Nursing Admissions

Direct Admission

Direct Admission allows prospective students to apply directly from high school when they apply for admission to St. Olaf College.  Direct Admission does not bind you to your choice.  We are committed to helping you identify your passion.  If you discover it is something other than nursing, we will help you find that path.

Students who wish to apply for Direct Admission must first apply to St. Olaf College via the Common Application.  Students will then receive their applicant portal login instructions and from there, students can activate and log in to their applicant portal to access the nursing application.  The nursing program application includes two additional essays.  Here are the two essay prompts you’ll be expected to respond to:

Essay 1 Response:  Describe an experience or personal goal that has led you to choose nursing as a career.

Essay 2 Response:  Describe a situation that has influenced your understanding of someone different from yourself.

The nursing application link can be found on the Admissions Office Apply Page.

Offers of direct admission are conditional.  If direct admit students do not meet the admission criteria, they will not be granted admission to the nursing program.  Students who are not selected for direct admission are welcome to apply to the nursing program during the fall semester of the sophomore year.

Because enrollment is limited, meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee nursing program acceptance.

Nursing admission decisions are communicated to all applicants in January.

Preparation

Find opportunities to develop your critical thinking skills, reading, writing, and calculation skills, and skills that develop communication and collaboration.  Gain hands-on experience in the nursing field such as working or volunteering in a hospital or nursing home and taking a nursing assistant course.