I Want To Become A Nurse: How Do I Apply?
As promised in my earlier post, I’ll now share with you how to begin the application process, once you decide which level of nursing degree you want to obtain, first. Since this will likely be a bit lengthy, I’ll break it down into steps. Don’t worry, it may sound like a lot, but once you get started, it will all fall into place.
Step 1: Choose College(s) and Apply
You’ll notice that I dropped a hint about applying to more than one college. The reason is that entrance into nursing programs can be competitive, so if you have the option, it’s best to have a back up plan. If there are two or three schools in your area that are feasible for you to attend, you may want to apply to all of them, and separately to the individual nursing programs being offered within each. Then, if you are accepted to more than one, you can choose the one that is most affordable, shortest in length, and will best accommodate your work/life schedule. For instance, you may want to apply to an LPN Diploma program or Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program in addition to a Bachelor’s program (BSN) so that if one program is full, you have the option of attending one of the others.
Factors you should consider when choosing your entry level program include the time and money you have to devote to your education, and how soon you need to be bringing home a paycheck. Many of my past nursing students have said that they chose to complete the LPN program first because it took less than a year to complete, and they could hire on at most of the area hospitals, patient care centers, physician’s offices, and long-term care facilities, with a temporary permit while waiting to take the NCLEX-PN exam. If you can afford to wait awhile to start bringing in income, then you may want to begin with the ADN which takes roughly two years to complete, or BSN, which takes around four years.
Once you decide where you want to apply, you should visit the university’s local admissions office or access the application online, if available. Most websites will have requirements posted that you will need to submit with your application, both to the school, and to the nursing program. This can be a bit tricky. One of the best tips I can give you is to pay especially close attention to application deadlines. Often, university deadlines are different from the nursing program deadlines. If you overlook this, it may cause you to have to sit out a year. Or, if you want to make good use of your time and lighten your load once you’ve started your nursing courses, you can go ahead and tackle those prerequisites before beginning your nursing courses. Most colleges require completion of courses in English Composition, College Algebra or equivalent, interpersonal communications or speech, and a basic Chemistry and Biology course. These may be completed prior to or along with entry-level nursing courses. If you plan to start with your BSN, you will also need to complete a statistics course. I’m mentioning these now because if you’ve already had any of these courses you can submit your official transcripts to request credit for their completion.
Okay, back to admissions! You will want to gather your high school transcripts along with transcripts of any colleges you attended, as well as your highest ACT score. Most schools require a minimum GPA and ACT score to be accepted. Additionally, higher scores in specific areas, such as math and science, may be required for entrance into the nursing program. Eventually, you will need additional information, such as copies of your immunizations, but this is usually not until you’re accepted into the nursing program. Okay, take a break and stretch, rest your eyes, get a drink, and then come back to read the next step-filling out your Federal Application For Student Financial Aid, or FAFSA (I love acronyms!)
Step 2: Fill Out Your FAFSA
Once you decide on your chosen school and begin the admissions process, you will want to complete your FAFSA. When you head to the site, you will be prompted to obtain a federal student aid (FSA) ID and choose a password and PIN. You will want to keep track of this information in order to check back on your application and make any required changes or updates. The instructions for completing the application are easy to follow, but a bit time-consuming. You will need at minimum, your last year’s tax return, social security number, and any other proofs of income. If you don’t have all the necessary information, don’t worry. You can always save the application and come back later. It’s important to mention that federal and state financial aid deadlines differ, so be sure to complete your FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1st so that you will be eligible for all available aid. When you complete your FAFSA, you will have the opportunity to select the school(s) that you applied to so that they will receive your financial aid information, including any grants, loans, scholarships, etc… that you qualify for. You should also receive a letter or email notifying you of your eligible aid. You will need to complete Entrance Loan Counselling for any loans you receive. This information will be supplied to you once you’re approved, so don’t worry too much about it until then.
Step 3: Watch and Wait
Once you’ve completed your applications to the college, nursing program, and Financial Aid office, it’s a bit of a waiting game. Again, be sure to stay on top of any approaching deadlines. If you haven’t received notification of acceptance or notification of financial aid within a reasonable amount of time, don’t hesitate to contact the respective offices. They are all human behind the computers, and mistakes happen- notices get misplaced, etc., I promise. It’s happened to me several times. It doesn’t pay to be passive during this process. Once you receive your acceptance letters and notification of any additional required documentation, start gathering it up and submitting it ASAP so that someone else doesn’t slip in and take your seat.
Good luck to you as you begin your nursing journey! Feel free to reach out or contact me if there is any further information you need or would like for me to add. My goal is to help anyone I can pursue this field because it truly is a fulfilling career in so many ways!