IUPUI nursing school admissions

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I will soon be applying for nursing school spring semester at IUPUI. I was wondering if spring semester is less competitive for admission than fall semester? Also does anyone know of any schools that I can apply to if I do not get accepted; what classes will easily transfer and what schools have equal admission requirements? I need to develop a plan B, in case I am not accepted.

I have heard how difficult it is to get into this nursing school. Any info wound be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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Specializes in neuro, critical care.

I am also attempting to get into a program, so I may not offer the wisest advice, but I can tell you my own strategy - Get in and get out anywhere that will take you. To me it is all about the "foot in the door" thing. IUPUI is not the only school with hundreds of great potential nurses knocking down their door. To answer part of your question, no, I do not think it is (much) less competitive in Spring entry at IUPUI. Unfortunately the system is set up so that the hundreds who do not get into the program in the Fall can tweak their application in their favor (potentially putting them over you) and try again in the next entry class. I say "unfortunately" because this means there is no break for the weary. Institutions will turn down hundreds of people in every program in every semester in most nursing schools in the state.

Again, I believe your Plan B should be to apply and go anywhere that will take you. A good thing about nursing is that once you get some education, you can have your employer pay for the rest of your schooling with educational benefits. This means there are many students who want to become a well-educated RN but are applying to LPN and ASN programs so they can get a job and have their employers finance their RN, BSN and even MSN programs. While some applicants are waiting and taking out student loans, some practicing nurses will be taking out car and home loans. I've been among a pool of other academically talented individuals fighting tooth and nail to get into a program and I've been at it for 2 years at this point. I would feel lucky to get into any program that would take me, no matter what choice on my list it was.

I said above to "get out" quickly because of the inevitable problems that arise from young people (sorry, didn't mean to assume you were young) in a society of underfunded education in an economic climate that requires a college education. You can never know what personal trials lie before you and, as many people on this forum can attest, many people who fight so hard to get into a program do not come out the other side a graduate. I would consider shorter options because 2 years of an ASN program, which gives you a degree, is better than 2 years (or even 3 years) of a BSN program that does not prepare you to sit for the NCLEX-RN. 2 years and a degree is much better than 3 years with nothing to show for all your hard work you paid so much for. Of course I'd apply for the RN if that is what your eventual goal is, but I wouldn't get rejected from the program twice without applying to other programs. By the time you wait to get in at IUPUI, you may have been able to finish at Ivy Tech (and vice versa).

I was attempting the Ivy Tech route for 1.5 years when it became apparent that it was not working for me as quickly as I had planned. I expanded my search at the advice of other students.

The finds of my search: I believe that Marian's program is very similar to IUPUI as far as transfer credits go. I was also told by Marian students not to be intimidated by the high costs of attending this private school because the Financial Aid department is crazy good at helping you get a help (especially if you are a young mother). Ivy Tech has a good enough transfer system, especially considering that is what they, as a community college system, were designed for - transferring credits to finish a bachelors degree. The only quirk I know of is the differing credit hours for anatomy and physiology. (you need to do all of your anatomy and physiology at one school for best results)

In the end, for me, I was close enough to a bachelors degree that I could quickly get a general studies degree at IUPUI and expand my search because I am now also eligible for accelerated programs. If I lived in Cincinnati, for example, I would be eligible for their accelerated MSN programs as well! I decided that 3 years to get 2 bachelors degrees was a better Plan B for me than 3 years to wait to get into and finish the associates degree program at Ivy Tech. I had prior college credits to my advantage, though. The cool thing for me and the accelerated program is that Clarian just gave 'em a million dollars to expand the entry classes and provide scholarships to students who would work at Clarian post-graduation. There are much fewer applications to the accelerated program entries (they may accept around 1/2 of the applicants but it is hard to know since it is expanding so quickly right now), which is why I decided to attempt that option as well.

You may also want to consider using any youth you may have to your advantage. If you are ready and adventurous, there are always fleeting stories of nurse shortages so bad that they welcome students from other areas. When I explored IUPUI in the Summer of 2006, my academic advisor sent me an email forward from a DC hospital that would pay to move, house, and educate you in return for hard work. It probably isn't the best hospital but I would have taken it if I did not have household ties back here in Indy. I also recently read online that Louisiana is looking to cut it's news-making nurse shortage by providing tuition to any qualified student who would move down there to attend. I also just read a list (I'm not sure how updated) on places in the country without a wait for nursing programs like we have here in Indiana.

