Vanderbilt, UMASS, UVM Direct Entry MSN

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HI,

I have applied to Vanderbilt, UVM and UMASS for Fall 2010. Has anyone else ? What are your stats. I am trying really hard to find out what my odds are and can not find anything on the web. Does anyone know where I can find out this information ? I am on the cut off line with GRE score and GPA for Vanderbilt. Any information would be very much apperciated

Okay. Since I am in my pre-specialty year, I cannot tell you much about the actual FNP and CNM programs. However, I have had limited contact with the FNP faculty but a considerable amount of contact with the midwifery faculty and director, and I cannot even begin to communicate to you how wonderful they are. I have spoken to numerous second and third year students, and they have only had good things to say.

With that being said, pre-specialty year is just one of those things that you need to "get through" wherever you go, and I think you'll hear that from most students at most schools. It is definitely accelerated. A lot of my classmates have been extremely stressed out, but I have found it to be a good pace. Just depends on how you manage stress.

Most of the faculty is great. There are a few that we dread having, but the majority of professors are fun, informed, and especially ACCESSIBLE and INSPIRING. If you email a professor, expect to get a reply within a few hours. Accessibility: My clinical instructor just had a baby, but she is still giving me prompt feedback on my SOAP notes even when a substitute instructor is already grading them for her. Inspiration: A few professors (particularly one of the pediatric specialists who does a lot of the clinical lectures) are straight-up inspiring during their lectures. I just sit there in awe. So awesome.

I don't think you should be concerned that it would only take two years to get your masters--however, you said you are a non-nurse, so be aware that if you took the dual FNP/NMW route, it would actually be almost three years total (3 semesters RN; 5 semesters FNP/NMW). If you just did FNP, it would be 3 specialty semesters; if you just did midwifery, it would be 4 specialty semesters. But anyway, I think the reason that Vanderbilt's program is faster than some of the others is that we take classes through the summer. A good friend of mine is in the Yale program, and she has 2 years of specialty work for pediatrics while I will have 2 years of specialty work for both family practice AND midwifery--and this is because she has summers off while we at Vandy will be in class. I assure you that your education/training/preparedness will NOT be negatively affected by the accelerated nature of the program. Vandy pumps out all-stars.

Sorry if I've rambled or if this is not totally coherent--I'm pretty tired and trying to simultaneously prepare for lab. Let me know if I can be of any help!

Nate

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Can I ask how difficult it was to get into the FNP/CNM program as a non-nurse? What sort of qualifications do they look for in DE applicants (past experience, HCE, volunteer, grades, gre, etc? Anything specific? Could i transfer into this program possibly after my RN portion is completed or do I need to choose a specialty before I start this program at Vandy? Do you think it makes you more marketable as a dual FNP/CNM? I have read/heard that its hard to keep up both certifications in practice~but maybe working at an Ob/gyn office perhaps? More info is greatly appreciate about the overall program at Vandy. I am applying next year! Super excited!

Okay. Since I am in my pre-specialty year, I cannot tell you much about the actual FNP and CNM programs. However, I have had limited contact with the FNP faculty but a considerable amount of contact with the midwifery faculty and director, and I cannot even begin to communicate to you how wonderful they are. I have spoken to numerous second and third year students, and they have only had good things to say.

With that being said, pre-specialty year is just one of those things that you need to "get through" wherever you go, and I think you'll hear that from most students at most schools. It is definitely accelerated. A lot of my classmates have been extremely stressed out, but I have found it to be a good pace. Just depends on how you manage stress.

Most of the faculty is great. There are a few that we dread having, but the majority of professors are fun, informed, and especially ACCESSIBLE and INSPIRING. If you email a professor, expect to get a reply within a few hours. Accessibility: My clinical instructor just had a baby, but she is still giving me prompt feedback on my SOAP notes even when a substitute instructor is already grading them for her. Inspiration: A few professors (particularly one of the pediatric specialists who does a lot of the clinical lectures) are straight-up inspiring during their lectures. I just sit there in awe. So awesome.

I don't think you should be concerned that it would only take two years to get your masters--however, you said you are a non-nurse, so be aware that if you took the dual FNP/NMW route, it would actually be almost three years total (3 semesters RN; 5 semesters FNP/NMW). If you just did FNP, it would be 3 specialty semesters; if you just did midwifery, it would be 4 specialty semesters. But anyway, I think the reason that Vanderbilt's program is faster than some of the others is that we take classes through the summer. A good friend of mine is in the Yale program, and she has 2 years of specialty work for pediatrics while I will have 2 years of specialty work for both family practice AND midwifery--and this is because she has summers off while we at Vandy will be in class. I assure you that your education/training/preparedness will NOT be negatively affected by the accelerated nature of the program. Vandy pumps out all-stars.

Sorry if I've rambled or if this is not totally coherent--I'm pretty tired and trying to simultaneously prepare for lab. Let me know if I can be of any help!

