TereseRN

I currently attend Nursing@Simmons. I am part time and am in my second year. I like you, compared other schools. Now that I have been attending Simmons, I could not imagine going to a different school. Simmons truly prepares you to be a knowledgable FNP. When I talk to the doctors, and other FNPs at my work about what I am learning, they are always very impressed, and complement their curriculum. The reputation of your school does matter. I can not tell you how many eye rolls I get when I say that my school is online. Once I say that I attend Simmons the eye rolls stop, and the responses are like "oh that is a really good school." Not all online schools are created equal, and many providers share their concerns regarding other online schools. I am very confident that the education I am receiving will have me well prepared for the certification. I am already reviewing certification books like Fitzgerald, and Leik and I can tell you that Simmons follows the question style, and curriculum. Is it hard work? ABSOLUTELY! The 83% is very real, but most programs, not just Simmons have that as a pass or fail grade. In addition you may not start out putting in 50 hours a week. I will say that as the program progresses, the courses get more involved and more challenging. I started out working three days a week, and now that I am in health assessment I have cut down to two days a week. Come clinical I do plan to quit or work PRN. I will say that there are many students who still work PRN or part time during clinical. It is all about what works for you, your family, and finances. If you do stick with Simmons you will also be part of a wonderful community. I have made so many new friends in this program. You will never feel isolated in this program.

I am not sure about a list of required sciences. I had to take it because I never took a college level chemistry or pathophysiology. Also my A&P is over 8 years old and I don't know if that had anything to do with it or not. I would say talk to your admissions advisor, they are super helpful. If there is anything that Simmons thinks is lacking or needed they will let you know. Everyone who has taken the bio course has talked about what a wonderful class it has been and a great way to get acclimated with Simmons' online platform. You can not take the FNP courses until you take and pass the bio bridge course. I am happy to have one class before "the real fun" starts :) It will help me learn how to be a student again after all these years!

EvergladesRN, Before you call people out on a nursing forum maybe you should think before you type! People's circumstances are different. Tasha's circumstances are most likely different than yours. She is super woman, and she will make one heck of an FNP. She works hard and busts her butt to support her family because her circumstances did not allow mommy and daddy to pay for school. Her heroic husband who fought for our country gave her the privilege to be able to use his GI bill and BELIEVE ME, that came with much sacrifice from her and her husband. The reason I know these things is because we are fellow colleagues from the same college that you so impolitely disrespected. Simmons is a private school and that is why it is expensive. But when you look at the quality education you receive, plus the amazing support we receive it is an amazing program. Neither Tasha, myself, or anyone who attends Simmons' program has to worry about whether or not they are receiving a quality education. We are nurses for goodness sakes! Instead of bashing one another we should be supporting one another.

Congrats pacnwRN!! That is fantastic!!!! Have you joined the facebook group for admitted Simmons students? Also am I the only one that purchased a Simmons sweatshirt from the bookstore? hehe school spirit lol

I signed my Intent to Enroll Letter and paid my $650 fee on Monday. I now have my email, and access to 2SN. How long will it take to get my welcome call?

pacnwrn: I would email them tomorrow morning and then call them in the afternoon. I'm sure that it doesn't mean anything bad. Have you received the email that your application has been sent to faculty? I'm rooting for you!

I hope you get some good news today!

Thanks everybody! I start part time in September. I submitted my application March 24th. I would call your advisor on Monday and maybe they will have an update :)

I found out this morning that I got accepted to Simmons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My advisor actually said they really liked my SOP! lol All that silly worrying for nothing! I too have to take the Biology bridge course. I will start my FNP classes in September. I am kind of happy that it worked out like this. I feel like the Bio course will get me ready for being a student again since it has been 6 years! PACNWRN I am sure you will hear back soon. I actually emailed my advisor and then I heard back on my acceptance within an hour. Did you receive an email notifying you that your application went through to the faculty? I know they have to go through your transcripts and application to make sure everything is there before the submit it to faculty. We should all keep in touch through this journey:) Some of us may even be classmates:)

That'a great! You'll have to keep us all posted on how it is going. Based off of what you have seen thus far, how many hours a week do you think you will have to put in? I keep thinking 30 hours. Does that sound about right?

How long was your SOP? Thanks for the support ya'll, I really do appreciate it and I hope I get accepted! Tasha I live in VA definitely further than 2 hours:) So for this biology course, could they do a payment plan? I'm sure that many students can not afford $2000 up front and would prefer to not take out a loan. I can see how this is going to get expensive. Between buying a new printer, scanner, laptop, microsoft word and books I can only hope Uncle Sam is generous with the tax return!!

Thanks! I can only hope it that it will all be ok. Maybe I just need to breath What cohort are you in PNW_NPstudent?

