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Hey Coopsc1, If nursing is what you really want to do, then definitely go for the accelerated BSN programs. And, if CRNA is your eventual goal, then the best of luck to you. I, myself, just graduated from Columbia's ETP program and recently was hired on a cardiac ICU. after this year, I'll be heading back to start the anesthesia didactics. I was fortunate to be one of the five to be admitted directly, the ETP/CRNA route. The info you have is correct, Columbia requires you to work for a yr in ICU after the BSN, then you go back for CRNA. However, the school doesn't help you with finding jobs...it's not too hard, but you have to be persistent in your search. The school does offer scholarships and tuition is not $80k, more like around $56k. The CRNA program has a new director and they are preparing for the accreditation in 2008, so some reqs might have changed and more competitve than it has been, so make sure to be updated. if any questions, feel free to pm me. take care, and best of luck!

Hi dfk, I was wondering which program you're referring to in your post...UMDMJ or Columbia's CRNA program? I'll be starting the Columbia's program in 2007 and I haven't heard about the possibility of the institution losing its accreditation, if that's the one you're talking about. Thanks.

Guess you can say that the original poster is young and naive. Alpha13, you were pre-dental before, like you had stated, but somewhere along your path you sat down and contemplated why nursing is for you rather than being pre-dental. Right? Point here is that you took the initiative to decide for yourself on what is right for you and what defines you as a character. Young, the original poster is definitely young, and if he/she truly wants to pursue a career in dentistry, then no matter what it takes, he/she should keep trying. Success should not be measured solely by the amount of money you bring in, but the path and choices you make in life, and how you handle failure by being resilient in your pursuit. If the first time around, the original poster doesn't get accepted into dental school, then re-take courses or whatever it takes to further strenghten his/her application when re-applying. But instead, golfmontpoker would rather go into nursing if not accepted into dental school. What does that say about his/her character? Yes, nursing is a 2nd career choice for a lot of people on this forum, but there's a difference between already having a career and switching to another than compared to not even graduating from college and entering a career field as a "backup" when the first choice fails (no acceptance into dental school). If either of you were in his/her shoes when you learned that you were rejected by dental schools and having to work hard as a pre-dent all the way, would you give up this easily? Would you at least give yourself the benefit of the doubt and reapply? I know I would, but hey, that's just me. We're all professionals here, and sometimes a discussion can get a bit heated, and most importantly, we all had to make the decision to pursue nursing as our career because we had wanted to become RNs, and not because one day we woke up and just called ourselves RN. We all had to work hard to get to this point. If you were a patient, would you rather have a RN who's "overly zealous" of his/her job, or a RN who has no penchant in being a "regular" nurse?

DAT is as difficult as the MCAT?! (that was my original comparison) Don't think so! Have you done your research? you want to make 100K+ a year, well, reality check here, you can make that much and wake up each day hating what you do if you're solely in the field for the money. Oh wait, but if dentistry is still for you, you can finish up your DDS and then pursue a career in OMS. That's a 100K+ a year job. oh FYI, you can also make 100K+ a year as a "regular nurse" more specifically as a travel nurse. Guess you didn't do your research on that either.

stats aren't everything. and yes, it's the experience that counts the most in the pursue of any advanced nursing specialty, especially CRNA. If nursing is your "back-up plan," then honestly before you even attempt to contemplate on the RN-CRNA route, shadow an ICU nurse, then a CRNA. Lastly, to really see if you're fit to even become a "regular nurse" which IS a requirement to be a CRNA, then become a nursing assistant. The ones that you see being accepted with gpa's of 3.3's and GRE scores of 1040s, granted that might not seem to you these figures represent "competitiveness," however, these are also excellent nurses who have 5, 6, even 10 years of experience in nursing. randomly pick one out from the pack and compare his/her knowledge and competency to a medical student, or even a resident and I can guarantee that the RN knows more and is far more competent in a critical patient setting. "Back-up plan?!" sorry, but i don't even think you will cut it as a dentist. Have you even shadowed a dentist yet? if your so-called "nursing" is back-up, then truthfully, is dental school a back-up to not able to cut it in med school? MCAT is rough, and DAT is not. I have friends who pretty much aced the DAT, and barely reached the national mark of 24 on the MCAT. If you're wondering, i was a pre-med in college so i know the bs about classes you have to take, and my gpa was 3.8, and got a 35 on the MCAT. with all that, i chose nursing because this is who I am, and WHAT I WANT TO DO. while in college I worked as a nursing assistant on neurosurg unit for 3 yrs where each night the average was 1 RN/1CNA to 8 patients; and 1 yr in level 1 trauma ER. but hey, if dentistry is for you, then best of luck. and if that doesn't work out for you, only consider nursing because it's what you want and most importantly, that you find it rewarding in a way that you can't find enough words to describe.

