2013 UCSF MEPN Applicants

Nursing Students Post Graduate

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Hi everyone,

I'm planning to apply for the 2013 cycle of MEPN at UCSF (application date would be September 1 of this year). I'll be applying for psych/mental health, and it will be my first time applying to this program. I was wondering if anyone else is out there who is applying for the 2013 cycle. I'm hoping we could share encouragement and tips!

Also, there's a thread for 2012 applicants- definitely check that out too. :)

I applied to the MEPN FNP track last year and got as far as the waiting list. I'm applying again this year and have a question for the other repeat applicants: are you rewriting your personal statement? I am absolutely writing a new goal statement, but the instructions for the personal statement ask you to speak to how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Needless to say, my background hasn't changed since last year. I could speak to a different part of my background, but I feel I addressed the strongest points in last year's essay. Any thoughts?

Good luck to everyone as we get closer to the deadline!

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Well, just submitted my application for FNP! I just need my transcript to make it in time since I JUST managed to finish my microbio class today....now the wait....is.....on.

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myelin, I'm curious about your experience in the program itself. Here's why:

I've met three recent (completed in the last three years) graduates from the program, all of whom expressed that the program is EXTREMELY F***ING HARD. They also expressed that some of this difficulty was due to the fact that the program was actually demoralizing -- that it was needlessly competitive. All three of these NPs expressed bitterness about their experience as students of the program.

One NP, who was working as an RN at a hospital in SF, said that many hospitals she'd applied to outside of the Bay Area didn't want to hire her because, even though she had her RN & NP, she didn't have a BSN. She said that many employers don't "get" the direct-entry path.

I know you're still in the middle of training and may not have an opinion on any of this stuff, but if you have any insight that you're willing to share, I would love to hear it. Thanks very much and good luck with school.

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Hi bardone,

Hmm. The program is definitely quite challenging, although not unmanageable. Our first quarter (which is just about to wrap up), was pretty tough, just in terms of being busy all the time, lots of tests, etc. You have to be dedicated. However, I disagree that the program itself is competitive. I'd argue that admission is extremely competitive, but once you're in, they want to keep you, hehe. In fact, we're all very supportive of eachother. We study together, share info, etc. It's not a competitive learning environment. Case in point: we had a classmate who almost couldn't stay in the program due to financial/loan problems and we rallied together as a class to raise money for her so she could qualify for her loan (which she did).

In terms of jobs/hiring, I'm not so sure. I know that direct entry programs exist all over, so I'm honestly surprised to hear of some employers not understanding why we don't have BSNs. I've also heard that a BSN doesn't matter at all if you have an MSN. I think it might depend on your specialty. For example, if you're in a very popular specialty and in an area with many NPs, then it might be harder starting out. For less popular specialties, it's probably easier. But I've never heard of people having issues getting hired. I know some people choose to work as RNs when they graduate, often because RNs make so much money around here. I'm planning on definitely working as a NP, thogh.

Also, I mentioned this in another thread, but I thought I'd post that the school did offer us some extra funding which dropped the tuition down to the 40s for most people who applied for it.

Good luck you guys! :)

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Another thing to consider when applying to RN/MSN programs is that most federal jobs and military positions require BSNs even if you have an MSN. Go figure right? An MSN should trump a BSN, but many places still don't see it that way. Honestly, the hardest thing is really getting our foot into the door of the career field...get like 1-2 years of experience as a nurse after graduation and the world should be our oyster!

myelin, it's pretty awesome how your class rallied together! I REALLY REALLY hope I get into UCSF!

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wow. This is the very first time I'm hearing about people having issues getting hired as a NP due to lacking a BSN. I have heard from multiple sources that it does not matter once you have a MSN. I know that it can matter if you're looking to work as a RN, but I've never heard of issues finding work as a NP. In the end, I'm sure it works out, I see MEPN grads working as NPs on my clinical rotations, so that's a good sign, right? Haha.

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These are interesting points to consider. I had never heard the BSN issue either. Hm.

On a different note (less interesting), I just "locked" my application. (Yikes. It feels so final. Fingers crossed.) I have a concern about my transcripts. When I locked it, I got the status screen. It shows all of my trancripts but in the "status" column, instead of saying "received" or something, says the date I wrote the colleges' names on my online application (if that makes sense). I've emailed Steven Johnson. I'm just wondering if any of you have locked yet and, if so, whether your transcripts show up as received. If it turns out that none of transcripts are in, I'll be shocked and... will need to get my butt in gear. I requested them almost 2 months ago.

Any thoughts?

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Yeah I'm showing the same thing. I actually thought the the dates were when they processed them, but your comment made me realize it was when I input them too. I sent mine in like the first week so I'm pretty sure they should've received mine...but I'd love to hear what Steven has to say.

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samdaman,

Thanks for the response. I'll post what he tells me.

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myelin -- first off, thanks so much for your good words about the program. It's heartening to hear another, more positive viewpoint. Honestly, I was feeling a little spooked!

Secondly -- the nurse I met who said that some employers don't "get" the absence of a BSN was working as an RN (at SFGH, not bad). It could be that she wasn't finished with the program and wanted to get RN experience before completing the NP section of the program, etc. You may very well be right -- that not having a BSN doesn't matter if you are looking to work as an NP exclusively. Could be that her experience isn't the norm.

I would be interested to learn whether other MEPN grads have had this experience. Regardless it seems DOUBTFUL that participating in the program somehow damages one's career prospects, you know?? So. :)

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bardone - I know for a fact that there are MEPN grads working at SFGH as NPs... so ... :) no worries. Good luck!

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samdaman and others,

The admissions office got back to me about my transcripts. Although the application site didn't show any of the transcripts received (after I locked my application), they say that they have received all but one set of transcripts. When I logged onto the application site right now, they have updated the status of my transcripts to show that they are "received." I don't know if they have updated everyone's infomation or just mine. When you lock your application, if your transcripts' status does not show "received," you might want to check in with admissions.

Now, I'm off to track down the missing transcript...

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