Realistically, do I have a chance at a direct entry-level MSN program? :(

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Long story short, I am a graduate of UC Irvine with a bachelor's degree in music, who was originally looking to become an occupational therapist. However, in the last few months, I came to the conclusion that OT is really not for me and I want to become a family nurse practitioner. Thankfully, most of the pre-requisite classes that I took for OT overlap with the pre-requisite requirements for direct entry-level MSN programs, and I just have to take one or two more classes in order to be able to apply. My GPA from UCI is 3.19 (Ouch!) due to me not being mature enough in the first two years of college & also having to deal with family issues. However, I took all of my pre-requisites separately at a community college and received A's in all of them except anatomy (I got a B). Both of my GRE section scores are in the high 150s & my writing score is 4.0. I have 150 volunteer hours at an outpatient early intervention center that provides physical, occupational & speech therapy for kids with disabilities & developmental delays. I also have 100 hours at a private physical & occupational therapy clinic. I also volunteered at a hospital abroad for approximately 50 hours, and planning to go on a medical mission trip to Honduras next month. Realistically speaking, do I have a shot at any of the direct-entry level MSN programs? :( I know that my major is completely unrelated to nursing (it's not even one of the natural sciences like bio/chem/etc) and my GPA is really low. I'm hoping that my healthcare experiences will make up for it but my experiences are not exactly relevant to nursing and they were all "volunteer experiences," not as paid employees. My dream is to get into the program at Vanderbilt and specialize in FNP, but really, I'd be happy to get into any program. Please provide me with any input!

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

I think you have a good chance. You have varied and rich experiences, and have shown that you can do well in the sciences. Continue to do well in your last 2 pre-reqs and write a great essay for your applications. It is well worth it to have your essay professionally critiqued.

Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

I had a BA in psychology and then I decided on nursing. I looked into associate and bachelors degrees. I ended up with the BSN- the ASN program was very competitive and not even taking applicants. I think I had to retake sciences that were more than five years old.

It probably depends on how popular and competitive your MSN program is. Do not spend a lot of money. Maybe apply to MSN, BSN and ASN programs. There are many routes to a MSN.

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Specializes in ICU.

Be careful with going into a direct entry program. You may have a difficult time finding a job afterwards with no bedside experience. I'm not sure who hires Nurse Practioners with no actual nursing experience.

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Specializes in NP, ICU, ED, Pre-op.

I don't know about a direct entry program. But I will say even though you think music doesn't correlate well, it does. Many former musicians turn to medicine. I have a bachelor's degree in music performance, then I went back and got a BSN (10 years later), now almost finished with my FNP (ten more years).... gee I feel old ;)

Good luck!!! I would recommend getting a BSN work for at least 2 years, then FNP. You will need the hands on medical experience IMHO.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Be careful with going into a direct entry program. You may have a difficult time finding a job afterwards with no bedside experience. I'm not sure who hires Nurse Practioners with no actual nursing experience.

One would hope especially since NP education was created and our brief education considered acceptable with consideration of our RN experience but unfortunately this isn't true any longer.

OP if you have a checkbook and can pony up the tuition then yes siree Bob you will be accepted somewhere.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to student NP

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.
Long story short, I am a graduate of UC Irvine with a bachelor's degree in music, who was originally looking to become an occupational therapist. However, in the last few months, I came to the conclusion that OT is really not for me and I want to become a family nurse practitioner. Thankfully, most of the pre-requisite classes that I took for OT overlap with the pre-requisite requirements for direct entry-level MSN programs, and I just have to take one or two more classes in order to be able to apply. My GPA from UCI is 3.19 (Ouch!) due to me not being mature enough in the first two years of college & also having to deal with family issues. However, I took all of my pre-requisites separately at a community college and received A's in all of them except anatomy (I got a B). Both of my GRE section scores are in the high 150s & my writing score is 4.0. I have 150 volunteer hours at an outpatient early intervention center that provides physical, occupational & speech therapy for kids with disabilities & developmental delays. I also have 100 hours at a private physical & occupational therapy clinic. I also volunteered at a hospital abroad for approximately 50 hours, and planning to go on a medical mission trip to Honduras next month. Realistically speaking, do I have a shot at any of the direct-entry level MSN programs? :( I know that my major is completely unrelated to nursing (it's not even one of the natural sciences like bio/chem/etc) and my GPA is really low. I'm hoping that my healthcare experiences will make up for it but my experiences are not exactly relevant to nursing and they were all "volunteer experiences," not as paid employees. My dream is to get into the program at Vanderbilt and specialize in FNP, but really, I'd be happy to get into any program. Please provide me with any input!

Vandy's tuition rate is $1,395/credit hour. Good luck getting funding for it. It's very difficult to get hired if you were direct entry because you've had no experience as a nurse first. You might want to look in to getting your RN with an accelerated program for those who have a bachelor's or above. Then work as a nurse while finishing the MSN. Many NP salaries are based on the number of years you were a nurse & NP.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
One would hope especially since NP education was created and our brief education considered acceptable with consideration of our RN experience but unfortunately this isn't true any longer.

OP if you have a checkbook and can pony up the tuition then yes siree Bob you will be accepted somewhere.

I feel the need to clarify, I was venting my frustration with the the current state of NP education and to the OP I was in no way attempting to be snarky in response to your question which was legit. Since in fact there is no requirement for actual nursing experience there is no reason you shouldn't pursue a direct program good luck with whatever you decide.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Be careful with going into a direct entry program. You may have a difficult time finding a job afterwards with no bedside experience. I'm not sure who hires Nurse Practioners with no actual nursing experience.

This is repeated all the time but often time is not the case.

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Specializes in ER.

You may but you have to keep in mind that a lot of people who did not get into med school or PA school will also apply for NP school (direct entry). So you are competing against a large pool of applicants.

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.
Be careful with going into a direct entry program. You may have a difficult time finding a job afterwards with no bedside experience. I'm not sure who hires Nurse Practioners with no actual nursing experience.

40+ people in my cohort were hired with little to no bedside experience. Employers were much more concerned with lack of NP experience than lack of bedside experience. Bedside experience does not necessarily make a better NP. Are you an NP or currently in an NP program?

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