Q: How can I make myself a more competitive applicant to this nursing pathway?
A: During the evaluation of your NursingCAS application we will be taking note of some experiences and attributes that align with our USF College of Nursing mission, vision, and values. Applicants that have certain healthcare experiences, student involvement in college, and served in leadership positions within those organizations will have space in NursingCAS to provide details about those experiences which could strengthen their application. Additionally, it is critical to perform well in all college level courses, including the state-mandated nursing prerequisites. The overall undergraduate GPA and overall nursing prerequisite GPA will be largely factored into the admissions decision. Applicants will be considered more competitive if they complete all 8 nursing prerequisites prior to the NursingCAS application deadline, with final grades posted, and have completed them within the last 5 years. Taking the preferred course numbers listed with the nursing prerequisites is another way to be considered more competitive in the admissions process.
Q: Will I be required to interview for the Upper Division nursing pathway?
A: No, we no longer interview applicants to the Upper Division nursing pathway. Four short essay prompts have been incorporated into the NursingCAS application for you to answer. These short essays will provide the program with a well-rounded representation of your personal experiences and attributes that make you who you are. Applicants are encouraged to provide personal examples while answering the prompts. Please pay special attention to character limits, grammar/spelling, and be sure to answer the questions directly. Your essay responses will be de-identified prior to evaluation so that we can eliminate any potential implicit bias.
Q: Would it be possible to submit additional documents with my application such as a personal statement, letters of recommendation, resume, or TEAS/HESI scores?
A: No, the USF College of Nursing does not currently accept or review any of those supplementary materials in our admission process. We will delete or remove any of these additional files from the application if they are sent. Applicants that follow directions and read through the entire webpage for their intended pathway and review the NursingCAS application carefully are more likely to be successful in the admissions process. Please reach out to one of our nursing admission advisors if you have questions about the application process and what is required for admission.
Q: Are admitted students permitted to request deferment to a future start date for the program?
A: The only students that are permitted to request a deferred admission are military students who are attempting to submit for a commissioning program. We will reach out to applicants individually if a deferment opportunity becomes available, however, it is not guaranteed to be an option. Applicants should apply to USF and NursingCAS directly for the semester they plan to start the nursing program unless otherwise instructed by their academic advisor or nursing admissions advisor.
Q: I earned college credit through AP/CLEP exams or S/U, Pass/Fail grades. Are these acceptable to satisfy the state-mandated nursing prerequisites?
A: Yes, the USF College of Nursing factors all AP/CLEP exams that were successfully passed as a B (3.0) grade when calculating the overall nursing prerequisite GPA. The same rule applies for S/U and Pass/Fail graded courses. Applicants who submit a course graded as “pass” or S for “satisfactory” in NursingCAS as their best attempt on a nursing prerequisite will be assigned a B grade for that course. This does not apply to how your overall undergraduate GPA is calculated.
Q: Does the College of Nursing Require the COVID-19 vaccination?
A: At this time, we do not require the COVID vaccination for students to enroll in our programs. However, our clinical partners may have their own vaccine requirements based on applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Q: Does the USF College of Nursing round up overall or nursing prerequisite GPAs in the admissions process?
A: No, the USF College of Nursing does not alter the overall or nursing GPA calculation provided by USF Admissions and NursingCAS.
Q: I am very interested in completing a double major. Is this a possibility at USF?
A: We recommend that students looking to pursue an additional degree in addition to the BSN complete the non-nursing major first, and then apply for our Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway. Nursing is a full-time, intense program involving clinical, simulation, and didactic requirements that do not lend themselves to a flexible schedule for other programs. Learn more about our Accelerated Second Degree nursing pathway here.
Q: If I am admitted to USF, does it mean I have also been accepted into the Upper Division nursing pathway?
A: No, transfer students must apply to USF and gain admission to the university in addition to submitting a NursingCAS application for the Upper Division nursing pathway. Admission decisions sent by USF Admissions are separate from the College of Nursing. A student could be admitted to USF and continue enrollment in another major even if they are denied admission to the Upper Division nursing pathway. First time in college (FTIC) students who apply to USF as a nursing major directly out of high school can be considered for the Freshman Nursing Pathway which will eventually lead to Upper Division nursing during their junior year of college. Please visit our Freshman Nursing Pathway webpage for more information!
