any San Diego State University BSN graduates out there?

KRVRN, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2002

Me Me Me Me--- I went there!!!! Graduated May 2000.

The university is not so hard to get into if you are a transfer student (as opposed to right out of high school). The nursing school is a lot harder to get into. They go by a points system and you get points for various things from grades to leadership qualities to bilingual ability. It's a widely held belief around here that they have a waiting list that's 3, 4, 5, 6, 20 years long. That's just not true.

Grades are the biggest chunk. You need an A or B in anatomy and physiology (2 separate classess) to get into their program, and the difference is 14 vs 10 pts, so get an A. The others, organic chem, general psychology, sociology are C or better and the difference between A, B, C isn't so great as with anatomy and physiology. If you've already taken one of the classes, but got a lower grade (say if you got a C in anatomy), you have to repeat the class and get a better grade, BUT you won't get any pts for it. When I got in, microbiology was required to get in, but I think it's been changed and you just have to take it before graduation (I could be wrong). They're not so interested in all your other GE classes, as long as your GPA is at least ____. (I think it's 2.5).

As for leadership qualities, just about anything goes as long as you've done it for a year. I was a "manager" at my little b.s. minimum wage part time job. Had been for a few months, but got my supervisor to write me a letter stating I'd been doing it for over a year and I was responsible for this, that and the other... yadda, yadda, yadda. High school class president? Leader in the such-and-such club in college? Girl scout troop leader? Just about anything works, so try to get a letter of proof before you move out here.

Bilingual ability... You can get these pts if you are bilingual or if you took foreign language in high school or college. (try to have your high school transcript if that's the case).

Some of these may have changed in the last few years, but the best advice I can offer is to make sure you get A's in as many nursing prereq's as possible. If you're halfway through the semester and it looks like you're going to get a C, drop the class and take it again. You're better off losing that time and effort if it means you'll get an A.

When they fill each new nursing class, they start with the person who has the most pts out of the possible X number and work down until they've filled each slot. You can reapply each semester--they start a new class each semester. If you don't get in, you can usually make an appt with the head of the nursing program to look over your info and see whether you'd have a chance if you try to reapply.

Feel free to email me, I know this is kinda hard to understand.

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