How to Get into Nursing School: A Step-by-Step Guide
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Cancer NursingCommunity Health AdvocacyWhether you want to become an LPN, RN, or advanced practice nurse, nursing school is your first step. This guide walks you through the admissions process so you can strengthen your application, avoid common mistakes, and maximize your chances of acceptance.
Because nursing is rigorous and high-stakes, schools look for candidates who are:
- Academically prepared
- Personally motivated
- Professionally serious
Getting in takes preparation and dedication. Let’s break it down.
Before You Apply: What to Know First
Many schools use NursingCAS, a centralized nursing application system. While this simplifies submissions, the process can still be:
- Time-intensive
- Expensive
- Highly competitive
Before applying, narrow your list strategically.
Clarify Your Career Goals
Don’t just ask, “How do I get in?” Ask: What kind of nurse do I want to become?
Consider:
- Do you want day shifts or overnight work?
- Hospital, clinic, travel, or community health?
- Adults, pediatrics, seniors?
- A specialty like oncology, emergency care, sports medicine?
Different roles require different education levels.
Common Career Paths
- Medical-surgical nurse – Care for patients recovering from illness or surgery
- NICU nurse – Work with premature or critically ill infants
- Disaster response nurse – Deploy in crisis situations
- Orthopedic nurse – Treat musculoskeletal conditions
- Nurse practitioner – Provide primary or specialty care
- Physician assistant – Practice medicine under physician supervision
Your long-term goals should guide your program choice.
FIND PROGRAMS NEAR YOU:
Choosing the Right Nursing Program
When deciding on which program is right for you, it’s important to figure out where you want to start your career and where you want your career to go.
Degrees vs. Certificates
The first decision you’ll have to make it you want to pursue a nursing degree or certificate program. The choice between the two depends on your time + career goals.
Certificate (1-2 years)
- Prepares you to become an LPN/LVN
- Offers faster entry into the workforce
Associate Degree – ADN (2-3 years)
- The minimum requirement to become a Registered Nurse (RN)
Bachelor’s Degree – BSN (4 years)
- Expands your scope or practice
- Required for many hospitals
- Needed for advanced degrees (i.e., MSN)
If you plan to pursue advanced practice nursing, a BSN is typically required.
Online vs. In-Person
While most nursing programs will have at least minimal in-person requirements, there are programs that will give you the option of completing your didactic coursework online. To decide if this is right for you, ask yourself:
- Is simulation included?
- Can you attend on campus?
- Do you prefer synchronous or asynchronous courses?
- How are clinicals structured?
Accreditation
Accreditation is essential when choosing a nursing program. Without proper accreditation, you may:
- Be ineligible for licensure
- Be unable to transfer credits
- Have difficulty pursuing graduate education
You can verify a program’s accreditation through:
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Council on Accreditation for Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
- American College on Nurse-Midwives
NCLEX Pass Rates
NCLES pass rates is one of the strongest indicators of program quality. Look for schools with consistently high first-time pass rates so you set yourself up for the strongest post-graduation success.
Evaluating the School Itself
Your nursing program exists within a broader institution. Consider:
Location
- On-campus or online?
- Commuting distance?
- Housing options?
Clinical Hours
- How many hours are required?
- Where are placements?
- Are specialty rotations available?
Cost
- Tuition + fees
- Financial aid eligibility
- Scholarship opportunities
Support Systems
- Student-to-faculty ratio?
- Cohort model?
- Tutoring?
- Mentorship programs?
5 Strategies for Building Your School List
With so many options available, it can be hard to narrow down which ones are best. Use the following 5 tips to finalize your list:
- Attend required information sessions or interviews.
- Apply to multiple programs. Admissions can be competitive, so throw your hat in many buckets.
- Match schools to your goals and finances.
- Balance reach and realistic options.
- Use NursingCAS when available.
Get Organized Before Applying
You’ll juggle multiple deadlines alongside personal responsibilities during the application process. Create a system that will help you balance it all.
- Spreadsheet of requirements
- Checklist of materials
- Separate folders for each school
- Calendar reminders
- Early self-imposed deadlines
Having strong organizations can help reduce your stress – and minimize mistakes.
Step 1
Speak to a Counselor
Counselors can help clarify:
- Application requirements
- Testing timelines
- Essay expectations
You can reach out to high school guidance counselors, college admissions advisors, paid admissions consultants, and current students or faculty.
5 Questions to Ask Any Nursing Program
1. What is your NCLEX pass rate?
The national first-time pass rate is over 85% for RNs. Schools with strong pass rates demonstrate curriculum effectiveness.
2. How many clinical hours are required?
Clinical hour requirements vary by school. Make sure the format and volume align with your needs.
3. How does this program support further education?
Programs should prepare you for RN-to-BSN or BSN-to-MSN pathways.
4. What student support services are offered?
Strong support systems increase graduation success.
5. What is your job placement rate?
High job placement rates signal strong employer partnerships.
Step 2
Review Admission Requirements
Do you meet or exceed the basic admissions standards to be accepted into a nursing program? Go through this checklist to see if you have what it takes to get in.
