Are all nursing schools based on a point system?

FutureUofARN · Jan 24, 2011

My school is strictly based on GPA.

Student4_life · Jan 24, 2011

Many schools have systems that take the whole canidate into view. But then you are going to wish they were based on points so you will know where you stand...

stefanyjoy · Jan 24, 2011

My school is strictly based on points -- 50 to be exact...

Points will be awarded for:

Quality points for grade in BIO 168: A =(4 x 4 credits) = 16, B = 12, C = 8
Quality points for grade in BIO 169: A = (4 x 4 credits) = 16, B = 12, C = 8
Completion of the following courses
- ACA 122 1 point (or waiver)
- ENG 111 3 points
- PSY 150 3 points
- PSY 241 3 points
- BIO 271 3 points
[*]Resident of Durham or Orange County 5 points

Bio 168 & 169 are A&P 1&2... so yeah, there is a lot of pressure to get A's in those courses for the program. Otherwise they do not consider GPA or TEAS score.

xInspiredx · Jan 24, 2011

^Thanks for the replies!

What's the basis for their decision though (to only look at the GPA and TEAS scores)?

I kind of feel like I'm wasting my time trying to build a "solid" resume when I see that they only care about the GPA and TEAS score.

Do the more "prestigious" schools (i.e. the more difficult ones to get into) only look at the GPA & TEAS scores? Is that how it is?

Does it differ if you're applying to the regular BSN route versus an accelerated route?

Student4_life · Jan 24, 2011

Johns hopkins and University of Maryland look at the whole package and I would hope they would be considered prestigious. Every program is different.

RLtinker, LPN · Jan 24, 2011

Way back when my school used to do interviews, but is now strictly points. It 190pt, 100 from the TEAS and 90 from four classes. According to the staff it was to prevent bias. Beside where would you stand if you just don't interview well?How do you judge volunteer experiences? Should they have as much weight as grades. What about a 4.0 student that doesn't have any volunteer experiences?

On the up side it makes it an even playing field. On the downside the rules are known to everyone and that makes it very competitive. At my school it works like this:

AP1(A=30,B=20,C=10, D=0)

AP2(A=30,B=20,C=10, D=0)

PSY(A=15,don't remember the rest)

Eng(A=15,don't remember the rest)

No class can be taken more then twice.

As a result, almost everyone that is admitted has an A in all four of these classes , that then leaves it to the TEAS. Nope, no pressure there. :eek:

xInspiredx · Jan 24, 2011

^Thanks for your reply!

So if (many) schools have this point system, then what's the point of holding interviews? I've read on some schools' websites that they have a point system, but they will also request for an interview. Would this interview not count against you then?

Sugar-Phosphate · Jan 25, 2011

this is how my university does it:

. Academic history: up to 16 points. The higher the applicant GPA on required academic prerequisites, the more points awarded. GPA will be calculated using the UFV grading scale.

2. Work/volunteer experience and letter of reference: up to 6 points. Points will be allocated according to the duration of the experience and the character of the reference given. Recognition will be given to any applicant who has demonstrated a leadership role in a workplace.

3. Application essay: up to 4 points. All applicants will be given points on the basis of meeting the criteria and the writing skill demonstrated.

4. Interview: up to 13 points. Applicants will be given points related to their knowledge of nursing, organizational skills, planning for program workload and financial aspects, identified supports, management of commitments, communication skills, knowledge of own learning, and problem-solving skills. Applicants with the highest number of points will be given priority for program seats.

Streamline2010 · Jan 25, 2011

Of the 5 schools that I applied to, only one, a hospital-based diploma program, required an interview.

Most all others used a point system, based on a pre-entrance exam and college coursework. Some granted additional points for having college degrees already: something for AS, more for BA/BS, still more for a Master's.

One diploma program still admitted on a first-come-first-served basis, based on test scores for the NLN PAX. If you had college transfer credit, fine. If not, fine, because their "official" curriculum also included all of the college course work. That program is really old--fashioned in the way it admits students, but it also does not keep students waiting around forever to find out if they made the cut. If you are a super-duper student and this year's class has already been filled by the average candidates, too bad! lol They are still managing a 96-97% NCLEX, and are placing the majority of their grads in full-time employment, in spite of the "non-shortage."

Nighthawke30 · Jan 25, 2011

Private schools don't typically work on a points system. I am going to be attending LRU (Lenoir-Rhyne University) for my BSN next fall. They work solely on GPA, you need a 2.7 gpa to enter the nursing program. This last year the graduating class had a 100% NCBSN passing rate.

Streamline2010 · Jan 26, 2011

I re-read the thread and I'll add:

1. Academic history: For the schools I applied to, coursework, degrees, GPA, and the results for the pre-entrance exams carried the most weight.

2. Work/volunteer experience : Not at all important, at least not for an adult applicant who already has a resume and a work history. Anything health-care that's relevant to nursing requires a license to do. Nobody asked nor cared if I did any volunteer work. Even nursing schools are realizing that money doesn't grow on trees, and student financial aid has become more difficult to obtain, so if you spend your free time out of school working for money to pay for more schooling instead of giving away free services as a volunteer, it's not frowned upon much anymore.

and letter of reference: I believe 4 out of the 5 or maybe all 5 schools that I applied to asked for references, but I think these carry less weight than they used to years ago, because references don't want to be sued and don't want to be help accountable for much, so they don't say a whole lot. Besides, if you know someone will not praise and recommend you in a reference, you won't use that person as a reference. I've never heard of anyone using a reference who would not say positive things about the applicant.

3. Application essay: The only school that wanted me to write an essay was the vo-tech, for their LPN program. Nobody else required one. No R.N. program wanted me to write an essay.

4. Interview: Only one school out of 5 did interviews, but the one that I picked met me when I took the pre-entrance exam, and I rather of think that they did cursory screening of their applicants right then, while they took the exam, sneaky as that may be.