This is gonna be a long one! I'm making this to help future applicants of NAU's ABSN program with some data and info that I've used to help me find peace during my application for the 2019 cohort. *Disclaimer: This info is speculative based on users voluntary data and info they have received*This by no means represents the absolute truth of what it takes to be accepted and how the NAU administration chooses who's accepted into the program* THERE IS ALWAYS A CHANCE!
Selection Criteria
(GPA, KAPLAN, and PREREQ's)
It appears there is an 18 point scale that is used to compare applicants.
GPA (5 points)
3.0-3.19 = 1 pt.
3.2-3.39 = 2 pts.
3.4-3.59 = 3 pts.
3.6-3.79 = 4 pts.
3.8-4.0 = 5 pts.
Kaplan (10 points)
Overall Score = 5 points (scale based on applicant pool)
Science Score = 5 points (scale based on applicant pool)
Prerequisite completion (2 points)+(1 point)
+2 points for 100% completion of prerequisites at time of application
-0.2 points per class in progress
+1 point for completion of prerequisites at the NAU Campus
Previous Applicant Data
Pulled this from various user submissions from previous ABSN Cycles. These are self reported stats.
Key Notes
2014 - Applicant with 3.42 PReq GPA + 90% Overall Kaplan was wait listed in 6th position and was ultimately offered a seat. The 7th position was confirmed to also get a position with unknown stats
2015 - Applicant with 3.72 PReq GPA + 89% Overall/75% Science was accepted outright.
2016 - 2nd in the wait list was offered a seat.
2017 - No relevant stats found
2018 - Applicant with 3.9 PReq GPA + 88% Overall/80% Science was accepted. Applicant with 3.75 PReq GPA + 87% Overall/65% Science was not offered a seat.
Kaplan Exam Basics
I took my in California at my local community college by setting up a proctor time with them first and then reaching out to the nursing admin at NAU to then contact the proctor to give them all the details.
My study habits. I focused on Science as my main subject to tackle. I used info available from previous cycles to guide what i needed to study. YouTube and Kaplan entrance exam posts on allnurses are great for guiding you to which questions will most likely be asked and can help narrow down where you want to focus your time. With a BS in Kinesiology the 20 questions that were pathology and physiology based were relatively easy. There weren't any anatomy questions other than 1 question about the 3 compartments of fluid in the body.
Math isn't even worth studying for since you can use a calculator and scratch paper to double check your work. DOUBLE CHECK YOUR WORK AND DOUBLE CHECK THE QUESTION!
Writing/Reading were two sections that you cannot study for in any meaningful way. Just know that there are types of questions that will reoccur in each section like...which sentence summarizes the authors viewpoint about paragraph X? which sentence can be removed from paragraph X? Which sentence has a punctuation error? Which word is misspelled? etc... I used a kaplan study guide book and it really wasn't worth it for me as someone who has already completed a science oriented bachelor's.
My Stats:
91% overall
90% science
100% math
86% reading
86% writing
I finished 40 minutes early while taking one short bathroom break in between sections (phone is locked away by proctor) and was able to print a printout of my score/stats. I changed 7 wrong answers into 7 right answers, 1 correct answer to an incorrect one, and 1 incorrect to another incorrect ?. Moral of the story: GO BACK and RE-READ the question and the answer you gave and compare it to the other answers. I avoided a 83% overall by doing so!
Conclusion
Please! Please! Please! apply to your nursing program. We nursing hopefuls tend to be neurotic messes when it comes to GPA's and TEAS/HESI/KAPLAN scores. We tend to forget that life isn't always about the numerical values we use compare ourselves. Remember a little faith, a little hope, and a lot of guts might be the deciding factor during application cycles. Good Luck!
