Does my RACE matter when applying to Nursing Programs?

Students Pre-Nursing

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Hello All - I am searching for an honest opinion!!

I am currently in the process of applying for a few nursing programs around the Kansas City area! I have a BA and an MBA (neither related to nursing).

Upon applying to these programs, I worry that my gpa for my BA (3.2) may hinder my ability to get in! My MBA gpa is 4.0. Anyway, im hoping to get an interview with the schools I apply for, just because I think I can explain my desire to become a nurse a lot easier in person than on paper! But I am a little worried about going in for an interview!

I am an African American female, and I'm really not sure if that could potentially be a disadvantage. Just want to hear opinions. I am asking because one school I looked up was the University of Kansas nursing program. I would love to attend this one as I have heard it was a great school, but even just looking at the photos online of their nursing program, I don't see much diversity at all. It can sometimes be a bit discouraging.

I really think finding a program that values diversity not only with race but gender, previous schooling background, work experience, etc. would be beneficial! Any ideas on this? Thoughts? Advice on schools?

BeachsideRN, ASN

1,722 Posts

Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

I seriously doubt your race will be an issue at all.

heron, ASN, RN

4,136 Posts

Specializes in Hospice.

And if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell ya. My advice is to trust your gut and keep looking.

RN403, BSN, RN

1 Article; 1,068 Posts

My school was not very diverse and I got in. My race wasn't an issue at all. Let your academic record speak. If a school didn't accept me because of my race I seriously doubt that would be a school I would like to attend anyway.

Like a PP said, I doubt it would be an issue. Don't base your chances of acceptance on the pictures posted to their website. Look at their acceptance requirements and reach out to advisors for guidance.

Best wishes.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Oncology.

I live in the south and I know plenty of African American nursing students. I wouldn't judge a nursing program by the pictures on the website.

elkpark

14,633 Posts

It continues to be true that nursing is overwhelmingly female and overwhelmingly white (although that is slowly changing). In my experience (as a faculty member in a few different schools), nursing schools are looking for diversity -- they just have no control over who applies (they can't go snatch males of people of color off the street, haha). If anything, your race may well be an advantage. The schools with which I've had personal experience have gone out of their way to accept and retain minority students. Best wishes!

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I live in the south and I know plenty of African American nursing students. I wouldn't judge a nursing program by the pictures on the website.

This.

If anyone would go past my schools' website for nursing in the past, you couldn't tell how diverse my class or the program was; at least 40-50% black, 5% Asian, 5% Hispanic, 40-50% white-and that was the make up of my class throughout the program.

As a African American, If I went by a picture on the Internet, I would've missed a HUGE opportunity to have an enriching educational experience.

Specializes in Education.

First: don't trust the pictures that schools will post online. (My school gives the impression that all the students are tall and blonde. And female. My graduating class was only about a third tall and blonde, which is actually pretty close to the actual proportion of tall blondes in the state where I went to school.)

Second: How will they know your race until you go in for an interview? If they even require them?

Third: What is the worst that they can say? No?

Finally, apply to the programs that you want to. Speaking from experience, I was told that my background pushed me firmly from a "sure, she'll be a good student" to "yes we need her for the program" simply because I was a more non-traditional student.

Good luck. :up:

Emergent, RN

4,242 Posts

Specializes in ER.

A lot of schools will favor a qualified, non-white student. Aren't conservatives always saying that the higher education system is dominated by the left? There is some basis for that claim, actually.

In any case, it sounds like you are qualified. Don't be paranoid just because of some photos, whatever race you are. White people actually have the same concerns these days because of hearing of reverse discrimination.

Good luck!

llg, PhD, RN

13,469 Posts

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I sat on an admissions committee several years ago (not Kansas) ... and minorities were given extra points on their total application score for being a member of a minority. Minority status was an advantage, not a disadvantage because the school needed to show that it did not discriminate against minorities.

I've been involved in hiring at several hospitals over the years and found the same thing. They go out of their way trying to find qualified minority candidates to fill positions so that their statistics show that they are "equal opportunity employers." So if you are qualified, go for it.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN

3 Articles; 10,428 Posts

I sat on an admissions committee several years ago (not Kansas) ... and minorities were given extra points on their total application score for being a member of a minority. Minority status was an advantage, not a disadvantage because the school needed to show that it did not discriminate against minorities.

I've been involved in hiring at several hospitals over the years and found the same thing. They go out of their way trying to find qualified minority candidates to fill positions so that their statistics show that they are "equal opportunity employers." So if you are qualified, go for it.

Seems like the "equal opportunity employer" who favors non-whites is actually NOT offering an "equal opportunity" at all. Pretty much the definition of favoring....making the process decidedly Unequal. Just not the version of unequal the OP expects.

Colleges, in general, will be pretty up-front about wanting "diversity", which means accepting as many qualified non-whites as possible. And if two candidates are equal --or even NOT quite equal, but one of them is not white---they will choose the non-white. Which means, IMHO, there is a very definite discrimination. Again....it's just that the people being discriminated against aren't the ones the OP thinks are.

Emergent, RN

4,242 Posts

Specializes in ER.
Seems like the "equal opportunity employer" who favors non-whites is actually NOT offering an "equal opportunity" at all. Pretty much the definition of favoring....making the process decidedly Unequal. Just not the version of unequal the OP expects.
I totally agree. I don't favor affirmative action, it is just discrimination in reverse and sows resentment.

My daughter's friend was one fourth Mexican, a blue-eyed blond actually. She always put Hispanic on all applications, thinking it would help her.

Ridiculous, if you ask me

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