Frequently asked questions

1. I want to be in the nursing program. How do I get started?

The first step is to be accepted to Columbus State University and have official sealed copies of all previous transcripts sent to Director, School of Nursing. When you are accepted to CSU, you will receive an acceptance letter instructing you to call the School of Nursing and make an advising appointment. Our number is 706-565-3649, or via email at probst_shannon@colstate.edu.

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2. I live a distance from Columbus, GA. Do I have to come to your office for an advising appointment?

No. You may have a telephone advising appointment. However, it is necessary for the adviser to have your transcripts in our computer system or official transcripts in hand in order to advise you correctly. We do not want faxed transcripts. The watermark distorts the transcript and makes it difficult to read.

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3. How do I get an application for Columbus State University?

Apply online to Columbus State University. Here, you'll also find information about housing, financial aid and scholarships, admissions, student accounts, veterans affairs and many other topics. If you don't find what you are looking for online, you may call the admissions office at at 706-507-8800.

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4. Is there a separate application for the School of Nursing. If so, when is the deadline?

Yes. Applications are due each year by March 31, 2010 for entrance into the fall semester 2010.

Applications are usually printed and available by late November each year.

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5. How do I get an application to the School of Nursing?

All prospective students must meet with the nursing adviser to determine eligibility for the program. If the student can be ready by the end of the summer semester immediately preceding the fall semester entry, an application will be given.

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6. Do you require references?

Yes. You must furnish three references for admission. We prefer recent academic and/or employment references. References from individuals who have taught you and/or observed your interactions in a clinical setting are a good choice. The reference forms will be mailed with the application.

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7. How often do you accept a class?

We accept a class once a year and it begins in the fall semester (August).

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8. How many students do you accept every year?

We currently are accepting 90 students each year.

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9. What are the requirements for admission into the School of Nursing?

To be eligible for admission to upper level nursing courses, a student must have:

• Passed Nursing Admissions Exam

• Passed both Regents exams

• Been admitted to Columbus State University

• Earned a minimal nursing GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (calculated by School of Nursing advisors using only those courses required for a nursing degree).

• Earned a grade of "C" or higher in all required science classes, labs, and psychology

• Not failed more than one pre-requisite science course within 5 years of anticipated admission into upper level nursing courses

• Competed all science classes within seven (7) years prior to anticipated date of admission to upper level nursing courses

• Completed all courses required for progression into the junior level nursing courses

• Submitted a timely application form, including all references

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10. What if I took U.S./American History and American Government in a college outside of Georgia?

The U.S. history and U.S. constitution legislative requirements will be satisfied, however, the Georgia history and Georgia constitution legislative requirements will not be. These can be satisfied by exam after enrollment at CSU.

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11. How do you select the class each year?

Students complete and return the nursing program application postmarked by the 30th of April for full consideration. Admission will be based on nursing GPA and benchmark scores on the Evolve Reach Admission Assessment Exam (A2).

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12. Do I have to complete all of my prerequisites before I can apply for the School of Nursing?

No. We will consider your application before you have completed all prerequisites courses if:

• You will have completed all the science courses and Introductory Psychology with a grade of "C or better by the end of the summer before you wish to enter the program and
• You have completed both English courses and the math requirement and
• You have no more than approximately 9 hours of other course work to complete (which you may take the summer between your junior and senior year).

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13. When will I know if I am accepted into the School of Nursing?

Letters of acceptance are usually sent out during the second week of June. Only grades posted or submitted by official transcript by May 30 are considered in the selection process.

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14. Can I attend the School of Nursing part-time?

No. At this time we only have a full-time program for upper level nursing courses.

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15. Can I work full-time while attending your program?

We strongly advise students not to try and work full-time while in the program. You should consider your studies in the nursing program to be a full-time commitment. The program is very challenging and requires a significant amount of homework and study outside of class. Most students find it extremely difficult to work more than around 12 hours per week without jeopardizing their grades. In fact, a number of students who have failed from the program were those who tried to work full-time or excessive part-time hours.

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16. What is the lowest GPA you accept?

To be considered, students must have a minimum of 2.75 on the core courses required for the BSN. We do not use the overall GPA that includes every course the student has ever taken in college.

