2Jeanne

Hello, I spoke to both the CRNA admissions at both Columbia & Albany Med. they both said my nursing experience will count more than where I get my BSN from. So, Lehman it is!!! Besides after waiting in line all day yesterday, I feel like I've already,"paid for" the NYU difference.

Hi, I'm starting nursing school in August - absn - and I truly want to be a critical care nurse. What kinds of things can I do this year to help me land a job in an ICU and be best prepared for it when I do?

Did they specify anything about registration?

Wow - very small world. I actually used to be a YWCA sexual assault counselor. I understand what you mean and LOVE - that you are going to be a SANE nurse. It may actually be a really great way to be involved & advocate for victims without being too drained. Remember, they don't want the nurses- to talk too much with the victims because they need to be able to testify on their behalf. What kind of nurse do you want to be?

To everyone accepted to the Accelerated Program. What is your story? Are you going to attend Lehman? I did Navy ROTC for my undergrad at RPI (a small engineering school in upstate NY). I majored in Industrial & Management Engineering with a 2.97 GPA. I was a Navy officer for nearly 6 years through the whole 9/11 era. I spent most of my time on ships out at sea in support of the war efforts. I was a nuclear officer which means I helped run the nuclear power plants on the air craft carriers. After I got out I spent 5 years in corporate American -- starting off as a technical project manager, ending up in HR - doing technical staffing and recruiting. I left when I was very pregnant with my 2nd daughter. We moved to NYC when my husband got a good job here. I've been a SAHM for 4 years. I did a lot of work which led me to nursing -- doula, helping a family in which a young mom was fighting stage 4 cancer, organizing a meat share in support of the local food movement, etc. I thought I wanted to be a CRNA -- but now I'm just really confused. All the specialities interest me - psychNP, CRNA, FNP - After being a doula, I know midwifery is not for me -- too much burnout. So, I"m really looking forward to clinical to really get involved. I look forward to hearing more about all of you!!

All very true Toya. Thank you for your responsiveness - you are going to be an excellent nurse!! I feel very lucky to have the option. I honestly didn't think I would get in the way they talk at Lehman. My pre-req's were a 4.0 with a 91 on the HESI. Honestly, I did get a bit disgruntled with Lehman students this past year. I thought their was a lot of laziness and whining and too much extra credit (who gives extra credit in college??) when just a diligent honest effort would have garnered a more than decent grade. I mean this as no offense to anyone. I just often felt that the students spent more time getting spoon fed. On the flip slide, I thought the professors were more than accommodating, well prepared and responsive. Again, these are students in the pre-req's, NOT in the nursing program. So, my concern is that the program at Lehman may not be as rigorous. My second concern is that I may not be looked at as closely when I apply to Grad school without a big name. On the flip slide, like you said Toya - why waste $$? I'm a veteran so I do get some help there. So, my cost for Lehman would be next to nothing for the 12 months and NYU would be $30,000 for the same BSN. So, is NYU worth $30,000 for a BSN?? I did talk to 2 NP's who went to PENN for both the BSN & MSN. One is women's health and one is a midwife who also teaches at Georgetown. One said, "get your BSN as quickly and as cheaply as you can. Then go from there." The midwife said that she often see's a difference in the caliber of student and prefers students from the more rigorous programs. It's 1 vs. 1 so far. I have a few more people to reach out to. Please continue to post any information you have about Lehman's program, students, professor's, etc. It is really helpful. Plus, it's great to build a strong Lehman community!!!

Is Bay Ridge in Queens? I'll be commuting from Chelsea. I have a car - so I'll most likely be driving. I drove to Lehman this past year to do my pre-req's. About 40 min each way is I can beat traffic.

Thank you everybody for your inputs. I'm really torn about this decision. My ultimate goal is to be a NP. I'm wondering if NYU will look better for grad school admissions. Do grad schools even care where you get your BSN? I know a few NP's that went to big name schools - so I guess I should ask them their input. I'll let you know what they say. A benefit to NYU is that I can start my masters while still doing my undergrad. However, if I go to Lehman, work my butt off and get awesome experiences & grades & recommendations - will that even it out? I was hoping to do some research at NYU. Does anyone know if those opportunities exist at Lehman? Does anyone know about the employment that the Lehman grad's are getting? I do plan to work as an RN while going to grad school part time. Is everyone working in Bronx hospitals? How many people are in the Accelerated program? Any information anyone can share about Lehman would be great!! I'll keep sharing what I know. We have 2 weeks to respond. I really want to make a hard decision by than. I know there are others waiting for my spot at either NYU or Lehman - so I want to respect that.

