megonia

Awesome, another FNP! You'll have to keep us all posted on what you decide to do! Good luck, I know it's a tough decision!

FNP. :) How about you?

Hi Jazzy, I also got accepted to the Yale GEPN program. I was invited to interview at USD, but declined upon hearing I was admitted to Yale. I chose Yale because it is a direct path to becoming an FNP (there were other reasons as well, but that was the biggie). I won't have to reapply to a post-masters certificate program or take time off in between, and if I want to work as an RN for a year or so in the specialty years at Yale I can do so. I'd say, compare the financial aid packages when you get them (hopefully we'll be getting Yale's package soon!). That'll probably help! I guess it comes down to how quickly you want to become an NP and how sure you are of your specialty, where you'd rather live, and how much you're willing to pay for the program. Hope this helps and good luck with your decision! :)

krysprout - I'm hoping the same thing! We'll see how much it will affect our financial aid packages! shortcake - check out Asherah's post above, there is a link to more information about private loans. :)

I don't believe that there are summer courses during the specialty years - from what I heard that at the orientation. I think the only summer session we have is during the GEPN year. Your numbers seem right - but I guess that would only be the tuition, not including living expenses and all that.

I'm in the same boat. Whatever isn't covered by financial aid, I'll have to get in private loans. I was really surprised when we were told at the orientation that the average student debt at the end of the program was like $67,000. Did anyone else hear that? Maybe I was just dreaming, but that isn't nearly as bad as I imagined!

Glad to hear you chose Yale, fibergirl! Yes, bring on those blue (er, Yale blue) scrubs!

I don't remember stepping out being an option either... However, I'd rather go straight through anyway! :) I can't remember about the part-time option during the specialty years - I feel like I remember someone saying that was a possibility.

One option that I am considering right now is working part time as an RN while I'm in the specialty years. That way I'll have some paid experience as an RN under my belt when I apply for NP jobs. Of course, if at that time I decide not to work during the last two years, I won't have to. But at least I'll have the option!

Hi Kens! When should you hear from Georgetown? Are you still waiting to hear from any other schools? :)

I was also very impressed at the interview! I'll definitely be attending this fall! Hopefully my financial aid award letter will bring more good news. How about you, Moon - are you definitely going? Where else did you apply?

Hi moonlinkline7! The letter was dated 2/15 and it said the financial aid letters will be sent out "next week", so sometime this week they should be mailed out (if you got your financial aid app in by the 2/1 deadline). They enclosed the response form and said that more information about the coming academic year will be sent at a later date. :nuke:

I got my letter today, too! Can't wait to meet everyone this fall (or maybe sooner)! kevkev and Kens - are you guys definitely going to Yale?

That's great, kevkev! I can't wait to get my letter, it'll seem so much more real!

I've started to think about housing as well. My fiance and I have a 2-year-old, so we're either going to live in family student housing, or find a house off-campus. We've been living in an apartment for a couple years now and are ready to have a bit more room. When I transferred from a junior college to a 4-year university I decided to live on-campus in an apartment so that I could meet people and save some money. I had already been living by myself in an apartment for a few years, so it was a really big transition - too big in fact. I ended up moving out early because it was way to noisy and I really disliked sharing a room. I felt like I had no privacy. I found a place off-campus and felt so much better. I was still able to meet people and felt much better having my own space. Given that, I think the pros to living on-campus would be: 1) location (being directly on the shuttle line and proximity to dining halls), 2) it might be easier to socialize living on campus, 3) apartments on-campus are very affordable (I guess that depends on where you're coming from!) The cons would be: 1) Noise/distraction level is probably high, 2) You can get a nicer apartment off-campus for approximately the same price (although I have never toured the on-campus apartments, so I really don't know that this is true. I'm just assuming.), and 3) You'd have your own kitchen, bathroom, and ability to bring your pet with you if you live off-campus - maybe even a private yard (vs. living in a dorm). I'm sure there are other pros and cons, but these are the big ones for me. I think I'm going to go ahead and apply for family student housing, that way I'll have the option. But, I think that an apartment or house off-campus will probably be the way we go. :)