Lets post questions here in an effort to help us and help others. The UPenn students who are/were in the BSN/MSN program are kindly asked to help us get a better sense of what we are getting into. ^_^
Thus far I came up with this set of questions. Feel free to post yours.
1) How likely is that once you are accepted to BSN you are also accepted to MSN? The online letter reads something like this:
"Dear ...,
Congratulations on your admission to the Bachelor of Science Program in Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania for 2007.
The Graduate Division of the School of Nursing will contact you directly regarding a decision on your application to the MSN Program."
2) How do you like the program? From reading other threads it seems that the first year of any Accelerated BSN program is very very intense and many people give up. How stressful is it? What is the surviving rate?
3) How is the typical week of the program, especially in the beginning? (how many days in the classroom/lab, how many days in the hospital doing clinical)
4) How are the classes? Do we have exams (multiple choice, short answers, etc) papers, etc, etc.. you know, schoolwise.
5) Do you know anyone who has a nurse student blog which we can read?
6) How is driving in the snow? Do we need a car to go to clinicals?
So who out there is actually going to go to Penn? I finally got off the waitlist and would like to see if there are any potential future classmates out there. By now all of us probalby made the big decisions... UCSF YALE COLUMBIA PENN WASH U... How is everyone deciding besides the ratings and the location?
So who out there is actually going to go to Penn? I finally got off the waitlist and would like to see if there are any potential future classmates out there. By now all of us probalby made the big decisions... UCSF YALE COLUMBIA PENN WASH U... How is everyone deciding besides the ratings and the location?
I also just got off UPenn's waitlist and I got admitted to the BSN/MSN Adult Health NP track. However, right now I am enrolled in NYU's 15-mos Accelerated BSN program that finishes in May 2009. (I started NYU in Jan 2008, thinking that I would never get into UPenn). If I transfer to UPenn, then I don't finish my BSN until Dec 2009. But if I go to UPenn, then I don't have to worry about applying to NP programs in the future. I wonder if I should remain at NYU, especially since I already shelled out $17,000 for the first semester already. But then again, if I go to UPenn, I can graduate with a NP sooner than planned but in great debt. I'm going to visit the UPenn campus 4/3 to help make my decision.
I love living in the NY area, but I am disappointed with NYU's nursing program. With a name like NYU and high price tag, I expected it to be more organized and with more competent instructors. Although the Philly area isn't going to be quite like NY, I'm hoping the nursing education at UPenn will outweigh the cons of living in Philly.
"Has anyone visited the campus and done a tour with the School of Nursing?"
I went to their open house and it was fantastic- I definitely got the sense that if you get in and go there, they will take care of you. The open house turned UPenn from a school I planned to apply to to a school I would really like to go to.
"Although the Philly area isn't going to be quite like NY"
I relocated to Philly from NYC about 2 years ago. Anyone who tells you that Philly is like Brooklyn/NYC but with yards is LYING or just hasn't lived in NYC. I will admit that I had a rocky transition to Philly. But 2 years in, it's grown on me and we're in a better neighborhood. It's not NYC, or even like NYC but smaller, but it's ok on its own merits. The one thing I still do not like about Philly is that it is just not as safe as NYC. If you have any specific questions on NYC vs Philly, feel free to pm me.
I graduated as a second degree from Penn in Dec 06. I know I'm answering pretty late, and someone else gave a pretty detailed reply but I thought I'd just throw in my two cents...
2) How do you like the program? From reading other threads it seems that the first year of any Accelerated BSN program is very very intense and many people give up. How stressful is it? What is the surviving rate?
Personally, I did not think the program was too intense. If you do the work, you will get good grades. The program is not intended to make you fail. I think most second degree students are pretty committed to nursing when they come in and continue on with the program. Quite a few students from my cohort did, however, choose not to return for their MSN at Penn. Many decided not to come back to Philadelphia and one or two were actually dissatisfied with Penn in particular.
3) How is the typical week of the program, especially in the beginning? (how many days in the classroom/lab, how many days in the hospital doing clinical)
I think the previous poster covered this pretty well. Yes, you are squeezing an entire sophomore year into 12 weeks of summer but trust me, it is better than dragging it out over two semesters. That is what I had to do (they had fall starts back then) and it was torture sitting through some of those lectures! Sooo boring and not at all stimulating...
Expect your core nursing classes to be lecture MW 9-12 plus 6 hr clinicals on TR. Some clinical sections, however, can be on the weekend and some are 12hr on just one day. You will also have X number of lab modules that you have to finish by the end of each semester. You can set your own pace with these but I think it's nice to get them out of the way asap. Then you have more time to focus on finals! Senior year, the clinicals become 8hrs long but everything else is about the same.
4) How are the classes? Do we have exams (multiple choice, short answers, etc) papers, etc, etc.. you know, schoolwise.
Expect that your core classes will be based on NCLEX type questions. Personally, I did very little reading from the text books, especially for med-surg (with Ann-marie Walsh Brennan). I literally studied out of the Saunders NCLEX prep book and got an A. The core classes also like to throw in at least one paper and/or presentation. You will also have paperwork (logs) for each clinical as well. The amount you learn and the stress you experience with clinicals is 100% dependent on the personality of your clinical instructor. Ask around about good teachers. Personally, I recommend Susan Roan-Chang or Jennifer Seneca for med-surg/gero if they are still available/working.
If you want an easy case study class (one of the requirements), take the HIV one with Carol Vinvent. It is one of the most interesting with the least effort.
I have also heard good things about Stella Volpe (usually teaching something related to nutrition or fitness).
5) Do you know anyone who has a nurse student blog which we can read?
Don't know anyone with a blog but I am willing to answer any questions about Penn. I went there for undergrad as well as my BSN and I'm going to start my NNP in the fall of 2010.
6) How is driving in the snow? Do we need a car to go to clinicals?
Can we carpool?
I don't have a car so I can't say anything about driving in Philly. You don't need a car for most clinicals but for OB, psych, and community clinicals having a car is VERY useful. OB clinical sites like lankenau, riddle, and Delaware need cars. Usually they are good about pairing people with carpools. Same goes for psych. There are sites in NJ and a few others that are a pain to get to by public transportation. Community clinical sites are either clinics or home health care. Obviously you need a car for home health care. You will not get to do home health care if you don't have access to a car. My year, you had to go to one of the community clinics (half of which didn't have nurses on site! You followed a doctor or NP and learned very little) or Stinson house which is a really good site. You will do a lot of hands on care here.
The wonderful people who work in the School of Nursing's student services office are really good at what they do (especially Adam Sherr). He isn't even in charge of the grad students anymore but he still takes care of me!
I guess that was more like my whole dollar than just two cents but I hope it was useful... sorry if I rambled on... :imbar
There seem to be a variety of opinions regarding the Penn program over the years. I'm hoping a current student or recent graduate could provide their thoughts.
1) How have you found the majority of classes and professors?
2) Do you feel that the professors are interested and invested in their students, or are they more focused on their research? Are they accessible?
3) Do you feel that the clinical training has prepared you well?
4) Are there any other major pros or cons to attending Penn's program?
Senior year, the clinicals become 8hrs long but everything else is about the same. 
msnkiss
12 Posts
So who out there is actually going to go to Penn? I finally got off the waitlist and would like to see if there are any potential future classmates out there. By now all of us probalby made the big decisions... UCSF YALE COLUMBIA PENN WASH U... How is everyone deciding besides the ratings and the location?