Admission Criteria for the BSN, Direct Entry Pathway

The Cal State Fullerton School of Nursing (SON) seeks to augment the current admissions criteria for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) pre-licensure pathway for incoming freshman (herein referred to as Direct Entry Pathway).

Utilizing a holistic approach, additional application requirements applicants will be considered including grade trends reviews, an essay, letters of recommendation and an interview with SON faculty. The Cal State Fullerton SON faculty have worked in consultation with the preeminent nursing education organization, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), to develop the proposed supplementary admissions criteria and assessment rubrics to be applied for new freshman pathway admissions procedures.

Rationale – Holistic Admissions Processes for Nursing Pathways

Holistic review is a university admissions strategy that moves beyond traditional academic metrics such as grades and test scores to include assessment of applicants’ experiences, attributes and abilities.

Holistic admissions processes are designed to help universities consider a broader range of factors reflecting the applicant’s academic readiness, contribution to the incoming class, and potential for success both in school and later as a professional. Utilizing contemporary and effective university admissions strategies to identify professional potential to serve the national nursing corps is becoming an increasing imperative. Professional nursing supply and demand will continue to be affected by numerous factors including population growth, aging of the nation's population, overall economic conditions and aging of the nursing workforce.

Rationale – The Cal State Fullerton School of Nursing (SON)

With over 4,000 graduates, the Cal State Fullerton School of Nursing (SON) has been advancing nursing education in southern California for more than forty years.

The SON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs are accredited.

The SON consists of 81 full and part-time faculty.

By utilizing holistic admissions processes, the Cal State Fullerton SON will enhance its ability to admit applicants who demonstrate academic readiness, ability to contribute to the incoming class, and potential for success both in school and later as a professional.