lauzzyb

Time of completion is only important in that I would prefer not to be in school for 4-5 years. I have answers to some of these questions, and I'm not sure I can find answers to all of them but I will try - so thank you!

Hi, Thanks for the reply! I'm so glad to hear some good things about the program! It's always been my top choice - and I would still very much like to attend BC. I'm glad to hear some of your classmates attended part-time! When I spoke with a woman in admissions she said almost all students complete the program full-time. She said maybe 1 student from each cohort decides to attend part-time. Do you know, were the classes offered on a schedule that would allow someone to complete the curriculum part-time? I'm curious as to how you did extra clinical hours? Did you have additional clinical placements or did you do extra hours in the clinicals you were already placed in? Thanks again!

Thanks for the input! I've heard some mixed reviews myself, which is making this decision more difficult than I anticipated. I was told by a faculty member at BC that their program includes 1200 clinical hours, and that they find all clinical placements (both in the RN and MSN portions of the program) for you (although clinical placements is not a huge concern of mine because I know lots of nurses and nurse practitioners in the Boston area). I've had some difficulty determing the number of clinical hours in the Simmons curriculum, and they do not provide an exact number, but I think it is around 1600-1700 hours. Due to the length of the Simmons program I would be hesitant to complete the program part-time, but as BC's program is shorter I wouldn't mind completing it part-time and gaining extra clinical hours by working as an RN.

Anyone out there trying to choose between Simmons and BC? Would love to get some second opinions. BostonFNP, sounds like you think MGH and Simmons are better than BC?

Hello current and future nurses! I'm interested in picking some of your brains regarding choosing between Boston College's Master's Entry program and Simmons' Direct Entry Program for FNP. I received my acceptance to BC and was elated and knew that was where I wanted to attend. However, once I began speaking with nurses and nurse practitioners in the Boston area, I began hearing many negative comments about the program. In fact, they had practically nothing positive to say about the program. They said the program was too short to prepare quality nurse practitioners, that the program did not include enough clinical hours, and that the school discourages their students from doing the program part-time and gaining experience as an RN. I was also accepted to Simmons with a scholarship that makes the cost of the program equal to BC's. And the same nurses who did not have many positive things to say about BC had lots of wonderful things to say about the program at Simmons. I'm now somewhat conflicted. I want to go to a program that will provide me with enough training and experience that I feel comfortable practicing as an NP upon graduation. I would love to get some more opinions on the two programs! Thank you!

Thank you! I'll take all the help I can get! But trust me - the Harvard Extension professors are no dream!! I'm sure my friends and family are tired of me complaining about how much I hate my professor. I'm not certain I'll be completing the rest of my prerequisites there - I might try somewhere else. Any suggestions?

Wow! How aptly you describe my life right now. I have a fantastic undergraduate GPA - which certainly helped me in landing a coveted research job at a hospital here in Boston. However, now I am working full-time and taking my prerequisites at Harvard Extension. I am really struggling to find the time and energy that is required of these classes. I have a C in Chemistry and will likely have a C in A & P I when I finish this semester. I too am feeling extremely discouraged. I was told by a former admissions officer at MGH that having a C in Chemistry is perfectly understandable, as many people struggle with the subject and it is not necessarily a predictor of who will make a good nurse. A & P is a whole other story. With a C in Chemistry and A & P, I was told my chances of getting into MGH would be greatly reduced. When I inquired as to whether the fact that I was working full-time or taking the classes at Harvard Extension (notoriously more difficult than a community college) she said the admissions officers would likely not have the time to consider these factors with so many applicants. She did suggest, of course, to include in as many places as possible in my application that I was working full-time in a healthcare job. I'm sorry this is not terribly uplifting, but I felt I should share. Of course this is just one former admissions officer at one school. Not all may feel the same way. And she did not say that I definitely wouldn't get in - only that my chances would be reduced. All the more reason to continue building my resume!