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17. What is your usual average GPA?

We do not have a "usual" GPA. Each year the lowest GPA is driven by the applicant pool. We rank order the students by nursing GPA and chose the top 90. In 2009, we had 90 students with a GPA of 3.11 and above.

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18. I had to retake some of my science courses because I failed the first time. Will this hurt my chances of selection?

It could. You are allowed to fail and successfully repeat one science course in the five year period before your anticipated admission date into the program. Failing a science course more than once during this five year period makes you ineligible for admission.

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19. How many students apply each year?

We generally have 150+ qualified applicants for our 90 slots.

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20. Do you have a waiting list?

Each year we select 90 students for acceptance into the program and place the other qualified applicants on a waiting list for that year only. We usually have more qualified applicants than places in the class. If and when an accepted applicant withdraws, someone from the waiting list may be contacted to fill that position. We realize this process makes it difficult to plan, but we do not know how many people from the waiting list will be admitted to the program until the class begins. Once a class is admitted and begins, the temporary waiting list is discarded and anyone not accepted who wishes to be considered the next year must apply again.

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21. Can I find out where I am on the waiting list? What are my chances of getting in the program? How long is the list?

We do not give out information about the waiting list because it is continuously changing. The order, quantity, and rank of alternates changes daily due to updated transcripts and incoming or withdrawn applications. The higher your nursing GPA, the better your chances are of being selected from the waiting list.

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22. How can I improve my position on the waiting list?

We do not recalculate the nursing GPA with grades received after May 30th of the year application is being made for the coming fall. At other times, prior to the above deadline, send a new official transcript as soon as you complete additional coursework so that we may update your nursing GPA.

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23. Since there is such a nursing shortage, why do you only accept 90 students?

Nursing students must have both classroom and clinical instruction. The number of students we can admit is limited by number of full-time and part-time nursing faculty, campus classroom/lab space, and availability of clinical sites for clinical experience.

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24. I have taken different courses than are listed in areas of the core. Can any of these be substituted for the courses required at Columbus State?

It is possible for other courses to transfer in as substitutes for the listed courses. However, each course must be evaluated by the nursing advisor and substitutions often must be reviewed by the specific department chair over that area. That department chair's decision is final.

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25. I have taken some nursing courses at another institution. Will they transfer into your nursing program?

Clinical nursing courses do not transfer from one institution to another because every nursing program has a different curriculum design & course sequence. Selected non-clinical nursing courses (e.g. Nutrition, Pathophysiology) may be approved for transfer, but must be evaluated on an individual basis by the nursing advisor.

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26. I took my science courses several years ago. Will they be accepted by your program?

All science courses (chemistry and biology) must be less than 7 years old at the time you begin nursing courses. For example, if a student plans to enter nursing fall 2006 and took BIOL 2221 in fall 1997, the biology course will have to be repeated because the period between fall 2006 and fall 1997 is greater than 7 years.

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27. How will you reach me if I move or change my address, phone number, or email address?

It is your responsibility to provide current contact information to the School of Nursing. The only way we have to reach you is by the information you give us. Any changes in contact information should be emailed to the administrative secretary (probst_shannon@colstate.edu) immediately, or you may miss vital information.

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28. I am an Army Medical Department (AMEDD) applicant and need a letter of acceptance into the program before your selection deadline. How can I comply?

We send AMEDD applicants a letter stating that the application has been completed and outline any requirements not yet met. The letter gives an anticipated graduation date if admission requirements are met and the applicant is accepted into the program. AMEDD has accepted this in the past and we have had a number of AMEDD students.

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29. Do you accept ROTC Scholarship students? Do they have any preference in your program?

The CSU BSN program is a Partner in Education (PNE) with the Army ROTC. This means there are two positions in each class reserved for qualified ROTC Scholarship students. These scholarship students must meet all minimum requirements but do NOT compete with other students for a position in the class. If there are more than two qualified applicants for the ROTC Scholarship positions, they then compete with each other for the two positions. If there are less than two qualified ROTC applicants, they are placed in ROTC positions and the rest are released for the other students competing for positions.

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