When considering how to get into nursing school, it’s important to ensure you find ways to set yourself apart from other applicants. You can increase your chances of getting into nursing school by gaining some entry-level or volunteer healthcare experience and choosing a school with multiple start dates.
Getting into nursing school is a competitive yet rewarding process. Given all the qualified students who apply, you may wonder what you can do to strengthen your application and stand out from the crowd. While a major part of your application involves demonstrating academic strengths, there are other ways to increase your chances of acceptance.
Enrolling in a high-quality nursing track, like the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track at Concordia University Texas (CTX) in Austin and Dallas, Texas, can be competitive. However, at Concordia Texas, we are committed to helping students succeed in nursing school and in their future careers. We support our applicants throughout the admissions process to help them submit a competitive application.
Below, we’ll cover how to get into nursing school by following eight actionable tips.
Learn more about becoming a nurse with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
1. Figure Out Your “Why” for Nursing
Deciding to pursue a career in nursing is just the first step. Now you need to discover the root of your decision. What draws you toward nursing? Knowing this can help determine what you should look for in a nursing track.
Start by identifying your personal reasons for becoming a nurse. For example, maybe you want to enhance the health and well-being of others or support people through difficult times. Be specific about your “why” and discuss any relevant personal connections to nursing.
Being able to explain why you want to be a nurse will help legitimize your decision for wanting to embark on a nursing career. It will also help when speaking to an admissions counselor. Furthermore, knowing your motivating reasons for exploring how to get into nursing school will serve you well when you write an admissions essay.
Why become a nurse? See why nursing is a smart career choice.
2. Research Tracks and the Nursing Profession
Before you ask how to get into a nursing track, you should take the time to learn more about the nursing field and degree tracks. Learn what you can expect from a typical day in the life of a registered nurse (RN) and explore various nursing specialties.
There are dozens of nursing specialties both beside and away from the bedside. Read more to learn 21 nursing specialties you can pursue.
Next, research nursing tracks to determine which fit your needs and career goals. There are several factors to consider, including:
- Degree type
- Traditional vs. accelerated track format
- Admission requirements
- Track length
- Online vs. onsite coursework
- NCLEX pass rates
- Faculty and admissions support
- Quality of clinical rotations
3. Choose a Nursing School With Multiple Start Dates
Did you know that a nursing school’s start dates can influence your strategies for how to get accepted into nursing school? Despite the national nursing shortage, qualified students (even those with excellent GPAs) may find it difficult to pursue their passion for nursing. This is because nursing schools across the country are reducing the number of available slots due to both capacity issues and a lack of sufficient faculty and clinical placement spots.
This is what makes accelerated nursing tracks with multiple start dates each year, like Concordia Texas’s ABSN Track, so attractive. With three start dates a year for the hybrid online ABSN track — in January, May, and August — we can accommodate more students than schools with one cohort. Having multiple start date options also means you can start working toward your nursing degree sooner; you won’t have to wait an entire year to apply.
How long does it take to become a nurse in Texas? Explore the timeline here.
4. Getting Into Nursing School by Meeting the Admissions Requirements
It’s always helpful to review the admissions requirements before contacting an admissions counselor at your chosen school. The admissions requirements can provide clues as to how to get accepted into nursing school.
Review the school’s degree and GPA requirements, prerequisites, entrance exam requirements, and additional eligibility criteria. For admission to Concordia Texas, you need a minimum of 60 college credits or a non-nursing degree to apply. You can start working on some requirements right away, such as a personal essay and recommendation letters from professional sources.
At Concordia Texas, you will work with a dedicated admissions counselor to identify remaining eligibility requirements and create a personalized plan for completing them, including the prerequisites.
5. Create a Professional Resume
Another way you can increase your chances of getting into nursing school is to prepare a professional resume to accompany your nursing school application. Some schools may even require a professional resume in the application.
Include your education and work, volunteer, and extracurricular experiences. Send your resume to your admissions counselor along with your college transcripts to create a fuller picture of your history.
Then, when it comes time to submit your nursing school application, you can include your resume with the supplemental documentation if permitted. The step of creating a resume can help set you apart and demonstrate your dedication toward becoming a nurse.
6. Connect With Your Admissions Counselor
To increase your chances of getting into nursing school, it’s important to build a meaningful connection with your admissions counselor. At Concordia Texas, our admissions support will help you navigate the process.
