Fairest Admissions/Application Process?

Nursing Students General Students

Published

Okay we all know about waiting lists. We are aware of how competitive the process is. Knowing this, what do you think is the fairest process? Put yourselves in their shoes, and what application process would you favor? What criteria would you weigh?

1) First come, first served. Finish your pre-reqs, meet the minimum GPA requirements, and wait. When your number comes up, it comes up.

2) Based on GPA of prerequisite classes only. Each semester you can apply, and those with the highest GPA on their pre-reqs get in, regardless if it's their first attempt or tenth attempt.

3) Based on overall GPA of all college work completed. Prerequisites must be completed, but admittance is based on GPA of all coursework, related or not. Same aplication process as #2.

4) Skills testing. Prerequisites must be completed, but instead of GPA all prospective students are given a basic skills assessment. Those who score highest are given first priority.

5) Individual interview process. Once prerequisites are met, each candidate goes through an interview process. Here intangibles can be factored in. Things like maturity, need, communication skills, leadership ability, etc.

6) Other. Please specify.

7) A combination of all, or some, of the above.

Personally I favor some combination of the above. First come, first served will discourage some prospective nurses from entering the field if the wait is too long. If you spent a year to 18 months completing pre-reqs, only to wait another 2-3 years to get in, your "Associates Degree" might take 6 or 7 years to complete.

Number #2 (GPA of pre-reqs) I also find restrictive. The cut-offs at most schools is in the 3.5 to 3.8 range which in my mind favors students who can devote all their time to school. Most older students must work full-time while completing pre-reqs. Plus how productive is it to retake a class you got a B in only because you need an A to up your GPA? Realistically if your GPA is in the 3.0 to 3.25 range you may never get in.

Personally I would use a combination of criteria 1, 2, 4 & 5. I would take 25% from each one. If you have 80 spots available, the first 20 go to those who met minimum admissions criteria but have waited the longest due to other factors. These are your 2-3 year wait list students. The next 20 students are based solely on GPA, meaning those first applicants with a 3.8 to 4.0 GPA get in immediately. The next 20 would be based on skills testing and aptitude. The last 20 would be based on an interview process factoring in all of the above. Things like leadership ability, communication skills, etc are not easily measured any other way.

Okay I am idealistic but I think if demand (students) continues to exceed supply (available seats) then a more flexible system should be in place. What do you think?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

From what I have read here on this BB, I feel blessed with the way my school does the ap process.

We are given points based on real world experience (health care employment)

The number of hours you Volunteer (max 3 points for 100 hours in a year)

If you do well on the NLN (need atleast 100 to get in, but get up to 4 points for getting a 134 and above)

If you complete Soc, oral com, micro, psy, poli sci before you apply you get a bonus point for each.

and if you have any type of degree you get various number of points.

I like it because it takes not only a look at your GPA, but what you've done to show that you want to be a nurse (ie volunteer)

You don't have to do all this, but it does make your chances greater.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

I would eliminate the first-come, first-served part. This isn't Wendy's. :D

I would weight the pre-req's heavier than the other college classes, because we all make mistakes in college, and shouldn't suffer from a bad grade in Handpainted Pottery that drags our GPA down when we aced our Micro class.

I would not do a skills test, because basic skills should be implied by the fact that the person has managed to get this far in college and must have SOME of their faculties intact. Plus, non-nursing students shouldn't be expected to have nursing knowledge BEFORE even getting into the nursing program.

I would highly weight the personal interview, because that's the most important part IMO. Stupid, unsafe, cavalier people can get straight A's and those perhaps more suited to nursing may have had other things going on. Anyone can study and pass a test or class or check-off. High marks doesn't make you a good nurse, it makes you a good student. And they are NOT one and the same.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My college has a combo of some of your choices...you have to have a 2.50 G.P.A. or higher, pass the NET with a 50th percentile or higher and complete Eng. 101, A & P1 and Chem 101 with a C or higher....now I'm assuming that your GPA does play a factor.

Fatima

Up Vote Up Vote ×

fnimat1

I'm not sure if you're asking me the question about GPA, but I'll answer anyway. Yes, GPA 2.5 in only Nursing pre reqs (so handpainted pottery wouldn't count :) ) But like I've said before, we don't have a competitive program so the lowest they take is 2.5 (they had 64 spaces last semester and took all 64 apps) I also found out this was due to a very good advisor. She will not let you apply without first seeing her and she'll tell you your odds of getting in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think the way my school does it is pretty fair and you also get considered every year, no waiting list. They assign points for GPA, classes completed (A&P and Micro is worth 10, others are only 2), points for the school's entrance exam, and also for healthcare experience (more points for direct patient care). The people who have the top points are the ones who get in We don't even have an interview process.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Funny you should post this, I was just thinking about this yesterday. I thought about how I would feel about someone interviewing me about getting into a program. Although, I think (being in the legal field) there many be many unwarranted lawsuits for discrimination if someone didn't get in and thought they should. BUT, I can also see how a one-on-one interview would help answer any questions & feel someone out. BUT, what if you were having a bad day?

Waiting lists - being on one is no joy ride, especially when the school takes 30 students only in the fall, AND, if any students fail in the semesters, they get first dibs to get back into the program, which brings the amount of NEW students accepted, low.

Who knows. Wish I had the answers, I would make a million:rolleyes:

Justjenn

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

I do not agree with having pre-reqs finished first. About 10 students I graduated with (me included) took our pre-reqs with nursing classes. ( we needed at least a 74% in pre-reqs to continue in nursing, if we failed a prereq, nursing was done)

I DO agree with high NET test scores, and date of application.

The ADN program I just graduated from takes 80 each fall. This is based on date of application. but say I'm number 90 on the list, and 11 students drop..... I would get in over someone ahead of me that scored lower on the NET than me.

Jenni

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PCU, Critical Care, Observation.

My school gives points for gpa, the amount of pre-reqs completed & your score on the NET test. Those that don't get accepted, get put on the list to begin the nursing program the following semester. I think it's a pretty fair process.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think it should be some combination of GPA and interview... the person who worked hard to keep their GPA up should get some recognition for that!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

I don't think there really is any FAIR way to do it. Personally, I liked that my school based their decision only on GPA of pre-req's. I knew going into my first year exactly what I had to do to get in....bust my butt and get a high GPA.

I wouldn't have wanted to take a standardized test , as I think most standardized tests are crap and show absolutely nothing. Most are biased in relation to a student's socioeconomic status.

I think interviews would be a good idea, although I am glad I didnt have to hassle with one..... I was too busy studying!:chuckle

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Call me crazy but I personaly would prefer the first come first serve theory...:eek: !

But with some changes, for example GPA would also be a factor. Most schools say the minimum requirement is a 2.5 but only take the 3.5 gpa's and up so basically if you have a low gpa you don't stand a chance if there is a 100 applicants with something in between.

If I was a dean and made decisions I would change the minimum requirement to all scientific prereq's finished and a minimum of 24 credits to accompany it. Then you can apply! (my school actually does this so people really finish in 4 years. Then your overall gpa would have to be between 3.0 and up. It doesn't matter if you have 3.4 or a 3.0 or 3.9 you get assigned a number and that's it. At this point everyone gets a fair chance. Now you get assigned a number based on the spots that would be available in every up coming semester so by the time you get accepted into the program you also KNOW when you will start. Now I know that things will ahppen to people and they might change their mind. And that's why there would have to be a solid relationship between all future students and the school. If you don't make up your mind by a certain date you are out!.

Guys you actually have me thinking about becoming the dean of my school...

:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment