Why should we give you an opportunity?

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A friend of mine, 30. She majored in Business. She had been a secretary in a company for years but quit her job last year because her mom was sick. She wants to become a nurse because she wants to take care of old people.

She applied to a nursing school in mid Jan this year, and was offered an interview last week, but she was upset because the interviewers commented on her age.

One of them asked her a question like this:

"There are lots of younger candidates."

"Give some reasons why we should let you get in."

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this is not a reason to be upset. many... about 80% of my class came to in from another profession. most were over 30.

they wanted to hear her say that she has life experience! she has lived and found how to manage a family, be compassionate and a tough person!

such a touchy person. tell her to get over it.

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Fairly confident that question is illegal.

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I would say the majority of my nursing class are around 30, give or take 5 years, myself included (28 in a couple weeks). Odd. But the "give us one reason" is a common question, one that's used in job interviews as well. Sounds like she may be a bit oversensitive about her age and seeing criticism for it where there isn't any.

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Specializes in CVICU.

She has every reason to be upset if the person interviewing her prefaced the "Give us a reason..." question with the statement "There are a lot of younger applicants..", because it implies that HER age is the reason they are asking the question.

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Exactly !!! adjappleton ; sounds very discriminatory and I would not be interested in that school. We all can learn a lot from previous generations that been there and done that. Shame on that interviewer!!!

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#FACTS:madface:

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

"like this" is the key.

There is a very good chance they were nothing like this. People tend to want reasons other than themselves as to why they are not accepted.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU.

She should go to the interview prepared to answer the question. Every interview I have been in provided the opportunity for me to question the interviewer in return. At this time, she should turn the question back on them to see if she can discover any age discrimination that the program may hold. Be direct but tactful, asking something like "you asked me to explain why I should be accepted to the program ahead of younger applicants. Does this imply that you see my age as a disadvantage for the school work or profession? Does the program prefer applicants under a certain age?" Of course, if the interviewer has any brains she or he will respond in some PC manner, but it also gives him or herself a chance to explain the reason for even bringing up your age in the first place. Who knows, maybe the program actually values older, experienced students and wants you to see if you recognize that advantage in yourself as well.

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"like this" is the key.

This was kind of along the lines of how I was thinking. If the questions above are indeed direct quotes, one following the other, then yes I'd say there's a problem. I suspect we're missing some context though.

Yuppers is spot on. When life hands you lemons...

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

OMG!!! That interviewer could have just said "go ahead and sue us for a lot of money because we're so stupid we blatantly violate Federal Law when we're interviewing applicants" I can't believe that anyone involved in a nursing school admissions process is that ignorant. *face palm*.

Suggest that your friend contact the Dean & head of the nursing program to discuss this..... it may be a golden ticket. But if that is indicative of the quality of faculty, I would have my doubts about the quality of the program. Just sayin'.

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agree!

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