why do you want to go to nursing school essay

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Why I Want to Be a Nurse: a Journey of Compassion and Growth

• Categories: Nursing Practice Why Did You Choose Nursing

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Published: Jun 13, 2024

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How to Get into Nursing School

But before you get to the celebration, you have to get accepted into nursing school.

From prerequisites to written statements, figuring out how to get into nursing school may seem daunting. But if you follow these nursing school admissions tips, you’ll be ready to secure your spot in the program of your choice.

How to Get Into Nursing School

The most important part of the application process for nursing school is staying organized and completing all of the admissions requirements.

The steps to get into nursing school include:

• Meeting prerequisites such as GPA and math and science courses.
• Filling out an online application.
• Completing a written statement.
• Submitting transcripts from high school or previous colleges.

At Nebraska Methodist College (NMC), you can receive guidance and support during the admissions process from the admissions team .

They will help you understand the requirements of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs, show you how to apply to nursing school, answer any questions you may have and give you advice for getting into nursing school.

At NMC, you can apply for the traditional four year BSN program or the accelerated one year BSN program. The accelerated program is for those who already have an associate or bachelor’s degree. 

Understanding Nursing School Requirements and Prerequisites

Before you begin the application process, you’ll want to become familiar with nursing school prerequisites and requirements.

At NMC, the criteria for admission into the BSN program is:

• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• An ability to meet the technical standards of nursing practice, which include general physical, communication, motor, observational and intellectual abilities. This also includes passing a background check and drug screening.
• Success in previous math and science courses, specifically in algebra, biology, chemistry or anatomy and physiology.

High School Preparation for Nursing School

As a high school student, you can prepare to get into nursing school by aligning your academics and extracurriculars with a future career in healthcare.

Recommendations for high school students that are aspiring nurses include:

• Taking math and science courses like algebra, biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology.
• Maintaining a high GPA.
• Joining your school’s healthcare organization like Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). 
• Volunteering at a local hospital.

While completing a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course isn’t a required qualification for nursing school at NMC, becoming a CNA can give you hands-on experience working with patients and will show your commitment to becoming a nurse.

College Prerequisites for Nursing Programs

Applying to the traditional BSN program doesn’t require previous college courses. 

But if you're applying to the accelerated nursing program, you must have completed prerequisite courses such as English composition, college chemistry, human anatomy, introduction to psychology, humanities courses and intermediate algebra.

If you didn’t take one or some of these courses during your associate or bachelor’s degree program, you can complete the courses prior to the program’s start date.

How to Craft a Strong Nursing School Application

NMC uses the Centralized Application for Nursing Programs, also known as NursingCAS, to assist with all nursing program applications.

NursingCAS is operated by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (ACCN) and offers a convenient and efficient process to apply to nursing school using a web-based application. 

The application offers online checklists and instructions to easily navigate through the process of applying. Students are able to track the receipts of the application, transcripts and references 24/7.

As you begin the process, use these nursing program application tips:

• Write down the username and password you create when you set up your account.
• Read all of the instructions and questions carefully. 
• Take your time.
• Save all documents that must be uploaded using your name and the type of document it is.
• Pay attention to deadlines, and submit your application a few weeks before the application deadline.

Read more: 7 Tips for a Successful NursingCAS Application

Writing a Compelling Personal Statement for Nursing School

An important aspect of your nursing school application is your written statement. 

At NMC, you’ll respond to writing prompts about why you decided to become a nurse and what skills you have that will help you succeed in nursing school. You’ll also have a chance to address any low grades or withdrawals on your transcripts.

Your personal statement is your chance to tell your story, share why you want to be a nurse, show how you use logical reasoning and critical thinking skills, and give examples of your communication skills.

To make your personal statement more captivating, use specific examples or stories from your life. Sharing your own experiences allows the admissions team to get to know you and discover whether you have a growth mindset and the ability to learn the skills necessary to become a nurse.

Preparing for Nursing School Entrance Exams

Some nursing schools require prospective students to take an entrance exam.

At NMC, you are not required to take any entrance exams that determine entrance into the College.

Financial Aid and Scholarships for Nursing Students

Before you apply to nursing school, you should find out how much your education is going to cost and know how you’re going to pay for college.

There are many options for nursing school financial aid. Whether you utilize low-interest loans, scholarships, tuition reimbursement programs or employer tuition discounts, you can find a way to pay for college and even decrease the cost of your education.

