For High School Students:

Basic BSN Getting Started --
Pre-Nursing/Application Process

1. Prepare for a nursing career while still in high school!

   • Enroll in college preparatory courses with an emphasis in the sciences, math, and the humanities. Strong math skills are vital! Click this link to go to "Admission Criteria/Declaring Pre-Nursing" to see why.

   • Take high school English composition and public speaking classes seriously. Communication is KEY in nursing - both written and oral.

   • Enroll in a nursing class if the high school provides one.

   • The UW Basic BSN program requires students to be CNAs (Certified Nurse Assistants), so it is recommended they find a CNA class to get a jump-start on admission requirements. Click this link to find the State Board of Nursing for student's state and explore for a listing of CNA courses available in their area.

2. Check out "Aspire"

   This is a program to develop future leaders in nursing. Students apply for it in the first semester of the freshman year of college. Read about it by clicking into this link:  Aspire - a program to develop future leaders in nursing

3. Declaring Pre-Nursing

   Students need to meet certain criteria to declare a pre-nursing major at the UW School of Nursing. Click here for that information: Admission Criteria/Declaring Pre-Nursing.

4. UW Admission

   It is important for students to know what the University of Wyoming requires regarding admission criteria.
   
   - UW Admissions Web site: http://www.uwyo.edu/admissions/
   - Phone: 1(800) DIAL-WYO/342-5996 or (307) 766-5160
   - E-mail: why-wyo@uwyo.edu

5. Advising

   Call or e-mail the Basic BSN office at  (307) 766-4292 / basicbsn@uwyo.edu to plan classes and discuss career planning.

6. Freshman Orientation

   Ask UW Admissions about summer Freshman Orientation, during which students counsel with an advisor, enroll in fall classes, and are given a campus tour.

7. Can't Make Scheduled Freshman Orientation?...

   ...but would like to have a tour of the campus and meet with an advisor? Make a date for a tour with the UW Admissions Pre-College and Student Visit Programs office by calling them at 307-766-4075, coming to their office at 106 Knight Hall, or setting up an appointment online from their web site at www.uwyo.edu/admissions/visit. They can also set up an advising appointment with the School of Nursing on dates pre-set for visits with nursing (See the School Visit Schedule).

8. FIG (Freshman Interest Group)

   Consider joining the nursing FIG (Freshman Interest Group). Go to the University's FIG page to learn more about this and to apply for the nursing FIG:  www.uwyo.edu/figs/

9. Down the Road...

   The first two-three years at UW are spent working on prerequisite courses as a "pre-nursing" major. (Click here to go to the "Basic BSN" page. Click on the bullet named "Courses/Program of Study." That page will list the prerequisite courses students need to take the first two-three years, and then shows the remaining courses that students will take if accepted into the program.)
   
   Apply for admission to the School of Nursing major component typically in the second semester (by February 1st) of the sophomore year; the actual major begins in the fall of the junior year (Click on the link to go to the Admission Criteria/Application to the Major page). Admission is competitive - with Nursing Grade Point Average (NGPA) a major criteria, so keep those grades up! The Basic BSN program accepts up to 48 students into the nursing major component each fall.

10. Need Financial Aid?...

    Check out the school's Scholarships and Financial Aid Information page by clicking here: Scholarships and Financial Aid.