Hello! I am currently a senior in high school and would like to know my chances of being directly admitted to the nursing program at UC. I am ranked number 1 in my class with a 4.0 GPA while taking mostly CC+ classes… I am very involved: Science Club: President, Student Council:Vice President, Class Officers: Reporter, HOSA Chapter president, Key club, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society:President, and cheerleading. I also do a ton of volunteer work. I Am a candy striper volunteer at a local hospital, and I’m involved in a program that tutors elementary ages kids who struggle with math and reading. I also do a lot of community service through my various clubs. However my ACT score is a 25. I plan to retest 2 more times in hope of getting at least a 27/28. Do you think I have pretty good chances???
Just retaking the ACT may improve your score, but if you can afford a good ACT test prep, they essentially can identify your weakest areas and target improvement there. They also have tons of actual past ACT exams for practice.
Your GPA is outstanding. Your list of extracurriculars is outstanding. You are correct to target your ACT, which is average at best, and does not reflect your GPA.
It looks like what you want is to be a direct admission freshman to the nursing program, which means you’re guaranteed a spot in the clinical BSN program beginning your sophomore year provided you meet the minimum 3.0 GPA with no grade less than a “C” in a nursing-related course. If you don’t get a guaranteed spot, you will compete with other freshman nursing students for whatever remaining spots are left in the sophomore nursing class mainly on GPA, but you are not guaranteed a spot in the sophomore nursing class. There is a risk as an incoming student, therefore, in accepting a non-direct admission to the freshman program. You should, of course, apply, but if you get a non-direct accept, you need to seriously compare the UC offer to offers from other nursing programs to which you will apply.
It doesn’t hurt to try for a higher score (and UC only counts the highest, they do not superscore).
Here is what we figured out about nursing admissions last year (my daughter will be a direct admit this fall):
Last year UC started an MMI process with candidates who are not an automatic yes for whatever reason. The parents talked and guessed that admissions automatically admitted candidates with certain ACT scores. We surmised that 30 and above, no need to interview. Anyone else was sent to the nursing school to decide whether or not to interview. When asked, the dean denied these kids were on the bubble. But it was an extra step some had to take, but they really played it up that getting an interview was very important and interviews had a “cherished” spot.
My daughter was offered an interview, as were several others we knew. All had ACT scores in the mid-20s. As far as we know, most if not all of those interviewed were offered admission (just based on numbers that I won’t bore you with). They also said in a parents’ meeting that they read every essay, so make those count!
So no, an ACT score in the mid-20s is not a deal breaker. Try for a better score if you can, but ultimately UC’s nursing admission process is perhaps more holistic than most.