UPENN BSN-MSN 2022

krimpet267 · Nov 23, 2021

On 11/22/2021 at 12:33 PM, df18 said:

Hi all! Has anyone been invited for an interview yet? My application was finalized on October 14th, and I'm starting to get nervous I haven't heard back yet.

I have not! I was under the impression that the video interview was the only interview but I could be wrong.

kcolfer · Nov 29, 2021

On 11/15/2021 at 12:36 PM, krimpet267 said:

Does anyone know if you can still be considered for the ABSN if you aren't accepted for the MSN portion of the BSN-MSN?

Unless things have changed, you can be considered for just ABSN! I actually applied last year (and was accepted but chose to defer to a 2022 start). I applied for ABSN-MSN with a midwifery specialty but was only accepted for the ABSN portion. I spoke to Filomena and it actually sounds like this is pretty common, especially for the more competitive specialties. Once you've begun the ABSN you can apply to submatriculate into an MSN specialty and the acceptance rate is over 95% for internal candidates, I think.

krimpet267 · Nov 29, 2021

1 hour ago, kcolfer said:

Unless things have changed, you can be considered for just ABSN! I actually applied last year (and was accepted but chose to defer to a 2022 start). I applied for ABSN-MSN with a midwifery specialty but was only accepted for the ABSN portion. I spoke to Filomena and it actually sounds like this is pretty common, especially for the more competitive specialties. Once you've begun the ABSN you can apply to submatriculate into an MSN specialty and the acceptance rate is over 95% for internal candidates, I think.

Thanks! Do you mind if I ask what your experience was when you applied?

kcolfer · Nov 29, 2021

2 hours ago, krimpet267 said:

Thanks! Do you mind if I ask what your experience was when you applied?

Yeah of course! I graduated in 2019 with my first Bachelor’s in Kinesiology, GPA 3.8. I had a decent amount of extracurricular experience - a community service org, a local org focused on teaching basic nutrition + physical activity to local kids, lots of research experience, and a couple semesters as a TA. I also had a year of experience as a medical scribe/medical receptionist while in college. After college (for 1.5 yrs before I applied) I was working full time in research. Through that job I got certifications/experience in phlebotomy and clinical research coordination. I had 3 really strong letters of rec and I kind of suspect those were the strongest part of my app (1 from a professor, 1 from my longtime lab PI, and another from a well-known women’s health researcher I work with).

For reference, the only schools I applied to were Penn, Boston College, and Yale. I didn’t get into Yale, and I got into BC but decided not to go. Yale offers application feedback luckily and they basically told me that they only opened 4 midwifery spots (usually they do ~15 I think) due to COVID-related limitations in clinical placements, and said I was a strong candidate but they ultimately chose candidates with midwifery-related experience. I got the same sense from Penn as to why I only got into the ABSN portion - although it’s a direct entry program, that’s a competitive specialty and they generally select people with relevant experience. Filomena specifically said that if you are accepted into ABSN (but not MSN), they have no concerns about your academic ability and that you can most likely matriculate into your specialty later on with a little more experience. Hope this helps!!

df18 · Dec 1, 2021

This was so helpful! Do you remember the timeline of when you heard back? Also, did you have an interview for Penn, or did you have just the video interview prompts?

kcolfer · Dec 3, 2021

On 12/1/2021 at 4:04 PM, df18 said:

This was so helpful! Do you remember the timeline of when you heard back? Also, did you have an interview for Penn, or did you have just the video interview prompts?

Yes! I looked back through my texts and I heard on February 5th. I don't think I got an email from Penn about it, I remember seeing on this forum from last year that notifications were out, so I logged into my application portal to check. I think I got a vague email from Penn later that night or maybe the next day that there was a change in my application status and that I should log in to check, but I don't think I ever got an "your decision has been posted" email, so don't wait for that!

I only did the video interview! I remember reading on this forum that some MSN specialties contact people for additional interviews sometimes, but I don't remember which specialties. PS I also remember thinking that my video interview was super awkward but I still got in so for everyone on the forum saying they don't think it went well, I wouldn't worry about it too much hahah

df18 · Dec 3, 2021

Thank you SO so much for all of this information! These application processes are so daunting, so I really appreciate your insight and sharing your experiences!

pmhnp99 · Dec 21, 2021

Hey guys! I have a question regarding FAFSA for those that applied to other direct entry schools... I know UPenn had us apply under 5th year undergraduate, but does anyone know how that will affect FAFSA for other schools? For example, Columbias direct entry option, you receive an MSN after the first year and DNP after the preceding 3... so no BSN which would be considered a post graduate masters program, right? How does that work?

RHa · Jan 3, 2022

I applied to this school but from talking to students am starting to get the sense that the school doesn't make a lot of financial sense, especially if I have other options. Does anyone have an idea about what the average cost is for the ABSN portion? And for the whole BSN-MSN program?

B K · Jan 3, 2022

Looks to be $130,000 for the 15 month ABSN (5 quarters).

https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/admissions/tuition-and-fees/accelerated-costs/

RHa · Jan 3, 2022

Just now, B K said:

Looks to be $130,000 for the 15 month ABSN (5 quarters).

https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/admissions/tuition-and-fees/accelerated-costs/

I mean, that's an insane amount of money. I am more looking for the average cost after financial aid. 130k is the total cost for three years at other schools

B K · Jan 3, 2022

Just now, RHa said:

I mean, that's an insane amount of money. I am more looking for the average cost after financial aid. 130k is the total cost for three years at other schools

If you are talking about in terms of FASFA, it depends on your EFC score. I think just over $2000 per quarter in grant money. They offer loans, some without interest, but it's not enough to cover the full cost.