Nursing school

New early admission option to help alleviate tight timeline for nursing students

Nov 18, 2024 | 6:00 AM

You’ve decided you want to become a registered nurse? Exciting!

Nursing has so many career paths, there’s a place for everyone to find their passion. Plus, registered nurses are in high demand, so by choosing this career, you’re setting yourself up for opportunity, stability, and the ability to work almost anywhere.

What can be less exciting is the application process to get started. It can be a stressful time for prospective students as they apply, submit required documents, and complete their situational judgement test, but applying early can help you cross the finish line sooner. That’s why prospective students are being encouraged to take advantage of a new admission option available for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) undergraduate program at the University of Saskatchewan (USask).

In addition to the traditional, regular admissions process, USask College of Nursing has introduced an option for early admission.

“The way our admissions have traditionally worked, qualified applicants for the BSN program receive their acceptance letter in July or August for a September start of classes,” said College of Nursing Dean Dr. Solina Richter (DCur).

“This is often a tight timeline for incoming students to plan, especially if they are relocating to one of our ten campuses or distributed sites throughout Saskatchewan. They need time to look for housing, find jobs, and get organized for the start of classes.”

There are 150 seats reserved for early admission applicants across the province at College of Nursing campuses and distributed sites. The eligibility and selection criteria is the same for both the regular admission process and the early admission application process and spots will be competitive. The difference is, the early admission process will give nursing students notice of acceptance in February or March, four to five months earlier than in the past.

“We encourage all students, who meet the eligibility criteria, to apply now and not wait until later in the application period,” said Dr. Richter.

It’s a strategic move that not only gives students time to adjust life and living arrangements once accepted, but it also showcases commitment to achieving your dream by applying early, alleviating some of the stress of the application process in spring.

Key dates for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing new early admission applications are:

  • September 20, 2024 – BSN 25/26 applications open
  • December 15, 2024 – EARLY ADMISSION application deadline
  • January 15, 2025 – EARLY ADMISSION document submission (including CASPer)

If a student chooses not to apply for early admission, regular admission deadlines for the College of Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing program still apply.

  • September 20, 2024 – BSN 25/26 applications open
  • March 31, 2025 – regular application deadline
  • June 1, 2025 – regular document submission (including CASPer)

The USask BSN is a 1+3 program. Students take their pre-professional year at USask campuses in Saskatoon and Prince Albert, at the University of Regina, or at a number of regional colleges throughout the province. The remaining three years are completed through the College of Nursing in Saskatoon (USask Campus), Prince Albert (USask Prince Albert Campus), La Ronge or Île-à-la-Crosse (Northlands College), Yorkton (Suncrest College), Lloydminster (Lakeland College), North Battleford (North West College), Muenster (St. Peter’s College), Swift Current (Great Plains College), and Weyburn (Southeast College).

**This article was submitted to paNOW”s commercial content division.

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