NPToBe527

Hey Alexandra441, Great question! So if I remember correctly (orientation feels like lifetimes ago), you should have an email address set up even before orientation. They'll send you an email with steps to set that up. On the actual day, you'll get to meet your classmates & faculty, then the morning is filled with speakers from all different departments...this is kind of the "boring stuff", like IT, HIPAA, campus safety, etc. Then there's lunch with a faculty member, and after that the GEP students split off to go to the GEP room & lab, get to know each other better and there the faculty will talk with you specifically about your questions & concerns for the first year and what to expect. Scheduling: Unfortunately, schedules are pre-assigned, because your whole cohort (about 35 students) remains in class together, all day, every day. It's almost similar to elementary school, where you stay in the same classroom and different teachers come in to teach to you... I thought it was crazy at first, but now I can barely remember switching classes in undergrad!

Hi everyone! I'm back and can answer a few questions that I've noticed since I've been here: 1. Tuition cost (for in-state) students, is about 80k. Out-of-state can get up to about 120k for the whole program 2. FutureFNP123: Some students do apply for things like HRSA scholarships or NurseCorps for loan repayment, but unfortunately those programs prioritize MSN students over DNP students, so we aren't likely their top choice for funding (womp, womp). However, yes, you're right that we are required to work once we obtain the RN license and until we are NPs. 3. MsNurse128: Unfortunately I'm still finishing up my first year, so I can't speak to much about salary! Becky can probably answer that if she wants to. Let me know what other questions you've got! And to everyone that's been admitted in the meantime, congratulations!

Hi reirogue, Just as an FYI, the program is 4 years and unfortunately can't be done any faster. However, tuition for the entire 4 years is about 132k, with the first year being a huge chunk of that. If you're looking to take out loans for living expenses, of course you'll end up with more in loans than tuition costs. Hope this helps!

Hi reirogue, Just as an FYI, the program is 4 years and unfortunately can't be done any faster. However, tuition for the entire 4 years is about 132k, with the first year being a huge chunk of that. If you're looking to take out loans for living expenses, of course you'll end up with more in loans than tuition costs. Hope this helps!

Hi Kevinm23, Unfortunately there's no way to do the program faster than 4 years, since it is a doctorate program. We go through summers already and take about 20 credits each semester, so there's really no room for more acceleration!

Hi kevinm23, There are two ways to apply for financial aid: 1. Apply for loans only, and submit only your financial information 2. Apply for loans AND scholarships/grants, and submit your financial information as well as your parents' (in excruciating detail) So, I chose option 1 thinking I would likely not qualify for any additional aid with my parents' income taken into consideration. I don't have any info on how much aid is awarded to those that do choose to submit it, though. However, in the first week of school, all GEP students were notified that there were extra scholarship funds available to GEP students if we wanted to apply for them. The application was extremely simple (basically just had to write a few sentences saying that we could use money) and I got $2500 in scholarship funds from that. I'd say I made the right choice in the end!

We did get a good amount of time to meet each other and instructors, but only as much as one day will allow! If you don't feel like you know your classmates after orientation, you DEFINITELY will after GEP prep (a two week intensive at the beginning of your first semester). Its 8-4 every day for two weeks; you'll feel like you've known each other for years!

Hi FutureFNP123 and NurseJeffreyMA - So sorry that it took so long to get back to you. It's finals time, and I haven't had time to do much of anything! FutureFNP123: I definitely have suggestions. If you aren't already used to coming to class with notes on your assigned reading, I highly recommend making it a habit! By no means is it necessary, and you can certainly succeed without working that way, but I have found it to be SO helpful to do my assigned reading, take good notes and then use class time just to augment my notes. As far as something I wish I'd done first, it's WORK! Not only to save up some money, but I also came straight out of undergrad and started at UMass the following fall. Not only do I feel tired & burnt out, I feel like I could really have taken some time to hone my professional interests and decide what really motivates me! NurseJeffreyMA: Unfortunately, orientation wasn't all I had hoped! It's certainly informative, you'll learn a lot about UMass and the program's expectations of you. However, the orientation is for the entire Graduate School of Nursing, and though you'll pull away and have some time just as a GEP program, I left feeling like I still wanted to know more! Just have faith. It will all come in time!

Hi futureFNP123! Day-to-day (or weekly) looks like this for us: Monday: Class 9-5 Tuesday & Wednesday: Clinical 6a-2p - one group which is about 1/6 of the class has clinical 1p-9p Thursday: Half day lab (sometimes it's 8-12 and others it's 12-4; you'll get a schedule at the beginning of the semester) Friday: Class 9a-3:30p The week is broken up really well & it goes by very fast for sure; no complaints with the schedule (even being an hour away and waking up at 4am for clinical!) As far as things I wish I knew...first off, know that you WILL feel like things are a little disorganized & you may not understand what's going on behind the scenes (for example, we didn't receive clinical placements until the few days before clinical started). I'd say this is a weakness of the program, but have faith that the faculty definitely have your back and they really do work very hard to make things run smoothly. Second, I wish I had better prepared myself to not do as well as I did in undergrad. We are learning a massive amount of information in one year, and held to really high standards to end up as great nurses. It's hard, and it's harder when you're expecting a 4.0! However, as you'll hear over and over again, "trust the process" I hope this helps. It is a really really great program and they certainly want the best for you! Best of luck!

Hi everyone! I'm a current UMass GEP student, just started in August. I'm happy to answer any questions about the application process/starting the program. Throw them my way! Best of luck through the whole application process, trust me, I have felt your pain!

Is anyone else practically refreshing Credit Karma to look for an inquiry?! I'm pretty sure that's not how it works, but anything helps! Then again in last year's forum some people never even saw a credit check but still were offered the scholarship... Nothing left to do but wait

Hi cfoles2021! Congrats!! The group is called "UMass Worcester GEP 2017."

Becky, I can't say how helpful it is for you to answer these questions! Thanks so much. I'm mostly wondering what your weekly schedule has looked like in the first year. I'm guessing it varies slightly, but can you give kind of a sense of how it's organized? Thanks!

I'm not a current student of the program, though I am a current student of Simmons (finishing my undergrad in nutrition this May). So I've taken my fair share of classes in the School of Nursing and Health Sciences and I know how Simmons works as a school. I'd be happy to answer any questions!

My letter asked me to respond by March 10! I know that I'll be rescinding my offer because I've already committed to another school, but I was accepted to the Pedi program so I'm not sure my revocation will help you! Best of luck to you, and continue to remind yourself that everything happens for a reason and you'll end up where you need to be!