Here are the chances of getting into a nursing program.

Published

Alright so I've read a lot of posts on this website and I've spend quite a while doing research on the chances of getting into the nursing program. :yawn: I applied to 3 schools and I thought I had a chance but statistically speaking, I don't. My gpa is a 3.2/3.3. (1 D ruined it all) I wrote an essay that doesn't stand out; mediocre. My SAT scores suck. I'm a transfer student. BUT. I did take all the pre-reqs and I have about 12 classes in total. (Not including the 5 I'm taking now.)

Note: The following information are assumptions.

Colleges get about 400 applications a year. THIS IS NOT FOR EVERY COLLEGE. I'm just averaging it out. There are some universities where they only get about 200 apps a year and other universities can get almost 600 (maybe even above.) I'm gonna go with 400 since it's a pretty good number. Out of 400 they will only accept about 50-60 students. I'll just say 60. That gives me a 15% of getting in. But I will eliminate the bad apps. Out of the 400, 100 will have a GPA lower than a 3.0. And let's assume they base this mostly on academic GPA. So now I have a 20% chance of getting accepted. Out of those 300. I will assume that 100 has at least a 3.5 GPA. But only 50 will have their prereqs done. So that eliminates another 50. Now it's down to 250. I have a 24% chance of getting in. OUT OF THOSE 250, 40 wrote extremely bad essays bringing the number down to 210. Now I have a 28% chance of getting accepted. I am now competing with 210 applicants. Out of those 210, 5 will take courses unrelated to the nursing program. That brings me up 1%. :eek: With 205 left, I'm assuming that at least 25 applicants have a better gpa than me. That brings my chances down to 17%. Now there are only 35 spots left. Another 5 is gonna be filled with outstanding students, which brings me down to 14%. 30 will go to the people ranging from 3.0-3.5. 5 spots will be given to students with great recommendations and mediocre GPA, which eliminates me since I don't have recommendations. I now have a 12% chance of getting in. 10 will go to mediocre applicants with good essays and a good SAT score. That brings me down to 7%. Well I don't feel like doing the rest of the math but I came to the conclusion that I have a really slim chance of getting in! Getting into the nursing program is tough work and I'm just not cut out for it. I felt like writing this because now I'm going to STOP HOPING FOR NO REASON and move on and think about other careers. Nursing isn't my only option. :p

Up Vote Up Vote ×

C'mon, really?

You forgot to mention the entrance exam that lot of schools require. Even if you have a bad GPA, if you can show good score on the exam, the AdCom will consider your application.

To be honest, the schools I'm applying to (accelerated BSN and traditional BSN (transfer option)), they've told me that usually for ABSN, they have 20-30 seats and about 100 people apply. The traditional has about 60 seats with about 200 applicants. One of the school has 30 seats for trad BSN with only 60-70 applicants expected.

In my opinion, if you have the money to apply to lots of schools, you should because then your chances of acceptance are definitely increased. According to my calc, you have 50% chance of getting in with minimum required GPA (3.0 in both cumulative and pre-req).

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

Nice info, but I could not help to wonder whether the effort you put into researching for your post could have been redirected towards working on a better essay and a higher GPA ... just saying ...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
C'mon, really?

You forgot to mention the entrance exam that lot of schools require. Even if you have a bad GPA, if you can show good score on the exam, the AdCom will consider your application.

To be honest, the schools I'm applying to (accelerated BSN and traditional BSN (transfer option)), they've told me that usually for ABSN, they have 20-30 seats and about 100 people apply. The traditional has about 60 seats with about 200 applicants. One of the school has 30 seats for trad BSN with only 60-70 applicants expected.

In my opinion, if you have the money to apply to lots of schools, you should because then your chances of acceptance are definitely increased. According to my calc, you have 50% chance of getting in with minimum required GPA (3.0 in both cumulative and pre-req).

Good luck!

