I was rejected by 5 schools and am feeling pretty bummed out about it. I'd like to know what your experiences were in this. How many times were you rejected before getting into nursing school?
I'd really like to hear from students who've had exceptional circumstances getting into nursing school.
For those who've gotten in the first try, please reserve your posts for another discussion. I'd really like to hear from those who've really persevered to reach their goals.
I originally only applied to my local community college's RN program when I was 18. I didn't even know there was such thing as an LPN. After I was rejected I learned our college had the practical nursing program and the bridge so I applied to the LPN and RN program the following semester. I was again rejected by RN but accepted to the LPN. I'm currently in my preceptorship phase of the RN-Bridge.
When I was originally rejected though I was so devastated and felt that if one school wouldn't want me, no others would. I should hve also applied to other schools the next semester but because of money restraints didn't. It's important for people to know though that there are other ways to achieve the degrees you want, even if you have to take baby steps to get through it. There's always another way.
I am in a pretty rural area of Texas where there are not a lot of colleges around. I applied to my local community college 3 times, and was not accepted 3 times. Even though I had three associates (Chem, Physics, Pre-Health) from that exact same college. They only had so many slots for males and I was always within like 1/2 a point from getting one of those slots. Needless to say I was very discouraged. I, like you, was also in the military (Army Medic) and felt that nursing was the ONLY thing I wanted to do with my life. Getting rejected, coupled with really wanting out of my day job, I think I was on the verge of depression.
Then the gates of Heaven opened up and the choir started singing. I received a call from Texas A&M Corpus Christi. They have an online nursing program called the E-Line Nursing Program. They were looking at starting a military version where they actually gave me credit for all my medical military experience. I was able to test out of Fundamentals based on my military background, as well as lower the number of clinical fundamental hours to just 24hours. It's a really great program, and the best part is that I do it all from my home, and I get the option of doing my clinical's either at hospital close to me or I can go to Corpus. (Sorry that sounds like an advertisement)
I am about to graduate soon with my BSN and am so glad I did not give up on my dream. I can remember actually crying in the shower once after that third rejection thinking that I was going to have to do a job I didn't really want to do for the rest of my life just because I couldn't get into nursing school. It was extremely disheartening. I think the only thing that kept getting me through all of it was prayer, perseverance, and knowing that I was called to do nursing. So stick in there, keep applying, if you really, REALLY, want to be a nurse, don't quit because there will be many a times working on a floor, taking care of that one patient that gets under your skin where you wont be able to quit. Plus think how awesome it's going to be whenever you have your Doctorate of Professional Nursing and your standing in front of a class of brand new nursing students regaling them with your story of how many times it took you to get into school, but you never gave up, got in, and now you run that place.......
“Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.”
Specializes in Family medicine, Cardiology, Spinal Cord Injury.
I got accepted to the nursing school of my choice on my 4th application. As acceptance was based on lottery, those who were not chosen through the lottery after the 3rd application had an automatic spot on the 4th application.
So what did I do for the 2 years while waiting to get into my ADN program? I took every non-nursing class that is required as part of the degree program. I also took the classes that were required for BSN programs.
When I finally got into the nursing program, the only classes I had to take were nursing classes. My other classmates were stressing out having to take degree requirement classes.
So make use of your time while waiting to get into nursing school.
Considering I only had two schools in my area with Nursing programs.... It was one of those schools or NONE. I applied to school #1 and did not get accepted. I was so depressed as I basically only had one more shot at getting into nursing school which was school #2. After applying to school #2 I called a few weeks later to check the status of my application and was told the nursing program was already full and that if I wanted I could get my application pushed ahead for the next semester(school year.) I was so discouraged at this that I was about to say no but I figured oh what the heck, and agreed to have my application pushed ahead for the next year. Although I had to wait a year I did get in finally. It was worth the wait.
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
I wasn't rejected, but my path has been filled with twists and turns. I started off taking prereqs for the BSN program. Then my husband left us so I earned my Nursing Assistant Cert. That allowed me to learn about the world of opportunities in skilled nursing and the role of LVNs, which I knew very little about.
