FAQs
UNCW – MSN-FNP
If you have additional questions, please email chhs@uncw.edu or call 910-962-3208.
General Questions:
Am I a competitive student?
• Admission decisions are based on several factors, including a strong overall undergraduate academic record
and satisfactory scores on either the GRE or MAT; however, other indicators of success may be considered for
admission.
What financial assistance is available to MSN students?
• The following opportunities are available through the School of Nursing: North Carolina Foundation for
Nursing, Forgivable Education Loans for Service, North Carolina Nurse Education Scholarship Loan Program,
Department of Health and Human Services Rural and Urban Family Nurse Practitioner Traineeship Grant
Program. The following opportunities are available through the State of North Carolina: The North Carolina
Nurse Scholars Program. The M-NSP application deadline is May 1st.
• The Nurse Scholars Commission meets in mid-June to select M-NSP recipients. For information, please
contact: NC Nurse Scholars Commission, North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority, PO Box 14223,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; (919) 549-8614.
• Contact the Financial Aid office for additional questions.
Can I start the MSN program in the Spring Semester?
• No. Students are admitted during the fall semester only.
Is a part-time MSN program available?
• Yes. Each student must complete an approved course of study within five years of the date of the first
registration for graduate study to be eligible for graduation.
Can I take MSN courses in the summer?
• Elective courses may be offered in the summer.
The MSN program is primarily online. How many times would I be expected to come to the UNCW
campus?
• During most semesters, students are required to come to campus 4-5 times. These dates are usually established
prior to the beginning of each semester.
Is there a final presentation/exam?
• The final course will be a research project/presentation. It is a 15 page synthesis. Students will come to
campus on final day to present.
Can I take MSN courses out of sequence?
• No, courses may not be taken out of sequence.
How many clinical hours must I complete during the program?
• Students are required to complete a total of 600 clinical hours during the program. These are divided as
follows: 120 pediatrics, 120 women’s health, 120 adult health, and 240 complex family health.
Where can I do my clinical practicum?
• Every attempt is made to keep students in their home communities or within a 1-hour drive of their homes to
complete their clinical practicum.
What is the average time spent on course work?
• 30 hours per week for full time students. Once students start the clinical sequence, the time involved is the
same for both full time and part time students.
What is the attrition rate, job placement rate, and pass rate for FNP Boards?
• Attrition rate: 5%
• Job Placement Rate: 80-95%
• FNP Boards: 100%
What is the cost of the MSN-FNP program?
• Tuition rates can be found on the Student Accounts & Cashier Services link.
Will UNCW offer a DNP program?
• UNCW is planning to offer a DNP program starting in Fall 2015. At this time, acceptance into that program
requires a MSN. However, UNCW will eventually phase out the MSN program, and allow students with a BSN
degree to directly apply to the DNP program.
Application/Admissions Questions:
How do I apply to the MSN program?
• The application is completed online through the UNCW graduate school:
https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=uncw-grad. The online application will walk you through the process and
provide you an opportunity to list email addresses for potential references, upload your resume or CV, and
upload your writing sample. The only document submitted to the School of Nursing is the demographic data
form which can be accessed on the web site. Everything else is submitted to the graduate school. The online
application is the only way to submit an application—NO PAPER APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
What are the mimimum admission requirements?
• A completed Graduate School application; official transcripts of all college work; official scores on the
Graduate Record Examination, general test or Miller Analogies Test (MAT); three recommendations (one each
from a former nurse faculty member and a current or former employer, preferred); current unrestricted North
Carolina registered nurse license or registered nurse license from one of the affiliated compact states;
baccalaureate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited program; one year professional experience as a
registered nurse; undergraduate GPA 3.0 or greater; academic credits in nursing research, statistics, leadership,
community health and health assessment; computer competency; six semester hours of graduate level
transferred credit may be accepted upon approval; a comprehensive interview may be requested; and additional
items as needed.
Can I transfer into UNCW’s MSN program from another institution’s MSN program?
• Yes, but only six hours of transfer credit can be accepted into the UNCW MSN program.
Must I have an undergraduate degree in nursing to apply to the MSN program?
• Yes. A baccalaureate degree in nursing (BS or BSN) must be earned by May of the year applying. If accepted,
student’s admission would be contingent upon successful completion of BSN degree.
Is there a time limit on previous courses taken, and how do I know which courses I have taken are
accepted?
• There is no time limit on previous courses taken. We assume practicing nursing have been out in the work
force for some time and are using some of those skills learned in those courses. We make the assumption that if
the student has gone to a school that is accredited, those courses will be accepted.
Does ADN experience count in the admissions requirements?
• When students have ADN experience, the BSN experience requirement is waived because they do have
experience as a professional registered nurse.
When is the deadline to apply?
• March 1 is the application deadline for fall admission. All completed applications received by the graduate
school by the March 1 deadline will be reviewed first. Applications that are incomplete on March 1 may not be
reviewed by the School of Nursing graduate admission committee. Admission decisions will be finalized and
students will be notified of admission by May 1.
Must I take the GRE or MAT?
• Yes. The GRE and MAT will not be waived for students applying to the MSN program. Students with a
Master’s degree in Nursing who are applying for the Post-Master’s program are NOT required to take the GRE
or MAT.
What scores are you looking for in the GRE?
• Most students admitted to the program have achieved a score of at least 400 on the MAT or 1000 on the GRE
(If taken prior to August 1, 2011). Applicants who have taken the GRE after August 1, 2011, will be evaluated
using the new scoring system. A total score (verbal and quantitative) of 300 is considered roughly equivalent to
1000 with the older scoring system.
Does work or volunteer experience influence admissions?
• Admission decisions are based on the entire application so work experience, volunteer experience or
community/professional service, leadership experience, and scholarly works (research, publications, or grants)
will be considered as part of the entire application.
Reapplying to the Program Questions:
If a student did not get accepted, can they resubmit their application to the program for another cohort?
• They will need to resubmit their application to reapply. Due to huge volume of applications that we receive, it
is impossible to review them all to provide individual feedback regarding how to improve a student’s chances of
being accepted. We simply do not have enough spaces for all applicants.
What are the re-application instructions:
1. Please contact Ms. Kimberly Harris at harrisk@uncw.edu if you have additional questions.
2. Create a new account/application https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=UNCW-GRAD
3. Click ‘CONTINUE’ if you wish to start a new application.
4. Complete the graduate application.
5. Upload a Word document outlining which documents you wish to recycle from your previous application.
6. Submit prior to the published program deadline & pay the application fee (UNCW faculty/staff/dependent
submit waiver through HR).
Updated: 01/22/2015