Vanderbilt 2020 Pre Specialty

Nursing Students School Programs

Updated:   Published

I am making a post for all programs I am applying for that I have not seen thus far. I have been going into rabbit holes of previous year's posts for schools I am applying for. Vanderbilt has been my top choice since I decided to go into direct entry nursing the end of my sophomore year of college, so it seems only fitting to make a post for it. I am applying for the PMNHP specialty and look forward to reading posts and getting to know everyone!

1 hour ago, Ann4321 said:

Anyone apply that did not receive their financial aid email? I didn’t receive it and I am not sure if this is something I should be concerned about.

Considering how they went out of their way in the email to say it does not mean admission, I think you're fine. Did you apply by priority deadline? If not, maybe they're just sending emails out by when people applied. It's the only logical thing I can think of or they simply made a mistake in forgetting to send it to you. There are a lot more people applying so it's understandable if they might have. Maybe check your spam too. Sometimes emails are hidden from even legit sources.

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I didn't get it either. I'm guessing they do it by speciality you applied for (like they did for the other previous email)

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34 minutes ago, Barbiegirl1229 said:

I didn't get it either. I'm guessing they do it by speciality you applied for (like they did for the other previous email)

I think it’s actually based off if you checked the box for financial aid on your application. If you checked it, you got the email. If you didn’t check it, you didn’t get the email. That’s what previous years posts have said.

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dang I checked it off and didn't get the email

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Hi Everybody, I am at Vanderbilt in my PreSpecialty year. If you have any questions about the PreSpecialty year or the Nurse Corps Scholarship, feel free to ask me questions.

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Specializes in Psychology.
9 minutes ago, KCKPsychNPstude said:

Hi Everybody, I am at Vanderbilt in my PreSpecialty year. If you have any questions about the PreSpecialty year or the Nurse Corps Scholarship, feel free to ask me questions.

Hi! I am actually waiting for the Nurse Corps Scholarship to release their application so I can apply! Are you a recipient? What are your tips for someone applying?

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Really?? Thanks @KCKPsychNPstude!!!! How did you make your application stick out for NurseCorps?? What was it like balancing studying with trying to get adequate rest and have somewhat of a life? I understand you need to focus but obviously some sort of balance needs to be had or we would all go into overload. Did you feel supported by faculty and other students if you were struggling with material in a class? Sorry for all the questions and again really appreciate you being willing to answer.

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Hmmm....Not sure that we aren't in overload or weren't especially last semester. Not sure that we have a balance of schoolwork and life( ?) Just kidding--Kind of.

It ebbs and flows and first semester, it is good to make any extracurricular commitments very flexible so that you can cancel them or adjust if you realize you need more time to study. We all spend time doing extra things in different ways--I would say you definitely have time to spend pretty much 2 hours per non-class day doing something other than studying. Time management is key and freedom to drop anything other than studying if you do not manage your time well is the other key. One of the important things that helps with this and is good for you to recognize early on is that the only material that is going to show up on a test are the concepts covered in class. This means if the book mentions it but the powerpoints do not mention it, the concept doesn't matter. Only the concepts covered in class/on the powerpoints matter. So, if you make sure you understand what is covered in class--mostly by going to class and taking notes in lecture--then you will have all the info you need. We do have one class so far--Pharm-- for which I have needed to get the info outside of class to understand but you are still only going to be tested on what is mentioned in class.

As for which resources you use to understand concepts, the ability to get all understanding from class lecture and professor answers is my dominant experience. I definitely know some people who rely heavily on other sources they find on You Tube, or our books or our digital textbook mainly because our professors do not teach to their learning style. I have used our books to understand a few concepts other than assigned tables and charts and and only used outside sources to help me with memorizing a few things and learning how to read EKG strips. For me, the professors' lectures have taught me everything else I need to know. I would say that people who prioritize reading our textbooks never accomplish that goal and do not have dynamic lives--go to class, review your notes, get your confusions clarified with fellow students, professors and the book--use the books to help you work out confusions not as your primary source of learning unless you have an assignment due that you have to turn in based on the book.

All the professors are dedicated to answering your questions if you have any about the work--some give better answers than others. None of them like it when your questions come within 24 hours of the test but some will still answer even within 24 hours of the test. Our fellow students are huge on team work. I am part of few groupmes and text threads with my classmates and most of us lean pretty hard on those groups for any questions we have about the program and concepts.

If it matters, we are required to get at least a B in every class and of course carry a minimum of a B average but we have more than a few people who have a 4.0. My student ambassador when I was a newly accepted student was a straight A student and I am currently friends with two people who have 4.0s and they both have the most dynamic lives in the program with consistent, daily exercise, jobs, and volunteer responsibilities. Others, who I am not close to, fit in partying as often as possible and still make the grade--I don't know if the partyers have 4.0s but they are still here so we know they got at least a 3.0 last semester?. I create personal time by doing things like this--in the middle of a study weekend, when we have a patho test on Monday--I go on allnurses and open up communication lines with future students. I also tutor a kid with learning challenges for 4 hours every weekend and work an incredibly flexible job that I have not worked this semester yet.

As for Nurse Corps, yes I am a Nurse Corps scholar and I do not know how I made my application stand out. I followed all the instructions and guidelines. Sorry for such a vague answer--maybe you can ask me a more specific question and I can be more helpful. During the application process, I did take part in their live webinar that they offered for applicants and I asked questions and I followed their rules--they have a lot of rules. The biggest reason I mentioned Nurse Corps in my post is because people think that they do not qualify to apply but we do qualify to apply for both Nurse Corps and NHSC--the National Health Service Corps scholarships. I suggest everybody who is not wealthy coming to or becoming an NP apply to both scholarships and any one becoming a nurse at any level--ADN, BSN, MSN, MSN-NP, apply to Nurse Corps. Just do not write off your eligibility--apply!!