I didn't take any entrance exams lol. I would score high on it. My SAT scores are low because I only took it once and I didn't even study. Actually, for a person that didn't study, I did decent. :D And I don't want to reapply for nursing schools. I'm just going to go into a different major. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I didn't take any entrance exams lol. I would score high on it. My SAT scores are low because I only took it once and I didn't even study. Actually, for a person that didn't study, I did decent. :D And I don't want to reapply for nursing schools. I'm just going to go into a different major. :)

That makes sense.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Nice info, but I could not help to wonder whether the effort you put into researching for your post could have been redirected towards working on a better essay and a higher GPA ... just saying ...

I'm changeing career path's due to the economy. I'm older,but want to continue my education. I'm almost done with my pre-req's. GPA now stand's at 3.5, but I was going into the Rad program, and have switched my gear's to nursing considering the economy. Rad's just aren't getting job's. I did a lot of homework on that. I was worried about my age with nursing, but I recieved a lot of positve feedback on that. I also don't have lot's of time for error being in my mid 40's. My dream has alway's been to become a nurse. That's the path I wanted to take from the beginning. The problem is now I have to tell the school I'm changeing my game plan. Do you think that is going to hurt my position. When I switch from Rad to Nursing. I don't know if I'll get in depending on my score's. As you said it depend's on the entrance exam. I"ve heard it's hard to get into a nursing school, and that's why I went into the Rad Tech program to begin. There is a book I would order to prepare for the test. Can I order the book on-line before I've gotten excepted into the course.

Anyway, Thank you for any feedback. I appreciate it. Do you think I have a shot.:heartbeat

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
I'm changeing career path's due to the economy. I'm older,but want to continue my education. I'm almost done with my pre-req's. GPA now stand's at 3.5, but I was going into the Rad program, and have switched my gear's to nursing considering the economy. Rad's just aren't getting job's. I did a lot of homework on that. I was worried about my age with nursing, but I recieved a lot of positve feedback on that. I also don't have lot's of time for error being in my mid 40's. My dream has alway's been to become a nurse. That's the path I wanted to take from the beginning. The problem is now I have to tell the school I'm changeing my game plan. Do you think that is going to hurt my position. When I switch from Rad to Nursing. I don't know if I'll get in depending on my score's. As you said it depend's on the entrance exam. I"ve heard it's hard to get into a nursing school, and that's why I went into the Rad Tech program to begin. There is a book I would order to prepare for the test. Can I order the book on-line before I've gotten excepted into the course.

Anyway, Thank you for any feedback. I appreciate it. Do you think I have a shot.:heartbeat

Mid-40s is still young ... I am 40 and finishing prereqs. I have seen people in their 50s and 60s starting nursing school. Don't ever give up if this is what you want to do with your life.

It's a tough time for new nurses right now, but I hope that by the time we all finish our programs things will be better.

And I don't think changing from Rad to nursing is much of a stretch ... I am sure people out there have done the same and vice versa with no problems. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you very much for your feedback. I very much appreciate it. What you said was very encouraging.

Mid-40s is still young ... I am 40 and finishing prereqs. I have seen people in their 50s and 60s starting nursing school. Don't ever give up if this is what you want to do with your life.

It's a tough time for new nurses right now, but I hope that by the time we all finish our programs things will be better.

And I don't think changing from Rad to nursing is much of a stretch ... I am sure people out there have done the same and vice versa with no problems. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Have you tried applying to a school that has a "lottery system?" If its something you want you shouldn't be so quick to give up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I never heard of it. I will find out though. No, I won't give up. Thank you so very much for the information. I really appreciate your feedback.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

wow...I am 41 and finishing my prereqs this semester--its great to see there are other "oldies" going thru what I am right now--its funny because like you maria202, I was initially going to go into a rad program but "traded up" to nursing--and like you paco, I am worried about what is going to happen 2-3 yrs down the line when I try to get a job...its a terrifying prospect that I may go through all this schooling only to not be able to find a job

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Note: The following information are assumptions.

You know what they say about assumptions right? I'll give you a hint- they DON'T say that assumptions are reliable, scientific ways of determining your odds to get in to nursing school. You have no way of knowing exactly what your competition looks like in a given year (you could be applying in a year when everyone else has a 3.8 GPA, or maybe only a 3.01), or whether the admissions committee is trying to get a good mix of people and will give you extra consideration for something unique in your background.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion