Getting into nursing school requires three special areas to be in harmony. You need to be able to do well on the entrance exam which is normally a test of basic academic skills, and/or you need a decent score on a national standardized test like the SAT or ACT. Second, you need at least 3 good work and personal references. Finally, you need a high school diploma or the equivalent. Good timing along with these three does not hurt.
If you do not have a high school diploma, the first step toward nursing school is to complete your GED. This will require you to take some adult education classes. Many times these are offered free through the local school or some other state agency. You can check with the high school in your area for where these classes are offered. You will be given a pre-test to determine what courses you need to take to pass the exam. Most people who at least made it into high school can complete this study in less than 6 months.
With high school diploma in hand, you need to contact the nursing school that you want to attend and find out what the entrance requirements are. Every school is different. Nursing programs attached to community or junior colleges will usually want you to take a standardized national test.
You may want to contact the local high school again to ask if any workshops are going to be offered to help students do better on these tests. Most high schools offer these to their juniors and seniors several times per year on Saturdays or in the evening. Any hints that you can get that makes it easier for you to do better on this test is a plus. Because you have to register to take these tests, you will want to get your application in as early as possible so that this does not delay your application process.
In addition to taking the standardized test, you may need to take a battery of tests required by the nursing school. These are usually administered at the school by their staff at no cost to you. These will be required as part of the application process rather than prior to it most instances.
Nursing schools will always ask for references and often will require a police check. What they will accept in the way of criminal activity in your past is directly related to whether they feel it will affect your ability to be hired after you complete school.
Normally, the school will want both job and personal references. If you are just out of high school or will soon graduate, you will be asked to substitute teachers in place of employers for references. Depending on the individual nursing school's requirements, you will need up to 3 personal and at least 1 or 2 work/school references. Temperament, dependability, and motivation will all factor into the references.
Anytime you will be using someone for a reference, it is a good idea to consult with him or her first. If you do, it can sometimes save you the embarrassment of a bad reference. Most references are not perfect, but one that blasts you for any of the three aforementioned factors can seriously damage your chances of acceptance to the nursing program. You may find it better to go with someone not as well acquainted with you if it means a better reference.
Timing is another important factor. If you are unlucky enough to apply at the same time a 100 people with IQ's above 140, you probably will not get into the program. If you have weak test scores and weak references, but apply when the pool of applicants is low, you may get in. Be prepared to apply to more than one program if you feel you are a slightly weak applicant. This will raise the odds of getting a better applicant mix around you.
If the school requires a personal interview, you will want to make sure that you dress the part. Do not go in looking like a slob or inappropriately dressed. Dress up and dress conservatively. Borrow an outfit if you have to. Practice interviewing with someone who has already been accepted in previous years if possible.
One final suggestion is to work on getting any additional preparation that you can. If it is going to take a year of so to get in, then take some classes that will get you a head start on the program. Look over the courses that you will take. Try to take some of them ahead of time. This will help your acceptance chances, and give you a leg up when you start because your class load will be a little lighter.
