quiz; a couple of papers in the other courses. I have a part time day job, no kids, and am taking FT course load. I do read more slowly and distractible, have a hard time sitting down focusing when there is so much that needs to be done. Found it very challenging to study to the extent that I wanted to get the grades that I wanted. In Patho, I studied, studied, studied, made a 93 in the course, but with Wilkes, a 94 or above is considered an A. In pharm, looks like Im going to be making in the high 80s/ B. It is very easy to make a C if you do not cover so much of the information and do not do spaced-repetition and reviewing. What I am saying is that if you would like to work FT, go to school FT, with kids, there will have to be some give, and you would have to be okay with not doing your best (there is only so much of you that you can give to all these things). Some areas will suffer more than others. If FT work means 3 days a wk, it is very likely doable; if it means 4-5 days a week, then I do not recommend FT course load until you complete both Patho & pharm. I heard that the DX & assessment courses should be taken together if possible, but are not too difficult to manage. My patho professor had powerpoints, which were more like outlines. My pharm prof has no lectures. Reading the book like they say will be insufficient in your journey to be a great NP. I highly recommend using a medical lecture program. I am using Lecturio, which has high-yield medical info for patho, pharm, diagnostics, treatment, etc. I imagine that I'll be using this for the first few years of my career as well until I become proficient in diagnostics and keeping up with the latest research. It is congruent with what has been in my courses/books so far even down to the dosing. I cannot go on enough about it and so go on Youtube and watch some videos on it, I think you can create your account for free, sign in and roam around and see what subjects they have (have more than you will ever need). You can type in a disease process or anything into the search bar and it will everything up on it, such as lets say asthma....It will give you every video on it in the basic lectures on it, then specifics for pediatrics, family medicine, acute care medicine, internal medicine and how it affects other things, etc. The type of account that I created was the one for medical students---which does ALSO INCLUDE all of the information of nurse practitioners, nurses, & physician assistants/ associates. They may have a discount link somewhere in the info section. Osmosis is great too, but I try to watch what I can for free. I am not affiliated with any of these programs, but you will need to take charge of your learning. This is what worked for me.

These questions go for anyone who either has gone through the FNP program or has a friend that is in it or gone through it: Does the program mostly consist of writing papers or mostly exams? What has been your experience in the program so far? Do you feel prepared for clinical? Are there instructional powerpoints or is it mostly them throwing articles at you and saying, "hey, read these and take the test"? (Is it mostly self taught?) I know that graduate students need to be self-motivated, but Is it mostly self taught with minimal guidance or is it great guidance? Are the teachers responsive or helpful if you have questions? Thank you!

I should be starting the Spring 2021 FNP track as well! I would love to join you in making an FB page! Send me a message at [email protected] with your facebook info or I can give you mine. ?

The medical schools will not care that you started an NP Program or quit it. If you go through the trouble to take Organic Chem I&II, or Biochemistry, Physics I&II, along with other courses that they require, they will not care. They will see that your goal now is to be an MD or DO. There are plenty of physicians that started in dental school because they accepted them into their program first, and after a year they switched into medical school once they were accepted. Having gone through some of the NP Program will not make you look bad. However, you should have your interview answers prepared as to why you want to be a physician. You would not be the first RN or even NP to go to medical school, however, it will set you apart and make you a competitive applicant if your GPA is above a 3.0. Medical schools are beginning a trend of looking at applicants differently. They want more well-rounded students, not robots that do not have common sense. If you are an RN or hold a position in healthcare or have a history of it, that is a plus. Volunteer work is a plus (many opportunities for this in healthcare).....volunteering at cancer walks or autism, or visiting people in hospice units can further show your compassion. If you have held a position of leadership in the last 5 or 10 years, that is a plus. If you were in band/choir/sports in high school and you went to state, nationals, or got 1st division in UIL, or interesting clubs in college that is a plus. Anything that makes you look well-rounded. If you do not think that you are well rounded, this can be fixed in a year. Within 1 year, I started working as a tech in the ED, volunteered at a different hospital for 3 hrs a week, joined the nursing student association at my college, ran for treasurer and got it...(though, just running can be mentioned even if you did not get the position)....You can join local programs that shows your interest, but excelling in 1 or becoming involved in 1 is better than just joining several. They also do not need to be healthcare related. If it is not healthcare related, it can show the graduate committee some of your other interests and further set you apart from the rest. I wanted my bachelor's in nursing, because anything else would have been a waste since I knew I was going to be into healthcare. I knew that once I had a BSN that I would either become an NP, PA, or an MD/DO. You do not have to be an NP just because you are an RN. Becoming an NP in many states involves limiting oneself on many levels. If this is not your jam and you have it in you to go through medical school, then do it! You are smart enough to do it. It is just a matter of if you want to. It will take a lot of your time, but it is for a purpose. Putting your time and effort will be easier if you are fully committed to your vision. If you are not committed to your vision, then it will become harder. Medical school can be really exciting too, you will see and do a lot.....a lot more than you would have in NP or PA school. You will go through more rotations as well that are really cool (& will not have to look for your own preceptors). There are a lot of resources available to you as a medical student and a physician. You will also have a lot of internships and study abroad opportunities available to you for experience which can help when applying to fellowships or jobs. Remember to study smarter, not harder. Go to lecture, review. Get a "Lecturio" membership, helps with filling in gaps and cementing lectures. Dr. Najeeb's Lectures are helpful as well and free (you get access to a limited # of free lectures per day). When you are going to study for your boards exam use "Boards & Beyond". For now, this is a go-to, but this may change by the time you graduate. You will have 2 USMLE exams throughout med-school. I recommend getting on medical student forums to see what everyone is using for those. There are some schools that do not require MCAT scores. Apply to these first if you have not prepped for it. However, I would see what their residency "Match Rate" is. Also, consider if you want to be an MD or DO. The school that you end up going to will determine which of these you become, hence, it will also determine which specialties that would be available to you. The sky is the limit. You've got this! -Emilia

