Filling out college applications can be a daunting task. The University of Colorado College of Nursing at Anschutz Medical Campus has compiled the following tips to help prospective students know what to expect. Your application to CU Nursing’s undergraduate BS in Nursing program should reflect why you would make an excellent fit in our program by highlighting what you’ve accomplished and why you want to become a nurse.
CU Nursing’s Recruitment Program Manager, Bianca Sanchez, explains what our admissions team looks for when reviewing nursing school applicants and shares tips on how you can stand out.
1. Have a Passion for Nursing
CU Nursing’s application requires a personal statement to explain what inspired you to pursue nursing. Think about what drives you to become a nurse and care for others and why you want to become a part of the nursing profession.
2. Understand Admission Requirements
Before you apply to CU Nursing, check to see if you meet our admission requirements. Our BS in Nursing program requires a minimum 3.0 GPA. Look at our prerequisite list to make sure you’ve taken these classes (and that they’ve been completed within ten years of the application deadline).
“We have found that strong performance in the prerequisite science courses demonstrates preparedness for the demands of their future nursing courses,” Sanchez says.
And most importantly, check to make sure you submit your application before the deadline! Our BS in Nursing program has different application deadlines depending on which semester and which track you want to apply for.
💡CU Nursing Tip: Our website lists application deadlines and admission requirements for each BS in Nursing track.
3. Have Healthcare Experience
It’s important to have some healthcare experience before you apply to nursing school, through paid work or as a volunteer. It gives you an idea of what to expect in this career field and exposes you to different types of healthcare settings. You’ll also gain experience in direct patient care.
“We look at their healthcare experience because this indicates a genuine interest in nursing and shows that applicants understand the field they’re entering,” Sanchez says.
Some types of healthcare experience include: working as an EMT, Certified Nurse Aid (CNA), or medical assistant (MA). You can also teach first aid, and volunteer at clinics, hospitals, or long-term care facilities.
💡Note: Healthcare experience is required for our Accelerated (UCAN) BS in Nursing program and not required, but recommended, for our other Traditional bachelor’s programs.
4. Look at Your Other Skills
Healthcare experience is great, but our admissions team also looks at other skills you’ve gained, including teamwork, collaboration, working with diverse populations, and other types of volunteering.
Nursing is a collaborative profession. At CU Nursing, you’ll be working with your classmates on projects or assignments (and even studying together!) and working with your preceptor during clinicals. Once you become a nurse, you’ll collaborate with other nurses and healthcare professionals when treating patients and performing other duties.
“Students don’t realize you learn about teamwork and collaboration in other types of jobs outside of healthcare,” Sanchez says. “When we see on your application you worked in retail, that’s great! That shows teamwork. Did you work at a fast-food restaurant? That’s customer service and that plays a big role in becoming a nurse.”
Being a part of our global community is also an important part of gaining an understanding of the patients you will be caring for. Volunteering at community organizations who serve underrepresented, diverse populations allows you to gain a broader understanding of what it means to serve others in our community.
5. Talk to a Nurse
While having healthcare, employment, and volunteer experience is important, if your life is one in which you are not able to work in the healthcare field or volunteer but you have a passion for caring for others - don’t let that deter you from applying to nursing school!
Talk to as many friends, family members, or other people in your community who are nurses or healthcare professionals to understand the beauty and challenges of the nursing profession. Many hospitals also offer shadowing experiences for people interested in nursing.
Our holistic admission process allows us to appreciate individuals who may not work or volunteer in the healthcare field but have had their own personal experience caring for others or who have themselves experienced a medical event in which they have been impacted by a nurse’s care.
6. Understand We Review Candidates Holistically
CU Nursing takes a holistic approach when admitting students to promote a diverse and well-rounded student body.
What is a holistic approach? It’s when our admissions team considers the applicant rather than only looking at their academic career (GPA or standardized test scores). Our admissions team considers academic performance along with extracurricular activities (previous jobs or volunteer work), a personal statement essay, interviews, skills, and much more.
“Our ultimate goal is having a diverse student body because that makes the nursing profession diverse,” Sanchez says. “We want to make sure our patients can see themselves in their healthcare workers. We want patients to trust their providers, but we also want them to feel a connection to a nurse who has a similar background as them.”
7. Attend Our Information Sessions
Attending our virtual or in-person information sessions is a great way to learn more about our BS in Nursing program. Each track has separate information sessions, so you’ll get an overview of the program, admission criteria, and an application timeline. There’s also time for Q&A, so come prepared with your questions!
💡CU Nursing Tip: Follow us on social media or check our website for upcoming information session dates so you can add them to your calendar.
8. Have Questions? Ask Us!
Reach out to our admissions team for any questions you have about the application process or any of our programs. They are more than happy to help and want you to feel confident with our application and admissions process.
