U of MN or St. Catherine's MSN program?

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Hi all,

I am in great turmoil. I tried to get into the University of MN's Entry-Level Master's program and failed. I feel defeated. I am now trying to get into the Entry-Level Master's program at St. Catherine's. I have people telling me not to settle and to try again next year at the U of MN and people telling me to go to St. Catherine's. I like St. Catherine's cause it is small, personal and friendly. I hate that the U is big and sees you as a number because there are so many people that want to go there - they don't need you. The problem is that the U has the clout and the prestige and the name. So my question is do I do all the hard work and try to get accepted to the U, which may be all for nothing or do I just go for St. Catherine's. I don't want to regret any decisions. Not trying for the U of MN means more time with my small kids but less prestige. If I go for the U of MN, I have to study and take the GRE, volunteer, take another class and perhaps get a CNA job. I don't have to do anything else for admittance into the St. Catherine's program. Does one school over another matter that much? What would you do?

I got the same email today with my student ID and password! I hope that means I will be receiving an acceptance letter in the mail! Are you planning to go? Did you apply anywhere else?

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Specializes in Adult Cardiac, School Nursing.

@emilystarr yes I will be going! Classmates??! :-D

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@cadenza0123 -- Yes! I have (finally) decided to go for it! I will be relocating back to the Twin Cities in January. I'd love to connect!

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Hello! I am interested to see how you all like this program? I am applying this September for the 2020 adult-gero cohort and would love some insight ?

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Specializes in Med-Surg Ortho.

I'm finishing up my application to St. Kate's MSN: Entry Level program for 2020. I'd love to hear from anyone else who is applying, or those who have already been accepted. Even better if any current MSN students have any advice. The essay questions have SO stressed. Strong GPA, great references, but when it comes to 4,000 characters that answer: "Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background has prepared you for success in this rigorous 26-month program?" I go blank!

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@tseliot Hi! I applied for the same start date! Its my first choice school. Maybe we will be classmates!!!

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Specializes in Adult Cardiac, School Nursing.

Hey you two!

I’m in the cohort that started in February and we just entered our second semester. It’s a great program - they’re still working out some growing pains but by and large the experience has been very positive. Clinicals especially have been awesome!!

As for the the essay requirement, I would be as personal as possible. Really dig in to any life experience you have had that has led you to consider a career in nursing. I wrote about my experience with postpartum depression, which turned around with a visit from a wonderful home health postpartum nurse.

If you want to chat more, please feel free to DM me!

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Specializes in Med-Surg Ortho.

@cadenza0123 Thanks for the insight! I managed to get my essays done after much hair pulling and handwringing. I’m happy with what I ended up with, but there’s no way to know if it’s going to do the trick.

@lhanka Great to meet a fellow applicant! I got an email from St Kate’s yesterday letting me know they have my completed application. I wasn’t anxious about getting a decision until I saw that message. Ha!

St. Kate’s is my first choice, with Metro State a very close second. I’m not willing to relocate, so my choices are slim.

With the deadline looming, I’m sure we’ll have some other applicants pop up on here.

Cheers to us!

ts

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@cadenza0123 thank you so much! I cant do direct messages for some reason. Do you or does anyone in your cohort work part time? I have heard mixed things. My part time job is very flexible and is about 15-20 hours a week. I would love to stay working for the first semester, but school is my first priority so if it becomes too much to juggle I would stop working.

Second, what did you first semester schedule look like? Hours and days of classes, amount of study time outside of class...I have only seen the sample schedule they have online.

Thank you again! It’s so great to hear that you are enjoying it.

@tseliot I have a feeling my anxiousness will kick in June 16th (day after deadline) I hope we dont have to wait till august to hear! When would you hear back from Metro?

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Specializes in Med-Surg Ortho.

@lhanka Metro State has a different application schedule. Their application deadline is January 15th for the following Fall Semester. Hence the Plan B option.

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Specializes in Adult Cardiac, School Nursing.

@lhanka so sorry it took me a long time to get back to you! I never got the tag notification.

Yes, it’s absolutely possible to work part time and go to school. I work between 15 and 23 hours a week as a CNA at a group home, and I also stay home with my two kids (3 and 6) during the day.

I will say that studying is pretty intense. The style of exam question typical in nursing school is something I’m still getting used to. You can feel like you know a topic backward and forward but then the exam asks, which is the “priority action” and three of the four options might be correct! I’d say for every one hour of lecture I did 2-3 hours of studying outside of class.

I hope this helps! And I hope you got in!

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Hi! I was accepted into Saint Cates MSN/DNP program for May of 2020. I'd love to get in touch with anyone else that will be in the same cohort to possibly meet a few people before classes start ?

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