Vanderbilt Pre-Specialty (for non-RNs) MSN 2013

bbcc · Feb 8, 2013

I visited Vanderbilt in November and got the same information as the Open House (or so they said). Every student at Vanderbilt also gets a scholarship; the minimum is about enough to cover books ($1200 or so) and it goes up to 1 full scholarship based on GRE and GPA. I'm not sure how Columbia's program works, but I'd guess it's similar! I've already been looking at ~dream apartments~ and I know I can get a comparable place for less than I'm paying in Chicago; NYC prices are at least twice Chicago.

vandy hopeful · Feb 8, 2013

For those of you who have already interviewed for Vandy, how did it go? What kinds of questions were asked? Thanks and good luck to everyone!

bbcc · Feb 11, 2013

My interview went great! I prepared the normal questions - strengths, weaknesses, conflict, why I want my specialty, why I want Vanderbilt, and even the topics that there weren't questions on, it helped me answer others and made me feel more confident. Now it's just a few weeks - hopefully only 2! until I expect to hear, and based on the interview and the signs from the interviewers, I'm feeling great - but you never know! They also talked about aspects of Vanderbilt I hadn't heard of, for instance, the inter-specialty clinic came up as an answer to one of my questions (always prepare questions yourself!) and it makes me even more excited about the potential for ending up at Vandy! I made sure to send thank-you cards as well. Different specialties seem to get asked different questions, as well.

Mana6834 · Feb 11, 2013

@bbcc

Did they say how you will be notified of an admission decision?

bbcc · Feb 11, 2013

No - but seeing as how everything was done online I expect the admission decision to be as well. I don't know of any schools at this juncture who notify by written letter alone - if you apply online, you get a decision online! Last years applicants received an e-mail I believe; not sure if it says congrats/sorry or tells you to sign onto the system, but that's what I'm expecting.

ash8788 · Feb 12, 2013

Congrats to everyone whos heard back from other schools!! I just heard that I got into MGH and I also heard that they're offering me a great scholarship. Vandy is still my first choice though so I don't know what to do! If I do get in, finances are really going to be the deal breaker, unfortunately. Vandy's website says we probably won't hear until mid to late April about scholarships and financial aid? Yikes, that's late! How are you all handling that?

hi616 · Feb 12, 2013

ash-

I'm not sure if you know that every student is offered a scholarship at Vandy. On the downside, because every student gets one they only range from about $1000-6000 with an average of $3300 the last I heard. They do have three full tuition scholarships, but if I remember right only one pre-specialty student can get one. So unless you think you are at the top of the top when it comes to a merit based scholarship, you might want to just figure that you'll get somewhere around $3000 for the Vanderbilt scholarship. Congrats on MGH and glad to hear you got a big scholarship :)

hi616 · Feb 12, 2013

My interview went really well too! The interviewer was so nice and when she said she wasn't quite sure of the answer for a question I asked she would email me back later. I really appreciated that. For FNP, it sounds like decisions will take longer than for other specialties though.

simmaplease · Feb 12, 2013

When I check my application status online it says "Thank you for your application for graduate study at Vanderbilt University. We will contact you when we have completed the review."

Does anyone see a different message when they check theirs??

hi616 · Feb 12, 2013

When I check my application status online it says "Thank you for your application for graduate study at Vanderbilt University. We will contact you when we have completed the review."
Does anyone see a different message when they check theirs??

I get the same message as you.

KoKe · Feb 12, 2013

When do we find out our admission decision? Where are you guys checking your application status online? I applied on paper and mailed in my application.

sarahdukie · Feb 12, 2013

Congrats on the scholarship, Ash!! That’s awesome. From what I’ve heard, many people end up having to put down multiple deposits if they want their options to remain open while waiting for other schools. I won’t even find out if I am in at Seattle U until April, so I’ll definitely be putting a deposit in to Vandy if I get in! It stinks that sometimes money gets lost that way, but its worth it if you are truly undecided, when you consider what a major life decision it is, and what a drop in the bucket a deposit is compared to all the debt we will take on! It does appear that scholarship opportunities at Vandy are scant—1 merit (gpa and gre) scholarship for all of pre-specialty students. If Vandy is really where you want to be though, I’d look into the NHSC scholarship program—it is a full scholarship with stipend for students who agree to work for 2 years in an under-served area upon graduation. That’s what I’m hoping for, anyway!=)