Frequently Asked Questions
When should I apply to the School of Nursing?
The online application for traditional BSN admission is open on our website each February. You should apply the year that all pre-nursing requirements will be met by the end of the spring semester.
What criteria do the Admissions, Progression, Graduation (APG) Committee use to make admission decisions for the BSN?
Admission to the School of Nursing is based on students’ GPA from the pre-nursing courses and scores on the HESI. Students are ranked in numerical order based on their combined scores for GPA (75% of score), reading comprehension HESI score (15%), and math HESI score (10%) and the top 56 are selected. To be eligible for admission, applicants must have a minimum 2.7 GPA in pre-nursing courses (excluding First Year Seminar) and 2.5 overall IUS GPA.
I’ve heard that some students get priority for admission. Is this true?
We do not have priority admission for our nursing program. We encourage dual and AP credit and will apply as many transfer credits toward pre-nursing courses as we are able.
When are students admitted to the BSN program and how many are admitted?
The top 56 applicants are offered conditional admission spots in May.
May students take pre-nursing courses online?
Yes, some pre-nursing courses are available online.
Do any of the general education courses "double count" in the BSN course plan?
Are transfer courses included in my BSN application GPA?
I have a transfer course that was accepted as undistributed credit. I think the course might count as a pre-nursing requirement. What should I do?
Are C minus grades accepted in the BSN degree?
Should I retake a course to improve my grade if I have already earned a C?
How many times can a course required for the BSN be repeated?
I am returning to college after ten years. Will my previous credits count toward the BSN degree?
Yes, EXCEPT for anatomy (ANAT-A 215), physiology (PHSL-P 215), microbiology (MICR-J 200/201), and chemistry (CHEM-C 102/122). If these courses were completed more than 7 years before admission to the BSN degree, you must repeat the courses.
I am interested in the BSN degree, but I’m not absolutely sure that it is for me. Do you have any advice for me?
What is the HESI?
After applying in February, in March applicants must take the HESI Admission Assessment Exam online in the Student Success Center on campus. The HESI is a standardized, timed test with multiple choice questions. The reading comprehension section is 50 questions in 60 minutes and counts for 15% of the admission score. The basic math skills section is 50 questions in 50 minutes and counts for 10% of the admission score. There are no minimum scores required. Applicants may take the HESI only once. The cost is $50.
How long does the BSN program take?
Pre-nursing courses are typically done in one year. Students who are admitted to the program begin Nursing classes full-time the following fall semester, typically their second year at IUS. Once being admitted to the program, Nursing classes always take 3 years to complete since they must be taken the way they are on the Degree Map. All classes are in fall and spring except one required summer class. Nursing classes and clinicals are done at set times during the day and are not available online or at night. The nursing program requires a significant time commitment in order to be successful, therefore working full-time is not realistic.
What additional requirements are there to be fully admitted to the nursing program?
You will need to complete an annual background check and TB skin test, submit a copy of BLS CPR, complete an annual 10-panel drug screen, and provide vaccine and immunization records.
