Transferring with an AA in Nursing from Northwest Florida State College

I'm working towards an AA in Nursing at Northwest Florida State College and want to transfer to a four-year university. What are the best steps to ensure a smooth transition for nursing majors?

While each university has its own unique set of requirements, I can offer some general steps that will help create a favorable transition experience for nursing majors.

1. Develop a Transfer Pathway: Start by identifying the four-year universities that interest you and then see if they have a transfer pathway (some call this an articulation agreement) with your current college. These pathways provide a clear curriculum roadmap from an AA to a Bachelor's degree within a specific major.

2. Understand Transfer Credit Policies: Some colleges accept AA credits more readily than others. You would want to understand each four-year university's policies about transfer credits, especially as it applies to nursing. Typically, universities provide transfer guides or transfer equivalency databases on their websites.

3. Complete Nursing Prerequisites: Many schools require that applicants to the nursing program have completed science prerequisite courses (such as Anatomy & Physiology, and Microbiology). If these are not already included in your AA curriculum, it could be helpful to take these classes now in addition to your regular coursework.

4. Maintain a Strong GPA: A competitive GPA is important, particularly in programs as competitive as nursing. In general, try to maintain a GPA above 3.0 at a bare minimum, but some schools might require higher for nursing majors specifically.

5. Licensing and Certifications: If you have licenses or certifications related to nursing (for example, an LPN or a CNA), these can sometimes count as transferable credit.

6. Engage in Extracurriculars: Finally, it’s always advantageous for transfer students to demonstrate that they’ve been engaged outside the classroom as well. Any health- or community-related work would be a good addition to your application.

Once you've gathered this information, reach out to admissions offices and ask them about their specific transfer policies for nursing majors. Some colleges may have specific admissions counselors for transfer students, so be sure to take advantage of these resources if they're available.

Do remember that even if a four-year university accepts your AA, it won’t guarantee admission to the nursing program specifically, as many have separate, competitive admissions. The nursing field is growing and has become highly competitive, so it won’t hurt to apply to several universities to keep your options open.