Early Admissions Pathway | Admissions
Application deadline for Autumn 2023 to Ohio State as an undergraduate applicant for eligible candidates
Opens: Mid-November 2022
Deadline: February 5, 2023
Application Help Session | Recording
You have aspirations to help people live healthier and happier lives, and we want to support you in pursuing those dreams. Our early admission pathway can provide you with a secured seat* in our BSN program to begin your journey to become a nurse.
With the limited number of seats available for this option, we may not be able to offer early admission to all who apply. If you are not admitted to the early admission option, you can still apply to the Traditional BSN pathway option. To review our traditional admissions process, please visit the admissions webpage for that pathway.
Early admission pathway selection occurs one time per year with final decisions being released via email in spring. Our goal is to build a class that exemplifies the values of our college and the university. Students offered a seat in the BSN program through Early Admission will first complete the required prerequisite courses during their first year at Ohio State and then will begin the BSN program in the Autumn semester of their second year, if they continue to meet the post-admission standards outlined below. This snapshot resource provides an overview of what pre-nursing students following the early admissions (EA) pathway can expect in the first year.
If you have questions, please email our recruitment team at nursing@osu.edu.
*Post-admissions academic standards and policies must be met to maintain early admission to the BSN.
Minimum eligibility requirements | Application process | Admissions timeline for all applicants
Minimum eligibility requirements
- Apply by the early action deadline to The Ohio State University Columbus campus as a pre-nursing student
- Be in the top 3% of your high school class ranking; if you have questions about how class rank is calculated as part of the admissions process at Ohio State (especially if your high school does not track class rank), please contact Undergraduate Admissions.
- Be admitted to Ohio State’s Columbus campus as a pre-nursing student
- Must be 18 years of age by the first clinical course (NURSING 2270), which occurs in the Spring semester following admission into the BSN program (per clinical rules)
Application process
Only applicants who are admitted to Columbus campus as a pre-nursing student, completed the essay questions AND an online interview by the required deadlines will be considered for the early admission option.
- Apply to Ohio State Columbus campus
-
You must submit your application through Undergraduate Admissions for Ohio State Columbus campus by the early action deadline of November 1. Please make sure you indicate pre-nursing as your intended major.
- Complete the essay questions and recorded online video interview by February 5
-
The Early Admission application process will be conducted through an online platform. When accessing the online platform, please sign up using the same email address you used when applying to Ohio State. The essay questions and recorded online interview must be completed by February 5. The recorded online video interview provides an additional avenue for you to demonstrate your characteristics and experiences through a verbal response. This will provide you with an opportunity to showcase your professionalism and ability to effectively communicate your thoughts.
The essay questions provide an opportunity for you to share characteristics and experiences that will make you a successful student in the BSN program. This can include, but is not limited to leadership experiences, ability to overcome obstacles and challenges, ability to work in a team environment, commitment to the healthcare field and openness to diversity of thought and experiences.
You are required to complete the essay questions and recorded online video interview in one sitting. You will have unlimited time to complete your three essay responses and two minutes to answer each interview question. We recommend budgeting at least one to two hours to complete both portions.
Upon submission, you will receive an email from HireVue confirming you have completed the recorded online interview and essay responses. This email will be sent to the email address you registered when accessing the online platform. This is the only way you will be able to track completion of this part of your application. Be advised the email may accidently be delivered to your spam or junk folder. If you do not receive the email within 24 hours of submission, please email nursing@osu.edu. If you have a disability and experience difficulty accessing HireVue, please contact nursing@osu.edu.
Admissions timeline for all applicants
A decision on your application will be sent via email in early April. If you applied to Ohio State for Autumn 2023 admission and also applied for the BSN Early Admission pathway, you can view the early admissions timeline here. If you are admitted to the pathway, you will receive additional information via email, including your Virtual Admissions Packet, which will guide you through the next steps, such as how to register for prerequisite classes.
Once released, all admission decisions for early admission are final. If you are not admitted through the early admission process, you will still maintain your admission to the university as a pre-nursing student and will be able to submit an application through the traditional BSN program during your first year at Ohio State. For more details on the traditional BSN admissions process, please visit our webpage.
Post-admissions standards
In order to maintain your spot in early admission to the BSN, you must meet and abide by all academic standards and policies of the university and College of Nursing.
Specifically, you must meet the following requirements during your first year of enrollment:
- Complete 30 semester undergraduate credit hours: Applicants must complete at least 30 undergraduate college credit hours by the end of the Spring term during their first year. Any transferred college credit, credit earned during high school and credit earned through Advanced Placement testing will all be included in this total.
- Maintain an Ohio State cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
- Complete the required seven BSN prerequisite courses with a grade of C+ or higher
If you have taken prerequisite courses at institutions that do not award grades on a +/- scale, you must earn a grade of B or higher in each of the prerequisite courses in order to maintain your early admission status. AP credit may also be utilized to fulfill prerequisite requirements. Official transcripts and/or official AP scores must be sent to the Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions in order for this credit to count towards the prerequisite requirement. Students who fail to meet the requirements listed above will not retain their early admission to the BSN. Should you still wish to be considered for the BSN program, you will be required to apply for the next open term and follow the application process. This may add additional time to degree completion.
Timeline for verifying post-admission standards and admission into the nursing major
The Undergraduate Admissions Committee will verify the completion of post-admission standards once final grades are posted for spring semester. The university sets the deadline for grade submission. Please refer to the Important Dates section on the University Registrar webpage for specific deadlines.
The verification process as well as other support services the Office of Student Affairs and Success will provide to you as a pre-nursing student entering through the early admission pathway are outlined on the Early Admission Communication Timeline. This timeline is intended for currently enrolled pre-nursing students in the Early Admission pathway, but highlights the services you can expect from the Office of Student Affairs and Success.
Start your Early Admissions Application
In accordance with the non-discrimination policy of The Ohio State University and the College of Nursing, we strictly prohibit any discrimination based upon age, color, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, religion, pregnancy, or veteran status in its application, admission, or enrollment practices.
Ohio State is committed to treating applicants fairly and with dignity and respect. Please review Ohio State’s post-admissions policy.