Is there anyone lurking who is planning to apply to the 2011 program?
I have spent the last 12 years in financial marketing/communications and am excited to try and change paths into nursing. I am currently taking my prerequisite courses at city college- stats and anatomy/physiology- and going in for the GRE Saturday. I'm volunteering at a children's hospital, which is causing me to consider the pediatric nurse practitioner track... I know UCSF is very competitive and it's a long-shot for someone like me to get in, but I feel like I have to try! If it doesn't happen next year, then I'll just keep building my volunteer experience and re-apply. Also on my mind is that if for some miracle I were to get in how I would pay for it.
But enough about me... what are some other candidates' takes on preperation, interests, anxieties, etc?
I am also wondering what kind of GRE scores they are looking for. This is my first time applying and I took the GRE last Wednesday. I got a 590 on verbal (which I was a bit disappointed by) and a 610 on math, which was a little higher than I was expecting. I also grew up in CA so your scores are pretty impressive, veggies.
Also, just out of curiosity, are most of you fluent in two (or more) languages? I'm trying to learn Spanish but it's going pretty slow and from what people have said it sounds like that might be a serious downfall
Hi everyone. I'm applying for the 1st time this year to the midwifery/np track and just wanted to introduce myself... I know it can take 2-3 years to get in, realistically, so I am also applying to other nursing schools and diversifying my options. Just took the GRE for the second time because the 1st time I bombed the math section; got the same scores on my second try only reversed!!! I'm wondering if they look at your highest scores from each section when taking it more than once? I studied a LOT and for a very long time for the GRE but I've never been good at standardized tests although I am good at "normal" tests, and had a 3.8 GPA, so that should count for something... I wish they counted the essays better, because that is my strength at 5.5s.
Anyhow, born and raised in California, got my undergrad in Community Studies, and love anything and everything related to birth... all paths have lead to midwifery for me, but I have to say, that having my own baby last year really completed the picture for me; I've worked with babies all my life but must say it is an incredibly unique experience to really go through the pregnancy, labor, and postpartum period oneself. For now, I'm mommy by day and postpartum doula by night. I both work and volunteer as a postpartum doula and also volunteer with labor and delivery. I really just love it and can't get enough. I'm looking forward to getting my application together and am hoping for the opportunity to at least interview. Good luck and perhaps some of us will be in class together :)
Hi guys. I just thought that I should introduce myself since we are all going be involved in this process together. I graduated 2009 from UC San Diego with a B.S. degree in Human Biology with 3.29 GPA (YUk..). I applied last year to geriatric NP program with a year of caregiver experience and a GRE score of V600, Q740, W4. However to my disappointment, I did not even receive a interview invitation from UCSF .
I thought I really lacked clinical experiences and good reference sources, which I think are the most important part of the application. So I started working as a nurse assistant at a convalescent hospital for about 7 months (I obtained a nurse assistant certification while going to college), and then I got hired as a Patient Care Service Aide at Children's Hospital Los Angeles this summer and have been working there ever since. Also, I have been volunteering at a CHLA cancer research lab as a research coordinator for about 5 months now. And all this while taking some pre-requisite classes at a nearby community college, which I am still doing (I am also applying to UCLA, CSULA, SFSU, and Azusa Pacific University). I already got accepted to APU family nursing program but because of the rolling admission and ridiculous amount of applicants, they said I'd be staring my program in the Fall of 2012.
Since I do not want to waste a year waiting for APU to start, I am applying to UCSF again. But this time I'm applying to the family program instead of the geriatric program. I have realized through my experience at pediatric department that it would be better to work with a broader range of population.
Hopefully I will get into the program this year, although I hear that family program is reallly competitive at UCSF. Good luck to all of you applying to UCSF this year!
I have a question about how to document certain education on the application (or whether I should). For example, I'm applying to the nurse-midwifery specialty and I'm certified in neonatal resuscitation, have taken doula training courses, etc. I won't have transcripts for them so it doesn't seem appropriate to put them in the education section (since they imply that you need to submit a transcript for everything in that section), but I'm not sure where else they fit. I may just try to work them into my personal statement, but has anyone else figured out a good way to include these sorts of classes?
I was wondering, i know UCSF is one of the most competitive programs in the country; however, are most direct entry NP programs as seriously tough to get into? Obviously being competitive is a good thing, and having experience in healthcare is definitely important, UCSF seems like its really looking for someone who is truly dedicated to underserved primary care more than others. Are other prestigious programs just as rigorous in their standards? Having a good GRE score, GPA and decent amount of hCE just doesn't seem its enough for UCSF and was wondering if its the same for other programs in the country? I have completed all the requirements necessary for direct-entry programs, have a decent/strong amount of HCE and feel I am ready to apply, but UCSF standards make me step back and wonder....