Hi there, Sorry to hear about some of your housing situations. Students are beginning to put flyers and postings around the medical center for summer sublease, and here's one I just saw in one of the buildings that I work at: Summer Sublet in Tower I Females only! June to August $713 for one room of a 3 bedroom apt Rent includes electricity/utility I'm pretty sure the info is correct from memory, but to make sure here's the individual's email contact [email protected] 339-226-0106 Hope this would get some of you started in terms of living accomodations for the summer, while you'll physically be here to look at apts during the summer session. Let me know if this helps, and I'll try to post on here any other ones I see around the medical center.

No problem! Hope you're getting some sleep! I tried to PM ya, but your inbox is full...I'll try back later. Go get some rest now!

Hi FuturePedsNP, Congrats on your acceptance :balloons: and welcome to the forum. Hopefully, any questions you might have about the ETP program, living accomodations, etc about Columbia have been answered somewhere here, but if not, feel free to post your questions. Again, Congrats and looking forward to meeting you at orientation!

Hi Fluffhead, I'm just as excited as you are to start the career in nursing! I think us guys we will do just fine... As for finding an apartment on Craigslist, definitely try to find one that is listed under for rent (of course no broker's fee would be ideal) and not the share with roommate postings, but for the most part the apartments listed ususally allow a walk-through. My wife ad I are in the apartment that we found on Craigslist near the Columbia Medical Center, fort washington neighborhood. You can always call and speak to Adel from the off-campus housing if you choose not to live in the dorms. I have friends who are living in Bard Halls and I haven't heard any complaints about them sharing bathrooms, etc. Then again, they're usually at classes and clinics for the most part of their day, and at the library in the evenings. Congrats, and I'll see you at Orientation!

WhoooHooo!!!:roll Good to know that you'll be joining us at Columbia SuzieChapstick (sorry about SB... ) and it was nice to meet you too on Visiting Day as well. See you at orientation!

Thanks BruinLaura!! I'll definitely redo my CPR and take the AHA BLS course when the Redcross expires since I've already signed up with AR. Thanks again for the info, only wished Amy would have mentioned that oh well...

Again Congratulations to everyone getting accepted!! :balloons: I'm glad I started this forum, and thank you to elizabells and LB and to other current students who have helped all of us newbies with our questions, concerns, etc. On behalf of all of us, "Thank you so much." Remember to turn in all of your required applications, and don't forget about the CPR certification. I know the nursing school accepts the Community CPR ($80 for 8hr course) at the American Redcross and go to their website to check to see available dates. I spoke to Amy D. at the office and she checked to make sure that indeed the school accepts the Redcross CPR certification. However, their training is only good for one year, and you would only have to take a refresher course for like $40 before the the expiration date. Hope this info helps. To all you Yalies...uh hmm...Bics and Loveingpecola, you're always welcomed on this thread and definitely let us know about your Yale experience on your first day. and yes, let us know if your dean is also a rapper!! maybe we can get them together to battle!! Take care and I'll see you at Orientation Day!

That was you?! I totally understand your excitement as I still feel the same thrill as I did when I opened my letter. Hope your experience at the Visiting Day only reassured your choice to study at Columbia, and I'll make sure to look for you on Orientation Day. As for "move in" day, i'm not too sure but I think they mentioned some time in late May. They won't start to process your housing app until you've actually turned in your acceptance deposit. I'm sure if you call the hosuing office they'll most likely give you a better idea in terms of time to move in. I would guess the week before classes start would be the assigned move in dates...hopefully you'll get your first choice of housing. Which specialty are you leaning towards? Oncology or did you talk to someone of another specialty whom might have changed your mind otherwise? take care and see you at Orientation!

Hi Elizabells, Sorry we missed you yesterday during Visting Day hope you did't lose too much sleep getting the careplans ready. The Visiting Day session was very informative and I especially enjoyed talking to current students in the ETP and in our specialty field. A lot of questions and concerns I think were answered quite appropriately, and my wife and I are simply excited to get started. I got to see the sim dummy lab which was great. Hopefully to see you around campus and good luck with the rest of the semester. when are you sitting for the NCLEX? Krystellmarie and Suziechapstick- It was a pleasure meeting both of you, and I guess we've got our study group all set, huh? That is of course if SuzieChapstick decides Columbia over Stony Brook....you know you want to come here SuzieChapstick...Columbia...Columbia.... enjoy the next couple of months before we all head into the "bootcamp!"

Sorry for your loss May_baby, and I really do hope that the admission office will understand and allow you to take the pre-req during the first semester. it will be rough to do so, but it's better than declining. You've worked hard to get accepted and should be proud, and like what bruinlaura had said that there's a reason why you were accepted in the first place even without the pre-reqs completed. Best of luck and let us know what they say/what you decide to do.