How to Get Into Nursing School: Tips to Improve Your Chances

If you’re considering becoming a nurse but prefer not to enroll in another four-year bachelor’s degree program if you already have a bachelors’ degree or you have college credit but didn’t finish your degree, you have another option. An Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, such as the one at Xavier University, can allow you to graduate with your nursing degree in as few as 16 months. The first step is to learn how to get into nursing school.

The answer will differ from one program to the next. At Xavier, our friendly admission advisers are here to streamline the process. Here, you’ll learn all the fundamentals of getting into an accelerated nursing program.

Research Different ABSN Programs

Before pursuing a nursing program, you must determine which program is right for you. There are a few different factors to consider as you review your choices. These include:

• Admission requirements: Nursing school admission requirements can vary regarding the GPA required, entrance exams and number of college credits previously earned.
• Quality of in-person education: Great nursing programs offer in-person learning through collaborative nursing labs to help you refine and practice nursing skills. The program you choose should also provide high-quality clinical hours to ensure you get the hands-on experience necessary to become a practice-ready nurse.
• NCLEX pass rate: A great ABSN program should prepare you to sit for the NCLEX exam confidently. Ensure you know the institution’s pass rate and the resources they offer to help you prepare for the big test.
• Instruction delivery: Depending on your learning preferences, you’ll want to know if coursework is delivered online, in person or a combination.
• Support and guidance: Xavier has a team of admission advisers dedicated to ABSN students. As a potential student, we pair you up with a counselor whose job it is to provide personalized support every step of the way, ensuring you submit the most competitive application possible.

Are Accelerated Nursing Programs Hard to Get Into?

It depends. Generally, nursing programs are competitive, but if you’re a strong student (no matter the field you chose for your first degree or if you didn’t finish your first degree), you have a good chance of getting in.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), nursing schools turned away 65,766 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2023. This was due to myriad factors, including shortages in faculty, clinical sites, clinical preceptors and classroom space.

Xavier ABSN Acceptance Rate

A school’s acceptance rate can influence how hard it is to get into. Xavier maintains a high ABSN acceptance rate because we have the faculty, clinical partnerships and preceptors to make it happen. Furthermore, our ABSN program’s online learning component allows us to teach larger cohort sizes.

Given our high enrollment capacity for qualified individuals, many students relocate to Ohio to attend our ABSN program. After all, there’s no waitlist for our program.

However, that’s not to say we admit every student who applies to our ABSN program. We only accept individuals who have met the admission requirements and who we believe can keep pace with our rigorous nursing curriculum and have the qualities needed to become successful nurses.

What Are the Requirements to Get Into Nursing School?

After deciding which program is right for you, the next step is ensuring you meet the requirements. Every nursing program has a unique set of admission requirements. At Xavier, for example, if you are a second-degree student, you must have a completed bachelor’s degree in a non-nursing subject, your degree must be from an accredited institution and a minimum GPA of 2.7. If you have college credit, but no degree, we will work with you to meet the requirements of the university as well as the prerequisite requirements for the nursing program.

You must also satisfy four prerequisite requirements to enroll in our ABSN program. However, there is a chance that you may have already fulfilled one or more prerequisites during your first-degree program. Your admission adviser will review your unofficial transcripts to determine which prerequisite courses you may still need to take. The more outstanding prerequisites, the longer it will be before you begin nursing school.

Each of the following prerequisites must be completed within the eight years before your ABSN start date and you must earn a grade of at least C in each course. You may retake a course if necessary, but only once. You must have a prerequisite GPA in these 4 courses of a 3.0 or higher to be a viable candidate for the ABSN program.

Xavier’s prerequisites are:

• Microbiology
• Human Anatomy or Anatomy & Physiology I + Lab
• Human Physiology or Anatomy & Physiology II + Lab
• Statistics

When you’re ready to start your ABSN prerequisites, you can conveniently complete them online through our university.

Tips for How to Get Into an Accelerated Nursing Program

Like admission requirements, every nursing school has unique criteria for selecting students. While you must meet the basic eligibility requirements for our ABSN program, we take a holistic approach to reviewing nursing school applications. We realize it takes more than good grades and a high GPA to be a successful nurse — commitment, compassion and selflessness are also vital to career success.

Nursing school in and of itself requires a lot of hard work and dedication — even more so when it’s accelerated. So, when completing your ABSN program application, we want to see that you have the time, energy and resources to commit to full-time nursing study.

