itsacalling521

Ahhh, so awesome! I will PM you :) I feel too weird about revealing my real name on here...even though I'm sure someone who was motivated enough could probably piece things together and find out!

I have, as of a few weeks ago--going to Vanderbilt! I'm beyond excited, and was so thrilled and surprised about my acceptance. Just found a little house to rent near campus :) What about you guys?

Hey! If you set up a Facebook group, could you let us know/post the name of it here?

Hi all! I was accepted for PreSpecialty CNM, but am a little weirded out by not having ever received an email--I just checked my application yesterday and found my acceptance letter there. They certainly could have been a little more transparent about the whole process/notified everyone at the same time. Does anyone know if there is a Facebook group for accepted students yet?

I am in a similar position--was just accepted (CNM) at Vandy, and will either be going there or to Yale if I'm accepted! Hopefully that'll open up a spot for someone else :) Good luck to everyone, and hang in there! Take good care of yourselves!!

I wouldn't necessarily take a short interview as a bad sign; it's completely plausible that the committee really liked your application, and so the interviewer had fewer questions to ask you. It's also important to remember that there are a wide variety of people/professors with very different personality types conducting the interviews, and some are simply going to want to get the information they feel they need, and then leave it at that--no chatting. Don't despair yet! It's not over 'till it's over :) (I also applied/interviewed for CNM)

Hi everyone! Erinonearth, congrats on the Vandy interview! Hope everyone is staying relatively calm. I am personally having a hard time with that, since I'm going to Yale for my interview next week. I am so ridiculously excited, and also pretty nervous. Getting in still feels like such a long shot. I had my Vandy interview several weeks ago, and thought it went allllright--my interviewer essentially said "well, I really only have one question for you--could you tell me more about what you think the scope of practice of a midwife is?" And I answered in kind of a bizarre way, and have been dwelling on it ever since. I definitely have an extremely strong grasp of the scope of practice of a midwife, but for whatever reason, I'm not sure that came across. I also don't know if I was as eloquent as I usually am--I was definitely nervous. We'll see! She did say "I think you'd do well here," though she might say that to everyone :) Haven't heard anything from Seattle U yet, and nothing more from Emory after being waitlisted. I saw something kind of concerning on the Emory forum, though--someone said she'd been admitted to the ABSN+MSN program, but didn't remember what specialty she selected? That was pretty shocking to me, but also, given what feels like a pretty impersonal admissions process (i.e. just looking at resume and transcripts), is completely plausible. So that knocked Emory down a few notches for me, I think. It was my last choice going in, and there it will stay! How's everyone else doing with everything? Not counting the dreaded inauguration, of course...

I have an interview on January 25th for the NMW specialty--very excited!

Had my CNM interview today as well! It was definitely very relaxed (despite my nervousness, which I think/hope was only apparent towards the beginning). I was probably a bit less clear than I could have been, and answered a question about scope of practice pretty strangely, but I'm trying not to dwell too much now! To kitpower, it would be WONDERFUL if those interviewed all got in, but I don't know if that's possible, since by my estimation there were at least 15 other interview slots in the email I got, and that was just for this one day (thus, I'm guessing there were at least that many listed for other days, too--that's assuming that all of those slots were intended to be filled). My interviewer told me that they only interview "qualified candidates," so I'm sure that everyone interviewed is being very seriously considered for admission, but I also am sure that many of those people will wind up being waitlisted (which, she also told me, means "we want you, we just don't have room for you"). It's such a nerve-wracking process, but it is certainly encouraging to get an interview. It really helps to commiserate/celebrate with everyone :) Best of luck to all!!

Hey, MMJESS! I am indeed from the PNW (Seattle)--are you?

You have a ton on your plate!! Remember, there is ALWAYS next year if things don't pan out this year--in the grand scheme of your life, one year will make very little difference :) Plus, you'll be SO prepared for all the apps, and the programs will know you already indicated interest the previous year. Wishing you such good luck. And you got your SU app in on time, so that's encouraging! Oh, and to starbucksandpink, I am planning on applying to OHSU! It's bizarre to me that their app is due so late when the program starts in May, but I'm sure there's a reason behind that...

