Vanderbilt 2020 Pre Specialty

Nursing Students School Programs

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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!

56 minutes ago, Psychme1929 said:

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.

We definitely have all those scenarios succeeding in the program--moms, marrieds, working, etc. People study at school or late at night to work around their children's needs and significant others have to be supportive on the sidelines. However, unless you have some sort of high paying job that only needs you flexibly 10 hours/week, I would not depend on working regularly as a part of your finances. Steady required work of more than 10 hours/week is not compatible with this program. Most who try that end up letting go of the job in order to make the grade.

2 Votes
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
2 hours ago, KCKPsychNPstude said:

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.

I have been wondering about housing during the program. What are the best neighborhood options for pre-specialty year apartments? Where do most students live? I've visited a couple times and of course have heard good things about Hillsboro, 12 South, Midtown, and the Gulch. Are there popular/ affordable apartments in these areas for grad students? Looking to be in a nice, but reasonably priced area that is somewhat close to the school and other pre-specialty students.

1 Votes
4 minutes ago, futureFNP2022 said:

I have been wondering about housing during the program. What are the best neighborhood options for pre-specialty year apartments? Where do most students live? I've visited a couple times and of course have heard good things about Hillsboro, 12 South, Midtown, and the Gulch. Are there popular/ affordable apartments in these areas for grad students? Looking to be in a nice, but reasonably priced area that is somewhat close to the school and other pre-specialty students.

I wish I could give you good information about that. I am not happy with my housing choice but its safe, has a 24-7 concierge and amenities--way too expensive. There are definitely better choices. I am surrounded by fellow students who are paying less money, living closer to school or further away in a nicer neighborhood. I wish I could help but you actually sound like you are more ahead of the housing game than I am even now. I haven't had time to explore new housing options yet. I chose this apartment and have lived between home--school--and hospital since getting here.

1 Votes
Specializes in Psychology.
1 hour ago, KCKPsychNPstude said:

I wish I could give you good information about that. I am not happy with my housing choice but its safe, has a 24-7 concierge and amenities--way too expensive. There are definitely better choices. I am surrounded by fellow students who are paying less money, living closer to school or further away in a nicer neighborhood. I wish I could help but you actually sound like you are more ahead of the housing game than I am even now. I haven't had time to explore new housing options yet. I chose this apartment and have lived between home--school--and hospital since getting here.

How good is Vanderbilt about giving scholarships to PreSpecialty students? I heard in a Youtube video that one diverse Prespecialty gets a full tuition scholarship, is that true?

1 Votes
On 1/25/2020 at 12:22 PM, Psychme1929 said:

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.

No I applied a three weeks after the deadline. I agree, this may be the case. I'll see what happens these next couple weeks. Thanks!

1 Votes
1 hour ago, Psych99143 said:

How good is Vanderbilt about giving Scholarships to PreSpecialty students? I heard in a Youtube video that one diverse Prespecialty gets a full tuition Scholarship, is that true?

Hmmmmm......that's not my experience. I think its okay for me to tell you this--if not, they'll just pull me to the side and talk to me...this program can be really small and intimate for such a big university and sprawling program...anyway they tell us at orientation that there are only 6 full scholarships directly from in the entire program--three are given to first year PreSpecialty students and three are given to second year Specialty students; everybody else gets a smaller scholarship. I don't know how they choose the first year PreSpecialty full ride students--I obviously wasn't an awardee; maybe its diversity--I don't know. The second year Specialty student has to have a 4.0 just to compete then they have to write an essay, pass an interview and I think have an impressive CV since coming to VUSN. I am not in the running--I did not get a 4.0 last semester plus even if I was in the running, I can't relinquish the Nurse Corps or it would end up as a defaulted loan but I have two friends who I know have 4.0s and I hope they continue with it so they can be in the running at the end of summer.

1 Votes
Specializes in Psychology.
2 hours ago, KCKPsychNPstude said:

Hmmmmm......that's not my experience. I think its okay for me to tell you this--if not, they'll just pull me to the side and talk to me...this program can be really small and intimate for such a big university and sprawling program...anyway they tell us at orientation that there are only 6 full Scholarships directly from Vandy in the entire program--three are given to first year PreSpecialty students and three are given to second year Specialty students; everybody else gets a smaller Scholarship. I don't know how they choose the first year PreSpecialty full ride students--I obviously wasn't an awardee; maybe its diversity--I don't know. The second year Specialty student has to have a 4.0 just to compete then they have to write an essay, pass an interview and I think have an impressive CV since coming to VUSN. I am not in the running--I did not get a 4.0 last semester plus even if I was in the running, I can't relinquish the Nurse Corps or it would end up as a defaulted loan but I have two friends who I know have 4.0s and I hope they continue with it so they can be in the running at the end of summer.

I appreciate the honesty! So do you have the Nurse Corps Scholarship or the Loan Repayment program option?

1 Votes
4 hours ago, Psych99143 said:

I appreciate the honesty! So do you have the Nurse Corps Scholarship or the Loan Repayment program option?

I have the scholarship. Current students get the Nurse Corps scholarship. The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment program is available to those who already have their Nursing Degrees and debt and are working in qualified high needs health agencies or institutions

1 Votes

@KCKPsychNPstude Hey there! Could you tell us more about the background of your cohort for psych? I think I read in this thread that in the past there were ~150 applicants with 25 being accepted for psych. I'm curious to know what kind of experience they came in with/GPA. Thank you for being a fountain of information!

1 Votes

I know one year they heard on Valentines Day, do you guys think we could hear around then?

1 Votes
Specializes in Psychology.
On 1/26/2020 at 11:15 PM, KCKPsychNPstude said:

I have the Scholarship. Current students get the Nurse Corps scholarship. The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment program is available to those who already have their Nursing Degrees and debt and are working in qualified high needs health agencies or institutions

Thanks for the clarification! Do you remember when the scholarship was announced (when did the application open) compared to when you heard back that you received the scholarship? Also, do you have examples of what essay questions they asked?

1 Votes
39 minutes ago, Psych99143 said:

Thanks for the clarification! Do you remember when the Scholarship was announced (when did the application open) compared to when you heard back that you received the scholarship? Also, do you have examples of what essay questions they asked?

I applied in the summer--I do not remember when.

They informed us of winning the scholarship in mid-September

Here is the link where you can sign up for updates and everything related to deadlines, etc.

https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loans-scholarships/nurse-corps/about-nurse-corps

1 Votes
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