There are different types of financial aid that you might qualify for:

• Employer tuition discount
• Employer tuition assistance or reimbursement

To qualify for federal student loans, scholarships and work-study, you must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after you’ve been admitted to college.

The financial aid office will notify you of your financial aid offer.

Some scholarships will require an application and are based on merit or financial need.

At NMC, you can make an appointment with a financial aid advisor to learn more about your financial aid options.

Read more: Pathways to a Healthcare Education to Decrease Tuition Costs

Applying for Nursing Scholarships

NMC offers many scholarships to nursing students, including:

• Upfront Merit Scholarships
• Academic and Leadership Scholarships
• Scott Scholars Program
• Becker Presidential Scholarship
• Wischmeier Dean’s Scholarship
• Kathleen Montgomery Memorial ACE Scholarship (accelerated nursing)
• HOSA Leadership Scholarship
• NMC Legacy Grant
• Nebraska Career Scholarship

While you might qualify for an institutional scholarship, you’ll want to research external scholarships. They could be available through non-profit organizations, religious entities, your employer, your parents’ or guardians' employer or athletic clubs.

You can find more scholarship opportunities through EducationQuest.

Each scholarship will have an application that could include a form, essay, transcripts or proof of financial need.

Much like your written statement for your college application, you’ll want to take your time writing your scholarship essays. Each scholarship will have different requirements, so read the instructions carefully.

Why Choose Nebraska Methodist College for Nursing

At NMC, you’ll receive the guidance and support you need starting with the admissions process and throughout your time as a student. 

Graduates of NMC’s nursing programs say that NMC is one of the best nursing schools because of the faculty.

“There were multiple faculty members that went above and beyond for me during my time at NMC and I couldn't feel happier and more appreciative for them and their help,” said Lyndie Brady, a BSN graduate.

“I underwent several hardships during my time at NMC. This includes caretaking for my grandmother who was diagnosed with lung cancer and being involved in a severe car accident resulting in a traumatic brain injury. I am most proud of myself for my resilience and completing my major and minor with a GPA above 3.5.”

Students at NMC experience a holistic culture of caring with a 14:1 student-faculty ratio. You’ll learn in our state-of-the-art laboratories and by working in clinical settings, which will prepare you to pass your licensure exam.

You’ll have support through academic coaching, counseling, study groups, test prep groups and peer-to-peer tutoring. 

Increase your chances of getting into nursing school by completing the required prerequisites, filling out your online application completely and writing a compelling personal statement.

After successful completion of the application process, you’ll receive your college acceptance letter and get to celebrate your accomplishment.

Contact our admissions team at (402) 354-7200 or [email protected] with questions or for more information.

About the Author

Sara giboney, sign up so you don't miss a thing., follow us on:, featured blog articles, which respiratory therapy degree is right for you, earning your msn degree: where should you specialize, top 10 tips to be successful in nursing school, healthcare degree programs.

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30 Reasons Why Nurses Are So Important To The Healthcare System

When it comes to patient care, there are many people who play active roles, but perhaps none as much as the nurse. Healthcare systems rely heavily on nurses of all educational levels for many reasons. Have you ever wondered why nurses are important to the healthcare system? I have been a nurse for more than 20 years, and I can tell you nurses are a vital part of successful healthcare systems. In this article, I will share 30 reasons why nurses are so important to the healthcare system and share some of my experiences with you. If you have ever questioned the need for, or importance of nurses, this article will help shed some light on why we need good nurses in every healthcare system.

WHY NURSES ARE IMPORTANT TO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM?

