New admissions agreement offers grads a fast track to a nursing career to meet growing demand
The journey can take several years and multiple degrees for students interested in pursuing a career in a health profession. Virginia Tech recently reached an agreement with The George Washington University (GWU), a private university in Washington, D.C., that expedites the educational process by guaranteeing admission to Virginia Tech alumni who meet specified criteria into GWU’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
The University of Virginia (UVA) also announced a similar guaranteed admission pathway for graduates of a Virginia public institution or military academy into its School of Nursing Clinical Nurse Leader Program, as long as students meet the criteria.
Both programs open the door to a fast-growing job market. The demand for registered nurses is expected to grow by 6 percent by 2033, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting 194,500 new jobs for nurses annually.
Annie Laib Jenkins, associate director for health professions advising in Career and Professional Development at Virginia Tech, explained how the programs work and how interested students can take advantage of this opportunity.
Why is guaranteed admission valuable to Virginia Tech students?
I can see multiple benefits for students in being able to envision where they are headed and in knowing it can be a reality if they achieve what is being asked of them. Both institutions, GWU and UVA, are wonderful opportunities to start a career in nursing. For students, opportunities such as these can reduce anxiety and provide a clear pathway to a desired educational outcome.
How is this program beneficial to Virginia Tech students academically and financially?
Academically, both programs have an accessible minimum GPA threshold for students. Right now, GWU requires a 3.0 and UVA requires a 3.2 undergraduate grade point average. The specifics of how this average is calculated vary by institution. Financially, just applying to a professional school costs money, but with guaranteed admission, a student may be able to apply to fewer programs. Students can narrow their school list, save money up front, and plan in advance on tuition rates and other costs if they know which program they will be attending.
Who is eligible to apply for these opportunities?
Students from any major at Virginia Tech can apply. However, majors that cover the prerequisites within their curricular requirements could facilitate logistical ease in pursuing this educational path. For instance, some current prerequisites for both GWU and UVA are anatomy/physiology, microbiology, and statistics among others. Students can view the requirements for both programs on the Health Professions Advising webpage under “Preparing and Applying to Professional Schools.”
What are the differences between getting a Bachelor of Science in nursing for a student who already has a bachelor’s degree versus getting an entry-level master’s degree or some other credential?
Both of these programs prepare students for the National Council Licensure Examination. The accelerated bachelor’s program can be a faster pathway to this, whereas the master’s pathway awards a higher degree credential. Jessica Park, a Virginia Tech alumna who is currently a student at GWU in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, said, “Having this pathway can reduce the stress that students encounter with applying to nursing school and transitioning into the program. Current students refer to it as ‘the wicked fast program,’ but students who have a strong support system can be successful, with faculty and staff that support students and listen to their feedback.”
Do students need to work with health professions advising for acceptance?
It is not a technical requirement, but we encourage students to be in contact with our office so we can help them get in touch with program representatives at the institutions and make them aware of possible changes to requirements.
How can students prepare for this opportunity?
Health professions advising encourages students to look at their website and reach out with any questions they may have. Students should create an academic plan that offers the coursework they need for these opportunities as well as obtain experience in the field before applying to these programs to make sure this career path is the right fit for them.
Should students contact GWU, UVA, or Virginia Tech if they are thinking about applying?
Ultimately students should reach out to GWU or UVA if they have questions or concerns about specific requirements for either respective nursing program. Health professions advising can advise them about the standard requirements.
Written by Savannah Gentry, intern for Career and Professional Development
