I haven't found a thread yet for the applicants to the 2018 Master of Nursing program at the U of M so I thought I'd start this one!
I think we had an earlier deadline than previous cohorts - looks like it used to be on Jan 1? But maybe I'm just looking at the wrong threads...
How does everyone feel about their applications? I felt like my application was really strong until I took the GRE and got average-at-best scores. They are slightly lower than the average scores of applicants the U typically admits to this program but they are better than the scores of average GRE takers overall?? Except for my math score. Big bummer... but I'm crossing my fingers that they excuse my inability to conquer the GRE. My grades for pre-requisites were all As and my GPA for my undergraduate degree was 3.45. I guess we'll see how it pans out.
Did anyone else apply anywhere else? The U of M is my top choice but I applied to UW Oshkosh and got in (!!!!!!!!!!!) to the May 2018 cohort. Unfortunately I have to put down a deposit of $2,500 (uffda) to hold my spot in that program and by the time I hear from the U of M the program at Oshkosh will already have been filled so I can't just wait to hear from the U of M and hope that my spot at Oshkosh will still be available (unless, of course, I lay down the $2,500). But I don't want to take my chances, not get accepted at the U, and then totally regret not taking the offer from Oshkosh!
I'm a current student in the MN program at the U of M ('17 cohort). I used these boards for some information last year so I figured I would pay it forward and let you know I am willing to try to answer questions you might have! I'm not sure how much I'll be able to help with dates for acceptance letters and things like that this year as it sounds like they have changed things up this time around, but I'll do my best!
I actually do have a couple questions... I work with several students who are in the DNP program at the U of M (I work at HCMC and they have clinicals there) and they have said that the DNP program feels somewhat unstructured to them and like they spend a lot of time on things they won't necessarily need to know.... they've mentioned they do a lot of group projects and a lot of work on administration type stuff. Would you say it's the same in the Master's program? I have a feeling it's not as the students I've heard from (admittedly only 2) have not given that feedback.
Also, are you happy with your choice and were you thinking of going anywhere else? I have been accepted at the UW Oshkosh accelerate BSN program (it's a soley online program + clinicals in your area) and I'm on the fence about which program to attend. I'd end up an RN either way.... and I do think I want to go on to NP eventually but as I've heard weird things about dnp programs in general (not just at the U) I'm kind of second-guessing myself.
Also if you want to share anything else, totally open to hearing it! I'm pretty sure next year's cohort will hear if we are accepted or not in the next day or two or three!
I can't speak very much to the DNP program as most of the people I have met in the program have been clinical instructors (They are currently taking Pathophys with us, and took Phys with us last semester but they do theirs online, while we have a lecture). I know there are different programs, and each is structured by a different group of people, so I could see that being very variable. From conversations in passing, it sounds like the first part of the DNP program has more flexibility and then it gets more intense once clinicals get started, but I can't speak with much accuracy about that.
For the U's MN program, I did not consider going anywhere else, but a lot of that had to do with me being a MN native with tons of family here, and not wanting to pay for a private school. Plus, the U is very well known for their medical programs, so with all of that, I decided to just shoot for it.
I would definitely say that the program is a bit intense, and very study/reading heavy, not assignment heavy for the most part. The first semester you have an Assessment lecture and lab (which was a bit of a mess, but we ended up feeling like we learned a lot by the end), Physiology (doctorate level), a foundations lecture, and an introductory interventions class with a clinical that starts the second month (Med surg), and an online Pharmacology course. With Pharm and the Phys classes, the tests were online and open note, but hard, and you have a Phys test every couple weeks. I found it to be intense, but doable. Your studying is very self-structured, there's some flailing while you figure out what works for you, but there is a strong camaraderie between our cohort, we share notes, flashcards, tips, and help each other with reminders for due dates and exams. The professors want to see you succeed and are very good about trying to help out for the most part. We have a cohort-facebook group, that I actually joined back when I first found out i got accepted and that was super useful because we communicated about different deadlines and things. Its hardest in the beginning, because you have to find your legs and get your routine down. I would really suggest emailing professors to attempt to get the readings for the first week, because that was really hard for me, I felt behind before I even started. Our Phys professor was good about opening up refresher modules before the semester, definitely do them and don't forget them because cellular bio is the first module and most of us found that to be an information overload.
In the fall, we had lecture all together Monday and Wednesday, then we had an assessment lab and interventions labs that were variable, and then you had a clinical day as well. There is a LOT of reading, but not many assignments. I have only worked on two group projects, a presentation, and a case study, and they were very easy. A lot of us felt like the introduction to interventions class wasn't super helpful with developing nursing skills, but it really is just meant to be an intro class, and you get more information in the second semester medsurg classes and in your clinicals.
This semester we are taking a Research course, Pathophys (with the DNPs), Adult Medsurg, and Maternal/Child medsurg. I didn't like that we had our first medsurg rotation before taking a medsurg class, but we have another medsurg rotation this semester as well. This semester we have three 5 week clinicals, a Peds, OB, and either Cardiac or Neuro Medsurg (its random). Which ends up being 5 days at each site total. Its very quick and some people don't like that, but I don't mind because its nice to get a taste of what each place is like so you know whether you would be interested in it. You definitely don't get proficient in these clinicals, but I've heard by the end of the immersion, you feel like you are already a practicing nurse because you basically are working a part time job for your last semester.
