Number of schools

muirite · Apr 30, 2013

How do they pick? Lottery? If it is lottery the more places you apply the better imho. Do you have to pay to apply? Can you afford it? Are you going to work? Some programs are not for working people. I did not apply every where.

I live in an area where there are a lot of community colleges with 2 year RN programs. I only applied to 3 schools because i have to work. I weeded out the programs with weekend only clinics. I did no apply at schools that would not take TEAS from other places why pay to take the same test over and over.

That left 8 or 9 programs then in order i narrowed down by

1. Looking at rates of passing the state exams less than 85% pass NCLEX out....

2. I like the programs that work with larger hospitals

3. The teachers make a huge difference i made a point of trying to make info sessions. I am a nerd i order one program was sooo unorganized i was not impressed at all so that cut them.

Last was location I hate driving so the programs that are on light rail line got application.

molly88p · May 1, 2013

I would apply to all of them but start early. I just sent out my fifth application and have one more to go, but most of the schools I applied to I had to first apply for admission and get accepted then I could send my nursing application. Good Luck!

zoe92 · May 1, 2013

I live in a smaller state & was only interested in BSN programs. So I applied to 4 schools that had a doable tuition rate & had overlapping pre reqs. apply to as many schools as you can!! You really do increase your chances. Stay organized with it though because it can be a giant headache applying to more than one schools. Good luck!

Kvedaa · May 1, 2013

Hi everyone! How many schools did you apply to? I will be applying in the fall. The community college I am completing my pre reqs at is tied in with 8 other schools in my state (oregon). These schools all require the same pre reqs and have the same applications. I'm wondering if it would be crazy to apply to all 8 of them. It would increase my chances, right?
I would appreciate everyone's thoughts and advice.

Hi there! I am from Oregon too! I am not sure what your "stats" are but for me I have my B.S. in Sociology from PSU, just shy of 2 years CNA experience, all my prereqs where finished before applying, and I had a 3.91 at most schools. I applied to Linfield, OHSU-Monmouth, Clackamas, PCC, Chemeketa, and Mt. Hood this year. Clackamas and Mt. Hood didn't give me interviews, but PCC and Chemeketa both invited me to there essays, I interviewed with OHSU and was accepted just last week to there traditional BSN program. I wont hear back from the other schools until June, but I have accepted my seat at OHSU already.

My advice would be to look at there application worksheets carefully. Both Clackamas and Mt. Hood give a lot of extra points on the initial application to students who completed all there prereqs at there school, who received there CNA/MA liscense through them, and who are working at one of there proctor sites already as CNA or MA.

Apply to as many schools in the area that makes sense, I know last year PCC accepted 80 students and had another 80 or so on there wait list but because most students apply to multiple schools there is a lot of shifting around after acceptance letters where sent out. They went through the majority of there wait list!

Good Luck!

Tinker88 · May 1, 2013

Go for it! I only applied to 3, but if you would like to increase chances go for it. It won't hurt you...unless you have to pay...LOL

Everline · May 1, 2013

Why not apply to all eight if you can? Having said that, I applied to one. :-)

Sadala, ADN, RN · May 2, 2013

If you have time, try to talk to people from these programs and get some feedback prior to applying. Wish I'd done that. I only applied to one place. Didn't even check out the options.

readyforachangenow · May 2, 2013

I would look at NCLEX scores as some have stated above. That may or may not weed it some schools. Most schools have you apply for admission to their school plus you pay for their test. All can add up to a quite a bit of money. You may get some feedback about some programs by looking at the Oregon state nursing program forums. I know for me personally I would not have the money for testing and applications fees. I have the same amount of schools around me but some of the schools tuition is outrageous. I'm applying to 3 different programs.