Is it really this difficult to get into a nursing program?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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So I just got an email back from one of the nursing programs I planned on applying to:

It is very difficult to transfer into our nursing program. You cannot complete an application until January 1 for the following fall. You must have taken or be enrolled in the course requirements. The application is due May 1. The review is a pooled review which means they will look at all the applicants and pick the best for the number of slots they have. This includes the students on campus who want to move into nursing. Typically they only admit somewhere between 5 and 10 and sometimes none. We suspect that there may be very few slots available next year as the number of freshmen we have exceeds expectations.

I'm actually really glad that I emailed the school first since I was going to pay that $65 bucks for the application fee.

Well now back to the drawing board...

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Yes, it is that difficult t get into nursing school. Which is why most potential students examine a variety of schools before decising which one(s) t apply to.

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Specializes in CTICU.

It is that difficult. It took me a few years of applying before I was finally accepted. I'm in the NYC metro so competition is to the death out here

Keep trying and cast a wide net, you'll find a school

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

My advice is never place all your eggs in one basket, especially when applying to nursing school. It is hard to get into, especially if you are considered a "transfer" into the university (which I was). Just keep looking & apply to as many as you can.

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Specializes in CTICU.

If I remember correctly, you also posted that you want to transfer from your current school in another thread. My advice to you is to make your current school your primary focus, even if it's not the BSN you planned on. Finish and ACE you prereqs, apply for the program at your school and keep the option for completing your ADN and applying to an RN to BSN later. Transferring into a program even if you haven't started clinicals is very difficult as schools favor their own.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

In the metro area where I live, competition for nursing school admissions is fierce, especially for community college nursing programs due to the cheap tuition. The regional state universities are also highly competitive.

In this area it is slightly easier to get admitted into nursing programs at private nonprofit universities (Texas Christian Univ, Southwestern Adventist Univ) due to the expensive tuition. It is easiest to be admitted into the investor-owned schools (Concorde Career Institute, Fortis, ITT Technical Institute).

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If I remember correctly, you also posted that you want to transfer from your current school in another thread.

Yes, but I did not know transferring into a nursing program could be this difficult. I honestly thought it would just be like applying to any regural nursing program. But I'm also pretty sure the school would pick their own students before they even acknowledge me. And this is not even a competitive university to get into for transfer students, it's just the nursing program.

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In this area it is slightly easier to get admitted into nursing programs at private nonprofit universities (Texas Christian Univ, Southwestern Adventist Univ) due to the expensive tuition. It is easiest to be admitted into the investor-owned schools (Concorde Career Institute, Fortis, ITT Technical Institute).

You're right! My guidance counselor even told me about this as well and she said that other people tend to flock more to the cheaper schools for the reasonable tuition and then that makes the school become highly competitive. While the other expensive schools will have available seats open.

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Specializes in CTICU.
Yes, but I did not know transferring into a nursing program could be this difficult. I honestly thought it would just be like applying to any regural nursing program. But I'm also pretty sure the school would pick their own students before they even acknowledge me. And this is not even a competitive university to get into for transfer students, it's just the nursing program.

Best bet is to pursue the program at the school you're already in. Schools absolutely favor their own students and nursing programs are more or less separate schools within a university or college- it's not like transferring schools. They're separate entities with separate and more strict admissions criteria, requirements, and intense competition. Oftentimes there are 1000+ applications for less than 100 seats.

Still apply to other programs because even your own school isn't guaranteed to admit you to the clinical program, but no matter what you do you'll have to complete your prerequisites before you spend your time and money applying.

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I believe one of the biggest hurdles in going into nursing school is actually being accepted to one. I agree that you should plan to apply to multiple schools for a better chance of getting into one! Good Luck!

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