Just wondering something.. Application

[Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN]

I see a lot of you posting about volunteering. Is it required by your program?

My program does not require volunteering or letters of recommendation. I'm wondering if I should do them anyways? Include them? I'm not sure if that's more irritating than not.

I'm not that close to applying, but if it is a good idea I'd like to rack up hours.

I just don't want to be the one obnoxious applicant who didn't follow the rules.. Lol

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

My program doesn't require either of those, volunteering or refernce letters, but I did both anyway, and got accepted. I feel the reference letter from a well respected MD professor in whose classes I had received As was a big help in putting my application over the edge this time. (I had applied before and didn't get in.) I have a thread on how to get a leg up in the application process. As for volunteering, even if you drove for Meals on Wheels one day every other week, that helps. I had a volunteer leadership role for a national dog rescue organization but also did Meals on Wheels and some work with mentally disabled, which my professor indicated on her reference letter. Also a cover letter attached to your application briefly explaining why you would be an assett to the program couldn't hurt. Consider it like a job application!

[ambitiousBSN]

Neither were required (or recommended) by my program, but I still submitted two recommendation letters from two physicians who work at my hospital that I worked with for 6 years- one of which is within the hospital administration. I also mentioned on my application that I have 6+ years of clinical experience in a hospital. I figured neither could hurt to mention (or send) because since we are the inaugural class for our BSN program, I wasn't entirely sure what they were looking for or taking into account.

[Boxer Mama]

My program did not require either. I actually started volunteering after I had submitted my application. It was nice to be able to talk about my volunteering at my interview, though. But, I had found that my volunteer time in the hospital is the highlight of my week and I very much look forward to going. For my application, I followed what they requested, which included an essay detailing my past volunteer/healthcare experience. Like previously mentioned, it is like a job interview. Anything you can do to set yourself apart from other applicants is a good thing!

[zoe92]

I applied to 4 BSN programs. They all had different requirements but I sent in the same things for everything. I had 5 letters of recommendation (1 personal, 1 professional, 3 academic), a resume that included my professional & volunteer experiences, an essay & a personal statement of my goals. I don't think it hurts you if you do this. The worst they can do is throw it away without looking. The school I got accepted to (which I will be transferring to in 2 weeks to start clinicals) even told me they appreciated the documents I sent because it helped them learn more about me.

[Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN]

The weird thing is there's no essay, or interview. There is the application, your gpa, and whether you're accepted or not. That's it. You get in SOLELY on a gpa/point basis.

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

The weird thing is there's no essay, or interview. There is the application, your gpa, and whether you're accepted or not. That's it. You get in SOLELY on a gpa/point basis.

HOWEVER, just because they techincally go on GPA/TEAS scores like my college did, like a PP said, all they can do is throw it away if they don't want to read it. TRUST ME, my daughter is the senior admissions rep for Central Virginia for the University of South Carolina. I made sure to get her advice and her exact words were as the PP above stated, All they can do is throw it away, it certainly won't hurt you to set your application above the others!

[__patiently_waiting]

There's nowhere for volunteer work on my school's nursing school application so I'm assuming they don't require it. No one recommended that I do it either. I just want to do it to keep me busy throughout the semester and get some hands on experience in the hospital.

[Caribbean Character]

Our program requires 3 letters of recommendation, GPA, and TEAS scores.

[Mandy0728]

I live in northwest Ohio and luckily our BSN program doesn't require any of that...they solely look at cumulative GPA. One of the other BSN programs here looks at TEAS and CNA hours as well, but that school was insanely more expensive so I didn't apply there.