Stony brook or adelphi?

I work at Stony Brook, and went to Stony Brook undergrad. I would say hands down that Stony Brook nursing is the most well-respected nursing program on Long Island. Plus you will get the opportunity to do at least some of your clinicals at Stony Brook, which is the only academic Level 1 Trauma Center east of the city. If you can make an impression in critical care clinicals, they may recruit you for the nursing fellowship program and you can go right into ICU without doing med-surg. This is very important if you want to go on to CRNA school. Level 1 trauma experience in CVICU, SICU or MICU is the best thing to have on your resume. It's difficult to get hired into Stony Brook unless you have some sort of "in"- you know someone, or were a really good student. It is, afterall, a state hospital.

And it's a *hell* of a lot cheaper than Adelphi.

It's a very difficult program though. I highly recommend living on campus. Don't commute; parking is insane and there's more support on campus.

Just my 2 cents...

Good luck!

PS: Look at other schools in addition to Columbia. You're going to want to apply to a few others at least. I've heard mixed reviews, and it is one of the most expensive CRNA programs in the country. I personally think it is overpriced, and there are 10-12 other programs within 5 hours of the city. The Columbia name is great... but most people I've talked to don't care where you went as long as you have the letters "CRNA" after your name. It's not like undergrad, or getting your MBA.

Thank you for your really detailed reponse which i really needed. I have already sent in my deposit to Stony Brook and will be attending next fall. I hope to be accepted to the nursing program after my first two years. Can you just explain when you said "medsburg." I am guessing that it is before you work in the ICU., but not entirely sure. And the only thing whith going to Columbia is that i want to stay rather local, like ny, but albany is a stretch because it is really far. I was gonig to apply to downstate, albany, columbia nad any others that you can request.

Thanks again.

p.s.- what do you do at Stony Brook? and are you a CRNA?

I was put on the alternate list for Stony Brook's 2 yr program. Does anyone know how the list works?

Thanks!

Hi, I'm actually in the same position as you. I attend Stony Brook University and plan on applying to the School of Nursing this coming semester. I want to eventually become a CRNA, but there are so many requirements that I need to get done before that. What I'm most worried about is how I would get to work in the ICU straight out of graduation. What are the chances of a new graduate getting a job in the ICU? What certifications, if any, do I need to be able to work in the ICU?

I actually graduated from Stony's nursing program in 2008. Since graduating I've been an ICU nurse at North Shore. You can go right into the ICU from Stony or North Shore- LIJ if you do either of their critical care fellowship programs. I never worked in med-surg personally, but it is VERY difficult to get a job at all these days as a new grad.. especially in the ICU. It costs a ton for them to train so they want to be sure you're worth the money spent. Stony Brook will definitely help if you're trying to get into the ICU, but don't be so up front about your desire to be a CRNA. It makes you look like you care about easy money more than nursing, which is not easy at all. (Being a CRNA isn't easy, either, but it has been viewed that way.) Also, if you interview for an ICU job and say that, all recruiters see is someone who's ready to leave in a year or two.. which is a waste of their training money. I'm not saying this is how you feel, but that's how it looks to people.

Good luck with everything thing.. Hope this helps :)

PS Getting into Stony's nursing program isn't easy either. I was originally wait listed with a 3.7 GPA, myself (got in shortly after obviously, but was scary at the time).. I recommend going to pre-nursing society meetings early on and making your genuine interest well known to people who will recognize you when application time comes. I would've saved myself some grief back then if I would've known this. Also, a big chunk of my class got in after applying to the program for the second time, so don't be discouraged. They will get some preference, I believe.

I actually graduated from Stony's nursing program in 2008. Since graduating I've been an ICU nurse at North Shore. You can go right into the ICU from Stony or North Shore- LIJ if you do either of their critical care fellowship programs. I never worked in med-surg personally, but it is VERY difficult to get a job at all these days as a new grad.. especially in the ICU. It costs a ton for them to train so they want to be sure you're worth the money spent. Stony Brook will definitely help if you're trying to get into the ICU, but don't be so up front about your desire to be a CRNA. It makes you look like you care about easy money more than nursing, which is not easy at all. (Being a CRNA isn't easy, either, but it has been viewed that way.) Also, if you interview for an ICU job and say that, all recruiters see is someone who's ready to leave in a year or two.. which is a waste of their training money. I'm not saying this is how you feel, but that's how it looks to people.

Good luck with everything thing.. Hope this helps :)

PS Getting into Stony's nursing program isn't easy either. I was originally wait listed with a 3.7 GPA, myself (got in shortly after obviously, but was scary at the time).. I recommend going to pre-nursing society meetings early on and making your genuine interest well known to people who will recognize you when application time comes. I would've saved myself some grief back then if I would've known this. Also, a big chunk of my class got in after applying to the program for the second time, so don't be discouraged. They will get some preference, I believe.

I am a student who is planning to apply to stony brook and I found your response very insightful. I have a question though. The pre-nursing society meetings. What is it and where can I find out it takes place?