Tips on your application

When you make the decision to attend nursing school or medical school, you take on an exciting and challenging commitment. Nursing school or medical school will take a number of years of intense study in addition to clinical work, and will hopefully result in a successful career that will reward you for years to come. The next important decision you will make regarding your nursing or medical career will be what nursing or medical program to attend. Once you have decided on potential programs, you will have to apply to the schools of your choice. Here are a few tips for your application to nursing or medical school.

Know Your Deadlines

All of your applications will have admissions deadlines. Certain parts of the application may need to be in earlier than others. Make yourself a chart of the various schools to which you are applying and which parts of the applications are due on which dates. Keep this chart somewhere that you can see it, and check off the parts of the application that you have sent out.

Be Prepared

Be sure that you have taken all the prerequisite courses for the school to which you are applying. You do not want to waste money and time applying to a program that you do not have the necessary credentials to attend. Make sure you have taken any necessary tests such as the MCAT well in advance, and that you have made arrangements for your test scores to be sent to the schools of your choice.

Differentiate Yourself

You will probably be asked to provide a biography or resume with your application. Use this as an opportunity to detail both your experience with and your interest in the medical or nursing field. Give specific examples of circumstances in your life that have led you to your decision to attend nursing or medical school. This kind of personal information is what makes your application stand out from the hundreds that are received by admissions officers each year.

References

Try to obtain references from professors or employers that know you well. You should particularly try to pursue those who have seen you study or work in a health-related field and who have been impressed with your performance. The letter of reference is another opportunity for you to stand out from the pack, so pick your references thoughtfully.

An impressive nursing or medical school application can make the difference between the medical or nursing school of your dreams, and your second or third choice. Treat each part of the medical or nursing school application with professionalism and great care. The effort you put into your application can end up paying you dividends for many years ahead.

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