St Kate's Post-Bacc Questions!!

[maggie04]

Hello nurses!

I received my Bachelor's degree in Biology from Winona State University in 2008. I have since then worked in a laboratory setting in both a hospital, and a smaller private company. I so desperately want to go back to school to become a nurse, and St. Kates seems to be the ONLY program that will allow me to do so while still keeping my day job. I have read over the post-bacc program info on the St. Kates website a million times, and plan to attend the info session in November, but I still have some questions for any of you who have been accepted!

I understand it is competitive, but what do you think they are really looking for when they accept someone? Will my science/hopsital background give me an advantage?

I have so many ideas for my essay letter in my application, what do you think I should focus on?

I have a 3.0 from my previous degree. I know some of you had higher than that... does GPA have a big impact on acceptance criteria?

Thank you all so much!!

[EvLu22]

Hi! First off, I think St. Kate's really rocks. I did my BS there several years ago and when I decided to try to get accepted to nursing school, they were my first any only choice. You are right; they do seem to be the only school around here that provides a program for people who need to work as well as go to nursing school.

I hear that the program is pretty competitve, and I was honestly kind of surprised when I got my acceptance letter. My GPA in my undergrad wasn't awful, but it wasn't the 4.0 I've heard many applicants say they have. Remember, sometimes people who are thinking about nursing school will take several of the generals, which can make their GPA look better or they may have a 4.0 in their prereqs (not necessarily in their undergrad).

I can't speak for who will be accepted or why they will be accepted. But take time to write an honest essay that really reflects who you are. Really, they are just asking you to tell them about how you got to this point in your life and how it has made you who you are. Then you can tie that in to how that will make you a great nurse. Keep it short and sweet. Mine was no more than a page and a half typed, and I really feel that my essay is what got me accepted.

My advice is not to be intimidated by the process. There are potential nursing students out there who have wanted this intensely for a long time and have worked really hard on taking lots of classes, sometimes just to attain that stellar GPA that *might* help them get accepted. I've spent a lot of time at St. Kate's in the past and I know they are looking for students who are going to succeed as nurses, but they also realize that a 4.0 GPA isn't necessarily a gaurantee of that success.

I hope that helps ease your mind a little bit! Good luck to you!

[carakr]

Hi,

Have you looked at St. Kate's website lately? They've cancelled their post-bac certificate for the time being. They are planning to start a direct entry master's in 2013-2014. I am totally bummed as I NEEDED their program so that I can minimize the amount of daycare that my 3 little ones will need.