Okay, I know it's early, but Yale is my first choice, and I'm already terrified that I'm going to screw it up. My goal is New England (although I'm also applying to Pace because they have this Science Summer thing for those of us who haven't taken anatomy yet), and I want to be a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner.
I eventually want to either have a mobile clinic for poorer older folks who can't afford more traditional options or who are home-bound, or make home-calls in some other way.
I think Yale will help me get there, but I don't think I'll get in. I have a lower GPA (but still above a 3.0) from UC Santa Cruz, and I spent the last two years teaching in Taiwan, only to find out I don't like teaching very much. I'm taking my GREs in three weeks and I'm starting some prereqs this summer.
I'm also applying to Simmons, Pace, Northeastern, MGH and Boston College.
Before I ramble on any longer, anyone else applying?
Eazye, I'm coming from Oakland-- was thinking about the move... and shipping everything from the west coast! ($$$). Do you have any thoughts on what you will do?
yeah its crazy expensive to move stuff across country. i have a teenager and pets, so i have all kinds of baggage, both literally and figuratively. :)
i'm thinking of just getting rid of almost everything and then pulling a smallish trailer behind my car. but if/when i decide for sure i'm going maybe we should talk because if we found a way to share moving costs that could work. there's some stuff i just would hate to leave behind.
I am also leaning towards accepting at Yale, but waiting to hear about a scholarship at Emory. Sorry, I live in NYC and can't offer any advice about the x-country move. Good luck with that!
Question for everyone re: financial aid at Yale. Did any of you get Perkins loans? I was surprised to see there weren't any on my award worksheet. I thought Yale had given out Perkins in the past. Also, I am planning on making the remainder of the "total cost" out of loan money. Do you think it's best to apply for GradPLUS for living expenses/tuition money? I know the private loans have variable interest rates, so I am trying to stay away from them.
Ya, I didn't get any perkins loans either. I did get a $10, 250 scholarship which was nice. I know most people get this scholarship. Did people get about this much? I have no idea if it's good or not. Also, I think it's best to apply for grad plus loans over private loans.
Yeah, I got my financial aid too, it was quite shocking how much debt we'll be in. I also did not get any perkins/stafford loans I'm thinking they might be available during the specialty years (I'm just guessing though). Yeah, I also got a scholarship but if was for about $9,500 which will definitely help. I will definitely be attending Yale in the fall though!
i also got a scholarship of about 10k and YSN and stafford loans. the YSN financial aid office did not receive perkins loan funds but may later, and says GEPN students are first priority recipients.
if there are any other single parents considering doing this program, id love to hear how youre planning to handle it, financially...
Both programs are good choices- congratulations! Here are a few small differences between the two (and mind you that I am slightly biased bc I chose Yale)...
-First of all, Yale is rated the #4 nursing school for the psych/mental health specialty
-I think the incoming class size at Columbia is about double the size of Yale's (180-200 students versus 80-100 students).
-Do you want to be in an extremely large, (and expensive) urban city or a much smaller city?
-Yale specializes in the graduate entry program, but Columbia grants you a BSN degree in addition to the MSN
-Yale is very research oriented, not sure about Columbia..
-Yale has no prerequisite courses and Columbia does
-Columbia starts in the summer and Yale starts in the fall
-Are you interested in working meanwhile? Does financial aid matter? Which school are you leaning towards?
I would make a pro/con list to help with your decision. Let me know if you have other questions.
You pretty much outlined my entire pro/con list; you are quite informed!
I actually made my decision last week to go to Yale. I went to undergrad in CT and love New Haven, I MUCH prefer small class sizes, and I really need my summer off to unwind before starting such a big endeavor.
I'm thinking they might be available during the specialty years (I'm just guessing though). Yeah, I also got a scholarship but if was for about $9,500 which will definitely help. I will definitely be attending Yale in the fall though!
javabean
36 Posts
I just got my financial aid yesterday...no surprises I guess. I'm 95% sure that I'm coming to Yale. Anyone definitely coming?