Hmm, lets see. If you get in, buy scrubs as soon as they open it up, like months ahead of time. A lot of us waited until the orientation to be able to try them on right before the semester started and didn't receive them until right before clinical started, or even after clinical, which was an unnecessary source of stress. I would suggest buying a couple tops and bottoms in case you have lab the morning after a clinical unless you don't mind doing laundry. Don't buy white shoes even though they suggest them, we haven't needed them yet.
Oh, also, there will be an option to apply for a Mentor from the '17 MNs once you start up so you will have someone to email about questions and guidance. You'll hear more about that later this summer or early fall. Also, the MNs from my cohort will be compiling a list of used books and scrubs for purchase that will also be sent out, and there will be a guide about tips and tricks for the different classes sent around as well.
I can't tell you which program to choose, but I haven't regretted my decision to go to the U!
Thats really all I can think about for now! Did that answer your questions?
I'm only in the second month of the second semester, so I can't speak for the future of the program.
I hope that helps and feel free to continue asking questions as they pop up.
Tea-rex Thank you for the information! I'm sure I will come up with more questions as the start date approaches. Shebelb, I just received an email offer of admission, so I'm very excited to accept it! Have you heard anything yet?
Well, I just heard! I've been wait-listed. There are 20 people on the wait list and I've heard that usually people on the wait list get in but.... really don't want to just wait around for them. Plus since I've already been accepted into the program at Osh Kosh....
BecomingRN, what did you hear??
And Tea-rex, any thoughts about wait list? Do you have a lot of people from the program who were wait listed who are now in the program?
shebelb oh no, I hope you get in! It would be so nice to network with future classmates before the semester starts! I had received 2 emails, basically saying the same thing, that they wanted to extend an admission offer to me. I get the feeling of the waiting game, I had another offer back in November but really wanted to see what UMN would say.
Congratulations, and good luck Shebelb! I don't actually know how many who were waitlisted got in, that hasn't come up in conversation. I can try to find out though! I remember there was a 'reply by' date, but I can't recall how far in it was and looks like I don't have the email anymore. I would be really surprised if it was more than a month or so, because they also want to snatch up the waitlisted students if there is going to be an opening, and with all the nursing programs in MN, i wouldn't be surprised if most got in! Regardless, I'm happy for you that you got into this other program too, clearly you're doing all the right things! BecominganRN22, I remember we didn't get information about how much we would be getting in financial aide until pretty late, maybe August or something, and the classes were kind of late too because it took them some time to work out who was going to be in what clinical group, so be prepared for a bit of a wait on that.
Shebelb Yeah, they asked us to let them know within 2 weeks if we planned to enroll if possible, otherwise by April 15th was a firm national deadline. Tea-rex, good to know about the financial aid waiting process, they had said they wanted to send out financial aid offers with the admission decisions, but I haven't gotten that info yet. Right now I'm just excited to know that I'm going somewhere!
Tea-rex I have some questions now! For housing, is there anything that Master of Nursing students typically do to look for housing? (close to campus, with other grad students, other MN students, etc.) I'm wondering how far ahead I need to start looking! Also, do you remember how you first learned the names of classmates in the same cohort? I'd love to get to know some people before we start if possible, though the class probably isn't finalized yet!
I ended up finding a few members from my cohort beforehand because someone actually ended up starting a Facebook group back before the program started. I was looking to see if there was a Master of Nursing program facebook page and ended up finding the page for my cohort instead, by chance. I didn't actually receive a list of everyone in the cohort, 10-15 of us just sort of stumbled into the page together. I'm pretty sure most of us live off of campus, or on/near campus, but in apartments they found themselves. I don't know the actual numbers, though. They sell discounted metrotransit passes from the U that you can order online and pick up in Coffman on your first day, so I did that and then I drive to a stop and take the greenline to campus. A lot of us take public transit. Some drive every day, but traffic is pretty awful, usually to and from campus on long days, and parking gets expensive. (PS if you do want a parking spot that is actually in a lot, they spots are sold through a lottery system, so make sure you look that up and get entered over the summer). Some people are staying with family nearer to campus on days before campus. There are quite a few apartments around the U. I actually want to say that we got an email saying to contact someone if we were looking for a roommate near the beginning of the semester, but I don't think we received any other information on housing, it was sort of left up to us to decide where we wanted to be. There will be a mandatory orientation in August and you will meet your whole cohort then as well as some of the MN2s starting their last semester (We call the two cohorts MN1's and MN2's for convenience)
Tea-rex
8 Posts
Hey all!
I'm a current student in the MN program at the U of M ('17 cohort). I used these boards for some information last year so I figured I would pay it forward and let you know I am willing to try to answer questions you might have! I'm not sure how much I'll be able to help with dates for acceptance letters and things like that this year as it sounds like they have changed things up this time around, but I'll do my best!