I am set to begin at a different school in Spring 2021, but I have questions about students' real experience with this program. I am trying to decide if I should go there or here and would really appreciate honest feedback. Thank you. What has been your experience in the program so far? Do you feel prepared for clinical? Are there instructional powerpoints or is it mostly them throwing articles at you and saying, "hey, read these and take the test"? (Is it mostly self taught?) I know that graduate students need to be self-motivated, but Is it mostly self taught with minimal guidance or is it great guidance? Are the teachers responsive or helpful if you have questions? Does the program mostly consist of writing papers or mostly exams?

I am set to begin at a different school in Spring 2021, but I have questions about students' real experience with this program. I am trying to decide if I should go there or here and would really appreciate honest feedback. Thank you. I will be doing the online program, and so if you have friends in that program whose experiences are different than yours, please do share. What has been your experience in the program so far? Do you feel prepared for clinical? Are there instructional powerpoints or is it mostly them throwing articles at you and saying, "hey, read these and take the test"? (Is it mostly self taught?) I know that graduate students need to be self-motivated, but Is it mostly self taught with minimal guidance or is it great guidance? Are the teachers responsive or helpful if you have questions? Does the program mostly consist of writing papers or mostly exams?

These questions go for Psychbeast or anyone else who either has gone through the FNP program or has a friend that is in it or gone through it: What has been your experience in the program so far? Do you feel prepared for clinical? Are there instructional powerpoints or is it mostly them throwing articles at you and saying, "hey, read these and take the test"? (Is it mostly self taught?) I know that graduate students need to be self-motivated, but Is it mostly self taught with minimal guidance or is it great guidance? Are the teachers responsive or helpful if you have questions? Does the program mostly consist of writing papers or mostly exams?

I am sorry that I cannot be of help for that course.

Is this for the BSN-level Research course or the 500 level graduate research course? I have taken the BSN 400 level.

I was able to speak with an enrollment advisor, and they said that starting in 2020 they are now finding clinical placements for students! I have not yet applied, but I definitely am now!

Few More Questions: What has been your experience in the program so far? Do you feel prepared for clinical? Are there instructional powerpoints or is it mostly them throwing articles at you and saying, "hey, read these and take the test"? Is it mostly self taught? Does the program mostly consist of writing papers or mostly exams? / Or are there a lot of papers to write? Are the teachers responsive or helpful if you have questions? Do they still require the use of webcams for exams?

WOW!, that is great news! Thank you for letting me know ?

Do they actually help find clinical placements???? Their website said. "Guaranteed Clinical Placement". Please, let me/us know....this will be the last determining factor!

Do they actually help find clinical placements???? Their website said. "Guaranteed Clinical Placement". Please, let me know....this will be the last determining factor!

Hi, I am looking to apply to Wilkes in for Spring 2021 for the FNP. The main reason that I was looking to attend was because they wrote "Guaranteed Clinical Placement" on their website. You are saying that they do not actually find placements for you?? What do they do then? Any help?