FAQs for Accelerated Track. Q: Can I apply to the accelerated program while still taking the prerequisite courses?

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1 FAQs for Accelerated Track Application Eligibility Q: Can I apply to the accelerated program while still taking the prerequisite courses? A: Yes, you may apply. Beginning with the 2013 application period, applicants are required to have completed four (4) prerequisites prior to application. In 2014, applicants will be required to complete all five (5) prerequisites prior to application. If you are accepted, it will be on a conditional basis. To be fully accepted into the program, you will need to complete all prerequisite courses and submit grades prior to beginning the program. Q: Can I apply even though I m still finishing my first bachelor s degree? A: No. Beginning in 2013, applicants must have been awarded a bachelor s degree by the time of application. Individuals who have not yet completed the BS/BA by the application deadline will not be considered. Q: My undergraduate GPA is not a 3.0. Is it worth applying to the accelerated program? A: Yes. The program looks at all elements of the application when making decisions and does not solely decide acceptance based on undergraduate GPA. Q: I am a college graduate from a college outside the United States. Am I eligible to apply? A: Yes. International college graduates can apply to the program. You will need to have your transcript evaluated by an accredited transcript evaluator such as WES or ECE, and have the official evaluation included in your application. If you have taken prerequisite courses outside the United States, you must retake the course in the United States of take a CLEP exam to demonstrate you have mastery of the knowledge. Q: I have pre- requisites more than 10 years old or were taken in another country. Do you accept these courses? A: No. You have the option of taking a CLEP exam to demonstrate you have mastery of the knowledge or you may retake those pre- requisite courses that are outdated or were taken outside the United States.

2 The HESI Admission Test Q: Is the HESI Admission Assessment Exam required? A: Yes, the exam is required for all applicants. A study guide is available to help you prepare and may be purchased at your local bookstore or online. Q: What can I expect on the HESI Admission Assessment Exam? A: You can expect content related to math, English and sciences, which includes anatomy and biology. NJCU does not test students on chemistry or physics content. Q: I forgot to take one section of the HESI Admission Assessment Exam. Can I sit for the exam again just to take that section? A: No. You must complete all sections of the exam at one time. Be sure you are taking the content sections related to math, English and the sciences (anatomy and biology). Q: When can I take the HESI Admission Assessment exam? A: The exam can be taken anytime during the application period until the last date for application submission. We do not accept scores taken for other schools or taken outside the application cycle. Q: Do I have to take the HESI Admission Assessment exam before I send in my application? A: No. You can submit your application before or after you take the exam. For your application to be considered, the HESI Admission Assessment exam must be taken by the last date for application submission. Q: Can I retake the HESI Admission Assessment exam to try and get a better score? A: No. The HESI Admission Assessment can only be taken once each year. Q: I ve taken the HESI Admission Assessment exam for another school. Can I submit those scores? A: No. The HESI Admission Assessment exam is customized by each school. You will need to take the HESI Admission Assessment exam for NJCU even if you ve taken it for another school.

3 The Application and Admission Process Q: How do you decide who to accept into the accelerated program? A: Each element of the application (HESI Admission Assessment score, transcripts from undergraduate and pre- requisite courses, resume, recommendation forms, and essay) is reviewed by the admissions committee when making decisions. Applicants are compared to all those who have applied in the same application cycle. Q: Is admission to the accelerated program competitive? A: Yes. Each year we receive more applications than there are available seats. Q: How many applicants get accepted? A: We can accept a maximum of 50 students at the Jersey City campus each September and a maximum of 28 students at the Communiversity in Wall each May. Q: I am a graduate of NJCU. Does that improve my chances of being accepted? A: We encourage NJCU alum to apply however being a graduate of NJCU alone does not improve your chances of being accepted into the accelerated program. Q: I have a Master s degree. Does that improve my chances of being accepted and do I need to still take the HESI Admission Assessment exam? A: Yes, you will still need to take the HESI Admission Assessment exam. The exam is not waived for any applicants. Having a master s degree does not improve your chances of being accepted into the accelerated program. Q: I want to apply early. Does that improve my chances of getting in the program? A: No. The accelerated program does not use a rolling admissions procedure. All applicants are reviewed together after the application deadline has passed. Q: When is my application due? A: Application due dates vary based on the cohort for which you are applying. The most current dates are on the accelerated program page. All application documents must be postmarked by the deadline. We urge applicants not to wait until the last minute to request recommendation forms or official transcripts as it can sometimes take weeks for these to be completed. Applicants with documents received late or applications with missing documents will not be considered.

4 Q: I ve applied to the program. When can I expect to be notified of a decision? A: Applicants are notified of a decision approximately six weeks after the application deadline. Q: Do you keep a waiting list for the program? A: A small temporary wait list may be created in case any seats become available. Once the semester starts, the wait list is eliminated and applicants who were not accepted will need to re- apply if they wish to be reconsidered. Q: I applied to the accelerated program and did not get accepted. Can I re- apply next year? A: Yes you may re- apply. Please notify the Admissions Office you are re- applying so your application can be re- activated. You will need to retake the HESI Admission Assessment exam and submit a new essay and recommendations. The application fee will be waived for applicants re- applying to the program. Q: I applied to the accelerated program and did not get accepted. Can I meet with an advisor to determine why I was not accepted? A: No. The accelerated program is competitive and receives far more applications than it has available seats. The program does not offer individualized counseling to applicants not accepted to the program. What can I expect while enrolled in the Accelerated BSN Program? Q: When does the program begin and end? A: The Communiversity cohort begins the third week of each May and those students graduate in May of the following year. The Jersey City cohort begins each September when the NJCU fall term begins. The Jersey City cohort graduates the following August. Q: Can I work during the program? A: Due to the rigorous nature of the accelerated program, working is not advised. Students who work often have lower GPAs and place themselves at risk for not being successful in the program. Q: Is there a part- time or evening option? A: No. Classes and clinical experiences typically occur Monday through Friday during the day. Students may also have a class or clinical experience in the evening or on weekends.

5 Q: How much does the program cost? A: In- state tuition for AY is $29,730 for the year and out of state tuition is $40,593. There are additional fees for books, uniforms and equipment which average approximately $2500. Q: Is financial aid available? A: Yes. You may qualify for federal Stafford loans. Private loan options and payment plans are also available to finance your education. NJCU has limited scholarship monies available. Contact the Financial Aid Office at for assistance in planning to pay for your education. Q: Do you require an exit exam as part of the Accelerated BSN program? A: Yes, we require the HESI Exit Examination prior to graduation. The examination is part of a course in the program and is not a separate requirement for graduation. After I complete the Accelerated BSN Program Q: Can I get a job working as a Registered Nurse right after graduation? A: Before beginning work, you will need to apply to the Board of Nursing and take the RN licensing exam (NCLEX- RN ). Once you pass the exam, you will be licensed by the Board and can begin to work. Q: What is the NCLEX- RN pass rate for NJCU? A: NJCU s 2011 NCLEX- RN pass rate was 91%. Q: What is the projected job growth for registered nurses? A: It is expected that by 2020, we will need a half a million new registered nurses to keep up with changes in healthcare and the aging population (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010) Q: Does a BSN from NJCU allow me to go on to graduate school? A: Yes. Our program provides the foundation to be successful in graduate school. Graduates of this program have been accepted to several universities offering a graduate nursing program.