Hi everyone -- I'm very proud to have been accepted for the Summer 2013 cohort. A big congratulations to everyone who was also accepted! I decided to attend Penn, my first choice for a number of reasons, several of which don't really have much to do with the programs themselves. One thing to note is that Hopkins' program is 13 months, while Penn's is 18 months; this might account for some of the discrepancies in tuition price. (ETA: Hopkins fall entry is 17 mos. at the same $ as the 13 mo. program... hmmm.) I grew up outside of Baltimore & lived there too, and to be honest, I don't believe that it is significantly less safe than Philadelphia. I really love the city, its people and the surrounding environment (state parks/shores/beaches/etc.). I do really recommend having/getting a car, which'll expand the residential territory available to you, among other things. Is rent really expensive nowadays? I thought only a few neighborhoods had shot up in price. Ultimately -- we'll all be working together as RNs & NPs after whatever school we go to ends.