Traditional BSN: FAQs
Transfer students
First apply to Michigan State University: www.admissions.msu.edu. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to MSU at least six months prior to the intended semester for which they seek admission to the Traditional BSN program.
Transfer students must be admissible to the university, meet all general university and College of Nursing admission requirements in order to be considered an eligible applicant for the Traditional BSN program.
After completing the general MSU transfer application process, applicants will then complete the Traditional BSN application via the College of Nursing website. Completion of the application will be dictated by prerequisite coursework. Students are eligible to apply after or while in progress of completing final admission prerequisite courses.
Current MSU Student
Current MSU students will complete the Traditional BSN application via the College of Nursing website after or while in progress of completing final admission prerequisite courses.
Are all application materials online?
Yes, all application materials are online and will need to be completed through the online system at time of application. This includes the essay, resume and two reference forms. Once the application is started each component will be accessible and accompanied with detailed instructions on what to include and how to complete.
When can an application be submitted?
There are two opportunities every year to submit an application for the Traditional BSN program. Applicants interested in starting the Nursing program in a spring semester should submit applications by December 1. Applicants interested in a fall start should submit applications by May 1.
Applicants always apply 1 semester behind the intended start semester. The spring start application will open in mid to late September and be due December 1. The fall start application will open mid to late January and be due May 1.
There is no summer application option. Applicants completing final prerequisite coursework over the summer will be eligible to apply during the fall semester for a spring start. Late or incomplete applications are not considered.
What is the average GPA of the students admitted?
The average GPA changes every semester but has ranged from 3.5-3.81. The average is dictated by the pool of applicants that apply.
The average GPA is based on a cumulative GPA calculation which consists of all completed courses. The College of Nursing also calculates an admission GPA which consists only of the courses required for admission to the program.
How many students are admitted to the program?
The College of Nursing accepts 120 students each academic year with 80 students being admitted in the fall and 40 students being admitted in the spring.
How many students apply to the program?
The College of Nursing typically receives 2-3 times the amount of applications per available program seat.
What happens if a student is not admitted after they apply?
All students who are denied admission to the Traditional BSN program are strongly encouraged to attend one of the Admission Profile Review sessions held at the conclusion of the admission cycle each semester. Students are allowed to reapply for admission. However, the College of Nursing recommends that students apply no more than 2 times.
If a student applies twice and is not admitted, it is in the student’s best interest to discuss alternative options with an Academic Advisor.
Must the student complete all the prerequisites before applying for admission to the program?
Students must at least be in progress of completing the last of the prerequisite requirements before they are eligible to apply for admission to the Traditional BSN program. Students completing their prerequisites in the summer are eligible to apply by the December 1 deadline for a spring program start.
Does the student have to complete all of the prerequisites at MSU?
Prerequisite coursework does not have to be completed at MSU. It may be completed at any accredited and recognized college or university that offers an equivalent course to the requirement. Use the MSU transfer website to find equivalent courses: www.transfer.msu.edu
All coursework must transfer directly to MSU as an equivalent prerequisite to be acceptable.
If the student completes a prerequisite at another institution, is that grade calculated into their MSU GPA?
All coursework completed prior to matriculation to MSU will be considered for admission to the MSU College of Nursing; this includes early college and dual enrollment credit while in high school. All coursework completed post matriculation to MSU will only be considered if the course is an admission prerequisite.
Do you require labs?
There are no prerequisite laboratory course requirements for Traditional program.
What degree will the student earn if they complete this program?
Students that complete the Traditional program at MSU earn a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) degree and are eligible to sit for NCLEX.
Does a BSN degree make me a Registered nurse?
No, the BSN degree makes you eligible to take the national licensing exam, NCLEX. Passing the NCLEX makes you a registered nurse.
How long is the program?
The nursing program is six semesters, not including summers.
How is the coursework in the program structured?
The first year of the nursing program will contain a mix of general university and nursing related coursework and will be consistent with the typical College schedule.
Moving into the second year of the program, students can expect one full day of class per week. In addition, students can expect 2-3 clinical days per week, which may include some weekends and/or evenings.
Can students attend this program part time?
There is no part-time option available for students.
There are approximately 765 total clinical hours in this six semester program.
Where do students complete the clinical requirements?
Clinical experiences are completed in a variety of locations throughout Southeast, West and Mid-Michigan.
Do students have their choice of placement?
Students are assigned to a clinical location, but their preferences are taken into consideration.
Is transportation provided to clinical placement locations?
No. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from their clinical locations.
Most students are eligible for some form of Federal Financial Aid, however, what is available is likely to be limited causing most students to need additional sources of aid. Other sources can include scholarships, grants, and alternative education loans, to name a few.
