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FAQs

Admissions:

Other Cohorts:

Costs and Financial Aid:

Miscellaneous Questions:

How many students are admitted per semester?
Each term is slightly different depending on the cohorts that we are admitting.  Generally 30 students are admitted every fall, spring, and summer. Special evening and weekend cohorts are offered at different intervals. An additional 20 students are admitted to these special cohorts.

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How do I know what transfers?

  • Students can complete a transcript evaluation form for an evaluation. Only courses applicable to the Nursing major will be evaluated. Official copies of all previous transcripts must be attached and mailed to the College of Nursing at:

    Kent State University College of Nursing
    PO Box 5190
    216 Henderson Hall
     Kent, OH  44242
  • Prospective students can visit www.transfer.org
  • Prospective applicants should also apply to Kent State University at www.kent.edu/Admissions and send official transcripts to University Admissions. The Admissions Office will conduct a full evaluation of all transfer credits and will send you a full evaluation.

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How and when do I apply to KSU?
 Ideally,you will want to apply at least one semester prior to when you want to start at KSU. You should apply to the University prior to completing the Accelerated application. Applications to Kent State are available at www.kent.edu/Admissions. 

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How and when do I apply to the Accelerated program?
We require that you already have earned a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and have completed the science prerequisites prior to the program start date. Applications are online at www.kent.edu/nursing and are available:

  • Fall: April 1-June 1
  • Spring: July 1-September 1
  • Summer: December 1-February 1

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What are the prerequisites?
In order to begin the Accelerated program, students must have completed the below courses. Students who are in the process of completing these courses can apply for the program so long as they will be completed before the program begins:
  • Structure and Function (BSCI 20020)
  • Basic Microbiology (BSCI 20021)
  • Fundamentals of Chemistry (CHEM 10050)
  • Introduction to Organic Chemistry (CHEM 10052)
  • College Algebra (MATH 11009) or higher. 

In addition to the above courses, all applicants must have a baccalaureate degree.

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Can I be enrolled in the prerequisite courses when I apply to KSU/Accelerated program?
Yes you can - as long as you are finished with your prerequisites by the end of the semester prior to your desired acceptance. Preference is given to students who have completed the prerequisites at the time of application, but all applicants who will have the prerequisites completed before classes begin and who have the appropriate GPA (2.75) will be considered.

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What courses in the curriculum, if any, can I take before being enrolled in the program?
 Please note that no clinical courses can be completed prior to the start of the Accelerated program. However the following non-clinical courses can be completed in addition to the prerequisites:

  • PSYC 11762: General Psychology
  • SOC 12050: Introduction to Sociology
  • Upper Division (junior or senior level courses) Sociology, Psychology, or Nursing elective
  • Domestic and Global Diversity Requirement
  • NURS 20950: Human Growth and Development (Prerequisites: PSYC 11762)
  • BSCI 30030 Human Physiology (Prerequisites: BSCI 20020, BSCI 20020, CHEM 10050, CHEM 10052)
  • NUTR 33512: Nutrition (Prerequisites: BSCI 20020, CHEM 10050, CHEM 10052)
  • BSCI 30050: Human Genetics (Prerequisites: BSCI 20020, 20021, CHEM 10050, 10052)
  • Statistics

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Who can references come from? How many do I need?
 You will need two references. These can come from professors, teachers, clergymen, or employers. Recommendation forms can be obtained during the application cycle. All recommendations are due by the application deadline in order to be considered. Students who re-apply must obtain new recommendations.

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How competitive is the program and how many people apply?
The program is very competitive. There are generally 100 - 125 applications per admission cycle.

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What GPA do I need to be competitive?
The average GPA is a 3.5  for acceptance. (This means that we have accepted higher and lower). To be competitive you will also need to have relevant experience in the helping field (social work, tutoring, volunteering, etc.).  Past experience in healthcare with patient contact experience is desirable. Students should also submit a solid application essay. We do not look at GPA only; however, it is the best predictor of admission.

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Do you offer nights or weekend programming?
Yes, Kent State offers two different programs for students seeking evening and weekend options: the University Hospitals (UH) Cohort and an evening/weekend cohort on the Kent Campus.

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What is the UH Cohort?
The College of Nursing has partnered with University Hospitals in Cleveland to offer the Accelerated program in Cleveland OH. Students admitted to the UH cohort take a vast majority of their courses at University Hospitals in Cleveland and all clinical courses will be held at a UH facility in the greater Cleveland area. We admit a cohort every fifteen months at UH. The next UH cohort will begin in 2013.

