Begin at the Beginning

“Organizing the application process is critical,” says Dorothy Sexton, RN, EdD, professor of nursing in the adult advanced practice nursing program and admissions committee chairperson at the Yale School of Nursing (YSN), New Haven, CT. She advises applicants to read the school bulletin thoroughly for admission prerequisites and required clinical experience. “Most importantly,” she adds, “applicants should read the directions that accompany the application packet.” After many years of interviewing and evaluating candidates, Sexton is still surprised that some applicants fail to take notice of deadlines and the process required for admission.

Manage Your Time Wisely

Sexton suggests that you make a timeline to accommodate the following:

• Registrars and those selected to write your reference letters require advance notice. Do not expect them to fill your requests at the last minute.
• Schedule your GREs so that you can spend some time preparing for them but not so late that you miss a deadline.
• Make a copy of your application form before completing it so that you have a draft copy.
• Plan and write your essay, allowing enough time to set it aside for a few days. Go back to it and thoroughly proofread and edit it.
• Enlist the assistance of a detail-oriented person who will also proofread and edit your drafts of the application form and essay.
• Before the application deadline, call the admissions office to be sure your application folder is complete.

Select References Carefully

Graduate schools usually require three references. Typically these may include an academic reference and a reference from a current employer. According to Sexton, it’s a good idea to include a reference from someone whose specialty is the same as the one for which you are applying.

Those who agree to provide your reference letters should be able to write enthusiastically and knowledgeably about you. They should address your energy level, goals, motivation, and ability to follow through, and give examples of your accomplishments. They should also comment on your thinking skills, analytical ability, interpersonal style, and personal integrity.

Once you have chosen your reference writers, you should compile a packet of information for them: your resume; goals, reason for selecting graduate school; specific items to be covered in the reference, if provided by the school; an addressed, stamped envelope to the school; and a postcard to be returned to you once the typed reference has been completed. Sexton says that it should be understood that a reference letter is typed, but many people still submit handwritten notes that have cross-outs and grammatical mistakes, thus doing a disservice to the applicant.

Most important, Sexton says that the reference must reflect much more about you as a nurse and potential graduate student than just that your charting is accurate and neat or that you show up for work on time.

Articulate Who You Are

Both the essay and the interview will also reflect who you are and why you should be admitted to graduate school. Draft your essay with the appropriate audience in mind, that is, the faculty who will make the decision about your admission. Make sure that you are covering all of the areas requested in the application.

For schools that require an interview, plan ahead with questions for the faculty member interviewing you. When you answer questions posed by the faculty member, don’t worry about repeating information in your essay. Sexton says, “The interview provides an opportunity to validate your goals and thoughts expressed in the essay.”

Use Your Waiting Time Effectively

According to Sexton, if you have prepared a strong application and essay, provided supportive references, submitted a positive transcript and above average GRE scores, keep in mind that you have done your best.

Some schools send decisions about admission throughout the school year; others have one date on which letters are sent. You may be admitted as a full-time or part-time student or placed on an alternate list. Unfortunately, you may also receive the news that your admission has been declined.

If you are not offered admission to the graduate school of your choice, Sexton advises speaking with an admissions representative about strengthening your application, should you decide to reapply.

If you receive admission to several graduate schools, congratulations! Review all the criteria you used in deciding to go to graduate school in the first place. You will need to decide which school offers the most in the specialty you are seeking, which might have the least impact on your family, and which provides the best financial arrangement for you.

While you are waiting to hear, it’s a good idea to review your finances and save as much as you can. According to Sexton, there are hidden and sometimes unexpected costs while in graduate school. This is not the time to go on expensive vacations or buy new cars.

“Once accepted,” Sexton says, “take stock of your goals and finances and validate your willingness to go from a paycheck-earning RN to student. These few years are a mere blip in life, so immerse yourself in the graduate school experience: It will be over before you know it.”