Keep your chin up! As I heard 2 years ago from the program meeting at Ivy Tech, "sometimes getting a degree in college is all about jumping through the hoops - The only people who get the piece of paper at the end are the ones who show they want it bad enough to jump through all of the hoops the schools put in front of them." I say, "Bring it on!"

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My advice would also be to keep your options open. Apply to different schools. Ivy Tech has many campuses around Indiana with Nursing Programs, and at the end you would be able to get your RN license if you pass the exam. At many hospitals it does not make a difference salary wise (and at times management wise as well), whether you have your ASN or BSN. If you ever decide to pursue your BSN or MSN later, the hospital might help you with that. Ivy Tech Indianapolis is pretty hard to get in, but obviously possible if some people do get in. So, just press on! If you have your BA you might want to consider Indiana Wesleyan University. It's quite a drive though, but you finish in 18 months and get a RN/BSN degree. They will start this program in July 2008. I was looking into it before I got accepted at Ivy Tech.

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

I agree with the previous posters, keep your options open. When I first decided to go for my RN, I was convinced I would only accept the BSN from IUPUI. After realizing just how long it would take me to become an RN that way, I decided I needed to look at Ivy Tech. I live in Indy, so naturally I looked there. End result for me, I decided to pursue my LPN first, bridge to the ASN, then look to a BSN completion. I obtained my LPN from Ivy Tech in Columbus. I just went to orientation for the LPN transition class at Ivy Tech in Logansport...remember, I still live in the Indy area, so I am making some big commutes, but I will be finished with my ASN this time next year rather than waiting another year just for the possibility of being accepted at Indy.

I am finding in my journey that being a nurse right now is way better than being a year into a BSN program and still trying to work as a tech somewhere, but then again, this is just my personal experience and opinion.

I wish you the best of luck! There are many paths to the title RN, so keep all the doors open you can.

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Hey there,

I just finished orientation (today, actually!) for the BSN program at IUPUI. They are accepting more students this year--for each semester--than ever before (up 10%).

Also, try one of the commuter campuses, if a BSN is your goal. I know that IUPU-C and IU Kokomo have programs similar to the one in Indy, and I believe they are starting one in Evansville (or South Bend?).

Do you go to IUPUI? If so, contact Amanda Fawcett (although this is her maiden name...I'm not sure what her married name is, but she shouldn't be hard to track down) in the UC advising center. She is the bridge between pre-BSN and the program. She helps you determine which classes you need to take, and if you have transfer credits, which ones actually transfer.

Good luck on your journey!

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FYI - Ivy Tech is accepting over 100 students for the Spring 2008 semester!

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FYI - Ivy Tech is accepting over 100 students for the Spring 2008 semester!

May I ask where you got this information? I am curious to know!

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I really can't share my source, but I guarantee it to be true. Sorry.

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Hello! I have to say that I had a rough time trying to get into the nursing school at IUPUI. I had every credit I needed except for my nursing classes and had a 3.75 GPA. I wasted my time for 3 semesters to try and get in. I have to say hind site is 20/20. Do not put all your eggs in one basket like I did. I finally applied at Ball State University and I love it!! I wish I had applied sooner! Almost all of my credits transferred and I was able to get in right away! I will now FINALLY be graduating in December after 6.5 years of school. I definitely wasted my time by only counting on IUPUI. Every semester I thought I would do better and eventually get in and that was a BIG mistake! Definitely apply to as many schools as possible. I HIGHLY suggest Ball State. They are even implementing technologies that are helpful in the medical field today such as PDAs to get info quicker! I love BSU, and I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a great nursing school. I have learned so much there.

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I go to IU-KOKOMO and I love it. We have a lot of IUPUI transfers. The admission requirements are not as tough at IUPUI, being IUPUI is the nursing program's flagship campus. It is about an hour drive from the Indianapolis area and we do usually offer clinicals in the Indy area, St. Vincent on 86th streer and Riverview in Noblesville. There should be some lines on your nursing school applications to apply for other IU campus locations as your 1-3 choices. We offer admission in the fall and the spring starting last year after we dropped our ASN program, there for, if you do not get in during the fall semester you will be admitted for the spring semester.

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Would you mind sharing your info on what hospitals in DC this email was referring to? Or where in Louisiana this is? I would be willing to move ... I'm just ready to get started already and i'm tired of all the hoops =)

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Hi! I wasn't sure where to post this at, but I was wondering what classes have to be done before applying to the IUPUI BSN program?

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