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?

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.

The University of CT program is spring, summer, fall in a row and allows you to sit for the RN licensure at that time. Yale's is fall, spring, summer in a row and does not allow you to sit for the RN licensure.

My understanding is that the quantity of courses is simply not great enough during the GEPN year to qualify for the BRN requirements to sit for the licensure.

Maybe I'm missing something?

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Specializes in Future CNM.

This is what the CT licensure requirement says:

The minimum length of the nursing component of the program must be equivalent to four (4) fifteen (15) week academic semesters and contain a minimum of thirty-five (35) semester hours of credit in nursing. Fifty percent (50%) of contact hours shall be in supervised direct client care experiences,

observational experiences and simulated experiences appropriate to the program's educational outcomes, and laboratory experiences for the acquisition and practice of clinical nursing skills.

Gathered from:

http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/practitioner_licensing_and_investigations/plis/nursing/nursing_regulations.pdf

Not exactly sure how UConn gets away with it, but seems that the 4 15-week semesters is where the issue is :\

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Specializes in Future CNM.

Though, either way, the actual distinction seems a bit moot. Most of the other programs people are considering aren't in CT anyway. Therefore, some definitely will find it a downside that they have to wait an additional semester to get licensed as an RN (and therefore won't be able to work as a nurse until at least the second semester second year), because compared to most other schools people are applying to like Columbia, JHU, Penn, or UCSF, this isn't the case.

It's not that I don't think this is a downside, it's just that every singe graduate entry program has it's own individual downsides, and it's own individual strengths. I sympathize and think this is a really awesome, but difficult decision for a lot of people and I really wish everyone luck!!

(And I'm super excited too!!! :) )

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Thanks for looking that up!

I'm convinced it's the prereqs then... because Quinnipiac University (also in CT) is able to have students sit for the RN licensure after just 3 semesters also. They start in the Summer and then do Fall and Spring.

It's a small detail, perhaps. But to me it isn't just that we become able to sit after the Fall semester of the the first NP year, it's that most students don't actually end up taking the exam until Spring Break at the earliest or over the Summer before the third year.

I'm just not thrilled with the idea of introducing myself as an NP student at a hospital and not being an RN. A recent graduate told me that most people assume that you are already an RN and that it isn't a big deal, just an awkward gray area as you cannot really "do" anything without licensure.

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Is anyone on here living in San Diego and attending Mira Costa College? I tutor at MCC and one of my students says she knows another student who was accepted to the GEPN program this year...just wondering if maybe that person is on here???

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has anyone NOT received their financial aid package yet?

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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!"

sgmaygeorge:

If you don't mind sharing, what else did the current student have to say about the program?

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Since the cost is on everyone's mind as we make our decisions...Anyone want to offer an opinion?

How much is too much when it comes to financing this program? If the total cost is 160K (am I right on that number?), how much of that are people willing to go into debt for?

Heather

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Hey everyone! I'm a bit late in saying this, but I got in for FNP! Honestly, I cannot believe it - I thought I completely bombed the interview and I was about 99% sure I could just cross off Yale from my list. Needless to say, I was in shock when I got the voicemail saying I was accepted!

Problem is, I'm also in at Columbia (like many of you) and I have no idea what to do. I think I'm leaning toward Yale, and this is partly because I've heard from a few Columbia grads that their FNP program is very overcrowded and unorganized. I guess most people get poor clinical placements or even have to double or triple up. However, I don't actually know any Yale FNP grads. Has anyone heard anything about how the FNP experience is at Yale?

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Since the cost is on everyone's mind as we make our decisions...Anyone want to offer an opinion?

How much is too much when it comes to financing this program? If the total cost is 160K (am I right on that number?), how much of that are people willing to go into debt for?

Heather

I think this is the main thing that has prevented me from sending in my stuff already. While I still need to work out all the financial details (exactly how much I'll need to borrow over the next 3 years), I have come at it from the perspective of a former pre-med, so I was always expecting to go into debt anyway. I'm hoping that I can live frugally enough for the first few years as an NP so I can pay off my debt quickly, after which I think I'll be very happy with my salary as an NP. I've thrown around the idea of going to a community college to get my RN and reapplying to the regular MSN program, but I'm so happy to be assured a spot now, and the more quickly I become an NP, the more quickly I will be making the salary of an NP, so it's likely that I'll just do it and hope it all turns out for the best.

I hope my perspective is justified... I guess I'll find out!

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Rainbow - is your quote of 160k including living expenses? I'm separating the 2, and my math comes out to ~50k the 1st year and ~35k the next 2 years, so about 120k or so for tuition and school expenses alone. I just want to make sure I'm not missing something!

Also, the new grad school rankings came out today and Yale moved up from #4 to #1 in psychiatric mental health nursing! http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-nursing-schools/mental-health-nursing-rankings ...can you tell psych is my specialty?! :D . It is interesting though that this ranking is for psychiatric CNS, not NP, and I don't believe Yale offers PMH-CNS anymore. I can only hope this stellar ranking applies to their PMHNP program as well!

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Specializes in Future CNM.

Yale's ranking went a bit down in midwifery, but 3 to 5 is no big deal :) I'm still incredibly excited! I'm signing the Columbia rejection today....eep!

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