I think the FNP program alone seems to focus especially more on the care of the underserved community than other programs. As for my understanding of UCSF's programs, I think each master specialty programs has its own unique approach to going about its field of nursing. Having said that, I also agree that it takes more than just a good GPA, GRE, or HCE to get into the MEPN program. That's why I think the goal statement and interviews would weigh so much going into this program. Since we are all changing our careers, it kinda makes sense why MEPN program would seek the most dedicated and goal-oriented students, not just another smart, high-GPA and GRE scorers who are seeking a high-paying and stable career.
UCSF MEPN is definitely one of the most competitive programs out there, and that's why I am applying to several other back up schools. It was a LOT easier to get into APU btw.., and APU is an excellent nursing school here in southern california. If not for the 2 year waiting period before their NP program starts, I would have just decided to go to APU instead of applying to UCSF for the second time. I have been talking to several NPs, PAs, and NP recruiters, and they all say it matters more where you do your clinicals/rotations than what school you come from.
I have a question about goal statements -- can anyone out there give some input as to whether you should focus mostly on your chosen specialty, or nursing in general? I am applying to the nurse midwifery track, and I have written mostly about my previous experience working as a midwife, but not much about nursing... does this make sense? I feel like I'm not talking enough about nursing 'in general' though I am covering midwifery, and why I love it, why I am good at it, etc. as much as i can...
Any thoughts? I'm nervous. Best wishes to all of you!
I have a question about goal statements -- can anyone out there give some input as to whether you should focus mostly on your chosen specialty, or nursing in general? I am applying to the nurse midwifery track, and I have written mostly about my previous experience working as a midwife, but not much about nursing... does this make sense? I feel like I'm not talking enough about nursing 'in general' though I am covering midwifery, and why I love it, why I am good at it, etc. as much as i can...
Any thoughts? I'm nervous. Best wishes to all of you!
Maybe it's a midwife thing :) I'm working on my essay right now, and I'm having a similar issue. I basically ended up writing about why I love midwifery, but why I've decided to become a nurse-midwife instead of continuing to pursue licensed midwifery. That gave me room to talk about nursing. I'm not sure I'm doing a very good job of explaining what my understanding of nursing is though. Also, my essay is currently almost 3 pages, double spaced (or 2 1/2 if I 1.5 space it). That's my biggest concern right now.
I'm also totally stuck on the second, shorter essay. I'm trying to figure out if there is stuff I can pull from the first one, into the second, but I feel like when I do that I'm no longer answering all the prompts for the first essay.
I hope that your application process is going well. Just had a quick question for all of you. I am applying to the nurse midwife track and recently took the GRE's and unfortunately did terrible. Does anyone know if I take them again in September if I should send them my scores? I dont know if they will take them into account if I do better the second time around? Thanks for your help! Good luck with the applications
Define "terrible" GRE scores lol... I love it when I hear "I got ONLY 1400 on my GRES--should i retake it?!" lol... anyway, you're not the only midwife-to-be that did terribly on the GRE... I did badly even though I studied my butt off; I bombed the math the first time around so I re-took it and the second time I got the exact same scores but bombed the verbal! It would almost be comical if I wasn't so serious about getting into a good graduate program... I have a high GPA and I am a GREAT student and do well on all "normal" tests during classes but standardized tests have always been terrible experiences for me REGARDLESS of how much I study (I studied for many months for the GRE by the way. I got 5's on my first essays and 5.5 I think on the second, so I always do well with writing, and apparently I am capable of getting over 500s on verbal and quantitative--just not during the same test lol... but luckily the GRE is just one of many elements of getting into UCSF... I did the best that I could personally so I'm not beating myself up over it. I highly doubt they will take your September scores since it is past the deadline, but you never know... doesn't hurt to call and ask?
Thanks for your reply! Terrible as in 440 in verbal and 500 in math.. Standardized tests are not my forte either! I have a good GPA and always do well in school just can't take those silly tests. Hopefully they will take into consideration the rest of what we all have to offer! What kind of volunteer experience do you have? Good luck with the application!!
I'm taking the GRE on Monday (the absolute last day to possibly take it and have scores for sure get there in time...gah!)
Based on my practice tests, I'm not expecting to get much higher than a 500 on math/verbal either, but I also do great on "normal" tests. I'm hoping that my 4.0 in prereq classes and 3.9 overall GPA will show that I'm not the idiot my GRE scores are going to make me out to be!
. 
Ride Red
7 Posts
I am also wondering what kind of GRE scores they are looking for. This is my first time applying and I took the GRE last Wednesday. I got a 590 on verbal (which I was a bit disappointed by) and a 610 on math, which was a little higher than I was expecting. I also grew up in CA so your scores are pretty impressive, veggies.
Also, just out of curiosity, are most of you fluent in two (or more) languages? I'm trying to learn Spanish but it's going pretty slow and from what people have said it sounds like that might be a serious downfall