Yale GEPN Applicants 2011

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It didn't look like there was a thread for 2011 Yale GEPN applicants. Since the application recently opened, I thought I'd start a thread to see if anyone else is starting to work on their application.

Anyone else out there?

Thanks, Pam. It is great to hear your perspective. With four different interview days, we easily could have heard different student panels and come away with different perspectives. There were also several cases were someone asked the student panel a question, the same question would be asked in my specialty group and then I would asked my interviewer the question, and I got three different answers. So I didn't always know which answer to believe.

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Does anyone have any misgivings about the GEPN program? I do think Yale has a great program, there were a few things that bothered me when I went for the interview and I am just wondering if anyone has different perspectives.

I think that the program does have some misgivings. For me one big one is that students don't typically sit for their RN licensure until the second year Spring (or even Summer). This is more than half way through the program, and nearly a year after other similar direct-entry programs. While I'm not going to school to ultimately be an RN, I do think it's important for an NP to work as an RN to have some cred. Another thing is that I got a general sense that working while you're a student (I guess only during the third year) is not all that common or encouraged. The students I've talked to actually did work, but they didn't feel that a majority did.

Along the same lines, during that whole second year you'd be an "NP student" at the hospital and introducing yourself as such... but in fact your badge wouldn't even say RN then (because you're not licensed.) I've heard from current students that this can create a weird environment at clinicals.

Lastly: cost and location (New Haven.. eeks!)

All this said, I still think it is a stellar program. Just important to review all the information.

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Specializes in Future CNM.
Pam -

did you join the 2011 GEPN Facebook group I created? If not, scroll up this page and you will find the link. I'm sure you can also search in FB for "Yale 2011 GEPN". You are from CA also right (sorry I've exchanged emails with quite a few people from this thread so I get the info mixed up sometimes!)? If you still live here, we should meet up before school begins. I am not 100% decided on Yale, but almost there lol. I'm still mulling over Columbia and OHSU and have to decide pretty darn soon!

Hey Tanya!

Facebook is blocked at my work but I'll definitely join the group as soon as I get home, haha. I'm not too thrilled with OHSU because they seem incredibly nonresponsive with prospective students. There's very little opportunity to actually get a feel for what the program will be like. That makes me really nervous. As for Columbia, I'd rather be in a smaller class cohort and everything about Yale's interview day really made me love the program. If my boyfriend is able to transfer jobs and I'm able to find a decent elementary school for my daughter then I'll be there in the fall. It's looking really good :). I do still live here in SD, and I agree we should definitely meet up before making the big move! How do you plan on getting everything moved out there?

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Specializes in Future CNM.
Thanks, Pam. It is great to hear your perspective. With four different interview days, we easily could have heard different student panels and come away with different perspectives. There were also several cases were someone asked the student panel a question, the same question would be asked in my specialty group and then I would asked my interviewer the question, and I got three different answers. So I didn't always know which answer to believe.

Of course!! And I do think some of your concerns are valid, especially the ones that sgmaygeorge pointed out about a later RN license. Still, I think there isn't a single program that doesn't have drawbacks, and I personally really like that the program starts out as a graduate program, rather than as a second degree undergrad. The fact that we don't get our RN until the middle of our second year may be a bit inconvenient, but for me its a better downside (if that makes sense) than some of the other programs' downsides :) Good luck!!!

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Specializes in Future CNM.

Oooh, I should also mention that the reason you can't get the RN license at the end of the GEPN year is because CT requires RN's to have 4 semesters of education before they can sit for the NCLEX. Since Yale doesn't start until the Fall, students need to take the Fall, Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters before they can take the exam. Therefore, the way I see it, it's only a downside because Yale has a Fall start instead of a Summer start, and not really a structural problem with the program itself. :)

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Oooh, I should also mention that the reason you can't get the RN license at the end of the GEPN year is because CT requires RN's to have 4 semesters of education before they can sit for the NCLEX. Since Yale doesn't start until the Fall, students need to take the Fall, Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters before they can take the exam. Therefore, the way I see it, it's only a downside because Yale has a Fall start instead of a Summer start, and not really a structural problem with the program itself. :)

I've heard that the issues is not about the semesters. For example, the University of CT has a direct entry pre licensure program that is only 3 semesters and you can sit for the RN licensure at the end.

http://www.nursing.uconn.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=710

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Specializes in Future CNM.

Hmm you might be right, that's definitely what it looks like from that. Thats just what I was told on interview day. Maybe cuz their MEIN program is 45 credits and the GEPN year is only 40 credits? Who knows. Either way, it's not much of a drawback to me, but I definitely see how it could be for some!

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I asked my interviewer straight out why we should come to Yale for GEPN rather than do community college for an RN then turn to Yale for the MSN, and what she thought of Yale's lack of prerequisites. She was honest in her understanding that both paths create great APNs, but she also mentioned that she feels Yale attracts such high caliber students that those concerns/differences are a wash by the end of the program. (That should make everyone feel good, right?). That said, she also said that she was please to hear that I was thinking of other options, because we need more midwives and APNs no matter how they get trained.

And then she asked me straight out if I thought I could handle the hard science! LOL!!

Still trying to make the decision because this means being away from my kids during the week - ugh!!!

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I've heard that the issues is not about the semesters. For example, the University of CT has a direct entry pre licensure program that is only 3 semesters and you can sit for the RN licensure at the end.

http://www.nursing.uconn.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=710

If I remember correctly, they said that it's a law about having to take three full semesters IN A ROW (hence why you can't take time off between first and second year). Summer session is short (mid may- end of july) compared to fall and spring so I'm assuming the fall is needed for it to be full semesters. Just my thought.

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Really appreciate this thoughtful debate and am writing from my phone otherwise this would be longer, but wondering what the start date is?anyone know?

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I asked my interviewer straight out why we should come to Yale for GEPN rather than do community college for an RN then turn to Yale for the MSN, and what she thought of Yale's lack of prerequisites. She was honest in her understanding that both paths create great APNs, but she also mentioned that she feels Yale attracts such high caliber students that those concerns/differences are a wash by the end of the program. (That should make everyone feel good, right?). That said, she also said that she was please to hear that I was thinking of other options, because we need more midwives and APNs no matter how they get trained.

And then she asked me straight out if I thought I could handle the hard science! LOL!!

Still trying to make the decision because this means being away from my kids during the week - ugh!!!

I've been giving this a lot of thought also. I actually just heard back from a current student that brought up this very idea and thought I'd share what she wrote.

"...I hope I've been helpful, and not a total Debbie Downer! The program is worth it overall, but it is very expensive, and can be very frustrating at times. I have said multiple times that if I had to do it all over again, I'm not sure I would have gone this route due to the cost. Still, I would have more seriously considered a state school, or doing an associates and then bridging to a masters program. Just something to consider!"

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Specializes in Future CNM.

Last year's start date was September 1 for classes and August 23-25 for Orientation. Not sure about the exact dates for this year.

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