“All I want for Christmas is my BSN…my MSN…my PhD…all I want for Christmas is my nursing degree!” So what’s stopping you? Whether it takes one year or four years to acquire that coveted nursing degree, the sooner you start the sooner you’ll have it!

Before you can complete your application to a nursing degree program, there are a few things you need to accomplish. It’s easy to procrastinate, especially during the busy holiday season. To make the job easier for you, below are the most important tasks that need to be done during the process of applying to a nursing program. Schedule these tasks into your calendar right now–it’ll be the best Christmas gift anyone could give you!

Request Information from Nursing Schools

Requesting information from various nursing schools across the country is literally a matter of minutes. Simply visit the page about the degree you’re interested in. At the bottom of the page, you’ll see a handy listing of schools that offer that degree. A single click takes you to a form where you fill out your information. You’ll receive information electronically or in the mail, which you can then peruse at your leisure.

If you’re unsure of the specific nursing school you’d like to attend, just request information from several schools that offer nursing programs that interest you. Learning more about each nursing school’s admission requirements, tuition costs, and the courses you’ll be required to take for the nursing degree of your choice can help you make a more informed decision.

File the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

The FAFSA is used by the federal government to assess your eligibility for grants, loans, work-study programs, state merit scholarships, and institutional scholarship programs. You cannot receive a financial aid package from a nursing program without first filing the FAFSA.

Go to fafsa.ed.gov to file online or download a hard copy. You don’t need to wait to be accepted to a nursing program before filing the FAFSA. The deadline for filing is June 30, but you should schedule this task for January 1 to get the first crack at federal funding.

Get Up to Date on Pre-Requisites

If you’ve already chosen a nursing program and are ready to apply, you should find out what the academic pre-requisites are. You may need a certain number of credit hours in courses like statistics, psychology, physiology or anatomy to qualify for admittance to certain nursing programs. If you’re pursuing an advanced degree, you’ll also need to make sure that you have the required number of clinical hours in your chosen specialty. First ascertain the pre-requisites for your desired nursing program, and then make an outline of the necessary next steps and work out how much time they will take to accomplish.

Request Official Transcripts

Most nursing programs will require transcripts from any college you’ve attended since graduating from high school. If you haven’t attended any college, you will need to supply your high school transcript. It takes only a few minutes to request transcripts, but if you wait until the last minute your application processing could be delayed. Besides, some registrars drop transcript requests to the bottom of the priority list during busy times like the end of a semester.

You can typically request transcripts online. You may need to send a fax or mail in a form–your school’s website should have instructions for the process. Keep in mind that there is a charge for each transcript, usually around $10 or $15. And be warned: if you still owe your school money, they are not legally required to release your transcripts until you’re in good financial standing.

Request Letters of Recommendation

It should take just a few minutes to figure out who you’re going to ask for a letter of recommendation. Sit down with a pen and paper and jot down your ideas, then choose a specific time to approach your chosen ones and request the favor.

Unfortunately, it can take weeks or months for your recommender to actually write the letter! It’s up to you make your recommendation request well in advance and to send gentle reminders of the deadline periodically. And remember, writing a letter of recommendation is not everyone’s favorite thing in the world–you can never say “Thank you” too many times!

And there you are: all ready to apply to an online nursing school and earn your next degree, whether it’s an RN degree or a PhD. As soon as you schedule the above tasks into your calendar, you can head out to that holiday party. Just don’t overindulge in the mulled wine or pecan pie.

Learn More About Nursing Degree Programs
Achieve the education you need to turn your nursing career goals into reality by requesting program information from nursing schools that offer accredited nursing degree programs that match your needs:
Explore Online Nursing Degree Programs

Explore Nursing Schools By State

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