midwifetobe85

Hmm, very interesting trauerweidchen, thanks for sharing! I'm brand new to the program and so can't really comment on those specific issues but personally have been very impressed so far. Although I think you're right that no program is going to be perfect with all good reviews. It's such a hard decision when you care so much! Good luck w your visit to OHSU and deciding!

Hi there! So I wanted to share some info about OHSU. I've recently spoken to two people who told me it was not a good program- one graduate of the midwifery program and the other graduate of their accelerated nursing program who chose not to do the midwifery portion because of other students she had spoken to. They both were very unhappy with it and upset about their now massive debt. It's kind of bizarre since its ranked as #1, but apparently the high tuition does not equal better program. I'm curious to hear the negative things you've heard about Frontier. I'm a new Frontier student and have been really impressed so far. The orientation was incredibly inspiring and am so impressed with the faculty I've met. I'm actually in MA and did consider Baystate. I loved their director but felt they couldn't really select the best students because they get so few applications. I think the main reason they don't (and my main reason too) is that they don't have financial aid. I also think the MS vs MSN could make a difference. I know for a fact you could not practice in Oregon without the MSN and I know of one job in Connecticut where they insisted on a MSN over an MS in Midwifery. I imagine for the most part it's not an issue but I just didn't want to risk any limitations.

Yes you can. I'm not sure which ones or how many but you can take a few as a non-matric.

uhg. I'm so sorry. That really sucks. I think that's incredibly unfair. (For you too, DidiRN). I don't understand the concept. I thought it was cumulative gpa for last degree. Why are they factoring grades from your ADN degree into this rn-bsn degree? Do you mean the rn-bsn degree uses courses from your adn to create an overall BSN? And so, since those early courses are counted as part of this degree, their grades must factor in too? That is seriously unjust that you could have become a really excellent student as an adult and still be punished for such old grades. Have you ladies talked with Phila U? I hear they're also a fantastic distance midwifery program. Not sure what their stance on gpa is though. ...seriously, so sorry.

How frustrating!! Definitely get in touch w the top administration people/Heads of midwifery dept. I had some difficulty getting a clear answer on some things from admissions but got clarification from people at the top. You should def take this higher up. You're absolutely right that according to their admissions page it should not be a issue. Good luck and let us know how it goes...

Oh whoops..just saw your note arayrn...well this is what I started to write..perhaps it will help Wendilee or someone else new applying.. I'm not sure. I think I too read one without an explanation on here. But I just wanted to say that they don't care if you have L&D. The majority of accepted students do not. Its very hard to get into L&D these days and they know that. Plus, the midwives in the admissions committee must also recognize that nursing is not necessary to become a midwife as I had no nursing experience. 5 years of doula/CBE work and I was accepted. I was told by someone in admissions that essays and letters of recommendations count for a lot. Every part of your application counts for points and if you get enough points- above the 'passing number' (not sure exactly how many)- you WILL be accepted either to the class you applied or the next one. If you don't score enough points, you wont be accepted and something about your app packet would have to change before reapplying. So try not worry about your experience. Make sure that you're really happy with your essays- have several people critique them. If you are, remember it's the overall picture. Good luck!