Reason #1: nurses provide vital services, reason #2: nurses advocate for patients, reason #3: nurses are an excellent source of patient education, reason #4: nurses can specialize and provide care to specific patient populations, reason #5: nurses are the “backbone” of the healthcare system, reason #6: nurses are well-trusted, reason #7: nurses are great critical thinkers, reason #8: nurses make excellent leaders, reason #9: nurses play critical roles in fostering strong patient-provider relationships, reason #10: nurses are often the first to identify changes in patients, reason #11: nurses help advocate for changes in healthcare, reason #12: nurses are a great source of emotional support, reason #13: nurses contribute to advances in healthcare, reason #14: nurses are instrumental in health promotion and disease prevention, reason #15: nurses help improve the well-being of communities, reason #16: nurses know how to respond in emergency situations, reason #17: nurses help coordinate care, reason #18: nurses are great multitaskers, reason #19: nurses are awesome at solving problems, reason #20: nurses are often the main source of information in patient care, reason #21: nurses are versatile, reason #22: good nurses are quite resourceful, reason #23: most nurses seem to have a high level of endurance, reason #24: nurses are known for being selfless, reason #25: nurses are great at paying attention to even the smallest details, reason #26: nurses create safe environments for patients to receive care, reason #27: nurses are excellent communicators, reason #28: nurses have a way of helping patients feel at ease, reason #29: nurses contribute to research, reason #30: some nurses can become primary care providers, my final thoughts, list of sources used for this article.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to write a perfect "why this college" essay.

College Essays

Did you think you were all done pouring out your blood, sweat, and tears in written form for your personal statement , only to be faced with the "why this college?" supplemental essay? This question might seem simple but is in fact a crucial and potentially tricky part of many college applications. What exactly is the "why us?" essay trying to understand about you? And how do you answer this question without falling into its many pitfalls or making any rookie mistakes?

In this article, I'll explain why colleges want you to be able to explain why you are applying. I'll also discuss how to generate and brainstorm topics for this question and how to make yourself sound sincere and committed. Finally, we'll go over some "why this school?" essay do s and don't s.

This article is pretty detailed, so here's a brief overview of what we'll be covering:

Why Do Colleges Want You to Write a "Why Us?" Essay?

Two types of "why this college" essay prompts, step 1: research the school, step 2: brainstorm potential essay topics, step 3: nail the execution, example of a great "why this college" essay.

College admissions officers have to read an incredible amount of student work to put together a winning class, so trust me when I say that everything they ask you to write is meaningful and important .

The purpose of the "why us?" essay goes two ways. On one hand, seeing how you answer this question gives admissions officers a sense of whether you know and value their school .

On the other hand, having to verbalize why you are applying gives you the chance to think about what you want to get out of your college experience  and whether your target schools fit your goals and aspirations.

What Colleges Get Out Of Reading Your "Why This College?" Essay

Colleges want to check three things when they read this essay.

First, they want to see that you have a sense of what makes this college different and special.

• Do you know something about the school's mission, history, or values?
• Have you thought about the school's specific approach to learning?
• Are you comfortable with the school's traditions and the overall feel of student life here?

Second, they want proof that you will be a good fit for the school.

• Where do your interests lie? Do they correspond to this school's strengths?
• Is there something about you that meshes well with some aspect of the school?
• How will you contribute to college life? How will you make your mark on campus?

And third, they want to see that this school will, in turn, be a good fit for you.

• What do you want to get out of college? Will this college be able to provide that? Will this school contribute to your future success?
• What will you take advantage of on campus (e.g., academic programs, volunteer or travel opportunities, internships, or student organizations)?
• Will you succeed academically? Does this school provide the right rigor and pace for your ideal learning environment?

What You Get Out Of Writing Your "Why This College?" Essay

Throughout this process of articulating your answers to the questions above, you will also benefit in a couple of key ways:

It Lets You Build Excitement about the School

Finding specific programs and opportunities at schools you are already happy about will give you a grounded sense of direction for when you start school . At the same time, by describing what is great about schools that are low on your list, you'll likely boost your enthusiasm for these colleges and keep yourself from feeling that they're nothing more than lackluster fallbacks.

It Helps You Ensure That You're Making the Right Choice

Writing the "why us?" essay can act as a moment of clarity. It's possible that you won't be able to come up with any reasons for applying to a particular school. If further research fails to reveal any appealing characteristics that fit with your goals and interests, this school is likely not for you.

At the end of your four years, you want to feel like this, so take your "Why This College?" essay to heart.

The "why this college?" essay is best thought of as a back-and-forth between you and the college . This means that your essay will really be answering two separate, albeit related, questions:

• "Why us?": This is where you explain what makes the school special in your eyes, what attracted you to it, and what you think you'll get out of your experience there.
• "Why you?": This is the part where you talk about why you'll fit in at the school; what qualities, skills, talents, or abilities you'll contribute to student life; and how your future will be impacted by the school and its opportunities.

