Vanderbilt 2021 Direct Entry

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Hey guys!

Vandy's application opens tomorrow! I am so anxious to start the application. There is a Pre-Specialty thread already started so I want to start this one for direct entry. Post questions, comments, experiences, and anything else. Good luck everyone! You've got this!

@ForeverPsych Wow I love your pros and cons! Reading them made me re-think what I want/need out of a program. And I think I finally reached my decision... Thank you!

Here's what I've come up:

I need support. Yes, I am a self-starter and extremely motivated but I am also someone who benefits greatly with direction/guidance. Everyone at YSN has gone above and beyond - from Jana to my program director. I've been impressed! Additionally, I've spoken offline to YSN, Vanderbilt, and Columbia students, and both YSN and Vandy students are extremely positive in their reviews and highlight how supportive faculty are. Plus, there's flexibility to do either programs part-time should something come up or I want more RN experience. The CUSON grads I spoke to offline did not say they've been supported and are clear the program has its downfalls (disorganized; expensive; faculty are hit and miss). What also concerns me about Columbia is the CUSON grads I spoke to have not been connected to alumni in other cities where they want to practice. That worries me.

I need diversity. Columbia wins hands down with its location. The access to so many communities and cultural activities are of great interest. But I think NY might get a bit intense 24/7 and could also be distracting. If I want to recharge/refresh with a hike, I can do it easily from New Haven or Nashville (of course with the added expense of a car). Although I do not want to live in New Haven for 3+ years, I've also been told there are options to do semesters elsewhere. One YSN student I spoke to went to her program director with her program goals and clinical location requests. She wanted to work in NYC. Her program director made it happen. During her second year she lived in Southern Connecticut and commuted to NY by train on clinical days and drove to New Haven for school days. She ended up with a job offer from her NY clinical site.

I need financial viability. Vandy is the smartest choice for me. At the end of two years, I can earn a full NP salary and repay loans sooner. Yale is close behind because I can earn an RN part-time salary while in the MSN program, and therefore take out a smaller loan to get to the NP level, whereas Columbia only offers the DNP, which is a fortune. And, if I really want the DNP degree both Vandy and Yale's programs are online and part-time, allowing me to earn an NP salary, which again, equates to less money needed in a loan. Although I want a doctoral degree, it doesn't make sense to me to get it right away. It's not like a university will hire a new DNP grad with zero NP experience other than clinicals. Rather, if I wait and get the DNP degree later, there's the possibility my "down-the-road employer" will pay my DNP tuition, and there's a better chance that faculty will connect me with their university contacts that may be hiring. 

So, where does this leave me??? I've come to the decision today that Yale offers me what I need but also most of what I want. (I've written many pros and cons lists, read many other students' pros and cons list, and annoyed my parents talking about each program for weeks.) 

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I’m also still waiting to hear. I was in early/  priority cohort for PMHNP and haven’t heard either way. Hopefully soon! Good luck everyone ?

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4 hours ago, Nurse2be2021 said:

@ForeverPsych Wow I love your pros and cons! Reading them made me re-think what I want/need out of a program. And I think I finally reached my decision... Thank you!

Here's what I've come up:

I need support. Yes, I am a self-starter and extremely motivated but I am also someone who benefits greatly with direction/guidance. Everyone at YSN has gone above and beyond - from Jana to my program director. I've been impressed! Additionally, I've spoken offline to YSN, Vanderbilt, and Columbia students, and both YSN and Vandy students are extremely positive in their reviews and highlight how supportive faculty are. Plus, there's flexibility to do either programs part-time should something come up or I want more RN experience. The CUSON grads I spoke to offline did not say they've been supported and are clear the program has its downfalls (disorganized; expensive; faculty are hit and miss). What also concerns me about Columbia is the CUSON grads I spoke to have not been connected to alumni in other cities where they want to practice. That worries me.

I need diversity. Columbia wins hands down with its location. The access to so many communities and cultural activities are of great interest. But I think NY might get a bit intense 24/7 and could also be distracting. If I want to recharge/refresh with a hike, I can do it easily from New Haven or Nashville (of course with the added expense of a car). Although I do not want to live in New Haven for 3+ years, I've also been told there are options to do semesters elsewhere. One YSN student I spoke to went to her program director with her program goals and clinical location requests. She wanted to work in NYC. Her program director made it happen. During her second year she lived in Southern Connecticut and commuted to NY by train on clinical days and drove to New Haven for school days. She ended up with a job offer from her NY clinical site.

