Do I have a better chance getting into nursing school by applying to 10 schools?

josinda421 · May 17, 2011

I say apply to local community college and other schools. Just apply to as many schools as you can. Because now, so many people are trying to get into nursing schools and it's a big COMPETITION out there. Even those who have perfect grades are still put on the waiting list because some schools can only accept "x" amount of students . Good luck

jamielynne083 · May 17, 2011

It could never hurt to apply to more then one school. I am a LPN and I just applied for an advanced standing program for my RN and I wasn't worried about not getting in because I have excellent grades, but as it turns out the class I would have been going into does not have any openings because they are doing so well that no one has dropped out or failed. So I will be applying to 3 different schools that are in my area. The CRNP where I work also recommended this to me. She feels the schools we discussed have great programs so I really can't go wrong with where I end up.

caliotter3 · May 17, 2011

I would start with the schools that are geographically the closest and work out from there. You might want to save some of these for a second round of applications should your first group not provide any luck. Ten applications at once could become unwieldy in terms of application fees and if you get several favorable responses at the same time.

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · May 17, 2011

I say cast as wide of net as you are comfortable with and hope you get in.

The 1st year I applied I applied to 3 nursing schools, I wasn't done with pre-reqs yet so I knew it was a long shot and nothing

The next year with pre-reqs done I applied to 6 schools and still nothing

The third year, broken hearted I applied to only 2 schools and I got in to my second choice!

Good Luck

kool-aide, RN · May 17, 2011

If you apply to more programs, yes, your chances of getting in SOMEWHERE will increase... :uhoh3: :lol2: :idea:

Student4_life · May 17, 2011

It doesn't really improve your chances that much, but since each school has a slightly different way of picking their top applicants you should see which of these schools' policies puts you in the best light.

I was going to have 3 back ups (all were non-profit private schools: Catholic University of America, Stevenson University and Johns Hopkins University). But after realizing that I didn't want to move away from my spouse, or commute I dropped the back-up idea and focused on making myself the best applicant at my number one choice. This made things easier on me as well due to only having to worry about the pre-reqs of one school. It also cut down on application costs (not just $, but time put into essays and getting letters of rec from Professors (are they going to be ok with 10, not likely)).

Narrow your scope, increase your effort and be the best applicant at one school.

sillypuddy143 · May 17, 2011

Apply to as many places as you'd be willing to go! As others have said the competition these days is crazy! Give yourself the best chance possible, and if you can, take some extra classes to make sure you are done with pre-reqs (or at least in your last classes) while applying. I know some people who would have just had to complete a class or two this summer and didn't get in because of that.

leenak · May 17, 2011

Where I'm at, there are tons of schools offering ABSN/second degree BSN programs within an hour drive. I initially put them all on my list and was planning on working pre-reqs that would cover all of them. Now I'm starting to narrow down based on cost vs reputation (I'm willing to pay a bit but not without a decent reputation) and as well as how well it'll map to my future goals. I'd also so go visit the schools you are interested in, check out the commute and any issues as well as mass transit options.

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · May 17, 2011

The obvious answer is yes. You'd have 10 chances to get in applying to 10 schools vs 1 chance if you only applied to 1 school. The odds of getting in aren't any better you have a 50% chance you get in and a 50% chance you do not get in no matter how many schools you apply too. That's just the straight math. The admissions criterion vary wildly from school to school. It will all depend on how your application stacks up against the admissions criterion and the other people's academic history that have applied along with you. The problem with applying to a lot of programs is many programs have an application fee that ranges anywhere from $50 up to $150. Is it worth it to apply to 10 schools and pay $1500 for that privilege?

zbb13 · May 17, 2011

I only applied to one school, because it best met my needs. If there had been another one or two programs out there that did the same, I probably would have also applied to them. However, I would have had a VERY hard time coming up with the letters of recommendation for all of them. I can't imagine getting transcripts sent to that many schools, and going through the whole process over and over again. If you don't have to provide recommendation letters for all of them, go for it.

Mrs. SnowStormRN, RN · May 17, 2011

Make sure you look at all the requirements for the schools you are applying. I know here many colleges had different pre-reqs (some more, some less). If the schools are within the pre-reqs youve been completing and working toward I think that it could only increase your chances. I originally I started my pre-reqs in Norfolk, VA and they required child psy, health course, and I tested out of math. Than I moved to another state and the child psy and health course was a waste and I ended up having to take 2 math classes! It was really upsetting because I felt like I wasted time. Just make sure all the requirements will work out for you before you spend tons of money applying to different colleges. FYI - Some colleges charge less if you apply online, just in case. GOOD LUCK to you!!!