PowerMPH

Just a heads up: You will not earn a BSN in Vanderbilt's accelerated nursing program. You will earn an RN only. No BSN. If you want a BSN (along with another semester of education to account for this degree) Emory offers it and maybe one or two other schools in the US. Your degree will be RN, MSN, CNM upon completion at Vandy. Hope that helps avoid any confusion! (Full disclosure: I am in the pre-specialty program of the CNM portion at Vanderbilt currently).

Good luck to all those doing the preparation for your application for admission! Don't fret about the GRE too much. Be sure to diversify your skills and portfolio and become an expert without the credential in the area of being a nurse practitioner you're aiming to get into. Speaking competently about your chosen profession during the interview is critical. Letters of reference are key as is your statement of intent. And again, don't fret about the GRE if you're taking it for the first or second time.

Hi tessag12: The letters of reference have to be professional in nature so former bosses/superiors, professors etc will provide testimony to your interest and ability to complete the program and that you show a vested interest in advancing your education. There is no specific format. They will write freely on your behalf. You can have them write it now and save it for when the time comes as I suspect they are uploading or copying and pasting the document within the online request to complete. You may want to discuss beforehand your passion and aptitude with respect to why you are choosing this school and your respective program along with any links to the program so they can better speak to your ability and interests. Good luck! Be sure to post if you have more questions and have a look at the 2015/2016 forums as there may be some answer to your questions within those sets of forums as well.

Hi GR: There is a waitlist and anyone can be called for a last minute acceptance for those who may vacate their spots at last moment's notice. Its really hard to say whether you will have a good chance regardless of when you apply because you are most likely being compared against other candidates every time a spot opens up. Thus a waitlist short or long does not secure a spot. I wouldn't say it is futile applying this late but I also wouldn't hold your breath. I set up a Vanderbilt MSN 2017 forum as I had expected to be applying again next year. I was accepted into the CNM program off the waitlist and my application was finalized February 4th of this year. It might be worth your while reaching out and contacting and admissions advisor at this point. Best of luck to you and good luck as you figure out your next steps!

Hi Tessa! Make sure you don't make the same mistake I did and apply by the November deadline for early consideration otherwise you may end up on the waitlist. Good luck! Keep us posted and ask questions here if you have any as you go through the process.

I received a call first. Email followed the next day.

Got GREAT news this morning! I made it into the RN/CNM/MSN program this morning. I practically shouted with joy! I was on the waitlist. My application was finished February 4th. Proof that it can be done. Don't forget to be passionate during the process and stay positive!

Depending on the degree of competition within the applicant pools, be sure to work on activities that pertain to your intended degree. My GRE score wasn't great in my opinion but because I earned two undergrad and a graduate MPH where I worked on attitudinal survey research with a prominent member in the birth worker field for my MPH, had EXCELLENT references (they know my passion!) and that my statement of intent indicated that passion along with a GPA between all three degrees of 3.7, I was invited for an interview. It can be done! I also actively participate in my community with professionals and am working on state legislative/DHHS changes so that when I get back from the program, I will be able to better do what I need to do to make much needed changes in maternal-infant morbidity and mortality. Demonstrating competence and interest is key I think, especially as a pre-specialty individual. The demands of those two years must also be appreciated so be sure to look over the calendar and clinicals prior to your interview. Good luck! I am looking forward to reading how others fair with the application and interview process!

Hi amFNP2b: I am glad you were able to learn about the wait list situation for your program. I wish they were a little more forthright for all programs with respect to how many are actually on the wait list. I totally understand that there is no rhyme or reason with respect to the method for which they choose off the wait list it would just be nice to know how poor (or great!) the odds are stacked in each of the pre-specialty programs. I have to wonder of the 10 or so from last year how many of those were the ones who received a seat and how many of those went with another school. Interesting! Colorado Springs only has the community college that offers the 2-year Associate's in Nursing and it is exceptionally competitive and often with a wait list. Plus it does me no good as I have no desire of working in anything but birth center or home birth work in this state. 2 years that would be better spent at Vanderbilt efficiently using my time! That and I would be well into my 40s going the route of finishing an RN first. For you it would completely make sense given your intended specialty.

For prospective applicants for the 2017 year in the Vanderbilt MSN program. Being as I am currently wait listed in the 2016 year due to a very late application, there is a high probability I would have to apply again come November 1st 2016 for the following year acceptance. November 1st, 2016 is the priority application deadline for the 2017 year. All materials (GRE, official transcripts, application payment, letters of recommendation, statement of intent) must have been submitted by this date. Letters of acceptance for August 2016 orientation and start were sent out the first week of February 2016. Wait listed recipients received their wait list offer in an around the first week of March 2016 with the caveat that seats may open well into late July.

Interesting. I don't see it. Just the email to go to the link where the letter is found and when I got back to the status page, it looks all the same including the screen to manage my application. Did you have to create a MyVU account? In doing a little research, there was mention of logging in after creating your account there to be able to address the wait list portion of that acceptance.

I received wait list confirmation today. I was told that you can be invited as a student up to the day of orientation. So you can be offered a spot the day orientation starts which is kind of rotten if you're on the other side of the country. One individual had three days notice I was told, showed up for orientation for the few days then traveled back across the country and packed stuff, family, kids and pet and moved in a week. It can be that short of notice and I know I don't have funds to support that kind of short term planning to move from Colorado to Tennessee. They are aware of this so usually they try to extend open seats to those who are closer. Also, there is mention in the email about a form to be filled out to confirm your wait list interest. Where is this mysterious form located?

What specialty did you apply for and was it pre? I was told today by the CNM director that and in so many words without being this direct that it was highly unlikely this year that if I landed on the wait list that there would be an open spot. Hopefully that won't be the case for you and your intended program. Good luck!!

How did you learn you were on the wait list FNP2b? Was it an email? Letter? Phone call? I applied the CNM program and haven't heard a word. I had a telephone interview so now I am wondering.

@sbvolver: I suspect you may have a chance it will just depend on what your package/application looks like against the others who are wait listed and where you fall -- which they will never disclose to you. They will let you know if you do make it to the wait list. My suspicion is that the CNM and FNP programs are among the highest application pools. For the CNM program I was told the initial letters were sent out and I suspect that they will wait until everyone responds one way or the other before they invite the next wave of individuals to decide. In other words, no rolling invites as people turn down their invitations. I really need this career change enhancer as well! Good luck let's see how this goes. @v.lam827: I also received a very low amount of financial aid -- something to the tune of $25,000. Not enough to cover tuition in the slightest. But I also did not have current income tax info. I have heard that there is a cap as to how much you may receive in your academic career and I know I haven't reached mine despite having earned 2 undergrads + 1 graduate level degree. So it begs the question as to why we are being low balled? I am separated and have no income and no family in this country...