ABSN applications

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Just signed up for the website after looking over a nursing school's FAQ regarding ABSN program and reading that you MUST have received your bachelor's prior to applying.

Is this true for most all ABSN programs? I'll be graduating next spring and the applications for programs I'm interested in open up at the end of this coming summer.

I don't really want to wait an entire year after I graduate to be able to (possibly) get into a program. So, I guess without me going to each university and personally calling to ask, what do y'all think? Is this a universal rule?

Hope to hear back soon!

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ABSN programs require that you already have a bachelor's degree in a non-nursing field. Unfortunately, you will have to finish your current bachelor's. What I can suggest that you do is, unless you have done so, take pre-req courses while you complete your bachelor's. Other thing is, if your current bachelor's is in Science (whatever science), you may have already completed required science courses/liberal arts courses. If that is the case, you may apply to a generic BSN program that usually lasts 2-2.5 years. So, think about it.

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Thank you for the informative reply. If I may ask a follow-up question regarding the traditional route?

So until I complete my current degree with all prerequisite coursework I am barred from being considered for ABSN. But that doesn't stop me from applying to traditional, upper division even if I'll still be graduating before the intended start date?

sorry for the big questions, I just want clarification for sanity's sake.

Thank you!!

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

I think you may be better off directing your question to the specific school you are applying to as there is not a universal rule for ABSN program, or any nursing program admissions really.

For my ABSN program their requirement is that you have bachelor's degree by the time you start (I think in this case all pre-reqs needed to be complete at application). While most of us completed bachelor's degrees long before applying a few of my classmates were in their senior years during the application cycle, and were provisionally admitted under the condition they complete their degrees by a certain date (I think by June 20th of the year the ABSN program starts). It is very possible that some programs want the prior degree 100% completed by the time of the application and that others want it close to completion at time of application and complete before program start.

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Thank you for the informative reply. If I may ask a follow-up question regarding the traditional route?

So until I complete my current degree with all prerequisite coursework I am barred from being considered for ABSN. But that doesn't stop me from applying to traditional, upper division even if I'll still be graduating before the intended start date?

sorry for the big questions, I just want clarification for sanity's sake.

Thank you!!

As PP said, each ABSN is different. However, you can apply to the traditional BSN granted you have met all the requirements for the admission. Do research local schools you would like to apply to, and speak to an admissions' rep about your position. I will be applying to both traditional BSN and ABSN programs.

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If you think of what an ABSN program actually IS, you'll understand why you aren't able to apply yet. The reasons an accelerated BSN program exists is to allow those students who already have a Bachelor degree to skip the general education courses they've already completed and just concentrate on taking the core nursing classes needed for the nursing degree.

Students who do not have a Bachelor degree can't apply for an accelerated program because they aren't in a position to "accelerate", they still have a lot of courses to complete for that BSN.

Like the others said, check into schools you wish to attend and find out their requirements, then tailor your approach based on that information. No point in finding out how random people have handled school unless they went to YOUR school. That's the only thing that matters. Good luck!

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Normally you need to have the degree complete before yo enter into the school I graduate in May and i am currently waiting to hear back from schools to see if I was accepted into ABSN. I do have all the core classes and pre- requs done. But i do know some school do not let you apply until you have already graduated like NJCU. So it all depends on the program and the school; normally it will state on the website if you have to already graduated in order to apply. If yo cannot find that information call.

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Specializes in NICU.

My school evidently had a conditional admission policy. A few of my classmates graduated with their BS degree on Friday and on Monday started the ABSN program.

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It is definitely NOT a universal rule. I do not have a bachelor's and there are several programs in my area that I was eligible for. Many do, but not all. I called every school individually because sometimes it would say "second bachelors" but all you really needed was a certain amount of hours.

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It is definitely NOT a universal rule. I do not have a bachelor's and there are several programs in my area that I was eligible for. Many do, but not all. I called every school individually because sometimes it would say "second bachelors" but all you really needed was a certain amount of hours.

Interesting, haven't heard of that. Since the point of the ABSN is to skip all the general courses needed for the Bachelor's part of the BSN, it's interesting to see ABSN programs that will do what you've described. But if an applicant has all the usual required courses of a Bachelor degree minus the major focus it makes sense that there would be programs that would take all that in, as long as the school wants to take that on. Thanks for updating information!

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