Simmons vs Northeastern vs MGH direct-entry nursing fall 2015 start

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Just sent in my applications for Simmons College, Northeastern, and MGH direct-entry nursing programs! I was wondering if anyone who is currently a student, also applying, or a graduate has any insight to offer.

A little about me:

I have a 3.77 overall GPA. I still have the prerequisites A&P I & II and Life Span development courses to complete, and have A's in my completed pre-requisites. I am on an emergency squad where I take patient vitals and assist in patient care. I volunteered at a hospital and shadowed a Physician Assistant. I am a Teaching Assistant at my college for Biology and Microbiology. My GRE scores are about average: 152 verbal , 151 quantitative, and 4 on writing. I live in and am from New York, and love the Boston area. I've applied to only Boston schools!

Thanks guys! Excited!

I'd like to thank you so much for your insight! I haven't heard back from any of the three schools yet. The website is pretty bare in terms of the direct-entry program and the admissions people don't seem to know much about the program. Anything else from your experience at Simmons so far that you could share? How many hours/week are you in class and how is the library? (Nerdy, I know)

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Ashley, I love libraries! : ) As a med research editor, I can tell you many MA higher ed. libraries are part of a consortium, so you have access to several TOP ones (eg, Harvard, BU), not just Simmons. I haven't been in their physical library--hope I get to!

Simmons is also my top choice. They get so many applications and accept so few candidates that I'm trying not get too invested. Regis would be most convenient because of where I live, and I took a combined chem class there (organic/inorganic in one) for my prereqs, and liked it. Beautiful campus with lots of parking. ; ) I know I'll get solid preparation whichever program I attend, but Simmons felt the most thorough, honest, individually tailored, and invested in candidates personally. The info session at MGH actually turned me off their program; anyone else have that reaction?

For more information re. Simmons, there's a NP guide on this site that attended their DE program; he provides solid practical information about it and what he's learned as a guide about other DE programs. His screen name is BostonFNP. https://allnurses.com/search.php?searchid=22181512

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Why did MGH's info session turn you off? I didn't go, but I read from someone on this site that they seemed pushy about selling the program and trying to get $, or something like that. Was that your experience?

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Blackskimmer, maybe it was an off night, but the MGH info session wasn't graduate-school professional to me. The first half-hour was spent promoting their online pre-reqs. I found this a turn-off since I was there to learn more about their DEN program (they are also one of the most expensive places to knock off pre-reqs; I took stats online there). The presenter for this portion was bubbly and harmless, but I could not get around an Oompa-Loompa spray-on tan and clubbing outfit. Either is fine--just not (to me) at a presentation of a graduate program. They tell you flat out they are no longer affiliated with MGH, so it bugs me a bit that the name could be misleading; it's not an arm of a Harvard teaching hospital. The presenter for the DEN program seemed uncomfortable and somehow apologetic ("we're really very good"). Their NCLEX pass rate is slightly below the national average. It was a ROYAL pain to get to from the western burbs (a personal hassle that won't apply to everyone).

I left feeling like it was something of a cash cow, but most people who that chose MGH who post here seem very happy with the program. Maybe they need to change the way they present it rather than the program itself.

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Well, the clincher for me is that you say the NCLEX pass rate is below-average. Where did you get that info from? The info session? Also, do you happen to know what their NP exam pass rate is?

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Yes, from the info session--it was on one of the slides; to quote the presenter, "as you can see, our NCLEX rates are about the national average."

You can review 2013 NCLEX rates on the MA HHS site (look specifically for MSN programs on this list): 2013 Performance Summary for Massachusetts Nursing Education Programs

The slide in the MGH presentation was based on 2012 data, so they've gone up a percentage point; the national avg for MSN program NCLEX pass rates is about 89%.

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Sorry, I missed your question on NP cert pass rates. Simmons has a 100% pass rate for AANP certification. I don't know what the pass rates are for the other area NP schools; probably harder to tease out because they offer multiple specialties that have different certifying boards. If you find information, please post. : )

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Excellent source, thank you so much!

From the website you linked, it looks like they've split the undergraduate and graduate NCLEX takers. Those who are in the direct-entry programs are passing at higher rates than average. And, FYI, these data are for first-time test-takers.

National average: 83.04%

MA average: 82.82%

Simmons MSN students: 100%

MGH MSN students: 91%

BC MSN students: 100%

UMass Worcester: 100%

Northeastern MSN: 96%

Regis MSN: 98%

The BSN students at all the schools (except NEU) are passing at lower rates than the graduate students (e.g., Simmons BSN students have a 90% first-time pass rate).

Here's the link for those who don't want to scroll back through posts:

2013 Performance Summary for Massachusetts Nursing Education Programs

As for the NP exam pass rates, Simmons had a chart on its previous version of its website that said first-time pass rates were around 90-99% (I can't remember exactly). I can't find that chart on the new version of the website. I can't find anything general online about NP exam pass rates by school, either.

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I just got an email saying I was accepted to BC! FNP track. Their deadline for a decision is March 23 and the deposit is $400. FYI.

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That's awesome, Black Skimmer! Congratulations! I hope I hear from at least one of the three I applied to be the end of next week, or there will be nothing left of my fingers, never mind my fingernails. ; )

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I just got a snow-day alert from Simmons. Trying not to read anything into that because they may send out to applicants as well as students, but I haven't gotten one in the past few weeks of multiple cancellations. #graspingstraws

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Wellp, that's upsetting I didn't receive an alert. Was it via e-mail?

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