Admissions for Undergraduate Transfer* or CODO Students

Transfer Students*

To be considered for admission as a transfer student, an applicant must meet one of the following minimum requirements:

1. Completion of a baccalaureate degree or higher in another field of study from an accredited college or university.

OR

2. Completion of at least 6 credit hours in chemistry and/or biology courses (with a lab) with a grade of B or better. Earned a grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Admission is selective. The best qualified applicants are selected from the pool of applicants.

A student who is admitted to Nursing will begin as a freshman in the nursing program and is projected to complete the program in 8 semesters (4 years from the fall semester of admission.)

Transfer students are those who have taken college coursework after graduation from high school. For School of Nursing admissions, these will also include those who are considered "Reentries" and "Regional Campus Transfers."

Revised: August 2007

Change of Degree Objective (CODO) Information

Students who wish to change their major to nursing must follow the following procedure:

1. Attend a CODO informational meeting. Telephone 49-44008, or contact the secretary in the School of Nursing, Office of Student Services, JNSN 109, for meeting times.
2. Complete the following CODO requirements in order to be considered for admission into nursing:
    
   
   1. Current enrollment at Purdue, West Lafayette campus.
   2. Completion of at least one semester at Purdue, West Lafayette campus.
   3. Completion of at least 12 credit hours at Purdue.
   4. Completion of at least 6 credit hours in chemistry and/or biology courses (with a lab) with a 3.0 GPA or better by end of a semester prior to being considered.
   5. Earn an adjusted grade point average of 3.0 or better on courses required in the curriculum.
3. Submit to the Office of Student Services, JNSN 109, a completed School of Nursing "CODO Application" form by December 15/April 15.

A student may be asked to submit a goal statement which states personal and professional goals, a rationale for program choice and special attributes/abilities.

A student who follows the above procedure is applying to be considered for admission to Nursing. Admission is selective. The best-qualified applicants are selected from the pool of applicants for a limited number of spaces.

Applications are reviewed in January/June for admission for the next fall semester. Applicants will be notified by February 1st/July 1st regarding their admission status.

A student who is admitted into Nursing will begin as a freshman in the nursing program and is projected to complete the program in 8 semesters. Depending on space availability and completion of necessary prerequisites, it is not uncommon for a transfer student to actually complete the program in 6-7 semesters.

Revised: March 2005

FAQ about CODO'ing into Nursing

1. Is there a deadline for applying? Applications are reviewed in January/June for admission for the next fall semester. Applications are to be submitted by December 15/April 15 for review. Applicants will be notified by February 1st/July 1st regarding their admission status.
2. How long will it take me to complete the nursing program? The sequence of NUR courses will take at least 7 semesters regardless of how many of the non-NUR courses you have completed. If all pre-requisites are met and spaces in the NUR courses become available, you may be able to complete the program in 6 semesters.
3. Which non-NUR courses am I allowed to take even though I am not in the nursing program? You may take any of the non-NUR courses required providing your have met the necessary pre-requisites for a course. It is not recommended that you take PHPR 202 (completion of BIOL 203 & 204 and CHM 111 & 112 are prerequisites) until you have been admitted into the nursing program.
4. How do I know which elective to take? There is a handout that is available in the Student Services Office, JNSN 109. Ask for "Guidelines for Selecting Courses."
5. Are there any other schools thath have programs preparing someone to become an RN? The Student Services Office, JNSN 109, has a catalog listing the various types of programs available in the United States. Be aware that there are 2 yr., 3 yr. and 4 yr. programs which all prepare someone to take the NCLEX exams to be certified as an RN. The program at Purdue, West Lafayette campus, is a 4 yr. program preparing someone to enter nursing at a professional level with a BS degree. 2 and 3 year programs prepare someone to enter nursing at a technical level. Graduates of 2 and 3 year programs are eligible to apply to enter the BS program at Purdue to complete their bachelor of science degree providing they have successfully passed the NCLEX.
6. What do I do if I have all or most of the non-NUR classes done but have to wait to be admitted to the program? There is no guarantee of admission regardless of how many credits you have completed. If you choose to apply to the BS program here, it is suggested that you have a "Plan B" in order to be working towards a goal while you await admission to the program. If you are admitted and only have the NUR courses to take, you may carry a lighter load or you may take other courses towards your "Plan B" major. It is your choice as to what you take if you have satisfied all the nursing curriculum requirements.
7. What has been the usual competition for admission to the nursing program as a CODO student? We normally receive 50-60 applications for a possible 20 spaces. To be competitive, applicants should exceed the minimum requirements with probably a B+ GPA and B grades or better in the science courses. Final decisions are based on the quality of the pool of applications received.
8. Whom can I speak with if I have further questions? We ask that you first attend a CODO Informational Meeting where most questions can be answered. The meeting schedule is available from our secretary in the Student Services Office, JNSN 109. If you have attended a meeting, then you may call for an appointment to meet with one of our advisors. Our office number is (765) 494-4008.
9. Why do you admit so few when there is a demand for nurses? We are limited by the size of our faculty as well as our clinical facilities. Nursing education is an expensive program. Our clinical labs are generally limited to 8 students per lab. We compete for clinical spaces with other nursing programs in the area and we are at the limit.
10. How does Purdue's program rank against other nursing programs? We are proud of the accomplishments of our graduates. They have consistently passed the NCLEX at a high percentage rate-well above the national average and usually the best in Indiana. Placement has always been at 100% and our graduates have been highly recruited.