- CPR & BLS Certification
- High School Diploma or GED
- Entrance Exams
- GPA Requirements
- Prerequisite Courses
Step 3
Understand Each School’s Specific Requirements
Once you know the general requirements, review each school’s unique expectations.
Application Planning Strategy
- Start online research
- Track requirements in a spreadsheet
- Schedule required exams
- Confirm prerequisites
- Submit the FAFSA
- Monitor deadlines
- Submit early whenever possible
Step 4
Write a Strong Admissions Essay
Your admissions essay can separate you from other applicants. To make sure yours stands out, follow these five tips:
- Be specific about your motivation
- Explain why this program fits you
- Be authentic
- Avoid cliches
- Proofread carefully
It’s important to show concrete experiences – don’t just say you “like helping people.”
Step 5
Craft a Clear Career Statement
A career statement shows admissions committees where you see yourself in 5-10 years. Keep it:
- 3-4 sentences or bullet points
- Focused
- Specific
- Realistic
Focus on your motivation, preparation, and long-term vision. Avoid repeating your essay or overstating your goals.
Step 6
Secure Strong Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation validate your character and readiness. When gathering recommendation letters for your application, follow these best practices:
- Choose recommenders who know you well
- Ask at least 6 weeks in advance
- Provide deadlines and instructions
- Explain why you chose them
- Send a thank-you note
The quality of your letters matters more than the quantity, so take the time to ask the right people and express your appreciation.
Step 7
Highlight Extracurriculars and Experience
Your application is more than just your GPA. You should also showcase:
- Leadership roles
- Volunteer work
- Healthcare jobs
- Awards
- Athletics
If you lack experience, it’s never too late to start. You can start volunteering at hospitals, nursing homes, daycares, shelters, and community clinics.
Step 8
Prepare for Interviews
Nursing schools have a lot of highly qualified candidates to sort through, and interviews help them vet students. As a prospective student, interviews can be nerve-wracking. Here are 10 tips to prepare and be confident beforehand:
- Research common questions
- Prepare authentic answers
- Use specific examples
- Practice aloud
- Record mock interviews
- Arrive early
- Dress professionally
- Breathe before answering
- Speak clearly
- Don’t aim for perfection – aim for authenticity
Insight from a Nursing School Professor
Dr. LaTashia Kiel, DNP, RN, CEN is a Doctor of Nursing Practice prepared registered nurse who has an interest in cancer care, acute nursing care, and community advocacy. A three-time graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Kiel received a bachelor’s degree in Nursing and went on to further her nursing education with a Master’s degree in Adult Health with a Focus on Teaching, and eventually her doctorate in nursing. She currently teaches a Professional Nursing Management course at UT-Austin where she helps students prepare for careers in nursing.
Why is it important to highlight your uniqueness in your nursing school application?
Nursing school applications come in all at the same time. You need to find a way to set yourself apart. Students are often thinking about the best way to showcase how smart they are or what they’ve accomplished.
Students are thinking about it from their own perspective, not the school’s perspective, so it all looks the same. You want to put something in there that shows how you are different, something that makes you stand out.
What are some ways to show that side of you to schools?
I teach professional nursing management and one thing I tell my students all the time is to think about everything they do. Speak to your motivation and find the missing piece that may come from something you didn’t necessarily think you should include, like the work you have done. When I talk to people who are hiring nurses, they tell me they like hiring people who have been bartenders or who have worked in customer service.
You might be thinking, how does that help? In jobs like that, you have to pay attention to several people at once with a lot of things going on in the background. That’s important in nursing and it’s good to show how you can handle that.
What are you looking for in a nursing school application?
Everyone needs a story behind why they want to be a nurse. You can still talk about your volunteer work as a candy striper or a girl scout volunteer, but you need to look at the other things. You need to show that human side.
I was interviewing someone and I asked them what they would do if they had just been hired and got scheduled to work on the day of their best friend’s wedding. They immediately said their best friend would understand, especially since it was a new job. I said, “That is not the right answer! Don’t stand your best friend up at her wedding!” We want people who are loyal. We want to see that you are a real person, with real stories, and a real heart.
What is one common mistake people make on nursing school applications?
The biggest mistake is not including the thing you think you don’t need. For example, when I was in high school I was very tall and very thin and I got a job working as a model. They wanted someone to do photo shoots and walk the runway. I almost didn’t include it in my application. It came up in my interview and they asked what I’d learned from that experience. I was able to say how it taught me discipline, like getting up for a shoot at sunrise and how it prepared me for responsibility.
Don’t take any of your experiences for granted—like when students always say they shouldn’t include their experience as a babysitter. I say, “You were a babysitter! They trusted you with their kid! That says everything about you.”
What can a student do if they aren’t accepted into a nursing program on their first try?
Try a second time. There are so many paths to nursing and nursing is a career path that is very flexible about getting where you need to be. In my teaching, I am part of an alternative entry program. It’s a three year master’s program. Some of my students are mid-career change and others got a bachelor’s degree and then they decided to go into nursing.
I’d tell students that if one opportunity to get into nursing doesn’t pan out, go find another.
