dedicatedone

When I filled out the FAFSA this past year, we were specifically told to select "5th year undergraduate." There will be an email that goes out from the Financial Aid office once applicants have been selected that has clear instructions on how to fill out FAFSA. I'll try to comb through my past emails and see if I still have the instructions but I'm pretty sure it was deleted. Best of luck :)

In terms of the content, it is basic care of patients and learning the skills to improve their status. Due to the fact that it is an accelerated program, there is some overlap where we are learning certain techniques outside of the RN scope of practice and specifically told that these skills or assessment knowledge is more important at an NP level. Unfortunately your question of what I am learning is a little too broad for me to sum up everything that we are doing but know that we are learning all about medications, nursing care, in addition to hands on clinical to use our skills. I am liking the program. It definitely is accelerated! We study non stop and get very to few breaks but it will all be worth it in the end. It's all about finding balance in the end :)

Wanted to jump on the board the moment I saw UCSD. I graduated UCSD 09' and just started my first year at an accelerated BSN/MSN program. PM me with any questions you may have. I'm loaded with exams but more than willing to help a fellow Triton out. If you're still in the San Diego area, try to volunteer through the hospital to get started. I was at Thornton Hospital my senior year and learned a lot before moving out of the area to work on prereqs to apply to school. In terms of shadowing, I literally pulled out the phone book and found a list of community health clinics in my area and called each one up to see if they had volunteer opportunities or shadowing opportunities. It worked itself out :)

Visitors Day is prior to when your confirmation of acceptance is needed by the admissions office. I think confirmation was needed by the end of March...? Don't quote me on that though. There was no way that I would accept the schools offer if I didn't go to Visitors Day to at least look at the school. Now that I am here, it is much different than I expected but at the end of the day, I am proud to say I will be a Columbia Nurse. I would definitely speak with multiple students to get their perspective and insight about the program. Regarding FinAid, I did file FAFSA for every single school I applied to just in case. If you're unsure about what the school code is, call the admissions office to get it or it might be listed on the website.

Hey samdaman, Visitor's Day was March 2nd of this year. I believe we were informed of our admission the 1st or 2nd week of February. I just remember there being a fast turn around to purchase flight tickets out to NYC as I live out of state.

Hey!!! Never cut yourself short. Experience, especially the kind of experience you have, is invaluable and GPA is only but one factor. I'm currently in the Columbia's ETP program and was accepted with an undergrad GPA of a 3.0 and a 4.0 in my postgrad pre-reqs. My GRE score was pretty low too - 420 Verbal and 660 Math. Things do work out :) Just make sure you highlight your selling points because that's what makes you so unique from all of the other candidates. I encourage you to apply to Columbia, never know what may happen.

Haha. If you're hearing voices, that's a definite sign! Best advice is to sit back and breath. I didn't hear about my acceptance this year until early February. I believe early decisions were made sometime late December.

Unfortunately I don't. I have friends who are gearing up for the Peds track but do not know any masters in that track to provide you with any information.

Housing - As CU2012 said, there can be cheaper housing off campus depending on neighborhood and building. On campus housing is usually extended only to those who live farthest away from campus (i.e. out of country and West Coast Residents). It is extremely limited on campus for the Nursing school because the Med School has guaranteed housing from my understanding. If you're admitted, there will be a tour of the rooms so you can check it out. It won't your expected NYC living experience but I would think living on campus has its advantages (literally outside of class). If you do not get campus living, rent will vary from neighborhood to neighborhood. On average rent will range from $750-$1250 which I know is a larger range but those are the numbers I have been hearing and again, location is everything. Reiterating CU2012, craigslist will become your friend as will friends you make during Visitors Day :) The ABSN is challenging without a doubt like you mentioned. By the end of summer, we all felt like we conquered the impossible but everyone gets through and we survived. As mentioned earlier the people in this program do well and only place pressure on themselves to exceed. I know the FNP portion is much more manageable then the ABSN year. After speaking with students in the Masters Track now, they have class two days a week...? You'll be in smaller class sizes so you'll increase your chances of working closer with the faculty. Professors and staff want you to succeed but it's all about taking the initiative to get to know them and participate whenever possible.

I'm specifically in the Family Track for the masters portion. However, what I really like about Columbia which is different than almost all the schools I applied to is you're not locked into that specialty. That's something I didn't know until I got here for visitors day and something to keep in mind. You can actually switch into any specialty I believe (EXCEPT for midwifery and anesthesia) after you've been accepted. So though there are ~30-40 individuals in the family track, that number will likely change. I am not sure how many individuals are in the other tracks (specifically in Psych and Mental Health for your purposes). Point is, though you're admitted into one track, you can switch into the others tracks at a later time (just not into midwifery and anesthesia). I have no clue how this comes to be in terms of admissions - i.e. if you apply to a track with more spots, your chances are higher of getting in. I don't know if that statement is true but I do know that many students consider other options once they get here and Columbia is one of the few schools who are comfortable with you switching your track before your Masters. As far as language is concerned, I don't know how big of a factor it is. Probably just another detail that rounds out the individual. I state it only because I know others are concerned if it is a factor. Just like any piece of your application, play to your strengths. I know that I only speak one language so I definitely didn't focus on that haha. I spent more time on leadership skills and volunteer work I had.