Hi all, I'm late to the thread, but also got an email about an invitation for an interview today (I'm PreSpecialty/CNM). I am cautiously optimistic--I know this is by no means a guarantee of acceptance, but am relatively certain they don't interview every CNM applicant. Good luck to everyone!

Hi all! A few updates--got waitlisted at Emory, which I'm alright with since all they looked at were transcripts and resumes (which seems pretty impersonal to me, but undoubtedly makes the process easier for them). I got an email from Vanderbilt about a phone interview, which leaves me cautiously optimistic, though I know that an interview is, by no means, any kind of guarantee of acceptance. There were about 20 interview slots to choose from, so maybe they're narrowed it down to those 20 or so applicants...I don't know! I did talk to a friend who got into the FNP program at Vandy last year, and says they didn't do interviews for that specialty. Aaaaanyway, hopefully we will all start hearing positive news from schools in the next few weeks/months! This is without a doubt a ridiculously nerve wracking process. Can't wait until it's over!

I was waitlisted too! Not an acceptance, but not a denial, so we'll see. Also just got offered a phone interview with Vanderbilt, so that's a little encouraging...this whole process is so, so nerve wracking. Fingers crossed!

I still don't have OPUS access--is that where the decision is posted? My applicant portal page says nothing new. I must say that, overall, Emory's application process has been less transparent and streamlined than, say, Yale's. I'm sure there is a method to the madness, but I'm not quite sure what that is! I will certainly have input whether or not I'm accepted :)

Thank you so much for all of the kind words and encouragement! I've been working with a math tutor, who REALLY helped me concept-wise, but we didn't work enough (read: at all) on tactics to use under time pressure. Definitely doing tons of practice sets this week under time constraints, so hopefully that'll help a bit. And that was great essay advice; thank you! I literally only got three paragraphs out for both of the essays, so I'm sure that didn't help at all, even if they were well-structured/well-written...anyway, though, I'll definitely check out the GRE website again, and also that app! Wishing you good luck for Emory! And all the other schools, too, of course :) It's such a nerve-racking process, but I know we'll eventually achieve our goals, no matter what path we end up taking to get there.

Good job to you both on the GRE! And Erinonearth (so weird to call people by screen names), congrats on just finishing! Honestly, I really do get the sense that programs look at more than just your test scores, and if the scores are halfway decent and you have other qualifying/desirable attributes and experience, I bet you have a good shot :) I'm taking the GRE again on Monday just to see if I can raise my math score and do better on the essays, since I know the actual quality of my writing is way, way higher than a 3.5. The frustrating reality for me is that a) when I am in a math course and have material to study and specific concepts to learn, I have no problem; b) I really like to take my time when I write--as I would while writing, say, a dissertation or a research paper--and simply can't do that during the GRE. Ugh! Okay, GRE vent over. I will hear from Emory tomorrow--I'm not super hopeful, since the process seems a bit less holistic/more stats and resume based, but I'm crossing my fingers that they'll ask me for an essay/letters of recommendation/an interview. We'll see!

I don't have OPUS access yet either--I think that a lot of people may get OPUS access next Tuesday, when decisions are released!