Colleges usually use one of these approaches to frame this essay , meaning that your essay will lean heavier toward whichever question is favored in the prompt. For example, if the prompt is all about "why us?" you'll want to put your main focus on praising the school. If the prompt instead is mostly configured as "why you?" you'll want to dwell at length on your fit and potential.

It's good to remember that these two prompts are simply two sides of the same coin. Your reasons for wanting to apply to a particular school can be made to fit either of these questions.

For instance, say you really want the chance to learn from the world-famous Professor X. A "why us?" essay might dwell on how amazing an opportunity studying with him would be for you, and how he anchors the Telepathy department.

Meanwhile, a "why you?" essay would point out that your own academic telepathy credentials and future career goals make you an ideal student to learn from Professor X, a renowned master of the field.

Next up, I'll show you some real-life examples of what these two different approaches to the same prompt look like.

Clarifying why you want to study with a particular professor in a specific department can demonstrate to college admissions staff that you've done your research on the school.

"Why Us?" Prompts

• Why [this college]?
• Why are you interested in [this college]?
• Why is [this college] a good choice for you?
• What do you like best about [this college]?
• Why do you want to attend [this college]?

Below are some examples of actual "why us?" college essay prompts:

• Colorado College : "Describe how your personal experiences with a particular community make you a student who would benefit from Colorado College’s Block Plan."
• Tufts University : " I am applying to Tufts because… "
• Tulane University : "Describe why you are interested in joining the Tulane community. Consider your experiences, talents, and values to illustrate what you would contribute to the Tulane community if admitted." (via the Common App )
• University of Michigan : "Describe the unique qualities that attract you to the specific undergraduate College or School (including preferred admission and dual degree programs) to which you are applying at the University of Michigan. How would that curriculum support your interests?"
• Wellesley College : " When choosing a college, you are choosing an intellectual community and a place where you believe that you can live, learn, and flourish. We know that there are more than 100 reasons to choose Wellesley, but it's a good place to start. Visit the Wellesley 100 and select two items that attract, inspire, or celebrate what you would bring to our community. Have fun! Use this opportunity to reflect personally on what items appeal to you most and why. "

In a "why us?" essay, focus on the specific aspects of the school that appeal to you and how you will flourish because of those offerings.

"Why You?" Prompts

• Why are you a good match or fit for us?
• What are your interests, and how will you pursue them at [this college]?
• What do you want to study, and how will that correspond to our program?
• What or how will you contribute?
• Why you at [this college]?
• Why are you applying to [this college]?

Here are some examples of the "why you?" version of the college essay:

• Babson College : " A defining element of the Babson experience is learning and thriving in an equitable and inclusive community with a wide range of perspectives and interests. Please share something about your background, lived experiences, or viewpoint(s) that speaks to how you will contribute to and learn from Babson's collaborative community. "
• Bowdoin College : "Generations of students have found connection and meaning in Bowdoin's 'The Offer of the College.' ... Which line from the Offer resonates most with you? Optional: The Offer represents Bowdoin's values. Please reflect on the line you selected and how it has meaning to you." (via the Common App )

In a "why you?" essay, focus on how your values, interests, and motivations align with the school's offerings and how you'll contribute to campus life.

No matter how the prompt is worded, this essay is a give-and-take of what you and the college have to offer each other. Your job is to quickly zoom in on your main points and use both precision and detail to sound sincere, excited, and authentic.

How do you effectively explain the benefits you see this particular school providing for you and the contributions you will bring to the table as a student there? And how can you do this best using the small amount of space that you have (usually just one to two paragraphs)?

In this section, we'll go through the process of writing the "Why This College?" essay, step-by-step. First, I'll talk about the prep work you'll need to do. Next, we'll go through how to brainstorm good topics (and touch on what topics to avoid). I'll give you some tips on transforming your ideas and research into an actual essay. Finally, I'll take apart an actual "why us?" essay to show you why and how it works.

Before you can write about a school, you'll need to know specific things that make it stand out and appeal to you and your interests . So where do you look for these? And how do you find the details that will speak to you? Here are some ways you can learn more about a school.

In-Person Campus Visits

If you're going on college tours , you've got the perfect opportunity to gather information about the school. Bring a notepad and write down the following:

• Your tour guide's name
• One to two funny, surprising, or enthusiastic things your guide said about the school
• Any unusual features of the campus, such as buildings, sculptures, layout, history, or traditions

Try to also connect with students or faculty while you're there. If you visit a class, note which class it is and who teaches it. See whether you can briefly chat with a student (e.g., in the class you visit, around campus, or in a dining hall), and ask what they like most about the school or what has been most surprising about being there.

