Denied from nursing schools

[buckeye47]

Hi,

I am currently a sophomore student at The Ohio State University. As a freshman last year, I was denied acceptance into the program. This year, I decided to reapply, but also apply to many other schools in order to give myself some options. I have applied to OSU, Mt. Carmel, Otterbein, San Francisco, Cincinnatti, and Florida. I was denied from Mt. Carmel's advanced placement, Otterbein, and San Francisco. I really do not want to go to Cincy, unless I have no other options. I am still waiting to hear back from Florida and OSU, however since both programs are very competitive, I doubt I will get in. I have a 3.5 gpa, am a state tested nurse's aide, and have lots of work and volunteer experience. I am lost.. I have no idea what to do from here. I want to either stay in Columbus, OH or transfer to a school in a warmer place, such as Florida. Can anyone offer me any advice? I never thought I would be in this situation, again. I have also considered applying to more nursing schools now to give me some more options, but it is already May, therefore many deadlines have passed. I have looked into switching my major, but I am not interested in doing that. I know what I want to do with my life, and that is become a nurse. I am so confused. Any help, advice, or thoughts would be much appreciated!!

[sharpeimom]

have you looked in other directions? you're only a couple of hours (or slightly more) from pittsburgh, which has several nursing programs. i graduated from pitt, there's carlow, and others. pitt has branch campuses too. branches are sometimes easier to get into.

[AgentBeast, MSN, RN]

There are other Universities in Ohio. Kent State, Akron, Cleveland State, Dayton . . .

The Ohio State Nursing program is very very very hard to get into as is almost every degree granting program at the University.

[Stephanie4574]

Ursuline college in Pepper Pike,Ohio has direct entry into their nursing program. I believe that Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland also has direct entry.

[danh3190]

Speaking of Pittsburgh, there are a number of diploma schools where you could get your RN then finish your BSN later, sometimes in as little as 12 months. I can think of 3 diploma schools off the top of my head (UPMC Shadyside, UPMC St Margaret, Sewickley Valley Hosp). There were at least 3 other diploma programs when I applied to nursing school, but I don't know their status now. They also have a lot of ADN programs in the area and lots of BSN programs. I used to do the drive between Delaware OH and Pittsburgh in around 4 hours.

[AJPV]

Have you thought about a 2-year ADN degree from a community college? You would be an RN after only 2 years, then you could bridge into an RN to BSN bridge program. You could transfer in the classes you have already taken - humanities, chemistry, pathophys, etc., into the bridge program. That would hopefully make your BSN completion nice & short, and as you're finishing it, you could be earning the wage of an RN. Plus, you will save a ridiculous amount of tuition $ by not having to pay big-university tuition for all 4 years. ADN programs have virtually the same NCLEX pass rate as BSN programs. ADN programs can be as hard to get into as BSN, but they often look favorably on you having your CNA license.

[buckeye47]

The problem that I'm facing now is that since it's already May, most schools have closed their deadlines. I have done a lot of researching and can't seem to find any that I could still apply to as of right now.

[AJPV]

Yeah, it's going to be tough to find fall programs you could still apply for. I would wait & see what happens with the couple apps you still have out there, but in the meantime start applying for the Jan. semester at lots of schools - both 2-year and 4-year. You might have to just work a tech job until then, but that's not always a bad thing. You might want to put a lot of effort into getting a tech job in a hospital (or other facility you really like) where you would envision yourself working long-term. If you can nail down a great tech job now and stay with them long-term, they are likely to accomodate your school schedule later and eventually hire you as an RN.

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

Well yes, clearly you are looking at the 2012-13 school year. I think you need to get that GPA up to closer to 3.8 to be competitive at most programs. I'd take 4 or 5 classes in the fall and be certain you get As in each of them. That should help. Also, get fluent in Spanish, or a language that is predominant in the area surrounding your school(s) of choice. We always gave preference to candidates that were fluent in more than one language. Good luck!

BTW, Case Western is one of the most competitive schools in the country, so if the OP has not been successful at 2nd tier schools, CW is out of the question.

[missmun52]

Call the schools and talk to the admissions director for their nursing programs and ask them what it takes to get in.

For example....for my school I graduated from it was not a prerequisite to have microbiology, this course could be taken as a co but the admissions director told me that all of the students they had accepted in the past had taken micro and strongly urged that I took it before applying, so she was indirectly saying your not getting in without it, even though its officially not a requirement, so I took it. Also ask them what the average GPA is for the students they accept. In my class most, if not all students, had a very high GPA, like 3.8 and above, mine was 3.9. I know some of my class mates retook prerequisite classes over in order to get better grades in them so they had better chances of getting in. Call nursing admissions of the different schools, they are generally very helpful if you ask them to tell you what it take realistically.

[Rob72, ASN, RN]

I have a 3.5 gpa, am a state tested nurse's aide, and have lots of work and volunteer experience.

Personally, I believe you're spreading yourself too thin. Most programs admit on the basis of some point scale- being out of state always costs you points. Sometimes even living outside the county where the school is located can (technically) count against you.

I'm a solid "B" student, without having to work too hard and, like you, had quite a bit of practical experience when I applied. I was fortunate, in that I only had 1 "dead" semester, and that was waiting until the next class started.

I would choose where you want to attend/live. Apply. Re-apply. If you meet entrance criteria (depending on the program) they should have you on a list, and you'll wait your turn. While being on the list, do anything you can to raise your points (again, assuming the school uses this system). Take a pre-admission HESI, re-take your COMPASS, get a job at a hospital affiliated with the school, whatever. Unless you have something like a 4.0-4.3 (yeah, it's possible) and schools are calling to offer you scholarships, the competition pool is too large to reasonably expect to be accepted from out of state.

As noted, getting your ADN may well be easier (the route I took- I have no desire for a BSN, but I may be cornered on the issue), and once you're employed, you may be able to get tuition assistence/reimbursement to get the BSN.

[Seas]

Increase your GPA, like re-taking the classes if needed.