Hi Michellelizabeth! I completely agree with LilyRoseRN and queenanneslace. It really depends on the state. I'm a newly admitted student midwife at Frontier Nursing U (I start in July). It's a highly esteemed distance program, definitely worth looking into. Frontier.edu I'm originally from NY where I know many holistically minded home birth CNMs who are totally independent. They write prescriptions, legally carry o2 and all the necessary meds to births, and only consult with physicians as they see fit. I'm now located in the MA though, and there are no home birth CNMs as far as I can tell. Apparently, for a long time CNMs were required to have a 'written collaborative agreement' with backup MD, which basically meant they needed a physician to sign a form stating that they would be their backup. Unfortunately, good luck finding an MD who wants to tied to a home birth midwife (with a legally binding contract). I also think that many of the MD's malpractice insurance companies specifically stated that they could not work with a home birth midwife. Recently, the law was changed to a verbal collaborative agreement, which is the way it works in NY. If I understand the situation correctly, CNMs could start to do home birth in MA now, but the law is quite new and I don't think there are any yet. There are however two great birth centers in the area that I'm hoping to do part of my training at. I also know for a fact that there are CNM home birth practices in Maine, New Hampshire, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New York as I said. I'm also pretty sure there's at least one in Vermont. I'm still trying to find a source that breaks down each state but, in general, it seems the conservative states tend to be more conservative about midwifery practice and home birth. This list offers some basics on each state - ACNM Library You can also go here to look up nearby home birth CNM practices or birth centers: Find a midwife Hopefully that helps! Are you planning on studying nursing for undergrad or going back for a nursing degree afterwards? If you're already a home birth minded aspiring midwife, nursing school may be psychologically tough for you, as it was for me. I originally majored in French and returned to school for an accelerated BSN a few years later when I realized that midwifery (specifically home birth/birth center midwifery) was my calling. I never had aspirations to be a nurse and in many ways nursing philosophy (which is rooted in the medical model, not the midwifery model) conflicted with a lot of my beliefs. It's meaningful work to be sure, but it felt pretty far removed from my dreams of home birth midwifery. It's also hard, rough work with plenty of issues of its own. I will say though, I made it and I'm still very glad to have chosen this pathway and am so excited to finally be starting midwifery school! If you're certain about midwifery I'd recommend that you do major in nursing if you can and just get it done with. Who knows, you may actually enjoy it too. Let me know if you have anymore questions!

Hi arayRN, yea unfortunately financial aid doesn't become available until a few weeks into the first semester (which generally starts a month of so after Frontier Bound). Maybe start saving now? The $575 covers everything - room and board. If I understand correctly, you'd only need more money for FB if you wanted to spend money in the school store/gift shop. You do have to also take into account the $100 for Banyan Tree - the short online course which must be finished and paid for before Frontier Bound. Which class did you apply for? Your FB would be several months away right? Maybe figure out how much you'd need to put aside a week over the next few months so that you'll have it when you *hopefully* get in? I'm trying to figure out how I'll pay for my living costs since the federal aid won't be enough for both. Aye, why can't this all be more affordable?!

Hi Kalah! I don't know about midwives in that area but I would recommend just googling it and calling around. Midwives tend to be enthusiastic teachers, very willing to let an aspiring midwife shadow/volunteer. If you're interested in out of hospital birth (home birth or freestanding birth centers) I recommend you look through the forums at mothering.com. There are often a lot of recommendations for home birth CNMs or even just more holistically minded hospital CNMs. Chicago Midwife - Search

Hi arayRN, I went directly through school and did not work as a nurse (5 years doula/CBE experience) and therefore used nursing instructors for all 3 refs. Two were clinical instructors who could comment on my clinical performance and one was a nurse-midwife who taught a class of mine and who had met w me several times to chat about midwifery. She knew I was driven, passionate and deeply committed to the profession.

Hi arayRN, Yes, it's $575 for the FB fee which includes room and board, plus $100 for pre-frontier bound online orientation course, plus I'm paying $75 for the airport shuttle (although that's optional if you're driving or renting a car)- so $750 total. It's not an insignificant amount but at least there wasn't a deposit required to hold my spot, which most schools require. The total was due one month before FB. Heres a list of all fees while at Frontier- http://www.frontier.edu/financial-aid/tuition/fees Hope that helps!

Also, I only applied to Binghamton. It was a last minute decision and technically the deadline had passed. I probably would've applied to others had it not been so last minute. So i cant comment on what other schools accept online courses which is why I think you should speak w an admissions counselor from each school. Hope that helps!