I just got accepted to accelerated program yesterday!! I was already accepted at NYU and I planned to go there -- this changes everything. I live much closer to NYU but the cost is so much better at Lehman. Any inputs???

It's 15 months total - but only 12 months of actual school. We have 4 12 week semesters - with a considerable break in between each. As a mom with 2 little ones -- I'm totally relishing that. Columbia and some other programs do it in 1 year, but it is non-stop. I feel like this will allow us to refresh a bit, prevent burn out, possibly work a bit during breaks. I'm excited.

Thank you. But I honestly think I'm the only engineer/naval officer turning nurse around. My story is pretty unusual - which will have both benefits and shortcomings as we start school. I'm probably going to accept my NYU offer today or tomorrow. Just got financial aid.

I applied priority and heard April 30th. I got an email from an admissions counselor saying they were missing one of my transcripts (I'm very sure I sent it in - but whatever). Anyways, I got my acceptance about a week later. I was starting to lose hope too. There could be 101 reasons. Maybe the person reading your app got this nasty virus that's been going around and lost days of work. Maybe someone lost your transcript. I personally think its better to get rolling than to release them all at once. Otherwise, we all wouldn't know until June or later. I honestly think its random - the order they look that is -- especially since I think most of us applied priority. Just try to distract yourself, except for 8-10am on Tuesday & Thursday mornings.

My undergrad degree is in engineering. 2.97. Grad degree in engineering 3.7. Pre-req's -4.0. 6yrs as a naval officer - overseas for 9/11/enduring freedom/Iraqi freedom. 4 years in corporate America at Fortune 500 manager in manufacturing than recruiting/HR manager. SAHM for the past 4 years - worked as doula and families with young children with a parent suffering from Chronic illnesses. Wrote my essay on how I learned to listen to my sailors to help them make positive life & career choices/ experiences as doula/goal to be an NP & researcher of chronic disease management. I'm probably have as diverse a background as can be - which may have helped. It was my honest life story. My past 4 years as a SAHM allowed me figure out nursing is my calling. I only applied to NYU and CUNY. I like NYU (as opposed to Columbia) because we can start grad school right away. Plus, the long breaks between semesters will give me time to catch up with my kids & family. Plus, we can work & do research during the breaks. I'd like to work as an RN while getting my NP. I look forward to meeting everyone. I'm so excited to be part of this exciting field. Yes, costs are high - but things have a way of working out. That being said, I am waiting for my financial aid package before I accept.

I'm in nyc. Eastern time.

hey -- I went to the face book page and asked to join the closed group. Do I have to do anything else?

Hey guys, I got my acceptance at 9:30 this morning. Good luck to everyone!!!

Funny -- after I posted this last night - I got an email from an admissions director asking for a transcript that I'm very sure I sent in and is checked off in Albert. I sent a new transcript in this morning. It goes to show that there may be some disorganization in the admissions department --- as far as handling our applications. There doesn't seem to be a reason to the order in which they are processed or given answers too. Of course, they may hold some applications that they are unsure about to look at longer. But otherwise, it just seems to be who/when you are picked out of the pile. I guess I won't be hearing until at least next week now. I hope some of you get good news tomorrow.

Hi Everyone, I too applied right before the priority deadline -- say Feb 27ish. I haven't heard back as well. I'm a very diverse candidate -- very different experiences than most people have posted, so I have no idea if that is a benefit or detriment. I"m an engineer, naval officer, and worked in both manufacturing and HR at a major fortune 500 company. My undergraduate degree is in Industrial Engineering from a top Engineering school. Low GPA - 2.97. My graduate degree is in Management Engineering with a 3.7 from a big state school. So far I have a 4.0 in my pre-req's, Im finishing up A&P and Micro now -- on track for A's. I spent 6 years as a naval officer right out of college, was on station in the Persian Gulf. I wrote my essay on how I learned to listen to my sailors and help guide them in their jobs, life and career choices and how that skill prompted me to be interested in nursing. I've also been a doula (not officially certified, but I was a called the "doula" and was present for 2 births, other than my own). My latest nursing exploit was in acute care -- as I worked with a family in which the young mother (31, was at the end of her life fighting cancer in Sloan Kettering). I basically wrote about how those experiences energized and made me want to be much more involved in the actual care of the patient. I highlighted that my goal was to be an acute care NP and pursue a dual role as NP and researcher in chronic disease pain management. I'm 35 years old. I have 2 little girls (3 & 5) and I live in NYC (chelsea, 2 stops away from NYU). I'm so impressed with the candidates posting here. I really hope I get in. I only applied to NYU & CUNY Lehman. Mostly because I'm taking my pre-req's as Lehman and typically they don't let you take micro & A&P 2 at the same time. I got special permission -- so by the time I knew this, the only schools whose deadline I didn't miss were NYU & Lehman. Fortunately, NYU is my top choice --- now if only I could receive an acceptance letter. Good luck to everyone. I'm trying really hard not to stress out too much. It seems like the answers are coming at a trickle -- hopefully I'll hear soon. all the best.