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What is the Evening/Weekend Cohort?
 Similar to the UH Cohort, this cohort admits 20 students once every other year. Classes meet Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:00-8:30 at the Kent Campus with clinical on Saturday. Saturday clinical are held at Summa Health Systems in Akron, OH. Some semesters will also require clinical work on Friday and/or Sunday. The next evening/weekend cohort will begin in the Fall of 2012.

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What is the cost of tuition?
Changes occur on a yearly basis, please refer to the Bursar’s office website. There are additional fees associated with the Nursing Major (see Projected Costs).

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Can I qualify for student loans or federal/state aid, and does the College of Nursing offer any scholarship?

  1. The most common form of funding is student loans provided by the Federal Government by filling out a FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov. This award is up to $10,500 per year for students who have already earned a degree.
  2. KSU only has a few sparse scholarship opportunities, so seeking outside scholarships through the Ohio Board of Nursing and health care companies such as Johnson & Johnson can be a good source of funding. KSU’s financial aid website has additional sources and outside scholarship links at www.sfa.kent.edu.
  3. If you are currently unemployed, I encourage you to contact your local One Stop, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, or the Department of Jobs and Family Services for any available state or federal grant programs designed for re-educating students.
  4. Some hospitals and other healthcare agencies will provide tuition assistance if the student signs a multi-year contract to work for the agency following graduation. Contact your local and regional agencies.
  5. Students admitted to the program may also qualify for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s New Careers in Nursing scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to students from underrepresented populations in nursing who have financial need. A limited number of these awards are available. Students who qualify will be contacted by the College of Nursing.

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Can I have a job while going through the program?
Some students have worked while in the program, mostly part-time in the evenings or weekends. Students in the evening/weekend cohort or UH cohort can work part-time during the regular work week. It can be done, but we recommend that you focus more on the program than work because it is an intensive program. Students who work more than 20 hours a week are less likely to complete the program.

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Can I take any courses at other universities while in the program?

You may take non-clinical courses at other universities. Once you are admitted to KSU, you will need to complete a Transient form in Student Services to determine if the course(s) will transfer. You may also log onto the Course Applicability System to learn more about transfer coursework.

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How long does the program take to complete (including/not including prerequisites)?

The College of Nursing Accelerated program is an extensive program lasting four (4) consecutive terms in length (not counting prerequisites). Prerequisites generally take two semesters to complete.

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Can I complete the Accelerated Program at a regional campus?
The program is offered at the Kent campus only.

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At what hospitals will I be completing clinicals?

You will have hospital based clinicals at Robinson Memorial Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Akron General,  or Akron City to name a few. We also work with non-hospital agencies such as Jennings Center for Older Adults, Town Hall II, and Coleman Professional Services to name only a few. We use over 90 clinical sites.

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How many credit hours will I take each semester?
You will be taking classes full-time. Most semesters are at or near 18 credit hours. The program curriculum can be found on our website

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What are the average times of day that classes are offered?
 The normal daytime Accelerated classes are offered primarily during the day on weekdays. The UH Cohort takes classes nearly exclusively on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Evening/Weekend Program takes courses 2 nights a week and on Saturdays.

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Do you have any online courses?
Select courses are offered online giving students the opportunity to have both online and traditional learning experiences.

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About how long will I wait before I hear back after applying?
Review of applicants begins immediately following the application due date. Top candidates are then selected to complete an admissions essay. Generally, admissions decisions are made within three weeks of the application deadline.

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Do you have a waiting list?
No, we do not. If you are not accepted for a semester, you will need to reapply for the following semester to be considered again. You may apply as many times as you would like, however you will not be given any more preference over someone who has applied just once.

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Can I take more classes so that I can finish the program in a shorter amount of time?
No, because nursing courses are offered in a sequence (one is a prerequisite for the next, etc.) the clinical courses are not able to be taken out of order or earlier. Once you are accepted into the program, it is four semesters.

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Does the nursing program at KSU offer any specializations such as forensic nursing?
No, it does not. Instead, we offer a broad amount of clinical experience that will prepare you for such areas as gerontology, pediatrics, ob, etc.

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Do you offer STNA or LPN certification training?
No, we do not.

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