Don't forget to write down the answer! Trust me, you'll forget it otherwise—especially if you do this on multiple college visits.

Virtual Campus Visits

If you can't visit a campus in person, the next best thing is an online tour , either from the school's own website or from other websites, such as YOUniversityTV , CampusTours , or YouTube (search "[School Name] + tour").

You can also connect with students without visiting the campus in person . Some admissions websites list contact information for currently enrolled students you can email to ask one or two questions about what their experience of the school has been like.

Or if you know what department, sport, or activity you're interested in, you can ask the admissions office to put you in touch with a student who is involved with that particular interest.

If you can't visit a campus in person, request a video chat with admissions staff, a current student, or a faculty member to get a better sense of specific topics you might write about in your essay.

Alumni Interview

If you have an interview , ask your interviewer questions about their experience at the school and about what going to that school has done for them since graduation. As always, take notes!

College Fairs

If you have a chance to go to a college fair where your ideal college has representatives, don't just attend and pick up a brochure. Instead, e ngage the representatives in conversation, and ask them about what they think makes the school unique .  Jot down notes on any interesting details they tell you.

The College's Own Materials

Colleges publish lots and lots of different admissions materials—and all of these will be useful for your research. Here are some suggestions for what you can use. (You should be able to find all of the following resources online.)

Brochures and Course Catalogs

Read the mission statement of the school; does its educational philosophy align with yours? You should also read through its catalogs. Are there any programs, classes, departments, or activities that seem tailor-made for you in some way?

Pro Tip: These interesting features you find should be unusual in some way or different from what other schools offer. For example, being fascinated with the English department isn't going to cut it unless you can discuss its unusual focus, its world-renowned professors, or the different way it structures the major that appeals to you specifically.

Alumni Magazine

Are any professors highlighted? Does their research speak to you or connect with a project you did in high school or for an extracurricular?

Sometimes alumni magazines will highlight a college's new focus or new expansion. Does the construction of a new engineering school relate to your intended major? There might also be some columns or letters written by alumni who talk about what going to this particular school has meant to them. What stands out about their experiences?

School or Campus Newspaper

Students write about the hot issues of the day, which means that the articles will be about the best and worst things on campus . It'll also give you insight into student life, opportunities that are available to students, activities you can do off campus, and so on.

The College's Social Media

Your ideal school is most likely on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, and other social media. Follow the school to see what it's posting about.  Are there any exciting new campus developments? Professors in the news? Interesting events, clubs, or activities?

The Internet

Wikipedia is a great resource for learning basic details about a college's history, traditions, and values. I also recommend looking for forums on College Confidential that specifically deal with the school you're researching.

Another option is to search on Google for interesting phrases, such as "What students really think about [School Name]" or "[School Name] student forum." This will help you get detailed points of view, comments about specific programs or courses, and insight into real student life.

So what should you do now that you've completed a bunch of research? Answer: use it to develop connection points between you and your dream school. These connections will be the skeleton of your "why this college?" essay.

Find the Gems in Your Research

You have on hand all kinds of information, from your own personal experiences on campus and your conversations with people affiliated with your ideal school to what you've learned from campus publications and tidbits gleaned from the web.

Now, it's time to sift through all of your notes to find the three to five things that really speak to you. Link what you've learned about the school to how you can plug into this school's life, approach, and environment. That way, no matter whether your school's prompt is more heavily focused on the "why us?" or "why you?" part of the give-and-take, you'll have an entry point into the essay.

But what should these three to five things be? What should you keep in mind when you're looking for the gem that will become your topic?

Here are some words of wisdom from Calvin Wise , director of recruitment and former associate director of admissions at Johns Hopkins University (emphasis mine):

" Focus on what makes us unique and why that interests you. Do your research, and articulate a multidimensional connection to the specific college or university. We do not want broad statements (the brick pathways and historic buildings are beautiful) or a rehash of the information on our website (College X offers a strong liberal arts curriculum). All institutions have similarities. We want you to talk about our differences. "

Time to find that diamond, amethyst, opal, tourmaline, or amber in the rough.

