UCSF MEPN 2020

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Does anyone know how the admissions people decide when who interviews? It seems kind of random, not specialty specific at all.

@GlialI'd PM you if I could. Did we interview together for SMU back in Feb? But also, what did you decide for your current dilemma?

Glial

25 Posts

6 hours ago, hopelessromantic said:

@GlialI'd PM you if I could. Did we interview together for SMU back in Feb? But also, what did you decide for your current dilemma?

@hopelessromantic Possibly, I’m not sure. My ultimate goal is to become a PMHNP so I’ll go to UCSF if given the opportunity, assuming student loans works out.

Belibel92

1 Post

On 12/13/2019 at 11:42 AM, hopelessromantic said:

I think all the interview decisions came out around the same time. I got an invitation for AGPCNP yesterday around 1:30pm. Is there anyone else for AGPCNP on the 24th?

To those who didn't make it, I'm so sorry. It sucks. Competition sucks.

i also got an interview for the 24th for AGNP

23 hours ago, hopelessromantic said:

Does anyone know how the admissions people decide when who interviews? It seems kind of random, not specialty specific at all.

I am a current MEPN and when we interviewed earlier this year they divided the two groups of interview dates depending on where everyone was from. So the first group was generally people from SF/Bay Area and the second group was people from elsewhere, to give them a little more time to make travel plans. I am from southern California and was supposed to go to the second week, but last minute was rescheduled to go the first week with all of the locals, which ended up working out because I met a ton of people who knew about life in the Bay Area and I learned a lot.

@PublicHealthEnfermera Thanks for the insight! Do you know approximately what our chances of getting in are once we have made it to the interview portion?

@Belibel92 Hiya!! Can't wait to meet you. I'd also PM you if I could.

wanderlust

16 Posts

Hi everyone,

I'm new here! Just wanted to say good luck to everyone that has an interview. My interview is on the 24th for the FNP program. I found this group because like a lot of you, I have been feeling nervous/anxious about my upcoming interview. ahh! It's a breath of fresh air to know there is a community out here! ?

Hey ya'll! I am a current UCSF student in my MEPN year and was reflecting on how much help we have received from years that came before us, including here on Allnurses (more like "Allanxieties," amirite?) when you're in your pre-interview freak-out time so I thought I'd stop by and say hi. I see a few of my classmates have reached out so you're in good hands but wanted to offer myself as an additional resource.

My advice for interviewing: PRACTICE. Look up nursing school interview questions, answer them yourself in writing, and then practice saying your answers out loud, then review your answers again, edit, and then practice with someone else. Listen to their feedback. Practice some more. I really personally hate that this is a thing --I thought I could just show up and answer whatever questions they had and be myself but your fellow applicants will have practiced these questions and are going to be wearing their cousin's snappy Bank of America work blazer while they're doing it, so you need to do it too. Its annoying and unfair and inauthentic, but there you go. So when I received this advice, I took it seriously and I asked two friends (who are both attorneys and used to interviewing people) to read my sample questions and then come up with their own interview for me. Do you have a slightly intimidating old boss? Ask them. A professor who inexplicably likes you but scares you a little? Another good choice. Or just find the friends who can take it most seriously and ask them. But do it! Even if you just record yourself speaking your answers as if you were in the interview room, so you can hear what you sound like and make changes beforehand. I promise, it is SO helpful. And yeah it was awkward, but when the real interview came I had already stumbled over my answers and knew where the proverbial potholes lay and how to avoid them. This helped me relax and just focus on coming across as a real person in my interview --and seeming like a real person matters a lot.