Hey, applications are going well--just submitted my Yale and Vanderbilt apps, and Emory several weeks ago! Also submitted a few backup ABSN apps, and will submit Seattle U/OHSU/Duke ABSN/ a few others in the next few weeks. But the truly nerve-wracking, nail-biting wait has begun! How about your apps? I've done a lot more research and looked into the programs a lot further, and Yale is, hands down, my top choice...I sure wish it wasn't, since it's the most selective out of all the programs! In addition to literally reading every word of the School of Nursing's website, I've talked to a few friends of friends in their GEPN program, and it sounds like the type of people they admit are exactly the type of people I'd want to be surrounded by (progressive, open-minded, well-rounded, wonderful people). Overall, the program seems much less "stiff" and more holistic than Vanderbilt's, though I think Seattle U's is great too. We'll see if I even have a choice when the time comes! I did NOT do so well on my GRE--at least in the math. I got a 147, which was in the 27th percentile...huge yikes. I can't remember what my exact verbal score was, but it was in the 80th percentile. Writing is by far one of my greatest strengths, and math is easily my greatest weakness! That said, I am particularly awful at math under severe time constraints. I know I would have gotten a way higher score if I had endless time to complete the problems! Buuuut that's not what standardized tests are about I got a 3.5 on the essay(s), which I'm assuming was because they were super short--I'm a very thoughtful writer, and like to take my time, and know that the quality of both of my little essays was far inferior to the normal quality of my academic writing. I definitely spent way too long planning my ideas, and not enough time writing. So, I'm hoping they'll see that a) my verbal score was good, and b) my personal statement was eloquent/I can actually write a paper. We shall see! I absolutely understand the terrified feeling way too well!! I am equally terrified. I feel like no matter how good my application is, there's so much uncertainty, particularly because there could be one hundred other super-qualified applicants, and they can only admit a few of those. I actually kind of sympathize with the admissions committees...it's probably so hard letting lots of good people go!! Plus, someone could be an outstanding applicant, and then fall apart a year into the program, and it's impossible to know who that person will be. I feel like I just spent way too many paragraphs talking about myself! How is everything going for you/how are you feeling (other than terrified)/how did the GRE go/where do you still have to apply? And super good luck for Emory--I know they're releasing decisions on the 15th!

That's not so bad--only a month and a half of nail biting :)

Thanks for all the insight! I've talked to several people who have completed/are currently in the GEPN program, and they all say the same thing--that test scores and GPA aren't as critical as experiences, characteristics, values, etc. That's certainly encouraging! The type of people admitted to the GEPN program are so wonderful/exactly the type of people I imagine myself surrounded by. My fingers are so tightly crossed. Out of curiosity, when did you hear about interviews? Thanks for all the info!

I still have not heard anything--GRE hasn't been waived, haven't gotten an email about an OPUS account, etc. I didn't submit my application until the 13th or so, though. I totally empathize with everyone who hasn't heard yet either! Crossing my fingers. I don't think I've ever wanted something this badly in my entire life!

Hi all! I am clearly very late to this thread, but have just finally submitted all of my application materials. I certainly don't have quite the amount of experience that some of you do, but I'm hoping that they will ask for additional materials, like an essay/interview/recommendations, so that I have a chance to demonstrate my passion for midwifery/women's health/women's reproductive rights. Good luck to everyone!

Hi! I just started the Yale GEPN application, and am also a little overwhelmed, but mostly by the essay--I'm struggling with the idea of condensing all of my passion and experience into two pages that will determine how the next 3+ years of my life pan out! I am applying to the Nurse-Midwifery specialty. I don't think I've ever wanted something more in my life! I'm applying to 10 other schools (even I can't believe that number) but Yale, Vanderbilt, and Seattle U are my top choices. We'll see what happens!

Hi! I plan on applying to Quinnipiac, too--working on my application now. The essay is the only thing causing me grief :) I haven't finished my prereqs yet, but of the ones I've finished, grades are: Anatomy: A; Statistics: B+; Physiology: A; am taking Microbiology right now--hopefully A! I've also taken Nutrition and Lifespan for other programs (and soon to be chemistry, genetics, and biology, too). What's your experience like? That's the only thing worrying me. After college (graduated with a B.A. in Sociology and French), I took about a year off to pursue competitive cycling, and then began nannying for a five month old baby (who is now 19 months old--time flies!). I soon discovered a love for everything birth-related, and became a doula, so right now I'm nannying and doula-ing (and volunteering in a midwifery office). My ultimate goal is to be a CNM, so I'll either do that with a combined absn+masters program, or do the absn, work for a year or two, and then apply to CNM programs. That's essentially my story. So, aside from volunteer work, I don't have much "traditional" work experience, like in an office or hospital setting. Hopefully the slightly diverse experience won't be a deterring factor for the admissions committee! We'll see! I know that Quinnipiac is highly rated and gets wonderful reviews from its students, so, even though I'm all the way across the country and can't visit, I'm pretty sure it's a great place!