What Do Nursing Schools Look for in Applicants?
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What do nursing schools look for in applicants? It varies academically, but they generally look for good grades, organizational skills, commitment, compassion, and a collaborative mindset. How competitive is nursing school? It’s fairly competitive, so you must submit a robust application that shows you would make a great nurse.
Every nursing school has different program options and admission requirements, making it difficult to answer the question: What do nursing schools look for in applicants? And what do you need to get into nursing school? Knowing the answer to these questions is vital because it will help you consider your answer to the question, “What are my chances of getting into nursing school?”
At Xavier University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, we look for applicants who will make highly competent and compassionate nurses and handle the rigors of an accelerated nursing degree program that allows for graduation in as few as 16 months. Here’s a look at the eight ways we evaluate applicants.
What is an accelerated nursing program? Learn what an ABSN program entails and the requirements you need to meet for enrollment.
1. Education
What do nursing schools look for in applicants in terms of academics? Our ABSN program has two pathways to admission:
One is a second-degree option: we look for nursing school applicants with bachelor’s degrees in another field of study and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7. We also require applicants to complete four ABSN prerequisite courses before beginning the program. The prerequisites, which include microbiology, human anatomy, human physiology, and statistics, can be completed online through our university.
The second pathway is a BSN/BLA Pathway through our Adult and Professional Education program for students who may have some college credit but haven’t completed a degree.
2. Motivation
What do you need to get into nursing school beyond academics? At Xavier, we seek highly motivated nursing school applicants. Motivation is essential for keeping up with our fast-paced ABSN curriculum, which consists of online coursework, hands-on nursing skills and simulation labs, and in-person clinical rotations at top healthcare facilities in Ohio.
3. Dedication
Dedication is vital to nursing school success because working through the ABSN curriculum is similar to holding a full-time job. Therefore, we want our applicants to show dedication to nursing school and the profession. While our nursing faculty and staff are readily available to provide support, every accelerated nursing student must be self-reliant because of all the independent study involved.
4. Organization
From the first to the last day of class, students in our ABSN program experience a whirlwind of learning, which requires them to prioritize accordingly. That’s why we seek applicants with strong organizational skills and the ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously.
5. Compassion
The best nursing students understand that competence and compassion go hand in hand when delivering quality patient care. We value applicants who can empathize with others’ feelings and respond appropriately, which includes conveying openness without judgment and respecting all patients’ dignity.
6. Self-Reflection
Rooted in strong Jesuit values, our university promotes care for oneself and others through mind-body-spirit interactions. Prospective students don’t have to be Catholic to apply to our ABSN program; they just need to have a desire for knowledge in the service of others and a willingness always to do more. They must also be willing to cultivate lives of reflection, compassion, and informed action to improve the world.
7. Collaboration
While students do a lot of independent study during the ABSN program, they also come together as a cohort to participate in nursing labs and work on group assignments. Effective collaboration with others, whether in nursing school or on the job, is critical for achieving the best patient care outcomes.
8. Analytics
Nursing is grounded in science which means students should have a strong foundation in physical science and be able to engage in problem-solving and critical thinking. Strong critical thinking skills lead to clinical reasoning as a nurse. Being caring and compassionate is important, but being able to anticipate what could go wrong with a patient is extremely vital. Nursing programs are looking for students who will be able to anticipate and take action.
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Attributes That Matter Beyond Nursing School
Remember that while these eight attributes can help you get into nursing school, they also come in handy when applying for RN positions. Healthcare employers look for these same qualities in nursing applicants.
How Competitive Is Nursing School?
Just like the requirements themselves, competitiveness differs from one school to the next. In general, however, nursing schools are relatively competitive. They need to be sure only to admit students capable of keeping up with the coursework and who can become effective, compassionate nurses with solid reasoning and decision-making skills. Because of this, applications are scrutinized closely.
What Are My Chances of Getting Into Nursing School?
Although nursing school is competitive, this shouldn’t discourage you from applying. You have a good chance of being admitted if you meet the admission requirements. Plus, if you apply to an ABSN program like Xavier’s, your chances actually improve. That’s because we’re the only ABSN program in Ohio to offer three different enrollment locations and three start dates each year, which means we can admit more students than other programs.
Prospective students have the support of an assigned admission adviser every step of the way when applying to our ABSN program. We recommend listening to and working closely with your admission adviser because they can help you develop the most competitive nursing school application possible.
Keep in mind that it helps to apply to the ABSN program sooner rather than later. Our School of Nursing reviews applications as they come in instead of waiting for the submission deadline to pass and reviewing them all at once.
Applying early gives you an advantage over applicants interested in the same ABSN program term. We can give you an admission decision before some students even apply.
Support for Students
While in the 16-month ABSN program, students who may be struggling in some capacity can seek help from nursing faculty or an Academic Success Coach. Academic Success Coaches for the ABSN program at Xavier University advocate for students and connect them with various resources to enhance their nursing school experience.
Wondering how to pay for nursing school? Try this comprehensive guide to financing.
Questions to Ask the Nursing School Admission Office
Before you reach out to the nursing school admission office, you may want to compile a list of questions to ask. Some of the questions you may have could include the following:
What Sort of Support Is Available?
At Xavier, in addition to the personalized support from your admission adviser, we offer extensive student support services. Upon enrollment, you can connect with your Academic Success Coach, who can assist you with everything from study techniques to NCLEX prep tips. Speaking of NCLEX prep, you can access our full catalog of prep resources, including resources for the NCLEX and nursing school exams.
Can I Complete Coursework Online?
We believe a flexible approach suits our students well, so you can complete your coursework online using our intuitive digital learning platform. You’ll also visit your ABSN Learning Center to complete in-person labs and visit nearby healthcare facilities for clinical rotations.
Where Are Your Clinical Placements?
During the program, you’ll complete clinical rotations at healthcare facilities. At Xavier, we’ve partnered with some of the top healthcare facilities in Ohio. Placements vary by enrollment location.
In Cincinnati, you might complete clinicals at TriHealth or the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, among others. In Columbus, we partner with OhioHealth and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Finally, our students complete clinicals in Cleveland at the nationally renowned Cleveland Clinic, which is highly ranked, especially in cardiology.
How Soon Can I Get Started?
Knowing your target start date is helpful when preparing for the application process. Talk to your admission adviser about when you can reasonably expect to complete all of the admission requirements and be ready to start. At Xavier, we offer three start dates each year: January, May, and August.
Ready to Get Started?
Now that you know what nursing schools look for in applicants, it’s time to get the ball rolling. Xavier University invites you to learn more about our 16-month ABSN program at our ABSN Learning Centers in Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus, Ohio. At Xavier, we are committed to supporting your success, providing everything from test prep resources to Academic Success Coaches.
Contact our admission team today and start working toward a rewarding future in the nursing field.