Why should we give you an opportunity?

[kwfine]

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."

[danielle2000, MSN, RN]

Well the question gives the impression as if being a nurse is only for younger people. If this interviewer wanted to know about her life story then articulate it in such that her age would not be the center of the interview. Depending where we are in life some may take that as offensive. It I against the law to discriminate against ones age like any other ism out there.

[tknrosales]

If she majored in business I am assuming she bachelor's degree, she should look into elmsn programs, which are designed for adults who are coming with life experiences

[Tcorley]

Good heavens I'm 46, am taking my pre reqs and would love to be faced with such a question! I have communication, management and leadership skills that very few younger people have. I bring a lot to the table, and I think how you handle this question would depend on your confidence level.

[psu_213, BSN, 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.

I tend to agree. If the question was prefaced and asked as described by the OP, it is not appropriate. Considering this is 2nd hand information, it may have actually happened differently. Perhaps, at one point, the interviewer asked "At this stage in your life why are you considering a change in your life path?" (Totally fair question, IMHO). At some other point he/she may ask "why should we accept you as a student." (Also a fair question.)

[PinkEagle]

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.

Are you kidding me?? Based of the statement that was written, the interviewer broke the law by negatively implicating her age and you call her touchy and tell her to get over it?? If the interviewer had said "There are lots of male candidates. Give some reasons why we should let you get in" and she got upset would you still tell her to 'get over it'? Touchy or not, it is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of their race, gender, AGE, socioeconomic status and depending on what state you're in their sexual orientation! Excuse my abrasiveness but discrimination of any kind is something I refuse to tolerate and something that no American should!

O.P. if your friend was told this exact statement as stated in your post, then tell your girl to contact the Dean IMMEDIATELY and inform them the legal implications of the idiotic question she was asked! If I was asked a discriminatory question I would snitch, threaten to sue and run the opposite direction of this program. If the interviewer is any indication of the program then it's not worth enrolling but she should still inform the Dean!

Her age should have never been a a topic of discussion. If the interviewer had simply asked, "Give us a reason that we should accept you" that would be totally valid because almost every single nursing school applicant has had to answer this question in some way (I personally did for all my applications).

[Nibbles1]

There's more to this... I mean they broke the federal law. Not buying it.