UCSF MEPN 2016

[SBCvixen]

Hello!

I know this is a bit early, but I'm planning to apply to the apply to the UCSF MEPN program (among a few others) this summer/fall. I've seen similar forums for past application periods, and thought it might be nice to get one started so we can start to bounce ideas and questions off each other.

Has anyone been to an open house? Any information worth sharing?

[occrn1]

@emara9 i have just been looking at different websites for possible nursing interview questions and preparing answers for them. These are some pretty good questions to start with: https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/16-common-nursing-962531.html

What's everyone else doing?

[sml14]

Someone earlier on this thread posted a bunch of questions for interview prep. I have been preparing answers to each of those questions, plus making lists of some scenarios I could use to explain various traits, etc.

[emmafleur18]

I've been doing mini-mock interviews with the NPs at my work, and anyone else who will listen to me talk haha. It's been helping a ton, since I can work out in my head what works and what doesn't. If I don't think when I speak, I tend to rattle on and it helps to have a few "dry" runs. For things that I definitely want to talk about (mostly strengths, weaknesses, experiences) I've been writing them down in a little notebook.

[a2rutherford]

Hello everyone!

Check your email for an invitation to a meet & greet with current MEPN students. There will be two sessions - one on Saturday January 23 or January 30, from 10:30am-12:30pm.

[emara9]

I wish I could go to the meet-up on the 30th! I already booked a day trip that day starting at 9am

[kaykay210]

Same, @emara9

If anyone that is going happens across any gems during the sessions, please share!

[holahawaii]

Here are some practice questions I got from a previous thread.

Why did you pick your specialty for the MSN?

What will you bring to the table for the MSN? (What skills/experiences will you bring to UCSF? How will you contribute to the class?)

Why not Med School? Why don't you want to be a doctor?

(At this point they will be looking for confidence, and they want to see that you definitely know this is the career for you. So have a great answer for the med school vs. nursing school)

Why not PA?

What have you done to prepare yourself for nursing school? (Talk about your volunteer work and research you did on the nursing

profession here, not class work, everyone did that.)

What qualities make a good RN?

Why did you apply to UCSF?

Do you like teamwork or to work on your own. (Say both, you like you to take personal responsibility for your actions and

contribution, but enjoy what can be done in teams. Nursing is all about teamwork, with other nurses and the MDs, techs, NPS

etc..)

What do you know about the demands of this program?

What do you do when you don't get along with the nurses on your floor?

What do you do if you do not agree with the nurse who is precepting you?

How will you keep yourself from burning out?

How do you know when you're being a good nurse?

Describe a situation where you've had to prioritize and organize a list of tasks

What do you bring to the profession of nursing?

What do you think the hardest thing about being a NP will be?

How do you handle adversity/challenges?

What do you think it will be like being in a master's program with people who have been working as nurses for years?

How do you handle competition?

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?

Do you plan to do research or earn a PhD?

What do you think will be the most difficult thing about being a nurse?

How will you prioritize your day?

Describe an ethical conflict that you've gone through

Describe a frustrating experience at work and how you dealt with it

Describe your strengths and weaknesses.

How do you handle difference? Give an example.

[emara9]

Thanks for the advice! Another question I have that someone may know is how "to the point" we should be when answering questions? I tend to elaborate a lot when I feel like I'm getting no reaction from whoever I'm talking to (and I read on previous threads that the interviewers are stoic and just move on to the next question with no comment) and I'm worried I'm going to get nervous and talk too much. At the same time, I don't want to say one sentence and be done. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[guest2016]

Hey everyone:

I just got home from my morning interview session. Here are some tips for those of you who haven't interviewed yet.

1) Don't be nervous. Honestly, the UCSF staff who did the pre-interview orientation were nothing but supportive, helpful and positive. In the interview, most of us felt that it was more like a conversation than a high-pressure situation.

2) The first 40 minutes of my interview were spent on a list of 19 standard questions for all AGNP candidates. The interviewers spent most of that time writing notes on paper about my answers, and rarely looked at me or engaged me with follow-up questions. This seemed typical of many other interviews, except for FNP/Midwifery. Those candidates really seemed to have fun in their interviews, and the style of their interview was less formal. Those are just my impressions from talking to about a dozen people after their interviews.

3) Some of the questions you might expect (like strengths/weaknesses) weren't asked, and others were a complete surprise. "Why UCSF? Why NP? Why your specialty track?" are the big ones, just as others have said on this forum. But be prepared to answer more in-depth about your future plans, how you will contribute to changing health care, and how you will give back for what UCSF will give you.

Other people will have had different experiences, I'm sure. My interviewers were fairly stoical and non-responsive, but others seemed to be very genial and open. So it's the luck of the draw.

Oh, and people were not dressed as formally or conservatively as I expected. You don't have to wear a black suit. You don't have to wear a skirt and heels if you identify as a woman. You can be colorful and show some personality in how you dress. I wish I'd known that in advance! I wouldn't have been so conservative and boring in my choice of outfits.

Good luck to everyone who is interviewing next week. I hope to meet some of you out-of-towners at the Saturday MEPN meet-and-greet on the 29th (I can't go to the one tomorrow).

[emara9]

Thank you so much for the info!! Made me feel a ton better!

[sml14]

Thank you!! Anyone on this thread email yet for midwifery? If so, any insight about the interview??

[holahawaii]

The 19 questions that are asked, are they mostly to get to know you/personal traits and behavioral questions or more so targeted at how much you know about the field you want to go in and your understanding of it?