Apply to the MDE Program

Please read through all application information before beginning the online application process.

Columbia University School of Nursing seeks candidates with strong educational backgrounds, well-rounded extracurricular experiences, and skills. Students of all ages and educational backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Application Fee

A $75 non-refundable application fee must be paid through the application system after the application is submitted.

Fee waivers are granted to military service members and veterans, members of the Peace Corps and Americorps, Columbia Nursing alumni, and applicants who can demonstrate financial hardship. Applicants can complete the Fee Waiver Request Form at least three weeks prior to the application deadline.

Transcripts

All transcripts from post-secondary schools attended or in which credit was received must be uploaded to your online application. Unofficial transcripts may be submitted at the time of the application. Official transcripts are required at time of admission. Please do not mail in any paper transcripts to the Office of Admissions.

If you have attended a school outside of the United States, you must upload a course-by-course transcript evaluation conducted by the World Education Services (WES)

Essays

Written Essays

Two written essays are required on the application. The essays should be uploaded to the application as PDF files:

• Personal Statement: Explain your understanding of the role of a registered nurse. Why have you decided to pursue a career in nursing and how will Columbia Nursing’s MDE program aid in that transition?
  • Essay Requirements: Two double-spaced pages (12-point font/one-inch margins)
  • Essay Requirements: One double spaced page (12-point font/one-inch margins)

  MDE/DNP and MDE/PhD applicants will also be required to submit an additional essay highlighting their intention for pursuing their doctoral program.

  • Essay Requirements: One to two double-spaced pages (12-point font/one-inch margins)
    • MDE/DNP Essay: The role of a Registered Nurse (RN) is very different from the role of an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). Explain what you understand about the role of the APRN specialty you are interested in. What attributes do you possess that you are able to bring to your specialty of interest? What are your career goals?
    • MDE/PhD Essay: Describe your research interests, what led you to this area of research, and your career goals. Why is Columbia University the place where you can accomplish your goals?

    Video Essay

    Applicants will be recorded answering two video essay questions. The questions are:

    • Please tell us about a time that you have overcome an obstacle in your life, how you dealt with, and what you learned from the experience.
    • In nursing, ethics serves as a strong component. Drawing from either a personal experience or creating a scenario, please discuss an ethical dilemma and your solution for it.

    The video essay is recorded live within the application, so applicants will need a webcam that is directly attached to their device and web browser that supports Flash. Applicants are not able to upload a pre-recorded answer.

    Below are guidelines to support recording the video essay:

    • Set up the space where you will record in advance.
      • A good internet connection is needed. Direct wire connections to router are best. If you are using WiFi, it's recommended set up your recording space as close as possible to your router.
      • Be aware of your surroundings. Make sure the background where you will be recording your video is neat, and if applicable, remove any items you do not want on camera.
      • Place your camera level with the top of your head for the best angle.
      • Have your light source facing you – placed right behind your computer/camera. This is best in order to provide good lighting.
      • Be aware of your surroundings and environmental sounds when recording audio. Use an external microphone if you have one (this may provide better sound quality).

      Timed Writing Sample

      Applicants will be asked to answer a short essay question in a period of 10 minutes (two minutes to think about the response and 10 minutes to write the sample) within the application. A random question will be generated by the application site so applicants cannot prepare the essay in advance. Essays are evaluated on the content and structure of the applicant's response.

      Letters of Recommendation

      Three letters of recommendation are required. One of these references must be an academic reference; the remaining two may be academic, professional, or a combination of the two. Two of these references must be recent, from within the last 12 months. References should be written for the purpose of the applicant's application. Academic references should know you as a student and professional references should know you in a job setting, preferably in a supervisory role. Personal references from friends or family members do not meet the requirement.

      References selected must align with the experience the applicant has accounted for in their application (ie. if selecting a supervisor as a reference, the job in which you worked at should be listed on your resume).

      Recommendation letters must be submitted through the application portal. The applicant will be required to provide the recommender's name and email address on the application. The recommender will receive an email from the Office of Admissions directing them to complete the online reference form. They can also upload their letter through this form as a Word document or PDF file.

      As part of the admission process, all references will undergo a verification process. After submission of an enrollment deposit and before orientation, we will reach out to your recommender to verify the authenticity of their submission.

      • Note:Please use your recommender's institutional or work email address. Recommenders who have a personal email address (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo) attached to their information may be subject to additional review in order to verify that they are an academic or professional reference.

      Resume or CV

      Applicants will be asked to provide their professional affiliations, awards/commendations, interests, hobbies, and community service involvement on the application. Applicants will also be asked to upload their resume/CV to the application portal. The resume/CV should be uploaded as a PDF in order to ensure proper formatting.

      There is no page limit required for the resume/CV. In addition to academic and professional experience, applicants should include hobbies, interests, honors, awards, and travel experience. This type of information will give the review committee an opportunity to gain a more holistic understanding of the applicant.

      Exams

      • GRE: GRE exam scores are not required for the MDE, MDE/DNP, and MDE/PhD programs. Unofficial scores can be uploaded to the application, however, the Office of Admissions requires receipt of the official scores by the admissions deadline. Columbia Nursing's school code is 2142.
      • TOEFL: Applicants who completed post-secondary education outside of the United States from a non-English institution are required to submit TOEFL scores. Unofficial scores can be uploaded to the application, however, the Office of Admissions requires receipt of the official scores by the admissions deadline. Columbia Nursing's school code is 9828.

      Additional Documentation (Not Required)

      • Addendum: Applicants can submit a brief statement explaining substantive extenuating circumstances that they feel could impact their application. Information related to academic circumstances that have affected an applicant's performance should be addressed in this section.
      • Optional Essay: Applicants can submit a one-page essay (double spaced/12-point font) focused on non-academic topics.
      • Communications: If an applicant has corresponded with our Admissions Office regarding any parts of their application or program requirements (i.e. prerequisite course review), they can upload the email communication in this section.

      Additional Information Regarding Application Processing and Review

      • Note that the applicant must submit all materials directly, not through an agent or third-party vendor, with the following exceptions: submission by the US Department of State's Fulbright program; submission by Danish-American Fulbright (DAF); and submission by Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD).
      • The applicant will be required to attest to the accuracy and authenticity of all information and documents submitted to Columbia. If you have questions about this requirement, please contact the Office of Admissions at nursing@cumc.columbia.edu.
      • Failure to submit complete, accurate, and authentic application documents consistent with these instructions may result in denial or revocation of admission, cancellation of academic credit, suspension, expulsion, or eventual revocation of degree. Applicants may be required to assist admissions staff and faculty involved in the admission reviews in verification of all documents and statements made in documents submitted by the student as part of the application review process.
      • All application materials will be verified by the Office of Admissions or a third-party vendor for enrolling applicants. Detailed information regarding this process will be distributed upon publication of admission decisions.