Nate

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Hi There,

I can't really give you a definitive answer of "what they look for"--I suggest contacting admissions and asking them what makes successful applicants stand out. However, from what I can tell, they really look for diversity in demographics and in experience. For example, I am a male in midwifery, which is a rarity, and I did a unique community health outreach project in Guatemala; I think these two things made me stand out the most. Other students have organized and led needle exchanges, have their master's degrees in fields such as clinical psychology and neuroscience, have done medical missions in India and South America, worked as a doula for years, etc. So, I suppose my advice to you is to identify something about yourself or your experiences that makes you stand out, and emphasize that in your application essays.

The FNP/CNM option is great--that's my program--but it is true that it may be difficult to actually work as both a FNP and CNM simultaneously in practice. The program was designed for individuals who wanted to work in very rural environments where they might be the only provider for miles and miles. If you were going to work in a rural environment, this option would definitely make you more marketable. It's more questionable if you are working in an urban environment; most likely, you would end up working as one or the other. However, as the CNM director told me, it IS possible to work as both a CNM and FNP in an urban environment if you can be creative in the way that you pitch it to your potential employer.

Let me know if I can be of any more assistance.

Nate

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Hi everyone,

I have a Bachelor's degree in business but am going back to school for nursing and begin taking my pre-reqs in January. I find it peculiar that Vanderbilt's program allows you to apply to the pre-specialty year without having completed any pre-reqs, as long as you finish them before classes begin.

I was wondering if anyone has done this/is it actually possible to get in that way or should I just wait to apply next year after I am done with the pre-reqs? I would love to be able to not have to wait til Fall '12 to start, but I don't know what my chances of getting in would be. Thanks for any help!

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i finished 2 pre-reqs the summer I applied and got in. I agree with Nate that they are looking for diversity; not just in race, but in experiences, backgrounds -- anything that would make you different than a "traditional student" whatever that is. One classmate had been homeless for two years; I was a teen mom; others had been in the armed forces. It was really varied, be genuine; show your passion.

Quick response to concern about taking the GRE. ALL of the must-have courses are graded exclusively by multiple choice. So, all of your grade will come from either 3 or 4 exams of 75-100 points. If you are a good test-taker that can really work.

If you've been in an advanced MS or Ph.D. program emphasizing research-type critical thought; or are an "essay types" like me who think we need more than four answers; they can trip you up.

I agree the professors are good and friendly; especially the Peds woman. She made me want to shift to Peds and I don't even like kids! However, I think the clinical directors vary, mine was good as well, but we all heard stories of not-so-good ones.

Lastly, if you've been out of school for awhile, it might be better to try for a traditional BSN, then apply to their NP program. This program is the proverbial drinking from the firehose of information. Hey Nate, how is Maine??

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I know this is off topic, but I have to ask. How are you going to pay the tuiton at Vanderbilt? How are you going to finance your education? Employer sponsership? I checked into their PhD and dnp programs, and their tuition is unbelievable. They can't even be covered by student loans if the tuition was the only thing to put on them. Just an undergraduate degree from them is 200,000.

They do have a great program though, hope you do well at them. I would recommend checking into a cheaper school though if you aren't going into research. NP's make the same no matter where they go to school.

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Specializes in FNP: Urgent Care & Primary Care; RN: Med-Surg.

The link to the above mentioned article is: http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/reporter/index.html?ID=4177

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I know this is off topic, but I have to ask. How are you going to pay the tuiton at Vanderbilt? How are you going to finance your education? Employer sponsership? I checked into their PhD and DNP programs, and their tuition is unbelievable. They can't even be covered by student loans if the tuition was the only thing to put on them. Just an undergraduate degree from them is 200,000.

They do have a great program though, hope you do well at them. I would recommend checking into a cheaper school though if you aren't going into research. NP's make the same no matter where they go to school.

They give everyone the exact same in financial aid. They gave out packets at their info session. Also, there are programs like the National Health Corps that can help you pay tuition after you graduate. Also, if you go part time to school, they have a great tuition reimbursement program if you work at their hospital. And, I really don't think NPs make the same no matter where they go to school. It is a different education, Vanderbilt has a respected name, and employers know about it more than they would know about another school that is not reputable. Also, with an almost 100% passing nclex rate, I can bet their boards for the specialties are almost the same. You will not make the same coming from a less reputable school, and you will not have an easier time finding a job. It's about the name, the academics and the reputation. I don't mean this in a snooty way, but in a very matter of fact manner.

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Specializes in FNP: Urgent Care & Primary Care; RN: Med-Surg.
They give everyone the exact same in financial aid. They gave out packets at their info session. Also, there are programs like the National Health Corps that can help you pay tuition after you graduate. Also, if you go part time to school, they have a great tuition reimbursement program if you work at their hospital. And, I really don't think NPs make the same no matter where they go to school. It is a different education, Vanderbilt has a respected name, and employers know about it more than they would know about another school that is not reputable. Also, with an almost 100% passing nclex rate, I can bet their boards for the specialties are almost the same. You will not make the same coming from a less reputable school, and you will not have an easier time finding a job. It's about the name, the academics and the reputation. I don't mean this in a snooty way, but in a very matter of fact manner.

I agree. Not only that, but theirs is actually the shortest program I have seen. So by the time you spend paying for by semester hours for other schools that have a longer program, I wonder if the money does not come out about the same?

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@blackbird singing, just sent you a message!

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