Q: I am currently enrolled in a nursing program at another institution. Will my nursing coursework transfer to USF?
A: No, the Upper Division nursing pathway is a lock-step program, and all coursework is required to be completed sequentially. As a reminder, applicants who have attended, but not completed, another registered nursing program must provide a letter of good standing from the Dean of Nursing, or their appointed designee, that addresses the potential for success in a BSN program, safety in providing nursing care, interpersonal communication skills, and other information the campus director deems important. This letter should be uploaded to the NursingCAS application before submitting. Prior enrollment in another nursing program and/or nursing course failures may impact your admission decision. Please feel free to include a personal statement/cover letter in addition to the institution’s statement of good standing to describe the details surrounding the situation.
Q: Do I need to be accepted to the university to start my NursingCAS application?
A: No, students can complete and submit the Upper Division application through NursingCAS once it becomes available on December 1st. USF Admissions may take some time to finalize their university decision, but NursingCAS can be done for your intended term of entry as soon as possible. Students must have a verified NursingCAS application on file for Upper Division by February 15th and be admitted to USF by March 1st.
Q: I am a currently enrolled student at USF and would like to change my major to Nursing. Is that possible?
A: Students enrolled at USF that are interested in switching to the nursing major must follow the same application steps as our transfer applicants with the exception of reapplying to the university.
Q: I am an international student. Are there additional requirements for me?
A: International students are required to satisfy any criteria outlined by USF Admissions in addition to the College of Nursing. When sending official transcripts to NursingCAS, please be sure to include the foreign evaluation from an approved source. Any of the state-mandated nursing prerequisites that are completed outside of the U.S. will require an official syllabus review and approval by faculty at USF in the corresponding department. Please have these items ready before applying.
Q: Can an advisor evaluate my transcripts from another institution?
The first opportunity to evaluate transcripts is when a student applies for admission through theUSF Undergraduate Admissions Office. Unfortunately, there are no pre-screening services available prior to applying to USF. You may use theUSF Class Schedule Searchonline to match the description of the USF classes to the description of classes you've taken.
Q: Do credits from Florida Community Colleges transfer to the USF College of Nursing?
Florida Community Colleges are typically regionally accredited and have classes very similar to those USF offers. These classes usually meet the prerequisite requirements for the College of Nursing undergraduate programs. Florida Community College classes that have the same prefix, course number, and description, will have a lower course level than those offered at USF (i.e., 1000 level versus 2000 level). Many times, these courses will transfer over and fulfill requirements. You are encouraged to use theUSF Class Schedule Searchonline and match the description of the USF classes to the description of what you've taken. Click here to see approved prerequisites from other Florida Colleges & Universities.
Q: I missed the deadline. Can you extend it for me?
A: There are no extensions to the published application deadlines.
Q: How can I complete the Civics Literacy exam and course requirement?
A: Students will be notified after admission to the College of Nursing about whether they need to complete the Civic Literacy requirement. Due to the rigor of the nursing program, the requirement is expected to be completed in your first semester to not delay graduation.
Course and Exam:
If a student is entering a Florida public college or university as an undergraduate seeking student for the first time in the beginning of Summer B/Fall 2021or after, they must earn credit in an approved Civic Literacy course AND achieve a passing score on a designated civic literacy assessment. Analternative and recommended option to meet the exam and course requirement is to successfully CLEP American Government (POS 2041) with a score of 50 or higher found here.
Exam only:
If a student is entering Florida public college or university as an undergraduate seeking student for the first time in the beginning of Fall 2018 through Summer A 2021, they must earn credit in an approved Civic Literacy course OR achieve a passing score on a designated civic literacy assessment (not both). You will be enrolled in a Canvas course once classes begin and must complete it by a designated time in your first semester outlined by your advisors.
