Major Monday: How can I still do Nursing if I’m not directly admitted to PLU’s program?
Maybe you already know there are a couple ways to be directly admitted to PLU’s excellent nursing program as a high school senior (if not, see the box below), but this post is about the additional options you have to pursue Nursing at PLU if you don’t get directly admitted:
#1: Apply as a current student your sophomore year.
In this route, you complete the pre-nursing course work and then apply to the School of Nursing during your sophomore year at PLU. Over 50% of students who apply to the School of Nursing through this route are accepted into the program!
#2: Get your bachelor’s degree in one of the majors that grants guaranteed admission to the PLU Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing (ELMSN).
If you major and get your degree in biology, chemistry, kinesiology or psychology at PLU with a 3.0+ GPA, and take the ELMSN prerequisite courses (which are the same for the BSN) with a B- grade or better, you’d be eligible for our guaranteed graduate admission to the ELMSN.
The ELMSN is designed specifically for non-nursing majors. In the 27-month program, you’ll start with a focused immersion into nursing to prepare you to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam for registered nurse licensure (15 months), then move into MSN graduate study (12 months) and choose an area of specialization: Certified Nurse Educator® or Clinical Nurse Leader®.
Nursing Direct Admission
When you apply to PLU as a high school senior and put on your application that you want to major in Nursing, you’re automatically considered for Nursing Direct Admission. To be directly admitted, you must have a 3.4 or higher weighted cumulative GPA and three or more college-preparatory math and science courses (e.g. Algebra 2 and higher, chemistry, physics, earth science, biology) with a B- or better grade.
If directly admitted, you’re guaranteed a spot in the Nursing program your Junior year at PLU as long as you have met the PLU academic requirements during your first two years.
Another option for direct admission is if you’ve done Running Start (a Washington community college program), will earn your Pre-Nursing Associate’s Degree (AA-DTA) and have all PLU nursing prerequisites complete by the end of the summer before you start. If those things are all true, you can apply directly to the School of Nursing through the BSN Application for Associate Degree-Seeking High School Seniors.
Note that both of these options (especially the Running Start track) can be very competitive!
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