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Discussion

Academic References

I'm looking for advice. I've been out of school since 2005, and ALL of my former professors have retired. I've contacted the colleges (my ADN and BSN programs) and none of them left forwarding contact information.

I'd love to go back for a FNP, but this is the biggest roadblock: the references.

I can't be the only one who is many years separated from school, so who do I use as references when the university specifically requests an academic reference?

TIA

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    Have you talked to the school about this? Some programs understand this and will let you substitute with a professional reference.

    How about clinical instructors? They can be your academic reference as well. The key is to provide them with as much information as possible so they can write a strong academic reference letter.

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    • Author
    Have you talked to the school about this? Some programs understand this and will let you substitute with a professional reference.

    How about clinical instructors? They can be your academic reference as well. The key is to provide them with as much information as possible so they can write a strong academic reference letter.

    I haven't talked to the schools, but that's likely going to be my best bet: if they will accept professional references.

    Unfortunately, it's the same for the clinical instructors: retired/moved/untraceable! It feels like there was a mass retirement since I last went to school.

    I've considered taking a couple classes at the local community college, so that I can have an educator speak to my academic performance, if I do need an academic reference. Do you think that would be okay?

    Thanks

  • Quote
    I haven't talked to the schools, but that's likely going to be my best bet: if they will accept professional references.

    Unfortunately, it's the same for the clinical instructors: retired/moved/untraceable! It feels like there was a mass retirement since I last went to school.

    I've considered taking a couple classes at the local community college, so that I can have an educator speak to my academic performance, if I do need an academic reference. Do you think that would be okay?

    Thanks

    I find it hard to believe that the school will be that inflexible about the academic reference for someone who graduated 10+ years ago. Definitely talk to the school and ask what options you have before you spend money taking classes.

    Rather than taking a random course at a community college, you might consider taking graduate-level nursing courses such as advanced patho or pharm. Most programs allow you to take these courses as a non-matriculated student. You can transfer them into your MSN program later, and a strong grade in these courses will carry more weight.

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