SFSU GMSN Fall 2014

Futurenurse1109 · Feb 8, 2014

I have! I just submitted my app right before the due date. Was it your first time applying to SF state's nursing program?

max79 · Feb 8, 2014

Hi @Futurenurse1109 - Yes, this was my first time applying and I am really drawn to this program because it offers the CNS. How about you? What are your stats? What area do you want to specialize in? It is going to be highly competitive, though I am not sure how many applicants they had. I did attend an info session and they were very clear that they were only admitting 20 students. :nailbiting:

Futurenurse1109 · Feb 9, 2014

Hello @max79 .. Yes it's also my first time applying to this program. I want to specialize in adult critical/chronic care. What about you?? My undergrad gpa is 3.6 and nursing prereqs is 3.5. I wish I was able to attend the info session. Did they share any info on previous cohorts stats/ or what they are looking for? Any info will be helpful!

max79 · Feb 9, 2014

Hi @Futurenurse1109 - That's great! I want to specialize in Peds. Undergrad: 3.75 & pre-reqs 4.0. They didn't share exact info in my info session but did say the GPA's were on average above the minimum requirement. They take a lot of factors into account - with emphasis on the SOP. They also said this year the GRE score would be important. I found it incredibly difficult to write a compelling and unique SOP in 500 words while addressing the questions they posed. How about you? Fingers crossed we get in!! They had mentioned that they may conduct interviews - it was being discussed - but if so we would be contacted in February.

fancyeyes, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2014

I applied to the peds program, my entire undergrad GPA was a 3.0, hopefully they just take the last 30 units/prereqs GPA haha. I did pretty well on the GRE, passed the required score on the writing portion.

master641215 · Mar 6, 2014

It seems like there are only 2 threads for SFSU GMSN Fall 2014, so I figure I'll post on both of them!

I applied to the Community/Public Health track. Undergraduate GPA was 3.1. Masters GPA is currently 3.65. I scored a 4.5 on the writing portion of the GRE.

I was told there would be no interview process this year; only an acceptance/rejection e-mail. Does anyone have a rough idea as to how many applied to the GMSN at SFSU this year? Just like everyone else on these forums, I'd like to gauge my chances of acceptance!

max79 · Mar 8, 2014

YAY! Finally some fellow applicants. This thread has been so stagnant :speechless:Where is everyone? Maybe it was only the four of us who applied? haha. Well, I don't think they have a final number of applicants as of yet but a girl who answered the nursing office told me somewhere around 120 but she said they wouldn't know for sure until decisions were out. I may try to ask again. So, there are definitely more people who've applied. Hopefully they will find our thread. @master641215 - What are you getting your current Masters in? Are you going for two Masters? How do you all feel about SFSU's program? Any insights you can share? I only know about it through the SON but hoping someone may know someone or have further info? I really love that they offer a CNS. It seems the CNL programs that are now being offered by a lot of schools still are somewhat controversial in the hospitals. I have been volunteering at UCSF and the Nurse Practitioner I report to had never even heard of the position. What are all your thoughts?

fancyeyes, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2014

I'm pretty sure there's no interview. I doubt the personal statement makes that much difference. I think they just care about what GPA you have and that you met all the requirements, like passing the writing score. I don't think they take into account the other sections of the GRE. If you have really good recommendations, that might help a bit too.

Do you know how many people they accept in each track?

master641215 · Mar 8, 2014

Haha @max79, I know what you mean; I've been checking this thread for the past month and I haven't seen much activity. I'm sure there are others who are reading along, but haven't created an account yet. I hope this post serves as an open invitation to them!

I also went to an information session (in October), and they said in previous years, they've received ~120-200 applications and accepted 20-40 students. This year, however, they have to cap admission to 20 students.

I am currently earning a Masters of Science degree in Biomedical Science at SFSU, and will be finishing up this May. I also did my undergraduate there, as well. If I get into the nursing program, that will be my second Masters degree. As far as my feelings of the masters program at SFSU, I can't attest to the School of Nursing, however, the Biology Department is top notch in terms of quality and support. Because SFSU is a commuter campus that caters to ~40,000 students, sometimes it can feel as if student resources are non-existent. But because I've been there for the past 7-8 years, I've learned to hunt for resources (ie scholarships, fellowships, tutor programs) and was pleased to find the amount of quality professors who actually care about their student's success.

I was told there was no interview process this year, as well. Also, at the info session, we were told the personal statement would make the greatest impact on your chances of getting accepted. Second to that are the letters of recommendation. I have to agree with max79 that it was difficult to write a compelling statement in 500 words! I believe the reasoning behind the short word count was that the admissions personnel wanted to see if the student can persuade the reader as succinctly as possible!

@fancyeyes that's a good question: I'd like to know how many are accepted in each track, as well. Although, if they offer 5 tracks (chronic care, pediatrics, public health, administration, women's health), it would stand to reason they would only accept 4 students per track (just my reasoning, but I can be wrong!).

Best of luck to everyone! Let's keep this thread alive and growing, as this seems to be the only support us hopefuls have until decisions are announced in April/May!

max79 · Mar 8, 2014

Thank you @master641215. Great info! Amazing that you are pursuing two MS's. Congrats. They stated that at my info session too - the SOP is the most important component. Yet, when you go to write it in only 500 words you're like, really? How? Anyway, I guess everyone was in the same boat with the limitations. Thankfully, we have the writing portion of the GRE to show our writing ability. We were also told only 20 people would be accepted into the program so I'm very interested in getting a final number on how many applied. I took several of my science pre-reqs at SF State and also found the quality of the professors very good. Did you apply to any of the CNL programs @master641215?

I would love to hear from some current GMSN students and their thoughts on the program, preceptorships, etc.!

master641215 · Mar 8, 2014

No problem max79! Thanks for the encouragement. Although I secretly might be pursuing another masters to delay joining the workforce!

I found myself cutting out a lot of unnecessary words from my SOP! Took me about a month to write/polish it! I'm tempted to call the nursing department to ask many various questions, trying to gauge my chances of getting accepted. But by now, they probably know who I am, which may hinder my chances of getting in..

I only applied to SFSU. I haven't heard much about the CNL program, except that it's offered at USF. I know UCSF and Samuel Merritt in Oakland offer entry level nursing masters as well, both of which have limited number of spots (20-30 applicants) per round.

Which other programs/schools did you apply to max79? And where did you do your undergrad?