Vanderbilt Pre-Specialty MSN 2023

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I'm applying to the Vanderbilt University Fall 2023 Pre-specialty MSN program and I just wanted to open up a topic since I hadn't seen one yet. I would appreciate and advice, tips, FAQ, experiences, etc.

Hi Robert that’s awesome! I really want to work in a rural underserved area. I live in NV very close to Lake Tahoe but many underserved rural communities surrounding. Many employers are offering large tuition reimbursement with very good salaries here as the need is so great which will help considering the tuition at Vandy. I hope we both get in ???

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On 12/9/2022 at 10:56 PM, fngioino said:

I also assumed we would find out on December 15 because of the undergrad decisions! Whenever we found out, I hope it’s soon because I literally cannot sleep HAHA 

I'm not sure? I just skimmed through the 2022 page, and it didn't look like they got their decisions in December. Unless I'm missing something? Has anyone communicated directly with Admissions for a timeline?

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On 12/9/2022 at 11:15 PM, DonnaRDH said:

Same! I just want to know??‍♀️? Has anyone else applied for AGPCNP? I’m wishing now I would have applied for the dual cert that included WHNP as well, both are super high in demand where I live.

I also applied for Adult Primary Care. I have received acceptances for Emory and Case Western, just waiting on Vanderbilt, Yale and UPenn so I can make a final, informed decision.

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@MTroup

We have discussed this in the previous comments, but during the online informational session, we were told if you applied by early decision deadline, you would get a decision before the holidays. Someone else commented that they called Vanderbilt and was told the same thing. 

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1 minute ago, RN2BE21 said:

@MTroup

We have discussed this in the previous comments, but during the online informational session, we were told if you applied by early decision deadline, you would get a decision before the holidays. Someone else commented that they called Vanderbilt and was told the same thing. 

Excellent, so hopefully the wait isn't more than a few more days.

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Hi all! I recently submitted my application to Vanderbilt for the prespecialty to FNP program. I know it's very late but I spoke with admissions and they said it's perfectly fine. Admissions said I could hear back before the holidays but Feb. the latest. 

Anyway, what do you think my chances are? I have a 3.8 GPA and all A's in my prereqs. Also volunteering experiences, medical scribing, and EMT certification.

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Hey emstofnp,

The admissions stats I saw for 2020 said that about half (321 of 613) of prespecialty applicants get either admitted outright or on the waitlist (they didn’t give specific numbers for each)and they enrolled about 23%(142) of those who applied - so I assume that they admit slightly more than 23%, waitlist about another quarter, and reject about half.  I have no idea what the chances of getting in off the waitlist are.  I spoke with one of the specialty directors last year (not FNP) and she said the prespecialty seats for Nashville area specialty year are the most competitive, prespecialty seats for out of Nashville specialty year slightly less, and that if I wanted to apply right then I should because after the accept/deposit deadline passed she thought she might have some seats open (although they were full at that moment). Someone who was already an RN was told there still were seats open for that slate of applicants.  This was March of this year for 2022 entry (I waited to apply for this year because I wanted my prerequisites done to show I could be a good student after being out of school ten years, and had some family stuff going on).  Sorry I don’t have better stats,they’re kind of tight with them (it isn’t like law school, where every school uses a common app system and they break down admission rates by GPA and LSAT score for every school!).

For what it’s worth, your GPA is above average (the average for admitted/waitlisted prespecialty was 3.72 in 2020). And you have infinite times more healthcare experience than I do, because I have zero, and it seemed like a few people applying had zero and they still encouraged applications (they said the pandemic cut down on volunteer opportunities, and implied that some more menial healthcare work wasn’t all that relevant to becoming a APRN).  I did practice law for ten years in non-profits and do a lot of mental health work in the criminal courts, and my BA is in social work from a middling state school.  So you sound like a very strong candidate to me! Being an EMT is pretty freaking cool, so you obviously have the academic ability and interest. I know it doesn’t help a lot but I’m also beside myself with anxiety since Vanderbilt is by far my first choice.


 

 

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I think a 3.8 is super competitive!! I’m a little concerned I won’t get in because I have to take Microbiology and Lifespan Psychology. When I talked to my admissions counselor I expressed my concern about not having those and maybe I should wait until I’m done with them but she said not to wait , to apply now so I did ??‍♀️? I’m currently a dental hygienist so I had all the other ones but they will expire after this year so I really hope I get in this time???

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14 minutes ago, DonnaRDH said:

I think a 3.8 is super competitive!! I’m a little concerned I won’t get in because I have to take Microbiology and Lifespan Psychology. When I talked to my admissions counselor I expressed my concern about not having those and maybe I should wait until I’m done with them but she said not to wait , to apply now so I did ??‍♀️? I’m currently a dental hygienist so I had all the other ones but they will expire after this year so I really hope I get in this time???

I personally found Microbiology to be the hardest science course I had ever taken. Trickier than even organic Chemistry. There is just so much memorization required. If that's a strong skill you have, you should be okay.

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6 hours ago, emstofnp said:

Hi all! I recently submitted my application to Vanderbilt for the prespecialty to FNP program. I know it's very late but I spoke with admissions and they said it's perfectly fine. Admissions said I could hear back before the holidays but Feb. the latest. 

Anyway, what do you think my chances are? I have a 3.8 GPA and all A's in my prereqs. Also volunteering experiences, medical scribing, and EMT certification.

Maybe I was an outlier, but I had a 2.99 GPA in my undergrad, 3.0 in my ADN and a 3.9 in my RN to BSN but a majority of my undergraduate years were definitely less than the lowest GPA on the VUSN website. Experience matters and writing a really good essay helps. I will credit Vanderbilt for considering the whole student. Actually, I thank them for it. Good recommendations are key, too. Speaking as one of their AGPCNP students. Unsure if that helps. 

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How are you liking the program? I really hope decisions come out this week!

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1 hour ago, nursing04152000 said:

How are you liking the program? I really hope decisions come out this week!

I love adults/geriatrics, so for me, I think the program is a really great fit. Each faculty member has their niche within AGPC and all have their DNPs and are currently practicing. They’re supportive, information/content is provided in such a way to help you succeed on future board exams and in clinical practice (but is by no means easy). I opted to take the program part time as a direct admit (2 years) in order to continue working at the hospital (which I had to change to part time status halfway through the program). I think campus visits are really fun mainly because I hadn't been to Nashville other than in passing, the campus is beautiful and VUSN is quite fancy, new and has all this tech. 

Lots of exams, papers, and content. Even as an undergrad who apparently struggled, I am thriving and doing well academically. Vandy was the the third, out-of-my-league program I had applied to as a challenge for myself (definitely doubted getting in but compiled a solid application for the priority deadline), and literally cried at work when I got the acceptance letter. Mine was received on Feb 15 so I am interested to see how this earlier decision making pans out for you all. 

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