**HELP!!*** New & Lost to the Nursing World

[sophia33]

Hi everyone,

I attend a top 20 university that does not offer a nursing major. I am new to the world of nursing and very, very lost as to how to get to nursing school given my circumstances.

1) What prereq classes do I have to take in order to apply to nursing school? If they vary school to school, could you please link a couple b/c I have had zero luck finding this info on nursing school websites.

2) I understand that I would have to get a BA in nursing, and that Columbia U offers an accelerated BS/MSN program. Are there any other programs such as this? (I believe JHU is closing their program after Summer 2015)

3) How do nursing schools determine acceptances? Is it mostly GPA/GRE scores? Is it more holistic?

4) Is there a stats thread on allnurses that lists major/gpa/GRE/internship experience for admitted students to specific schools?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP, I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

Hugs and choco chip cookies to you all :)

[mirandaaa]

There's really no way to answer this since all schools are different.

You need to look into potential schools you're interested and speak to someone from the school about what their requirements are as far as pre-requisites, GPA, entrance exams, etc.

As far as what schools use to accept people...also cannot answer that since all schools are different. Some go by GPA, some go by a point-based system, etc.

Look into accredited schools that you're interested in attending and call and ask them all of these questions.

[KG MSN RN CCRN CEN, MSN, RN]

Some schools may require different pre-reqs. Most of them should be the same though (A&P, Chemistry, psych, sociology, micro, english, etc.).

I know that the University of Cincinnati will be implementing new BSN-DNP programs. So after your finished your bachelors you could do this. You really get two degrees out of this program. You get your choice of a MSN (FNP, CRNA, adult-gero practitioner, etc.) along with you DNP they just incorporate the classes together for a 4 year program.

I believe that most schools go by GPA, my school did anyway. Shoot for at least a 3.7 and that should give you a pretty good standing. Some schools do a HESI entrance exam, and some also use essay writing to help determine acceptance. They also like to look at volunteer experiences and extra things like that.

Hope this helps!

[MinneNurse, BSN, RN]

1) What prereq classes do I have to take in order to apply to nursing school? If they vary school to school, could you please link a couple b/c I have had zero luck finding this info on nursing school websites.

It definitely varies from school to school and program to program. Where are you looking to attend school? I see you tagged California in this post, thats pretty broad, North, South? Maybe not Cali at all? Also, what type of program, I see you said your at a University already, do you or will you have a Bachelors in something prior to attending Nursing school? If so, in relation to question 2, there are a number of different programs out there. There are BSN programs from students without a prior degree and BSN programs for students with a prior degree. BS to MSN for students with a non nursing bachelors.. So many different options we really couldn't name them all. I would start with what state you are interested in and then look at your academic situation and future career goals when reviewing programs. Check your state BON website for a list of approved nursing programs.

3) How do nursing schools determine acceptances? Is it mostly GPA/GRE scores? Is it more holistic?

Again, this depends entirely on the school. But I will say its not holistic. A lot of schools look at your GPA or at least your nursing pre-req GPA. But some for profit colleges require next to nothing. It also varies on if you are you looking at a graduate degree, which it seems you might be since you mention the GRE multiple times. As I mentioned, there are schools you can attend to receive your MSN with a non-nursing background, some do require your GRE. What I do know is that graduate level programs can be more difficult to get into.

4) Is there a stats thread on allnurses that lists major/gpa/GRE/internship experience for admitted students to specific schools?

Not that I have ever seen and I highly doubt it, but if you have a school in mind or a state I would search that and go from there.

[Seaofclouds, BSN, RN]

Is there an academic advisor you are assigned to? They may be able to guide you toward the best option for going from your current school to a nursing program at another school. Once you identify nursing programs you are interested in, you will want to speak with their admissions staff. Some schools limit what will transfer from one school to another, so before you start looking at the prerequisites you need to complete, you also want to make sure they will transfer. Good luck.