I need financial viability. Vandy is the smartest choice for me. At the end of two years, I can earn a full NP salary and repay loans sooner. Yale is close behind because I can earn an RN part-time salary while in the MSN program, and therefore take out a smaller loan to get to the NP level, whereas Columbia only offers the DNP, which is a fortune. And, if I really want the DNP degree both Vandy and Yale's programs are online and part-time, allowing me to earn an NP salary, which again, equates to less money needed in a loan. Although I want a doctoral degree, it doesn't make sense to me to get it right away. It's not like a university will hire a new DNP grad with zero NP experience other than clinicals. Rather, if I wait and get the DNP degree later, there's the possibility my "down-the-road employer" will pay my DNP tuition, and there's a better chance that faculty will connect me with their university contacts that may be hiring. 

So, where does this leave me??? I've come to the decision today that Yale offers me what I need but also most of what I want. (I've written many pros and cons lists, read many other students' pros and cons list, and annoyed my parents talking about each program for weeks.) 

Congratulations! The most important factors are choosing the best personal fit and being happy with your decision. Glad I could help.

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Congrats to everyone who got in! Has anyone applied to UAB as well?

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17 hours ago, queenrus said:

@ForeverPsych after your analysis, where can I sign up for Columbia? LOL  Seriously, I love the comparison between the programs. I am still evaluating but it just goes to show that the decision between offers is multifaceted. My end goal is DNP as well in the shortest time possible. 

It's such a hard decision to make. I think most of us come to these forums to find solidarity and to see what others in similar situations have to say as though it will somehow make the decision easier. Sometimes it does, but mostly I think we just come to realize that that there is no "right", clear-cut choice. It's a very personal choice. I'd be curious to see what school you choose! 

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4 hours ago, Nurse2be2021 said:

I need financial viability. Vandy is the smartest choice for me. At the end of two years, I can earn a full NP salary and repay loans sooner. Yale is close behind because I can earn an RN part-time salary while in the MSN program, and therefore take out a smaller loan to get to the NP level, whereas Columbia only offers the DNP, which is a fortune. And, if I really want the DNP degree both Vandy and Yale's programs are online and part-time, allowing me to earn an NP salary, which again, equates to less money needed in a loan. Although I want a doctoral degree, it doesn't make sense to me to get it right away. It's not like a university will hire a new DNP grad with zero NP experience other than clinicals. Rather, if I wait and get the DNP degree later, there's the possibility my "down-the-road employer" will pay my DNP tuition, and there's a better chance that faculty will connect me with their university contacts that may be hiring. 

 

Also wanted to add that I totally get the loan concerns. I had some serious commitment issues not just about Columbia, but about all these absurdly expensive nursing programs. Like wow - I really thought I would get more aid LOL. I was waiting on Vandy with high hopes because I felt as though Columbia and Yale were financially out of my reach, which was totally disheartening. I thought that Vandy's 2-year MSN with the psych specialty could provide the solution. What changed my mind shortly before I received my admission offer from Vandy is discovering that it is actually possible to work as (an RN, not NP) during Columbia's 3-year DNP program. For some reason, I missed this little nugget of info during my previous research into the program. I confirmed with a recent Columbia grad, who said that she and many of her peers worked part-time or per diem as RNs. I love this option, because not only does it alleviate some of the financial burden, it also gives you experience that I think is important once you graduate and enter the workforce. This was a game-changer for me, and after confirming that Vandy wouldn't provide an affordable option, relatively speaking, the decision was pretty clear. I think that if Yale offered a 4-year DNP, it would be a tough call. Ultimately, I know that if I were to attend Yale, at the end of the 3 years when I'd be earning my MSN, I would find myself thinking, "By this time next year, I would be earning my DNP from Columbia . .  .". It is pretty cool to get other people's perspectives and insights, though, because even as we choose different programs to meet our needs, we're all going through basically the same process. Cheers! 

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Hey all! I started  a thread if there are others, specifically in the nurse midwife path that are considering yale and vanderbilt and can share their thoughts--

 

 

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Congrats to everyone that got accepted! I got into the AGPCNP track a few days ago! Is there a facebook page yet? Also, does anyone know more about the distanced learning during the specialty year. I'm a little worried about doing online classes and not being well prepared.

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14 minutes ago, bluebubbles said:

Congrats to everyone that got accepted! I got into the AGPCNP track a few days ago! Is there a facebook page yet? Also, does anyone know more about the distanced learning during the specialty year. I'm a little worried about doing online classes and not being well prepared.

Yay! Congrats! I am in the AGPCNP track too. We should start a group. I am opting to go part-time. All of our specialty track’s info comes out March 1st based on the admitted students page. 

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Congratulations to everyone who got in! Unfortunately I was denied admittance. Everything happens for a reason ??‍♀️

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Specializes in Transplant.
3 hours ago, fblackwell said:

Congratulations to everyone who got in! Unfortunately I was denied admittance. Everything happens for a reason ??‍♀️

Ah so sorry to hear that-I know you've been waiting for the decision patiently. I'm still waiting to hear...

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Thanks! I was disappointed but I knew going in that it may be a long shot. Good luck to you!

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