I met with the dean of admissions on Wednesday at the college I am attending, to discuss the nursing program.

Basically she told me to get in- (last year it was almost 1/2 of applicants getting accepted):

a score of at least 101 on the NLN

GPA of pre-req's and number of pre-reqs done

prior "nursing" experience- ie. CNA/LNA experience

Interview

She also let me know that if you can interview well, you can get in ahead of someone with higher scores/gpa's. It's all in what the director of the nursing program "feels". Of course-the main question people sink or swim- is "why do you want to be a nurse"....

Anyone else hear how you can increase your acceptance chances?

Brandy

If the program where you are applying to requires an essay, they play a HUGE roll in acceptance!

At my school we don't go thru interviews- admission is done by preference points. They line up all the points and take the top 55 people. There are no wait lists, you must apply each semester. The points are awarding for gpa, courses, net scores, compass scores and previous degrees and certifications like cna, cma, etc. AND-if a person has the minimum gpa but high points- they get in over another applicant who has high gpa but less points. Ya it's kinda weird! BUT less subjective than a director getting a "feeling" :) They accept around 20%. 50% would be great!

Pretty much now everyone has to have all pre-reqs finished and support courses as well (these used to be done within the program) BUT it's so competitive that it takes a while just to prepare for application.

When I apply in March I will have 22 out of 24 points (lowest accepted last semester was 18) I will have taken the following:

AP I & II, Clinical Calc, Med Terminology, Micro of Infectious Disease, Pharmacology, Nutrition, & Dev. Psych. BTW I have a previous degree in a science so I haven't had to take any general ed classes like english comp, algebra, etc. A grand total of 27 hours BEFORE entering the Associates Program. Because of the point system, it just can't be done any other way. AND all the schools use a similar system, even the major university NS.

I guess I would say do what ever it takes-take all the classes, make as many As as possible, volunteer or work in health care, and practice interviewing.

Good Luck!

Acceptance criteria varies by program. My program is based on the following:

1. GPA and number of required biology courses taken (Biology 1, Micro Biol., A&P 1 & 2)

2. GPA and number of required general courses (comp, soc, psych, interpesonal communictions)

In addition, college algebra and chemistry must also be completed. If you have 3 of the 4 biology courses taken with a GPA of 3.3 or so and 3 of the general courses taken with a GPA of 3.0 you stand a good chance at getting in. There is not an interview, essay, nor do they take into consideration prior work experience.

It sounds like you already know what to do. Start practicing your interviewing skills! Try sitting down with a friend & rehearsing your answers to potential questions.

For JC/CC's in California it's based on your overall GPA, your science GPA (what sciences vary by school...ours is Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology), your English GPA, and weather you have any D's, F,s or W's in the sciences. Everything is weighted differently, and there is a calculus formula these numbers are put into. They have a cutoff number, if you make the cutoff number, you are put in to a pool, and there is a lottery from there. I know someone with a 4.0, and a Masters degree in English who ended up 10th on the wait list due to the lottery. She ended up in the program, but it was stressful for awhile.

There is no interview, no letter, no tests, no points, just your grades and a lottery.

Good luck everyone!

Sounds like you got some good adive.

I would add some community service to your list and try not to stick with the minimum requirements. (for example a "C" on courses to pass). Shoot for the gold and you should be fine. Good Luck :)