How many is too many ?

evolvingrn, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2015

I think it's fine. I only applied to one and it was somewhat last second after I had been accepted to a nurse educator program and changed my mind. I think had I made up my mine sooner I would have applied to 3 programs. Eta: I don't think np school is as competitive as undergrad in my experience. I was in a bit of a panic and the admission specialist told me with my background and grades which were similar to yours I wouldn't have a problem.

Dranger · Dec 30, 2015

Most NP schools are not competitive at all.

I would be more worried about getting a job in the future than getting into school. I foresee saturation as being a big problem.

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Dec 30, 2015

Most NP schools are not competitive at all.
I would be more worried about getting a job in the future than getting into school. I foresee saturation as being a big problem.

From what I understand from reading on here, its already an issue in a lot of places

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2015

Most NP schools are not competitive at all.
I would be more worried about getting a job in the future than getting into school. I foresee saturation as being a big problem.

Unfortunately saturation is an issue even at the RN level in my area. Because I am a little older I will not have as many years left to work as a twenty something when I graduate and I need to move away from the bedside as I age. I also feel that I will be able to teach or go into administration if other jobs are not available to me. This was not a fly by night decision but given my area and market I believe it to be the best one. I welcome any thoughts.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Dec 30, 2015

I only applied to 2 programs. Heard from one, still haven't heard from the second one yet since their application deadline is February 1st.

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 30, 2015

I have to admit ... if you asked me to write 6 recommendations, I'd be a bitirritated and wondering why you couldn't decide on a school. It would make me question your commitment to a certain plan of action and/or self-confidence. But if I liked you, I would cooperate and fill out the 6 recommendations.

Most of the time, you can't just send the same letter to the 6 schools. Most schools want you to fill out a specific online form now -- with questions that I struggle to answer for some people who ask me to recommend them. It's not easy or pleasant to provide a recommendation anymore -- much worse than it used to be when you could write a general letter and use repeatedly with only a few minor changes for each school.

Good luck!

canigraduate · Dec 30, 2015

I picked one and went for it.

elkpark · Dec 30, 2015

I'm with llg. For grad school, you can't just send them photocopies of a single letter/reference; they want an original, sent from the person giving the reference, and, in order for it to really help you, it needs to be personalized to the school and program to which you're applying. Asking people to do that six times is asking a lot of people. And you want your references to be from people who are a) in a position to be able to speak to your ability to do graduate level academic work and b) know how to write a really strong reference (not everyone does, especially people outside of academia), so I doubt you know enough people with both those qualifications to be able to ask 36 different people to do one reference each. :)

I applied to two schools, my first choice and my second choice of schools that offered my subspecialty.

I agree that maybe trimming your numbers would be a good idea; pick a few schools and concentrate on them.

littlepeopleRNICU · Dec 30, 2015

I applied to two. I feel like 2-3 schools at a time is a good number.

Conqueror+, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2015

OK so perhaps one reach school, one most likely to succeed school, and one safety school. Thanks guys.

Alikatz08 · Dec 30, 2015

I applied to 4 and I think anything above 3-4 is also a bit much when it comes to having recommendations written. Best of luck!