An admissions counselor will contact you shortly after you inquire. Before scheduling your call with an admissions counselor, ensure you have access to your unofficial transcripts to help your counselor create a personalized admissions plan. Additionally, write down a list of any questions beforehand for a more productive conversation.
Your counselor’s support doesn’t end after the first call. From confirming your eligibility to helping you submit the most competitive application, your admissions counselor will help you every step of the way.
As Ann Marie Nguyen, a Concordia Texas ABSN Track graduate, says, “My admissions process was a determining factor for me to apply. My admissions counselor was very inviting — she was very excited for me and made me feel excited about starting this process.”
Because of the major role your admissions counselor will play in the process, it’s important to invest in that relationship. Put effort into how you communicate with your admissions counselor and show why you’re passionate about nursing.
Don’t hesitate to ask any questions that arise; it’s better to ask for clarification than to inadvertently steer down the wrong path. Before finalizing and submitting your application, ask your counselor to review it and ensure nothing is missing.
7. How to Get Into a Nursing Track That Requires Prerequisites
Nearly every accredited, accelerated nursing track, like ours at Concordia University Texas, requires applicants to complete prerequisite courses. How many you will need to complete depends on the school’s requirements and your previous college experience.
For example, if you have a Bachelor of Science degree, you will likely have fewer prerequisites to complete than someone with a Bachelor of Arts because of the coursework’s relevancy. Regardless of the number of prerequisite courses, your admissions counselor will help you develop a personalized plan to complete them.
Learn more about what prerequisites are needed for the ABSN track in our nursing prerequisites guide.
You won’t be able to start nursing school until you have completed your prerequisites, so it’s in your best interest to start them early so you can apply sooner. While completing prerequisites, update your admissions counselor on your progress.
Remember that simply completing the prerequisites isn’t enough; you need to maintain a grade of at least a “C” in each course and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Pay close attention to the course materials and put forth your best effort to increase your chances of acceptance.
8. Spend Time With Patients
When considering how to get accepted into nursing school, another factor to bear in mind is, while academics are important, experience matters, too. You don’t need any healthcare experience to be eligible for Concordia Texas’s ABSN track, but some experience may help make you a more competitive applicant. Furthermore, working directly with patients in an entry-level or volunteer capacity helps you gain clarity on what to expect from your future nursing career.
How can you work with patients before becoming a nurse? Some options include working as a nursing assistant or surgical tech or volunteering in a hospital or long-term care facility. The more time you spend with patients, the better you’ll discern your “why” for studying nursing. You’ll also develop nursing soft skills, such as effective patient communication.
Another advantage of gaining patient care experience before nursing school is you may experience meaningful patient interactions that you can include in your personal essay or admissions interview. These real-world examples will demonstrate to nursing schools your passion and commitment to nursing.
9. Write a Standout Personal Essay
As part of the admissions process for accelerated nursing schools, you are typically required to write a personal statement. This part of your application is where your unique personality will shine through.
While it may sound like a chore, it’s important to take your time when crafting an honest and insightful personal essay. Start with a clear “why” for nursing. Then, create an outline before writing. Finally, edit the essay and have someone else review it before submitting it. This writing and editing process may seem tedious, but it can make a difference at decision time.
Because there’s a good chance other applicants will share similar academic qualifications, a personal statement can set you apart from other talented candidates. Focus on explaining your personal reason for choosing nursing and provide real-world examples to show the admissions committee who you are as a person and who you aspire to be as a nurse.
10. Submit Your Application and Official Transcripts
Once you’ve finished all or most of your prerequisites, you can apply for the ABSN track. Your admittance into the ABSN track will be conditional until all requirements and prerequisites are complete.
The application is online, and you must submit it before the application deadline for your chosen start date. Along with your application, plan to send official transcripts from all the colleges you previously attended. The admissions committee will review your application shortly after submission and send you an admissions decision within a few weeks.
Ready to Get Started?
Getting into a nursing school, like Concordia University Texas’s accelerated BSN track, and earning your nursing degree takes effort and hard work. However, the hard work will undoubtedly pay off when you become a registered nurse and can make a positive difference in your patients’ lives.
The ABSN track at Concordia Texas in Dallas and Austin, Texas, is an ideal setting for earning your degree because it offers a hybrid track that combines online courses with simulation and skills labs and clinical rotations. This approach ensures you are ready to sit for the NCLEX and start a career as a professional nurse after graduation.
To learn more about the ABSN Track admissions process at Concordia University Texas, fill out our online form to contact our admissions team today.