The interview feels scary and important because it is. But here are some good pieces of news about it: one, you're invited because they already want you. Nearly 50% of the people they interview get in. I'll take those odds. They just have limited space so they have had to make hard decisions to say no to people even before the interview --and I guarantee that some of you who didn't get an interview are AMAZING and will still become NP/CNS either at UCSF or elsewhere. Don't stop trying. More on that in a minute. The interview process is to help them figure out how to narrow the field down even further, which I am also told is also not an easy process. They fall in love with you all. From my experience so far, I don't think they care as much about your "stats" as they do about what you bring to the program -they want diversity in every sense, so highlight what sets you apart. Even if you are the nerd who spent all evenings and weekends at the library and has never even had a parking ticket and still lives with your parents, I'm sure you've got a way to show that you're not just a cookie cutter student/human being. And if you don't, maybe go find a hobby, get a tattoo, make some bad decisions, and then reapply. Another strategy I recommend is to think about a few things you want to make sure you say in the interview. They're going to ask you the questions they're going to ask you but be looking for places in your answers where you can insert those few things you want to make sure you nail. It sounds smarmy and sleazy, because it is but you're going for gold right now. They will have read your statements and your resume so you don't need to parrot your life/academic story. Be authentic and humble and charming and show that you're relatable and engaged, but make sure to say what you came in to say. Also have a few thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers about their careers, their work/experience at UCSF, what they like about the program, etc. Two (see? I'm getting to the point), the interview itself isn't that scary. The interviewers know you're nervous and they are going to be SO NICE to you. Also, ** is a *** hero and he and his team make this interview process kind of incredible: they pair you with a faculty member and a community nurse tailored as best they can to *you.* They're thinking about who would be BEST to interview you --this isn't going to be some random couple of people who look at your name from a clipboard and ask you rote questions. They're considering who has interests/specialty/life experience that overlaps with yours and that's who they'll put you in a room with. It is amazing. It is respectful of you as an applicant. It sets the program apart, in my opinion. So just take some deep breaths, call your cousin and ask if you can borrow their dumb blazer, and start working on those questions. You're going to be fine.

A final word on those of you who didn't get an interview this time, or who will interview and not get in. Ouch, I know. I didn't get in the first time I applied. It sucked. I looked critically at my application and tried to determine what didn't give me the edge the first time around and decided it was most likely that I am not bilingual, so I spent a year working on my Spanish. I'm still not bilingual but I could at least point to that on my second application and show that I was trying. Whether or not that made a difference, I cannot say, but it didn't hurt and learning a language is awesome. And I know they give extra points to people who re-apply because it shows you're serious. Don't give up my hopeful friends, you've got this. Keep working towards your goals and keep asking questions. Feel free to reach out if we can support you!

Doulaseason

45 Posts

You’re the best! This really helped me put things into perspective! Thankful for this!

Marin520

39 Posts

Thank you so much for your words of wisdom. I cried reading the post tbh.

It means so much hope to do the same for those applying next year.

@AScreenNameofOnesOwnThank you so much for your encouraging words and thoughtful advice. It means so much and absolutely inspires others, including me, to pay it forward.

Do you remember if there were any personal questions during the interview that were clearly based off your experience/resume/statements? And what time the whole event was over?

On 1/2/2020 at 1:09 PM, hopelessromantic said:

@AScreenNameofOnesOwnThank you so much for your encouraging words and thoughtful advice. It means so much and absolutely inspires others, including me, to pay it forward.

Do you remember if there were any personal questions during the interview that were clearly based off your experience/resume/statements? And what time the whole event was over?

Hey @hopelessromantic they asked me a few specific questions that were like subquestions of the more generic questions, I don't remember exactly what they were. The questions were definitely more general though, so I'd spend my time honing answers for general questions while inserting your personal touch into those answers, if that make sense? In past years there were two interview sessions each week: morning and afternoon with interview times throughout the morning or afternoon. Assuming its the same this year, you'll be asked to come in the morning or the afternoon at a specific time but you won't know what time you'll actually interview beforehand because they have a whole thing planned for you. I would say you can probably expect to be done by 4 hours after your scheduled start time (i.e. 12pm if you come at 8am or 5pm if you come at 1pm), but don't make any travel arrangements based on some stranger's advice on Allnurses --ask **. You'll get more specific info soon I'm sure. There is also usually a student meet and greet at, I think, around 6ish? You can come and eat more snacks and meet current students in the program. I don't know how many people in the MEPN year will be able to come because a lot of us have clinicals on Fridays, but I met some lovely students when I attended the first year I interviewed. I hope that answers your questions. It is hard for future UCSF students not to do but really, try not to overthink it!

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