Stupid questions!

In answer to:

1. I also had no immunization documentation, so I had titers done to "prove" my immunization status. Some came back low and I needed to update these. My school did not require me to get immunizations until after I was accepted.

2. I got letters of recommendations that I wanted to include in my application but I wanted to make sure they were all sent with my application. So I gave my professors a stamped self addressed envelope with a smaller envelope inside for them to place their recommendation into. I asked them to seal the smaller envelope and sign their name across the seal then place this in the large envelope and mail to me. I then sent the small unopened letter with my application. This proves the letter was never opened. Call your school and ask if they will send you the transcript in this way. If not you can always call the school to receive your transcript to make sure it arrived and made it into your file.

3. In my case I applied in August 2009, got accepted in Jan 2010 and started in late August 2010. So it was a full year from application to start date.

In any case, no questions are stupid. Don't hesitate to call the schools you are interested in and ask these questions. Schools should be helpful in the application process. People who ask questions are the ones who are the smart ones. I am afraid of anyone who is too arrogant to admit they don't have all the answers, those are the people who are often wrong (and in the nursing profession---dangerous!)

Good luck in your journey into becoming a nurse!!!

Did you attend high school in the UK or the US? In the US, most schools will have a copy of your immunization records on file since they were required for your attendance. If you attended school in the UK, perhaps they had a similar policy and you could try contacting your HS. I have been to a few facilities that would not give me any vaccinations without seeing documentation of any prior vaccines, but I do not know if this is a policy everywhere.

Schools generally require the transcripts arrive sealed from the originating school, and yes, this is to help prevent the documents from being altered. Some schools will allow you to send them the transcript, but it would have to be in its original sealed envelope from the originating school.

Most of the programs I have looked into that have had application periods in the spring start in the fall of that same year, not the following year. You will probably have to wait to hear back from the school to be sure on that one, since I am sure the scenario you mentioned certainly could exist.

In response to question #2:

I think this varies from school to school. I was allowed to hand-deliver my transcript from the university to the community college because I wished to meet a time-sensitive deadline. The transcript was enclosed in a sealed envelope with "issued to the student in a sealed envelope" stamped across the flap in red ink.

1. If you are applying for US nursing schools, many are now requiring recent titers rather than vaccine records. After you get into a program you will probably have to pay for titers to be drawn, so for now I wouldn't stress too much over the records. Try to get them but be ready to pay to prove your immunization status (and for new shots) when the time comes. Don't do titers yet because you don't yet know how recent (to fall 2012) they will have to be.

2. All of the schools I applied to wanted official transcripts, direct from the institution, yadda yadda yadda. I collected all of mine in sealed envelopes with a registrar's signature across the seal, put them in a big envelope together, and sent them in with my applications. Never had a problem doing this. Just be sure you get that signed, sealed envelope and of course don't open it :)

3. Yes, applications go in 12 -18 months before the program starts. Some programs have shorter timelines but a year+ is pretty normal.

Also, OP - if you are sending transcripts from non-US institutions, be aware that you will probably have to have them evaluated by something like WES. This is a costly and time-consuming process and in my experience, no nursing schools will let you out of it. Contact schools now if any of these transcripts are non-US.

Thanks for the responses guys.

I went to school in the US, so I'll have to try calling some of my old schools to see if they have my immunizations.

The transcripts the college is giving me are all sealed in envelopes so I'm guessing this is enough to prove that I didn't fake 'em. One school told me I can send them this way.

The third question still has me confused. I'll just ask them and let them find out how stupid I am. For most programs in this area (that I've researched), the start date is a few months away from the application deadline. If a school was different than that, why wouldn't they emphasize it better? I would hate to have to wait a year and a half. My plan was to run out of money by the end of nursing school. I don't want to run out of money before nursing school even starts. Oh well, if it comes to that, I'll figure something to do to pass the time.