Hey the healer's art, hopefully I can help you just as much as CU2012 can :) As far as my experience goes, there are pros and cons to the program as there are with any other program. For me, one of the best things I like about this program is that it is the fastest program in the country that I know of in terms of the 1st year (BSN phase). The majority of the professors are great resources and have had pretty amazing experiences to pull from which adds to the richness of the courses. With that being said, this program for me is grueling and tough due to how fast paced this program is. You're some of the brightest and best students in the country which is great because you can work with one another - problem being, you have to find a group of people that work the way you work. I was lucky enough to find that but there are people who struggle with that. Also, a huge con for me is the administration. There are too many issues that stem from the office that I get frustrated that the staff is not more organized. In terms of clinical, you do not get to choose your site. You are placed at one of a handful of hospitals throughout the entire city. All of which though are accessible via public transportation except one site in psych which they provide a shuttle for. When it comes to the actual clinical, the ETP class is broken up into 4 separate groups to participate in one rotation at a time (Meg/Surg, Psych, OB, and Peds). The faculty for the most part do seem supportive. There are some faculty in my experience who are less helpful than others but I think you will find that is not an issue that pertains to Columbia only. In terms of students succeeding, trust me, most are doing extremely well. You'll find that there is a large competitive nature among students here wether they will own up to it or not. However, you will find that there are many who are more than willing to help each other out to understand the material and work in teams to succeed. Ultimately, stress levels do get high but I think that stems from the disappointment students feel when they get anything less than an A. You'll come to hear that the honor society for the ETP class only invites the top 30% of the class - last year that meant you needed above a 3.85 I believe. So yes, I would have to say that students here do well. I know that stats are a major factor and applicants love to hear about them. Mine were on the low end so hopefully it gives hope to those in similar positions :) Undergrad GPA: 3.0 Pre-reqs: 4.0 Volunteer Hours: ~800 hours? Over the course of 3 years. Completed in several units and community clinics. GRE: V 420 M 660 (not sure how this would translate to the new GRE format) Language: English speaking only Please know that the staff first read your personal statement before doing anything else (this includes looking at your stats). This was discussed in our orientation. They really do want to get a sense of the applicant before diving into the numbers. I heavily believe that my personal statement and letters of rec helped me with my admission. The program overall is an exciting one to be in but I would be lying if I say I don't think about how my life would be if I chose another program or option (not like there were many). Ultimately I am happy with my decision because of the fact that this is one of the faster programs in the country for the first year and my heart knows that I am not going to be an RN, but rather a Nurse Practitioner. Certain administration make it seem like you HAVE to work as an RN before going on, but that is not how our program is designed. Sure, I do want to work as an RN for a small period of time to gain more experience but the two roles of very different. I think that by truly understanding the difference between the two roles will help make your experience here a lot easier. This program will test your ability to time manage and perform at the highest level at all times like you have never experienced before. BUT the rewards of working with some of the top professionals in the field are well worth it. Especially if you get to have clinical's at any of the NYP hospitals :) Sorry for the lengthy message but hopefully this adds some more info for you all. Let me know if I can help in any way!

I'm a current student in the program and wanted to give everyone a heads up that emails may have been delayed after Hurricane Sandy. The entire Columbia campus was closed Monday and Tuesday and there was a skeleton staff present on Wednesday. Today (Thursday 11/1) was the first day the entire campus came back to life. The ETP group has had the last 4 days off from school! With transportation still being an issue, staff may have difficulties coming into the office. Hopefully things resolve soon and this doesn't delay communication out to all much longer. Good luck to you all! I know how nervous you may be feeling right now. Let me know if I can be of any help to you. Feel free to pm me :)

Hi jsholle, I just started this summer and our ETP class just wrapped up our first semester of the year. "Boot Camp" was crazy to say the least but we survived :) I think my best advice to you is to really focus on your personal statement. From what we were told during orientation, the faculty and admissions team read your personal statement first above anything else. As this is your first impression, having an articulated statement will make you rise above other candidates. I think you have extremely competitive stats. As long as you can convey how your background has prepared you to successfully change careers to nursing, you have a fair shot. I had extremely low stats compared to my peers (or so it seems) and I still was able to make the cut. I have no doubt my statement and recommendations helped to make me a unique candidate. For those who are interested in stats: Undergrad GPA: 3.0 Pre-reqs: 4.0 Volunteer Hours: ~800 hours? Over the course of 3 years. Completed in several units and community clinics. GRE: V 420 M 660 (not sure how this would translate to the new GRE format) Language: English speaking only Know that students in this program come from all kinds of backgrounds. From Suma Cum Laude in Physiology to individuals who have worked in Finance for years to EMT's to students who have had their own business as a Doula and even students who were working at a desk job in a company that did not have anything to do with what their heart was set on. What we all seem to have in common is the drive and motivation to excel in our new found passion - Nursing. Best of luck to you as you begin to think about the application process. I know it was grueling last year while I was going through it. Let me know if you have any questions.