As we review applications, we’re looking for highly determined individuals who are problem solvers, critical thinkers and receptive learners. In other words, you must identify issues, develop solutions, set priorities, make decisions and internalize new information. We’re also looking for authentic applicants who know why they want to become nurses.

First, it’s essential to understand your “why.” Why do you want to become a nurse? What would it mean to you? When you can identify a specific and compelling motivation, writing a solid application essay is easier.

You may find spending time in healthcare settings helpful if you struggle to articulate your “why.” Working in volunteer or low-level positions you can qualify for without nursing education may help you solidify your motivation for becoming a nurse and boost your application.

Applying to the ABSN Program

Let’s dig into the details of how to get into a nursing program. Xavier’s ABSN program reviews applications on a rolling admission basis. That means you can apply year-round. You’ll want to keep an eye on the available start dates. Xavier offers three start dates each year: January, May and August. Complete the admission process as early as possible.

You’ll need the following items:

Letter of Intent

While your transcripts show us your academic qualifications, your letter of intent tells us what kind of person you are. (A letter of intent is sometimes called an admission essay.) It’s one of the best ways to stand out with our admission committee. For the most part, we want to know why you want to become a nurse and how you plan to get through nursing school. As you start to write your letter, consider the following:

• Be memorable when you describe what inspired you to become a nurse.
• Be passionate when explaining your commitment to the profession.
• Be transparent and write from the heart when describing your motivation.
• Be direct by using clear, concise language that gets to the point.

Current Resume

Before putting your resume together, outline the qualities of a great nurse, such as confidence, compassion and commitment. Then, think of times when you applied these traits in experiences. For instance, if you’ve ever worked in a high-stress work environment, you can use examples to highlight your ability to handle pressure.

Recommendation Letters

Contact your academic and professional references as soon as possible. Be courteous when requesting a recommendation letter; they’re doing you a favor.

What to Expect From Life as a Xavier ABSN Student

Once accepted into our ABSN program, your journey as an accelerated nursing student begins on orientation day. During orientation, you’ll meet the other students in your cohort, receive your student identification badge, go over program basics and get an overall lay of the land.

Here’s a look at the details of the accelerated nursing program:

Your Cohort

Work on developing rapport with your fellow cohort members right from the start. You should also consider forming study groups within your cohort. Study groups can build camaraderie and keep everyone on track.

Nursing School Faculty and Staff

To graduate as a practice-ready nurse from Xavier, you will study under instructors who apply effective teaching strategies and provide support. If you get stuck on a concept, ask your course faculty for help or attend one of the scheduled tutoring sessions.

ABSN Learning Centers

Whether you enroll for our Cleveland or Columbus location, each of our ABSN Learning Centers features a resource-rich clinical learning environment and utilizes advanced nursing simulation equipment, such as our medical manikins. As an ABSN student, you’ll work through three main components of the ABSN curriculum:

• Online coursework: The online coursework teaches nursing theories and concepts.
• Nursing labs: The in-person nursing skills and simulation labs teach you how to perform core nursing skills (e.g., IV placement) and develop clinical judgment.
• Clinical rotations: During clinicals, you’ll be placed at nearby healthcare facilities to gain hands-on experience delivering patient care.

ABSN Curriculum

The curriculum is a rigorous learning path that requires you to spend 60 or more hours on your education per week to be successful. Overall, our ABSN program provides the academic foundation and clinical readiness necessary to apply to sit for the NCLEX-RN® exam and enter the profession as a practice-ready nurse.

How Hard Is Accelerated Nursing School?

A nursing student’s life is filled with coursework, studying, in-person learning and NCLEX prep. It’s going to be a challenge, but if you’re committed to achieving your goal and willing to ask for help when needed, graduation is a milestone that you can reach.

If you’re struggling to maintain motivation, remember why you decided that becoming a nurse was right for you. Maybe you wanted to give back to your community or have a career you can be proud of. An ABSN program is worth the time and effort if becoming a nurse is meaningful to you.

Ready to Work Toward Your New Career?

The ABSN at Xavier University is a program with a purpose. Our mission is to graduate nurse leaders prepared to improve and safeguard the healthcare needs of individuals, families and entire communities. Once you graduate from the ABSN program, you will be fully prepared to take the NCLEX and begin your career as a registered nurse.

Contact an admissions adviser at Xavier today to determine if our ABSN program meets your needs. With two enrollment locations in Ohio, online classes, rolling admissions and three start dates per year, Xavier offers flexibility and convenience.