How long b/w starting pre-reqs and applying to NS?

Look at your target nursing schools' websites or call them. Here in Colorado, the schools all have different but specific guidelines as to where exactly you have to be in your prerequisite journey before they consider your application.

Good luck!

I plan to enroll in my first pre-req (or possibly 2) this summer, and enroll in at least 2 per quarter/semester until next summer. My hope is to be in a position to start applying to nursing schools next spring (for Fall 09 enrollment). I've read several comments where people have applied to NS with only a couple of pre-reqs done--or none at all--and they were accepted on their first try. Is this the norm? How much time did it take you between starting your pre-reqs and starting the application process to the nursing programs of your choice? Should I plan to start applying sooner, like maybe for Spring 09 or Summer 09 enrollment (for those programs that start during these times of the year)?

As Chipmonk mentioned you have to look at the requirements for the school that you are interested in. All of the schools have a certain time they take applications for NS. The CC I am attending will be taking applications in Sept 08 for January 09. They highly recommend that All pre-reqs are completed at the time you apply for NS but will consider your application if you are missing 1 or 2 classes, depending what classes they are. Honestly, your chances are far better if your pre-reqs are completed. My school has 10 pre-reqs, and you are considered for NS based on your GPA (3.5 or better) and classes completed. I am starting from the beginning, this summer with 2 classes per semester and I should be complete by Fall of 2009. That means I won't be done with classes when I submit my application but I am going to try anyway. If I don't get in for 2010, I will be ready for 2011 or I might consider applying somewhere else.

The great thing about starting from the beginning is that you can really focus on getting a great GPA. Hope this helps.:wink2:

The school I go to has a part-time and full-time program. Full time means that you have completed all pre-reqs and are ready for the nursing curriculum, which includes non-clinical and clinical classes. For the part time segment(Which I applied for in Spring 07 and got in!!!) you are only able to have 4 or less pre-reqs left for the following Spring semester(Current semester). I have taken just about all the non-clinical Nursing courses for our program, and I will finish my last pre-req this summer(Microbio). And then I will enter the full time program this Fall semester. It just depends on the school!

I had to take around 55 credit hours to apply with a chance to get in. I applied a bit shy of that knowing I more than likely wouldn't make it. I got three extra admission points for applying, and a chance to see what the Hesi A2 was like prior to having the pressure of it being all or nothing. I also retook a couple of my classes over to turn a B to an A to be more competitive, and mixed in a few classes I will need for my BSN to get them out of the way, and I only went part time a good deal of the time. Over all I have 65 credit hours, and it has taken me about 4 years.

I have seen a few people on this board who have gotten in their first application, but I don't think its the norm. It seems most people apply at least twice, and I have talked to some who have applied 3 and 4 times.

If I were you I would apply as soon I was able as you never know. Good luck!

Hopefully you will be able to knock out your prereqs quickly. The CC I did my prereqs at was so impacted that it took me two tries (semesters) to get into anatomy, which was a prereq for physio, so it slowed everything down. Not every place is like that, though. Also, much depends on whether you have priority registration or not.

Check with the requirements of your top choice school, and if possible, check with other schools too. Many have ongoing information sessions. I often learned more from chatting with other students than info sessions or counselors! Each school can be very different though, both in the timing of applications and the requirements.

Good luck!

It varies from school to school - you should specifically check out the nursing program website and/or the current application for more information. I am finishing up my second year at a local CC and will have all of my pre-reqs done by the end of this spring semester. I applied to SFSU, USF and CSUEB and a couple of others, however, as said before, pre-reqs vary from school to school. I applied to about 6 schools in total but a few schools did not allow me to apply for the nursing program because I had two pre-requisites (Microbiology and Organic Chemistry) in progress, and they only allow students to have one in progress during the time of application. Hope this helped and good luck!

Like the others have said, it depends on the school. I was accepted the first time I applied but I had completed all of my pre-reqs except one before I applied. I wanted to be able to focus on nursing classes when I took them. I did not enter the nursing program at that time so here I am 6 years later working on my pre-reqs for a different program. My math didn't transfer and it had been too long since I'd taken A&P1. The program I'm applying to requires the math to be completed BEFORE you can apply so that has thrown me off a bit.

But to answer your questions, I started taking classes in 97. Then again in 2001. Now I'm back in 2008. I took most of the non-sciences (I wasn't a nursing major at that time) the first time I was in school. Then when I went back in 2001 I took my math and science. I was taking evening classes part time so that took me 3 semesters and then I was going to enter the program in Fall 2002.

Keeping in mind I tend to do things the hard way, it took me 2 years. I was 39 and did miserably in the math portion of the entrance exam. I had to do 2 semesters of prepatory math classes along with the basic stuff (Communications, Speech, a Humanity, etc.). Then I had Biology, Sociology, Med Term, SLS, 2 Psychs, and the dreaded A&P I and II and I still have Micro in Fall 08'.

I had to do it at the pace of a very rusty student, but came out with a 3.91 GPA to this point. Your mileage may vary.

This is how it went for me:

fall: physio, and some transfer classes (1 semester)

spring:life span development (psych), microbiology, chem (2 semester)

fall: anatomy, stats, and some transfer classes (3rd semester)

spring: took rest of transfer courses and applied to nursing program (4th semester)

summer: no classes

fall: started BSN program

both of the programs I applied to required that all of your pre-reqs be done or be enrolled in your last pre-reqs when applying.