I live in Southeastern Michigan and I'm considering the direct-entry MSN program at the University of Toledo. (My bachelor's degree is in accounting.)
I am currently working on a broad range of prerequisites, which I expect to complete in December 2009, to qualify for most of the RN programs in the area. I expect to achieve a 4.0 in prereqs and a 3.9 overall. I have recently completed a nursing assistant course, am working part-time in a long-term care facility as a nursing assistant, and have some recent hospital volunteer experience.
Can anyone advise as to the competitiveness of this program? What's the financial aid like? What is the interview like? What kind of weight is given to the recommendations? What's the program like? Is it possible, realistically, to work while in the program? For graduates of the program, if given the choice, would you do it all over again? Did having a master's afford better job opportunities as a new grad? And does anyone know if the program is full for Fall 2010 entry?
Any advice will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help!
Congrats. I will be applying for the following year. May I ask, how your GRE scores were? If it's too personal, I understand. That will probably be my weakest area.
Hi, I had a 4.0 GPA. I really wanted the P.A. program, but this is the next best thing. I did not get into that program so it must have been uber-competitive.
That is amazing you didn't get into PA. I also thought PA. But in the long run, I think NP is better if you go down that road. You'll have more automity and when all this health care stuff goes into effect, it's the NPs being talked about getting more involved, not PAs as they must be more supervised. I could be wrong.
I think you are correct about NP vs PA. My cousin is in the ER at Cleveland Clinic and while he works every day with several PA's he personally prefers NP's because of their practical training and the fact that they don't hesitate to do the job. As for getting into the PA, my earlier post said that there were over 500 applicants for 35 seats at UT. So I would have probably needed to be in the top 93-94 %-ile. My GRE scores were more in the 60-70%-ile, so I was not suprised. Given my age also, I think there is some discrimination in PA and MD that the old guys won't be able to hang with the young ones.
I considered Cuyahoga CC's program, but they needed 120 hours of shadowing a PA, which I would not have had time to arrange and do before their deadline this year. Plus I wanted to go locally if I am going to spend $60K on the program. The nursing was a safer route financially.
star840839
18 Posts
Congratulations LBIHN! Go out and enjoy your day and celebrate!!
Im assuming I didnt get in as I did not receive an email....oh well - I supposes this is a reson to go out at least!