But I couldn't afford the cost of LVN private school-- which could be completed in 1 year.
I continued taking BSN prereqs at the community college under a fee waiver ( so basically free) and eventually was offered a grant to help pay for LVN school.
I'm halfway through LVN school now and was just admitted to the University that I hope to earn my BSN from.
I can relate! I applied to 4 schools (Entry-MSN and ABSN programs) and was rejected by all as well. It definitely does cause a case of the blues, especially because the schools sent their letters out back to back basically so by the time the last one arrived I more less prepared myself, opened the letter read the "Thank you for applying, we regret to inform you that you were not accepted" and then threw the letter away and just reminded myself that there are other schools and opportunities and I am just going to keep trying. I try to look at the positive and see how I am growing from the experience of rejection (because I never dealt with it before with school. I graduated from Pepperdine University. I got into 2 of the schools I applied to for undergrad but was rejected when I applied for their nursing programs...that was hard) so I felt humbled and opted to apply to 7 ADN programs (an alternate path to my goal) and now I am just waiting to hear back. I think perseverance and staying focused is key. Get knocked down 7 times, but stand up 8.
I applied 3 times to a 4 yr bsn program and 3 times to 3 different 2 yr programs. Got into all of them on the last try. In from Cali and nursing is impacted everywhere here. Many have waiting lists and many don't count anything except academics towards your app. I ended up at the bsn program and the average Gpa for our school was 3.75. I got lucky since I scored very high on the math section of the TEAS which counted in the overall score and the doubled as another factor. Hang in there! Also, private schools are easier to get into for nursing. Most public CCs are going to be impacted and have waiting lists so even tho you are a good candidate there just aren't enough spots and you will be waitlisted.
I applied to two different nursing schools for 8 consecutive fall/spring semesters before I was accepted. Turns out that I was accepted to both at the same time. Those two schools were basically the only possible options for me, for a number of reasons. I was a "qualified applicant" at those 2 schools each semester I applied. Everything must have simply lined up right because I was selected simultaneously at each program. Another semester or two and I would have been good to go for the BSN program at the local University as they (finally) opened the University back up to 2nd Bachelor's students.
All told, I was rejected 13 times out of 15 applications to those schools total... for clarification.
I'm having the hardest moment for the pass two years. I've been applying for many nursing program in both state CA and OR but none of them had accepted me yet. I am feeling so down, hopeless and of course I've had questioned and guessed myself if nursing is really for me. I am feeling to give up my dream but at the same time I don't want to give up. I'm so glad I read your comment because it has inspired me to not giving up and keep applying. Thank you.
in the shower once after that third rejection thinking that I was going to have to do a job I didn't really want to do for the rest of my life just because I couldn't get into nursing school. It was extremely disheartening. I think the only thing that kept getting me through all of it was prayer, perseverance, and knowing that I was called to do nursing. So stick in there, keep applying, if you really, REALLY, want to be a nurse, don't quit because there will be many a times working on a floor, taking care of that one patient that gets under your skin where you wont be able to quit. Plus think how awesome it's going to be whenever you have your Doctorate of Professional Nursing and your standing in front of a class of brand new nursing students regaling them with your story of how many times it took you to get into school, but you never gave up, got in, and now you run that place.......
Buttercupxo
3 Posts
I originally only applied to my local community college's RN program when I was 18. I didn't even know there was such thing as an LPN. After I was rejected I learned our college had the practical nursing program and the bridge so I applied to the LPN and RN program the following semester. I was again rejected by RN but accepted to the LPN. I'm currently in my preceptorship phase of the RN-Bridge.
When I was originally rejected though I was so devastated and felt that if one school wouldn't want me, no others would. I should hve also applied to other schools the next semester but because of money restraints didn't. It's important for people to know though that there are other ways to achieve the degrees you want, even if you have to take baby steps to get through it. There's always another way.