MEREDITH ANDERSON | senior staff writer
In a few weeks, pre-nursing majors would normally get the letter they have anxiously been awaiting for the entire semester, year or even years—did they get accepted into the nursing program? This year, the Admissions Committee for the School of Nursing has decided to wait until spring grades are posted to announce acceptance. In the past, pre-nursing majors were notified after academic advising.
The committee, headed up by director of admission retention and scholarship for School of Nursing Viann Duncan, decided to wait until they have run the spring GPA checks to let the applicants know where they stand. According to coordinator for undergraduate programs for School of Nursing Barbara Wiltsey, over 130 students have applied for the 36 spots available to current APU students. For transfers and incoming freshmen four more spots are advailable.
Every year, less than six students who were accepted in April were asked to withdraw from the program in the summer because their final semester GPA had dropped below the 3.0 standard, according to Duncan. The GPA standard may be the final hurdle that postpones starting the program, but once the student is in the program the 3.0 GPA rule no longer applies. The students who are in the program remain in the program. Grade checks are also run before fall classes begin. Some students might have taken summer classes affecting their GPA, making them ineligible to begin the program in the fall.
Although the number of students who find themselves in this situation is less then 10 percent, Duncan says it was enough to make it a concern. This caused a great deal of angst for students who thought they were in and were later told to forfeit their spots. For others who were told they were not accepted, spots were now suddenly available. Some students were then notified days before fall classes begin that they were accepted. By giving students a more definite answer, the committee is hoping to avoid some of the chaos.
“It is one of those things that if it doesn’t work we will change it again,” Duncan said. “We are trying to see what’s best for everyone.”
For students who are faced with leaving APU if not admitted, this change is more than a longer wait for a definite answer. The nursing program at APU consists of seven semesters that begin the semester a student is accepted. For those who are now applying for a second or even third time, paying for each semester before getting accepted can be difficult on families.
“The reasoning behind this decision has not been shared with the students and parents,” freshman pre-nursing major Darcy Rovik said. “Not only is college difficult to pay for, but add the economy and going to school for at least another semester, and you’re up to your head in debt.”
Students who are faced with leaving APU if not accepted are considering transferring to other schools that are less expensive and where they have a higher likelihood of getting into a nursing program.
“I have kept my options open by applying to other schools, but my heart is here. But, a new level was added because of the time tuition deposits are due not only at APU but the other schools,” Rovik said. “This puts me in a tough spot, because if I make a deposit somewhere else and end up here I have not only wasted money, but maybe even taken someone else’s spot.”
Also, many nursing scholarships require proof the student is enrolled in a BSN program. If this is not known until nearly the end of May, many deadlines for potential scholarships have passed, according to Rovik.
“If it was not my first time applying, I am not sure what I’d do,” freshman pre-nursing major Andreina Ball said. “So many things have gone through my head, such as transferring—but I can’t see myself anywhere but APU. One thing I know for sure is that I cannot see myself doing anything else with my life than nursing.”
For student’s whose return to APU now hinges on their status as a nursing student, planning for living arrangements for the fall can cause strain, as they do so not know if they will be coming back until the summer.
“The intention was not to make people upset,” Duncan said. “I am hoping we have done the right thing. I understand it is hard for families.”
Duncan encourages students who are struggling with the later notification to come talk to her as circumstances such as the potential loss of tuition deposits were not taken into consideration when the decision was made.
Because of the high demand of students vying for the coveted spots available each semester, APU offers a two-year intensive nursing program called ENET at its regional centers and at APU. Also there is SCAN, a three-year Master’s program in which students earn an RN and a Master’s degree in nursing.
“Nursing is my passion, so my plans are not going to change regardless of the time the letters are sent out. For me, it is just more stress for a longer period of time while we wait,” freshman pre-nursing major Katelyn Lambert said. “I support [the committee] in any decision they make. I am sure they have their good reasons and intentions for the change they made, even if we [pre-nursing students] don’t understand it.”
According to Duncan, the reason why the spots are so few each semester is because of limited resources—qualified faculty and clinical sites.
REGISTRATION TIP: Pre-nursing majors are instructed to register for classes normally as if they were not accepted into the program—when they find out they are, all those classes are dropped and they are subscribed to the highly anticipated nursing classes.