Hi. I'm applying to absn programs with the hopes of becoming a CRNA. I'm almost done with my pre-req's. I'm finishing up A&P 2 and Microbiology this semester. I just got permission to take Micro alongside A&P2. It's usually a pre-req, but since I have a strong science background and aced A&PI, my professor gave me special permission. Had I known I would be able to take Micro this spring and not have to wait until summer/fall, I would have applied to Columbia's ETP/CRNA program for 2013. I've missed the deadline. I have 2 options. Basically start now and forego the Columbia ETP OR wait another year to try to get in. Option #1: apply o NYU and Lehman (where I'm currently enrolled and taking pre-req's) this year. Then I will work for a few years, get ICU experience and than apply for CRNA programs. Option #2: Wait and apply for Columbia ETP for 2014. In the extra year of waiting, I would take a few extra science classes (Ochem2, biochem, pharmacology, cell biology) study longer for the GRE, and voluteer/intern at the NYC VA hospital to gain more experience. My current experience is: 500 hours as a sexual assault counselor in the response program at YWCA, uncertified doula/birthcoach for 3 births - 2 of which had to be C-sections because of failed inductions. In both cases, the women were pre-clamptic and needed to deliver at 38 weeks and after 48 hours of prostaglandin/pitocin and no movement, the parents on the C-section instead of continued hormonal inductions. This is where I saw CRNA's in action and was absolutely fascinated. The administration and effects of narcotics are what make modern medicine possible! My second choice would be psych NP. Third would be primary care -not sure if adult, family or peds. Stats: My undergraduate degree is 3.18 in Industrial Engineering from a hard core technical school. My MS in Industrial Engineering was 3.7. Prereq's 4.0. I was a nuclear navy officer for 6 years and worked in manufacturing for 3years. I've been a SAHM for 3 years. I've organized community health and food projects. I help upstate NY farmers develop their ecommerce and grow their customer base in NYC. Thus finding ways to keep small organic grass fed farms in business and provide affordable food choices here in NYC. / What do I want? A high quality BSN. Does where I go for my undergrad affect my chance of getting in? or does GPA matter more? My ultimate goal is to work as an NP. I'm confident I can handle the course load. I know how to study and have crammed my head full of science for years. I'm now actually mature and wise enough to make the study and time choices that work for me. Since I've had lots of leadership in the past, I know that I will not enjoy being an RN for too long. It is important for experience and learning for a few years, and I look forward to it, but I do enjoy being able to have more autonomy and collaborate. I'm not shunning the RN in anyway. I view it as an essential step in my career. For me, I know it is not my end goal. Anyways, is it worth it to wait another year to apply - so I can have a shot at Columbia. Or, should I apply to NYU & Lehman -- if I get in, start this fall and then apply for CRNA when I get the adequate experience? I do realize my GPA is a bit low, but I do believe an engineering degree and navy officer experience round out my application. I feel comparing an engineering GPA to a psych or English GPA is like comparing apples to oranges. So, I get a bit frustrated when I feel like that will hold me back.

Can anyone recommend a good professor to take A&PI &II with at Lehman? I'm deciding if I should take A&P1&2 this summer -- session 1 & 2 or start in the fall? If I do the summer classes, I'll have all my pre-req's done to apply for the Fall 2013 accelerated program. If not, I'll have to wait & apply for 2014 admission. Obviously, it is of the utmost importance that I get good grades -- so if the fast summer courses are too much -- please let me know!! Thanks, Jeanne

Hi -- I just got into Lehman college as a 2nd degree applicant. Yay! I plan on taking my pre-req's there and then applying to their accelerated and/or generic program. I'm currently a SAHM and I chose Lehman because of the outstanding child care center. Has anyone taken pre-req's there? I'm deciding if I should take A&P I & II this summer so I can apply this January 2013. Or, if I should take a little longer with my pre-req's and apply the following year. Has anyone studied or is currently studying nursing there? I'd love to reach out to you to get your advice perspective. Thanks so much!!