How many nursing programs did you apply to before you were accepted to one?

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I am thinking about applying to 3 nursing programs next year in case one or the other doesn't accept me. I was wondering if anybody has applied to multiple programs at a time or more than one program in general before they were accepted into a program? I am also casting my net out wide because the first three programs I am considering have different NCLEX pass rates, GPA requirements, and Teas score requirements that could change the out come of my application. What is your experience applying for and being accepted into your nursing program?:nurse:

applied one semester got wait listed/rejected. Applied to the same school for the next semester and got in on the first round. In my second semester of a 4 semester BSN program.

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I applied to 5 ADN programs this past year...the first 4 I didnt get in. The last one I was waiting on I found out I got in and will start in January. So excited!! :)

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I applied to two programs and got accepted to both. Both were GPA based/interview/other factors.

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Specializes in ICU Surgical Trauma.

I applied to two the first time and was denied to both. I applied to 3 the second time and got accepted to 2 school.

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What? People apply to 3 or less? I've got a list of 14 ADN programs I'm applying to. Then again, I live in a heavily populated metropolitan city where it seems everyone is trying to get into nursing. A friend of mine applied to 12 and got into 1. So I'm following his example.

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True. Geography matters a great deal. Nursing programs are much more tricky than liberal arts colleges and universities. When I applied to college, I had a pretty good idea who would accept me (I applied early to one school and was accepted in 1993). For graduate school, I applied to more schools, but knew I would get into several. But nursing school was a BIG BLACK BOX! The application process was quite frustrating. I am glad I was accepted into a school very early in my process thus saving myself time (fewer prereqs), money for prereqs not needed, and application fees, transcript fees and GRE sending fees. What a circus!

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What? People apply to 3 or less? I've got a list of 14 ADN programs I'm applying to. Then again, I live in a heavily populated metropolitan city where it seems everyone is trying to get into nursing. A friend of mine applied to 12 and got into 1. So I'm following his example.

I am in a major city east Coast and got into one of the top nursing schools in the US - on the second try. Yes it is competitive to get into a good school, but one has to ask if all of that money on application fees for 14 schools is really worth it. have you talked to the programs themselves? Chances are, you really don't know your friends whole package other than what he told you, and no two candidates are the same. I know that at my school that fully admit to rejecting "perfect on paper" candidates (4.0 gpa's, almost perfect NET, etc) as they did not "feel" them as nurses from their essays and recs. consider that before you start spending all of your money on applications.

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Sandi1743,

Did you ask the school how you could improve your application for the second go around?

Congratulations on your acceptance!

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sandi1743, unfortunately most of the ADN programs in my area don't take letters of recommendation, essays, and most don't conduct interviews. It also doesn't come down to grades either. Anyone that meets their minimum requirements gets dumped into a lottery and students are chosen at random. So this is why I'm trying to increase my chances of hitting the lottery jackpot, as it were. Only 2 or 3 schools assign you points and admit people based on that.

Thankfully, the applications themselves don't cost anything. It's just the transcripts I have to pay for but I guess I see it as an investment. Who knows what really goes on in the admission process but the info they make public says it's all lottery based.

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yes i did - as i was wait listed the first go-around before being rejected i called and asked - the admission people knew me from open houses and these discussions. Overall i had to make my essay a bit more "WOW - we want her!". i went back to the people that did my rec's and explained the situation as well. I have no idea if they just submitted the same letter again or not (i sign my right to seeing the rec always) but i made sure that the admissions board knew that i wanted in - and pointed out that i was re-applying in my essay. I was accepted in the first round on my second application!

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sIt also doesn't come down to grades either. Anyone that meets their minimum requirements gets dumped into a lottery and students are chosen at random. So this is why I'm trying to increase my chances of hitting the lottery jackpot, as it were. Only 2 or 3 schools assign you points and admit people based on that.

Thankfully, the applications themselves don't cost anything. It's just the transcripts I have to pay for but I guess I see it as an investment. Who knows what really goes on in the admission process but the info they make public says it's all lottery based.

ahhh - one of those systems. :/ sorry about that as that is a totally different story.

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Specializes in PD,Nxstage,hemo.

It does seem like you have to jump through hoops to get accepted to some schools. At my school it wasnt so much having to keep jumping through hoops,but the whole PROCESS they send you through:

-applied to the program then

-had to wait to be INVITED to take that frecking hard TEAS V test then

-had to wait another month and a half before I could take the TEAS

-had to wait another 2 months for them to decide who were the best canidaites to interview

-then 1 month after the interview they made decisions on who they wanted in the program.

I was soooooo happy I got in on my first try because I didnt want to retake that TEAS test again.

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