Hi SimplyBliss, The only online courses I took for my prereqs were the A&P I and II at Cayuga. It was pretty good as online courses go, but I wished I had done A&P in person bc it is by the far the most important prereq for nursing school and I really think its easier to learn that stuff in person, especially the lab part. As far as stuff being online goes, I must've asked the admissions people at Bing that question a dozen times bc I was also concerned about them being accepted. They assured me that it wasn't an issue. If I were you I would call and speak to each program that you're applying to (including Bing in case they changed anything) and ask about each class you want to take online as well as if they're valued the same as a classroom course. Its difficult to comment on the Bing BAT program because obviously it's the only nursing program I have experience with and I've heard that a lot of the complaints I had about the program are universal because of faculty shortages. The program also made it, by far, the hardest year of my life. So that certainly makes my answer biased. In short, there were good elements and good teachers equally mixed with issues and injustice. It was both a very meaningful experience and an incredibly harrowing one. I wrote about it in detail on this thread (pages 2&3): https://allnurses.com/new-york-state/binghamton-applicants-bat-797963-page2.html Let me know if I can answer anymore questions!

Short answer: No. See Prostudent's response above, it explains it perfectly. :)

Hi there! I don't know why it's been suspended but I can tell you I've heard from two different grads that they weren't happy w that midwifery program and couldn't recommend it. They said there wasn't enough support for an online program and that the was too much apathy from the school. I believe the director has changed so it may be different but I'm not sure. It is the only online midwifery SUNY school but there are other much better online midwifery programs. Have you looked into Frontier, Georgetown, or Phila U? If you're in NY state and able to move near the city, SUNY Downstate's program is excellent. I would go there in a heartbeat if I could stand living in NYC. Hope this helps!

Congratulations Marie!! What is your story/background?

Congratulations Mary!!! Welcome to the class! :)

I looked at a number of things. 1.) Reputation/word of mouth/online reviews of program 2.) Whether a year of nursing was required prior to application (I wanted to go straight through school) 3.) Philosophical approach to midwifery, policies at hospitals..(for example, Im very passionate about VBACs and would be very disappointed to train at a facility that doesn't allow them) 4.) Cost vs financial aid/scholarships 5.) Location (political/social climate for midwives, my interest in staying in that area after graduation) 6.) Interaction w admissions people and faculty members via phone calls and email (how positive or negative) It's a very personal thing I think too. You have to connect with the program and their vision. A few of the schools I considered were: 1.) OHSU in Portland, OR - excellent reputation (ranked #1 but US News Report) had great email interactions w faculty. Very progressive, evidence-based care. Portland is a very liberal birth city. BUT outrageously expensive and no scholarships. I know one CNM grad who has $200,000+ in loans.. Not worth it for me. 2.) UCSF - excellent reputation -highly ranked. Requires you to be Spanish speaker, which Im not. Anecdotal reports suggest that some faculty members are not very warm. Also, didn't want to live in SF again. 3.) Yale - obviously highly esteemed program, but heavy on the research w perhaps an inadequate number of clinical opportunities (Id prefer more clinical experience than research experience.) And VERY expensive w very few scholarships. 4.) In NYC, Ive heard both Columbia and NYU are not worth the very high cost. 5.) SUNY Downstate - highly ranked. Excellent program. I've heard from a number of grads that it was an excellent program. I interviewed (great experience) and was accepted. It has tremendous clinical opportunities including picking your integration site, and obviously a diverse pop. of patients. I did not want to live in NYC and so turned it down. 6.) Frontier Nursing University - tied with Downstate for ranking and highly esteemed. It's the oldest nurse midwifery program in the country and I've heard nothing but positive things about it. It's a distance Ed program so you can stay in your community. The downside to me is not having the classroom experience but I get the sense that they do an amazing job creating a sense of community. I've heard midwives, nurses and docs rave about their students. In the end, the was the right program for me because it allowed me to live where I wanted and still get a highly esteemed education. I also love the fact that I can choose my own preceptor - I already have an amazing midwife who has a agreed to work w me. I start classes this summer and feel very confident that Frontier is the right program for me. Much of that confidence comes from my extensive research. Go to this website and just go through each program's website. You'll eventually find one that really resonates. http://www.midwife.org/rp/eduprog_all.cfm

