Questions about Direct Admit/Entry 4 year BSN programs

ladyk84 · Aug 10, 2014

Most University's have direct entry programs for BSN. The catch is for high school students you must have a decent GPA, an anatomy class, decent SAT score (or whichever test is used at the University you apply to) and recommendations from a boss, teacher, or mentor. It is different for each University, you have to research. Call the school or email an advisor. You can look at their website to find that info as well. Although, from my experience at Arizona State if you do not meet BSN entry requirments as a high school student they put you into a, "Healthy Life Style Coach" degree. It requires the same prereqs as a nursing student but you have to apply to the BSN program sophomore year.

RunBabyRN · Aug 11, 2014

Most University's have direct entry programs for BSN. The catch is for high school students you must have a decent GPA, an anatomy class, decent SAT score (or whichever test is used at the University you apply to) and recommendations from a boss, teacher, or mentor. It is different for each University, you have to research. Call the school or email an advisor. You can look at their website to find that info as well. Although, from my experience at Arizona State if you do not meet BSN entry requirments as a high school student they put you into a, "Healthy Life Style Coach" degree. It requires the same prereqs as a nursing student but you have to apply to the BSN program sophomore year.

I think this varies from state to state. Here in CA, there are very few of these programs. One must complete their prereqs and then apply to nursing programs.

OP, is there any particular reason why you want to avoid this route?

As far as competitiveness, ALL BSN programs are at least somewhat competitive. How competitive depends on the school and your location. For example, schools in CA are much more competitive than schools in KY, and I would imagine may be set up differently. Public schools are more impacted than private schools. Do your research.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Aug 11, 2014

Even in the "freshman entry" programs, they will boot you out if you do not maintain a very high GPA in all the basic sciences. Just sayin' . . .

coleyoley · Aug 12, 2014

From what I've seen, most direct entry programs are either hard to get into or private schools. Do well on your ACTs and take as many relevant science classes as possible. Don't take environmental science just because it's a science because it's not relevant. They're not going to care about that. If it's an option take AP Biology, anatomy, chemistry, etc... having even the most basic knowledge about these classes in high school will help in college.

ThatOneDude822 · Aug 12, 2014

What state are you in? That's really going to affect the answer to this question. Here in California, UC Irvine and UCLA are the only 2 direct entry programs that I know of, and they are both EXTREMELY difficult to get into. If you don't have at LEAST a 4.0 GPA, AND a 2000 SAT, AND at least a year of volunteer service in a hospital, I wouldn't even bother applying to either of those programs. I got rejected from UC Irvine with a 3.7/3.8 GPA, 1840 SAT I, 650 Chem SAT II, 700 Bio M SAT II, volunteer service (though it wasn't in a hospital), and some pretty great application essays (don't mean to brag, but I put a lot of work into them - I spent somewhere around 4-5 hours just on the short 500 word essay). I think they get something like 2000 applicants each year, and they accept around 72 - I believe UCLA's program is about the same. But like I (and others) said, it really depends on the state, but that's what you're looking at if you're in California.