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5 hours ago, Psych99143 said:

Hi! I am actually waiting for the Nurse Corps Scholarship to release their application so I can apply! Are you a recipient? What are your tips for someone applying?

Yes, I am a Nurse Corps scholar. During the application process, I took part in their live webinar that they offered for applicants and I asked questions. I followed all their rules--they have a lot of rules. I asked my recommenders for their recommendations early in the process and my recommenders got their recommendations in for me weeks and months ahead of the deadline. The biggest reason I mentioned Nurse Corps in my post is because people think that they do not qualify to apply but we do qualify to apply for both Nurse Corps and NHSC--the National Health Service Corps Scholarships. I suggest everybody who is not wealthy coming to or becoming an NP at any school, apply to both scholarships and any one becoming a nurse at any level--ADN, BSN, MSN, MSN-NP, apply to Nurse Corps. Just do not write off your eligibility--apply!!

My essays centered around a unified theme of the medical issues about which I am passionate and how as a nurse practitioner I can impact those issues but there are others in our cohort who are Nurse Corps scholars who did not write in that manner so I don't know how important that was.

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2 hours ago, KCKPsychNPstude said:

Yes, I am a Nurse Corps scholar. During the application process, I took part in their live webinar that they offered for applicants and I asked questions. I followed all their rules--they have a lot of rules. I asked my recommenders for their recommendations early in the process and my recommenders got their recommendations in for me weeks and months ahead of the deadline. The biggest reason I mentioned Nurse Corps in my post is because people think that they do not qualify to apply but we do qualify to apply for both Nurse Corps and NHSC--the National Health Service Corps Scholarships. I suggest everybody who is not wealthy coming to Vandy or becoming an NP at any school, apply to both Scholarships and any one becoming a nurse at any level--ADN, BSN, MSN, MSN-NP, apply to Nurse Corps. Just do not write off your eligibility--apply!!

My essays centered around a unified theme of the medical issues about which I am passionate and how as a nurse practitioner I can impact those issues but there are others in our cohort who are Nurse Corps scholars who did not write in that manner so I don't know how important that was.

Follow up questions for this: It seems like you do not find out until shortly before classes start or even around the same time. Did you do anything in the meantime while you waited to hear back in case you did not win (ie sign up for any loans and such?) I'm just unsure how to approach that part because I'm not the type to wait last minute to address things like that. I think I read they pay it back if you win but obviously since you actually won you have a better idea.

Also, so Nurse Corps is the version where you do take out loans but they're going to pay 60-80percent of them back once you complete your service?

@KCKPsychNPstude thank you for such an in depth response ?

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Awesome tip for skipping things not convered in class! I trust that they will cover everything that they feel is necessary to adequately prepare you instead of giving busy work that is not helpful. Good to hear that students really work together to get things done. I relied heavily on that and office hours with TAs and professors whenever I had trouble with a concept while I was in undergrad. I personally prefer to do that versus use outside resources but I will use them when absolutely necessary.

I have adjusted several aspects of my life in order to just focus on studying after starting the program. I know sometimes there may not be a balance like you said but as long as it's overall possible with good time management, that's what I care about. To be able to have a little time to unwind or get involved in flexible opportunities as you mentioned. I was also concerned for those who have responsibilities like kids, family members to take care of, or needing to work just from personal experience of having to balance both in the past.

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1 hour ago, Psychme1929 said:

Follow up questions for this: It seems like you do not find out until shortly before classes start or even around the same time. Did you do anything in the meantime while you waited to hear back in case you did not win (ie sign up for any loans and such?) I'm just unsure how to approach that part because I'm not the type to wait last minute to address things like that. I think I read they pay it back if you win but obviously since you actually won you have a better idea.

Also, so Nurse Corps is the version where you do take out loans but they're going to pay 60-80percent of them back once you complete your service?

@KCKPsychNPstude thank you for such an in depth response ?

Vandy starts mid-August; Nurse Corps releases choice of winners mid-September and they send the money at variable times each year. This year they sent our first stipend in October and paid the school in December. Save your money; manage your money well to juggle your life with the Nurse Corps disbursement schedule. On the other side of this degree, I am going to be really blessed to be in a lot less debt but this semester, my family and I are challenged because of the disbursement calendar.

In the beginning, you handle your financial aid as if you don't have the scholarship--for me that meant loans. Once you are awarded the scholarship, the financial aid office and Nurse Corps administrators guide you through the transition that will "swap out" your loans for Nurse Corps scholarship funds so for example in my case, I started the school year with 100,000 in loans then I got the scholarship and now am on track to have $33,000 in loans but I know someone who started with $100,000 in loans and now has $8,000 in loans but she also works two jobs (part-time) and has really low rent. I live in an expensive place which I want to change for next year but I was scared moving to a new city and chose the place with the best reviews for site unseen. So, any way, my Nurse Corps stipend only covers rent not utilities, food, gas, other living expenses, etc. so I have loans cover that and new this year, Nurse Corps takes out taxes so there's a gap between what Nurse Corps pays out to the school and tuition and fees. You do have to work in your Specialty for which they are awarding you for two years after graduation in order to "pay back" the scholarship. If you do not work in the capacity for which they give you the award, your scholarship converts to a defaulted loan.

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