Hi bebbercorn, You're very welcome! I'm very passionate about this topic. Both DONA and CAPPA offer great doula training programs and are equally esteemed in the birth community. If you don't mind living in NYC I would definitely recommend SUNY Downstate. It's a wonderful program. I've spoken to several of their graduates and have heard only rave reviews. There admissions office is a total mess and good luck getting someone polite/aware to answer your call but don't let that deter you. The faculty is wonderful and I had a great interview experience. Plus, they let you do your midwifery integration clinical anywhere. Any setting is possible - home, hospital or birth center and pretty much any state you can arrange it with, even abroad! I was very excited by this prospect. I was quite sad to turn it down, but knowing that I'm not a city person two years would be too long for me. SUNY Stonybrook, on the otherhand, I've not heard such great things. I spoke to 3 different grads who were not happy/impressed. It's only available as a distance program and they expressed a lack of support and a feeling of being isolated (unlike with Frontier). One recent CNM Stonybrook alum said, 'it worked logistically and financially for me, but I can't recommend it.' One midwife I know who graduated from there in the 90's said it suited her needs. She had an amazing local preceptor which really made the experience worth it for her. I didn't look into the program further myself because they used to require a year of nursing experience which I wasn't planning on getting. I noticed they recently changed the 1 year of experience to 'recommend'. If you're going to do a distance program, I would recommend Frontier. Since I haven't started yet, this recommendation is based on my research not yet personal experience. Every source/midwife I found raved about the program. It sounds like they go out of their way to foster a sense of community and interconnectedness between the students and faculty. Plus I've heard from several midwives, RNs and even MDs that they are always impressed with Frontier students - a great sign, I'd say. I was initially hesitant because you have to secure your own preceptor but I eventually decided this was a huge benefit. You're preceptor/mentor should be someone who you admire and really want to learn from. With many traditional programs this is out of your control. Since I'm near a city and not near any competing midwifery programs I was told I shouldn't have a problem finding someone. I have a feeling that I should probably be able to find someone who I really connect with. It's very cool that your mom is a midwife too and that she's behind the concept of direct-entry midwifery. I've always found it frustrating meeting CNMs and nurses who think you need to be an L&D nurse for 5-10 years before even considering midwifery school. Everywhere else in the world midwifery is its own profession! Nursing knowledge/skills are wonderful additions to a midwife's schooling but are in no way necessary. But I digress..I'll get off my soapbox now... :)

Yes! I became an RN last year because I KNEW I was meant to be a midwife. I completed an accelerated BSN and passed the NCLEX. A few months later I was accepted into SUNY Downstate's MS in Nurse Midwifery program. I had worked as a doula for several years and had done my senior practicum in maternity but had never worked as a nurse. They actually also have one of the few direct entry programs in the country (for non-nurses to be become Certified Midwives) so they encourage people to apply even for the CNM program without nursing experience. They feel that it is not necessary to becoming a midwife. You will see this sentiment in all of the masters entry programs too. (1 yr accelerated BSN followed immediately by MSN in Midwifery). If this wasn't a safe/viable route I doubt Columbia, UCSF, UPenn, and Yale would all have this option. Anyhow, I chose not to attend Downstate's program because I did not want to live in NYC and applied instead to Frontier Nursing University's midwifery program and just found out I was accepted. You already have nursing experience which is definitely an advantage over me. While I know that one does need to have been a nurse first to become a midwife, it certainly is valuable. Don't feel inadequate because you don't have any OB experience. The vast majority of midwifery programs do not require L&D experience and only some require nursing experience first. I definitely recommend doing a doula training and trying to fit in some labor doula work (just because its fun and will always be good experience). But I would also say if its your dream and you're ready, go for it now!

Hmm..maybe they just haven't made all of the decisions yet and it was a curtesy email since some decisions were going out today? I hope you hear good news soon!

Mary did you get a 'no' or just no email yet? I think I remember reading threads on here where students got their emails on different days. I think it may just be one woman sending out the emails. Maybe she doesn't send them all out at once? What kind of cryptic message did you get? I hope there's still a good letter coming for you!!