Congrats Eric! I too will be entering nursing this year and it's been one hell of a road to get here. Best of luck and am so happy your dreams are coming true :)

I too had heard the job prospects are better for NPs. I recently spoke with a recent graduate of the program and they stated they received job offers prior to graduation. Current ETPers seemed to also be confident (at least the ones I spoke with) about finding a job as a nurse while working in the masters portion. Though they may not be able to find one immediately, it seems like within 3 months or so they had found a position. One reason from what I got from the visitors day is because students may be too choosy about their job placement and not open to the experience.

I have opted to accept Columbia's offer and will not be attending Vanderbilt for FNP. If there is a waiting list or people still looking to get into this program, I wish you the best of luck! We all have worked so hard for this and know that our hard work will be rewarded :)

Definitely trying to figure out housing for sure. Hopefully I can meet enough people this weekend to see the possibility of sharing the hunt for an apartment.

I am making a decision relatively soon on accepting Vanderbilt or Columbia's offer for FNP. It seems like there are several of us in the exact same position. I cannot make the Open House on Saturday because I will already be in NYC but want to visit Vanderbilt the following weekend. Are there any unique opportunities you find Vanderbilt offers that maybe other programs do not? I.e. support of the faculty and community building, student resources, clinical sites, overall attitude of students, etc... If anyone can provide additional insight or feedback, I would appreciate it. Thank you so much!

@BigMoses I have also received acceptance to Vanderbilt and am waiting on several programs to notify me but it really comes down to making a decision between Columbia and Vanderbilt. Again, I really like the BSN/MSN option as Columbia. That is a huge factor for me as Vanderbilt does not offer the two degrees. One of the other items I am looking as is how much support will we be getting from the faculty and do they really foster an environment that allows us to grow into the field of nursing or will it be like my undergrad experience and be a tiny dot at the bottom of the lecture hall who I will never see until next lecture. I am not the type of student who can listen to lecture and get the material quickly, I have to put a lot of time into studying and I know some faculty and staff are more supportive in some programs than others. That is why I am heading out to Visiting Day to make sure I feel a sense of support at Columbia. If I feel uneasy or not sold on the school, then I will turn around and fly out to Tennessee the following weekend. That brings up another point, location. One factor I have to think about is not just the cost of the program but also the cost of living. Cost of living in NYC is a LOT higher than Nashville, TN. I just need to make sure my finances are in order to handle living in either city.

Was not admitted but I cannot be happier that we received communication much earlier than expected. It makes choosing another program I have been admitted to that much easier :) I wish you all the best. Thank you so much for being such a supportive group!

Hey musiclove, I know its hard to hear about others receiving their letters but i do know the admissions office is STILL reviewing applications and issuing out admit letters. I wish you all the luck!

@BigMoses. I too am looking at a variety of programs. I think what I am most drawn to about this program is that it does in fact offer both a BSN and MSN upon completion. Most programs do not offer this. Now, I am not sure how much of an impact this as on our ability to be accepted into new grad programs to follow, but I believe it will help us in the end. I have not committed to Columbia as of yet, but hoping to make a decision within the next 2 weeks.

Right!! That is what I am saying. I am trying to just sit back and be patient but it is a very exciting time for all of us. We have worked so hard to get to where we are at and for me personally, this is 3 years in the making. I am beyond excited for what is happening right now and just want to absorb and learn more about each program as I come to make a decision.

@amandy45 - Thank you!!! No first choice as of yet - just waiting to see how things shake out and see how i can begin to finance such expensive programs as I am sure everyone is in the same boat. I would love it if you could please fill me in with all the details about the program. I am definitely considering Vandy at this time and any information would be amazing. I may try to see if I can fly out the weekend after and schedule an appointment with the SON while I am looking to make a decision. Columbia's deadline to accept is March 15th. UCSF won't even have an answer to us by then I don't think. How many out there are torn with other programs? How are you dealing with making such a life altering decision?

I'm also coming from Southern California but I can't make it out to the Open House as I am going to COlumbia's Visitors Day on March 2nd Bummed out these are on the same weekend - do you know if there are other open houses to attend? Are they once per month???