How many schools are you applying to?

TLC RN · Feb 19, 2005

I applied to 1 school & got nervous I would not get in. I then applied to 4 more schools. I did not get into the first school but got into 3 of the 4 I later applied to. I start clinicals this May.

Denverchick1983 · Feb 19, 2005

I will be getting a B.S. in biology in May- I was interested in different BSN programs but most were too expensive so I will probably be staying in-state and living with my parents here in Denver. I applied to only one BSN program here but I was about to apply to two more because I started getting nervous. I feel pretty good about the program I chose because it has the option of rotating through the Children's Hospital here in Colorado and I would love to work there, they also have been chosen as #1 in pediatric nurse practitioners. I just got an acceptance letter a few days ago- so it all works out! It is better to be safe than sorry so if you have the cash, apply to the ones that really interest you- and later you can decide which one is right for you.

westcoastgirl · Feb 20, 2005

I planned to apply to 7 - did it for 5 programs so far, just got accepted into my dream program so I will not finish the last 2 applications (did the prep work for those two already though, so the time was spent anyhow).

One of the nice "side effects" from my own experience is that I learned a lot more about the programs around here. I did what I felt was basic research into each program - visit the environment, learn about faculty, bar for admission, alumni, number of slots versus # of applicants - I think it's a good way to judge and see things for yourself which school's a good fit for you. :)

Surprisingly I know a good number of applicants who only apply to 1 school or shy away from others just based on "reputation". Some didn't get in and re-apply to one school - yet again - for the second or even third time. To each their own, but I think it's better to play it safe than do it the "one shot" way.

smile123 · Feb 20, 2005

I planned to apply to 7 - did it for 5 programs so far, just got accepted into my dream program so I will not finish the last 2 applications (did the prep work for those two already though, so the time was spent anyhow).
Surprisingly I know a good number of applicants who only apply to 1 school or shy away from others just based on "reputation". Some didn't get in and re-apply to one school - yet again - for the second or even third time. To each their own, but I think it's better to play it safe than do it the "one shot" way.

I agree with Westcoastgirl. Last year, I had only applied to 2 schools, locally in my area and was waitlisted at only one. So the next year I applied to 7 schools (including ones out of state) and I already heard I got accepted to 2.

Think about it this way: If you only apply to 1 or 2 schools, and don't get in, what are you going to do for another year? There's a value on your time waiting. During the year, I took some more pre-reqs (to increase my chances at more schools - some of them wanted some other classes that I didn't need with the first 2 schools) and increased my GPA while I was waiting, but it was an important lesson to learn. (I also had another year of direct health care volunteer work, so it made my application stronger.) It also makes a difference if you are applying for one of the most competitive programs in the nation; the applicant pool will be larger and the applicants will have much higher qualifications!

I had applied to some direct entry (BSN/MSN) programs, but also decided to apply to some straight BSN and associate degree programs at my community college. I wanted to be sure that I would be going somewhere for my degree this year. I didn't want to wait any longer! Hope that helps.

Smile123 :)

charleybarley · Feb 20, 2005

Right now I am planning on applying to 7, but the more I think about nursing school, the more I feel that I won't get in- so I think I definitely need to find more schools. It just gets so difficult after a while because each school will have some different pre-req (like ethics or chem 2 or patho or genetics) and trying to fit this all in my schedule and still graduate on time is getting crazy! :banghead:

smile123 · Feb 21, 2005

Right now I am planning on applying to 7, but the more I think about nursing school, the more I feel that I won't get in- so I think I definitely need to find more schools. It just gets so difficult after a while because each school will have some different pre-req (like ethics or chem 2 or patho or genetics) and trying to fit this all in my schedule and still graduate on time is getting crazy!

Hi Charleybarley. I totally understand. I tried to take the courses that would count toward the most schools. You can also take some of the classes online if your schedule permits and your local cc doesn't offer them. I ended up taking:

A&P (I, II and III - on the quarter system)

Nutrition

Microbiology

Chem I and II (inorganic, organic, biochem)

Dev Psych (can take online, must be birth through death)

Speech

Intro to Psych

English writing

Pharmacology (only a few schools need it)

Critical Thinking (philosophy course) (a lot of schools in Calif are requiring it)

Statistics (only needed for MS programs)

That covered the majority of the schools I was applying to. Some of those classes I took a long time ago. Only the ones like A&P, Micro, Nutrition do they ask that they be taken within the last 5 years.

I know you can take Patho and Pharm online. Remember you can also take classes over the summer online or at different places besides your local CC.

It would be really good to take a look at schools you'd like to go to and see really how many pre-reqs you would need. For example, pathophys is not needed for most of the schools, but chem seems to be the next big one if you want to expand your potential school programs. So I would take chem over pathophys.

For Pharmacology and Pathophysiology online see: http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/default.cfm

And click on the Pre-reqs; they give several places to take these classes online.

FYI: Samuel Merritt has a new BSN for people who already have a bachelor's degree; it's 12 months long. The program begins May 31, 2005 in Oakland, CA. See: http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/default.cfm for more details.

Side note: I had one friend who got into U. Penna's accelerated BSN/MS program but she had not taken Organic/BioChem. So they let her take it along with the other classes in her program. (Personally, I think it's better to get it out of the way because you have enough on your plate as it is with all the nursing classes!) But they let her in! Good luck! :)

Smile123

charleybarley · Feb 21, 2005

Hey! Thanks so much for the info on the online classes- I've never taken one before- and the format sorta worries me. But of course even in the traditional classes I'm taking now- the instructors barely teach you anything- just read off their notes- so maybe the whole self learning idea wont be too bad.

LDO · Feb 21, 2005

hi, I applied to two programs, one I really want to get into and the other I just applied to see if I get in. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE !! :)

smile123 · Feb 21, 2005

hi, I applied to two programs, one I really want to get into and the other I just applied to see if I get in. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE !! :)

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Perhaps it's not as competitive in CT as it is on the west coast. California and Washington state are especially so!

Smile123

littlenursey · Feb 25, 2005

Right now I only submitted 1 application but I'm thinking about applying to another school as a back up...I was going to apply to a bunch of schools too, but then I rethink my decision and really take my time to weigh pros and cons of each school...found that I don't really wanna go to most of them anyway(too far, too expensive, longer program, more pre-reqs, etc...) so might as well only apply to the one I want to attend...here I am, really anxious about the decision the nursing school will mail to me in 2-3 months from now

Good luck everyone...hope all of us get in (at least a school of our choices) :)