Thanks. Unfortunately it has already been submitted. I wrote, re-wrote, and re-wrote again until I had it just right. I had an FNP, MD, PA, my nursing friends, and my cousin who is an english major review it and proof read after each re-write. I spent a good 2 months on this statement. My statement is well written; it's just longer than 2 pages. When I read the blog on Simmon's website they made it clear that they wanted specific examples of how you were a leader, communicated, helped a patient and that these examples should demonstrate how you would be a great FNP. My advisor had stated on more than one occasion that as long as it covers those points that, that is what is important. She did not seem too concerned over my length. Even at one of the webinars I attended on how to submit a strong application; mentioned how important it was to answer those questions with examples and did not seem too concerned over the length. So I am hoping this is the case. I really did do my best on the statement. If I do not get accepted because my SOP is too long I will just have to shorten it and re-submit. I just hope they won't dis-credit me over the length.

So I am freaking out. I just attended a Nursing@Simmons webinar that had FNP students discussing what the program is like. They started talking about the statement of purpose and they said 1-2 pages double space. When I typed in my question that my SOP was 3 1/2 pages they stated that it needs to be 1-2 double space:( :( Before submitting my application, my admission's counselor said that as long as it is well written and answers the specific questions that it should be fine but now I am nervous. How do you write an essay on who you are, what you have done, why you want to be an FNP, and specific examples in only 1-2 pages double space? I put so much time and effort on my essay that I would hate to not be accepted because my SOP is too long. I feel like it was well written and hit the points that they requested. I'm sorry for venting you guys, I'm just really nervous.

Yes, the May cohort and part time? How about everybody else? I really hope I get in! I'm sure they have a lot of applications to go through. I wonder what type of order they view the applications. If it is in alphabetical order.

Congrats Milobri and Nichole that is awesome and I hope to be joining you guys :) I have not heard anything yet and I am getting nervous. Everytime my phone alerts me I think it could be something from Simmons. Do you think it's a bad sign I haven't heard back yet? Also as far as the Health Assessment goes, I am in the same boat as you. My BSN program did not require it, it was integrated in our program. I have been an RN for 6 years and I made my advisor aware of this and she said that it would not be a deterring factor against me and that I may just need to take a "refresher" course that is offered by Simmons, so I would not worry about it affecting you:)

So I submitted my application this past Monday and I received the email that my application is being submitted to faculty today. I was told at this point 3-4 weeks before I hear back. Did you guys hear back earlier than that or was it right on par to 3-4 weeks or even later? It's hard waiting!

I am applying to this cohort. How long did it take to hear back on their decision once you applied. Also is the cost still $34,000? MVU and Simmons are my two schools I am applying to. What kind of cumulative GPA/Nursing GPA and nursing experience do you have? I have found the advisors to be really friendly and helpful! Congrats on your acceptance!

I am applying for May:) I'm finishing everything up and I'm almost done! I can't wait! Good luck to you Tasha!

I am applying for FNP school and I am trying to think realistic about what kind of a monthly payment I will be looking at once I graduate. The programs I am looking at are $60,000, $44,000, and $80,000. What kind of monthly payment will I be looking at and for the FNPs out there how is it after school working and paying back loans? I do not have any loans for my undergrad. The programs I have chosen are based off of a good reputation, and pass rate and I am not basing my decision on cost. I just want to know what kind of payment I could be looking at and what everybody's experience has been.

I do not have any children but I totally understand the biological clock issue. I am applying to FNP school and by the time I am done I will be 31-32. I would like 2 kids before 35. I think that if you have a child now it will make it easier for you once you are in CRNA school. I have a friend who wants to be a CRNA but is waiting until her kids are a little bit older so she can focus more on school. A tip to help you be competitive for CRNA school is get your CCRN (you need to be a nurse in the ICU for over a year), have a good GPA, and science GPA. And of course good ICU experience. Focusing on this will help you get good recommendation letters. Also make friends with a CRNA and shadow her. A recommendation letter from a CRNA will help too. Good Luck to you!

What schools do you recommend? Currently I am applying for summer or fall admission to Simmons, University of Cincinnati, and Maryville University. What are your thoughts on theses programs? So far Simmons is my top choice and is well regarded in their community.

OkieICU once you take these courses and pass do you automatically get accepted in to the next cohort? For example lets say you apply for the March cohort and you have to take these refresher courses then will you have to wait until the following cohort or will there be enough time to take them before the March courses start?

Thanks! I love hearing feedback from current Simmons students. How many hours a week did you put in to the courses? Do they have a lot of group work and do they push a lot of paper writing on you?

Preppyrn- How many weeks long was the class? I am wondering if I will have to take this class. Back when I was 20 I took Microbiology with lab and Anatomy Physiology with lab and 2 other classes at the same time. I was not use to taking such study invasive classes like this at the time and I made Cs in both of the classes. My two other Biology classes I took separately I made a B and an A in. I also made an A in my second part of Anatomy Physiology. It was just those two courses together that messed me up. Also I never had to take a Chemistry course either for nursing. So do you think I will have to take this class? My nursing GPA is a 3.52 and my cumulative is 3.0