Admission essays!!

Nurse2BeInGA · May 3, 2013

Have someone proof your essay for spelling, grammar, and punctuation (a former professor or someone you know who speaks/writes correctly). That's probably one thing right off the top they are looking for- an essay that is written correctly. Content probably won't matter too much if they cannot read it for the errors.

Just stick to basic format- intro paragraph, a few detail paragraphs, and summarize it in the last paragraph.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 4, 2013

thread moved for best response.

mclennan, BSN, RN · May 4, 2013

Don't get too personal. They don't care to read 4 paragraphs about your grandma or friend with cancer or when you broke your arm in 5th grade. Keep it concise and altruistic, and the sentimentality neutral. No need to tug on heartstrings, tell your life story or exaggerate.

Keep the focus more on the need for good quality nurses by the healthcare industry & society, and how you can fill that need, and less about your personal desires or "dreams" of becoming some angel who saves lives. Show them you did some market research, have your finger on the pulse of the nursing profession and have a sense of stewardship.

And yes, please learn how to actually write well with correct grammar and spelling. No admission panel will accept a student too lazy to spell out "you" instead of "u."

gonnaB37nursedoc · May 4, 2013

Thanks for your responses! It is a great idea to have a professor proof read it. I also rhink I sm going to tap in other resources such as my college writing center to help me in this process! Thanks a lot!!

CDEWannaBe · May 4, 2013

You're smart to visit your college writing center. Most of us need help with writing. The first draft is just the first step in writing a good essay. You'll need to keep working on it and rewriting. My husband was a professional writing major and worked as a journalist and writing coach. He still does multiple drafts and asks others to edit his work before he completes the final draft.

Your essay is the only really personal part of your application, so don't let it be blah. Help the reader understand a little about the type of person you are and why you are drawn to nursing. Start by making a list of why you want to be a nurse. What skills and talents do you have that will help you be great as you help patients and work with a team of doctors and other healthcare workers?

I have to read scholarship applications as part of my job. Picture your essay as one of 200 that will be read. Is it true? Does it reflect you well? Is it compelling? Think of it from the reader's perspective.

gonnaB37nursedoc · May 5, 2013

You're smart to visit your college writing center. Most of us need help with writing. The first draft is just the first step in writing a good essay. You'll need to keep working on it and rewriting. My husband was a professional writing major and worked as a journalist and writing coach. He still does multiple drafts and asks others to edit his work before he completes the final draft.
Your essay is the only really personal part of your application, so don't let it be blah. Help the reader understand a little about the type of person you are and why you are drawn to nursing. Start by making a list of why you want to be a nurse. What skills and talents do you have that will help you be great as you help patients and work with a team of doctors and other healthcare workers?
I have to read scholarship applications as part of my job. Picture your essay as one of 200 that will be read. Is it true? Does it reflect you well? Is it compelling? Think of it from the reader's perspective.

OMG! Thank you so much for such a great response in helping me try to figure out at least where to get started. Maybe i can email you my essay to proofread and have you give me some feedback. I will be getting to writing my essay early june.

And speaking of scholarship essays, i have written a number of those for scholarships and i never once received a scholarship. I could never figure out where i went wrong!