Getting in to a program? How hard is it really?

Nursing Students General Students

Published

I am just polling for opinions and nursing school acceptance experience. I have researched ADN, BSN & Direct Entry Master's programs and have arrived at the conclusion that I want to go either the ADN route or the accelerated BSN route (I have a bachelor's in business already). The direct entry master's is to difficult to get into (plus I don not want the 3-4 year commitment), my GPA was slightly below most min 3.0 requirements, it was a 2.95 etc....What I want to know is it seems so hard to get into a program, an average of almost 300 aplicants for 40 spots etc. Every school refers to waiting lists, and "highly competitive" on their websites. I am taking the pre-reqs and doing fine, I am just nervous that because I am an average student, that I don't have a shot at getting accepeted after taking all these required science classes. Did anyone else out there that had a prior bachelor's with an average GPA? and B's in their prereqs get into a RN program on their first try? I will be bummed to wait and have to reapply after initial rejections. Thanks for any input.

Specializes in L&D.
I am just polling for opinions and nursing school acceptance experience. I have researched ADN, BSN & Direct Entry Master's programs and have arrived at the conclusion that I want to go either the ADN route or the accelerated BSN route (I have a bachelor's in business already). The direct entry master's is to difficult to get into (plus I don not want the 3-4 year commitment), my GPA was slightly below most min 3.0 requirements, it was a 2.95 etc....What I want to know is it seems so hard to get into a program, an average of almost 300 aplicants for 40 spots etc. Every school refers to waiting lists, and "highly competitive" on their websites. I am taking the pre-reqs and doing fine, I am just nervous that because I am an average student, that I don't have a shot at getting accepeted after taking all these required science classes. Did anyone else out there that had a prior bachelor's with an average GPA? and B's in their prereqs get into a RN program on their first try? I will be bummed to wait and have to reapply after initial rejections. Thanks for any input.

I don't have a BA yet but I had a B average and got into my program. Would re-locating to W. Michigan be an option? The CC over here though has a 5-year waiting list. GVSU is expensive and has 17 prereq classes which don't of course include your gen ed courses or co-reqs. This is why there is no waiting list here. That and my school accepts 64 students every semester including the summer semester. My school does have a fast-track program if you have your BS though. And Yes, you would be able to get into my program with a 2.95 gpa. I think they accept 2.8 now.

Specializes in ICU.

Because I was clowning around in college I got a 2.7 GPA when I graduated. I have been getting all A's in my prereqs though. I got into my ADN program (despite their waiting list) on the first try. They average only the classes that count toward your new degree.

Specializes in CVICU.

If you are willing to move, there are options for you to start as soon as you meet the schools requirements. I got all A's in the pre reqs I needed to take and had B's in the other half I had already taken. I should get into at least 1 of the two accelerated BSN programs I applied to. I think the one that I am iffy at getting into the B's in the pre reqs are what is going to keep me out...

Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

Most of the CC's in NH are not doing waiting lists anymore. You have to reapply each year if you don't get in. Is there really people that wait a full 5 years to get in? That just seems so sad that these people who really, really want to be a nurse have to wait 1/2 a decade to do what they want to do. Geez, you could finish a BSN program long before that time! LOL

Some do and some don't look a lot at GPA's. I know the ones I applied to did, but they also factored it in with NLN test scores and the courses that have been taken. If someone had been taking all computer courses instead of science, they may want them to take some science and math before applying.

I think a lot depends on whether someone is a traditional (right out of HS) or non-traditional student. I'm a non-traditional, as are most of us in the colleges I applied to. Some colleges, tech and otherwise, hold a few spots at least for the traditional students, although not many are applying for nursing spots right from HS.

Specializes in Adolescent Psych, PICU.

Every place is different but ya, you could end up taking all those classes and do great in them and not get into the nursing program :( There is always risks in life.

But really there is that chance with *any* professional program that people have to apply or compete to get into. I have changed to pre-med (my major is Biomed) and for the med school we have 5,000+ people applying for 120 spots, PA school its around 1-2000 for 50 spots, dental school is about the same as med school, dental hygene is 500 for 30 spots, etc

When I was doing nursing I looked around at all the schools in my area and took all the classes so that I would have the option of applying to any of them (since they all required different classes, tests, etc) so make sure you check out all the different schools. If you can get a job as a CNA or at least volunteer in a hospital or nursing home.....some programs count that and will give preference. You could also start off as an LPN and then bridge over to RN/BSN.

Just do well in your pre-reqs....I would really really try to get an A in everyone of them and get some experience in the health care field and you will probably do just fine!

Marilyn

+ Add a Comment