Check Your Gems for Color and Clarity

When I say "check your gems," I mean make sure that each of the three to five things you've found is something your ideal school has that other schools don't have.

This something should be seen from your own perspective. The point isn't to generically praise the school but instead to go into detail about why it's so great for you that they have this thing.

This something you find should be meaningful to the school and specific to you. For example, if you focus on academics (e.g., courses, instructors, opportunities, or educational philosophy), find a way to link them either to your previous work or to your future aspirations.

This something should not be shallow and nonspecific. Want to live in a city? Every city has more than one college in it. Find a way to explain why this specific college in this specific city calls to you. Like pretty architecture? Many schools are beautiful, so dwell on why this particular place feels unlike any other. Like good weather, beach, skiing, or some other geographical attribute? There are many schools located near these places, and they know that people enjoy sunbathing. Either build a deeper connection or skip these as reasons.

Convert Your Gems into Essay Topics

Every "why this college?" essay is going to answer both the "why us?" and the "why you?" parts of the back-and-forth equation. But depending on which way your target school has worded its prompt, you'll lean more heavily on that part . This is why I'm going to split this brainstorming into two parts—to go with the "why us?" and "why you?" types of questions.

Of course, since they are both sides of the same coin, you can always easily flip each of these ideas around to have it work well for the other type of prompt . For example, a "why us?" essay might talk about how interesting the XYZ interdisciplinary project is and how it fits well with your senior project.

By contrast, a "why you?" essay would take the same idea but flip it to say that you've learned through your senior project how you deeply value an interdisciplinary approach to academics, making you a great fit for this school and its commitment to such work, as evidenced by project XYZ.

Describing how project XYZ demonstrates your investment in a particular course of study that then happens to align with a specific program at the university is an effective approach to the "why you?" essay.

Possible "Why Us?" Topics

• How a particular program of study, internship requirement, or volunteer connection will help further your specific career goals .
• The school's interesting approach to your future major (if you know what that will be) or a major that combines several disciplines that appeal to you and fit with your current academic work and interests.
• How the school handles financial aid and the infrastructure setup for low-income students and what that means for you in terms of opening doors.
• A story about how you became interested in the school (if you learned about it in an interesting way). For example, did the institution host a high school contest you took part in? Did you attend an art exhibit or stage performance there that you enjoyed and that your own artistic work aligns with?
• How you overcame an initial disinterest in the school (be sure to minimize this first negative impression). Did you do more research? Interact with someone on campus? Learn about the school's commitment to the community? Learn about interesting research being done there?
• A positive interaction you had with current students, faculty, or staff, as long as this is more than just, "Everyone I met was really nice."
• An experience you had while on a campus tour. Was there a super-passionate tour guide? Any information that surprised you? Did something happen to transform your idea about the school or campus life (in a good way)?
• Interesting interdisciplinary work going on at the university and how that connects with your academic interests, career goals, or previous high school work.
• The history of the school —but only if it's meaningful to you in some way. Has the school always been committed to fostering minority, first-generation, or immigrant students? Was it founded by someone you admire? Did it take an unpopular (but, to you, morally correct) stance at some crucial moment in history?
• An amazing professor you can't wait to learn from. Is there a chemistry professor whose current research meshes with a science fair project you did? A professor who's a renowned scholar on your favorite literary or artistic period or genre? A professor whose book on economics finally made you understand the most recent financial crisis?
• A class that sounds fascinating , especially if it's in a field you want to major in.
• A facility or piece of equipment you can't wait to work in or with  and that doesn't exist in many other places. Is there a specialty library with rare medieval manuscripts? Is there an observatory?
• A required curriculum that appeals to you because it provides a solid grounding in the classics, shakes up the traditional canon, connects all the students on campus in one intellectual project, or is taught in a unique way.

If the school can boast a cutting-edge laboratory where you dream of conducting research, that would be a strong focus for a "Why Us?" essay.

Possible "Why You?" Topics

• Do you want to continue a project you worked on in high school? Talk about how or where in the current course, club, and program offerings this work would fit in. Why will you be a good addition to the team?
• Have you always been involved in a community service project that's already being done on campus? Write about integrating life on campus with events in the surrounding community.
• Do you plan to keep performing in the arts, playing music, working on the newspaper, or engaging in something else you were seriously committed to in high school? Discuss how excited you are to join that existing organization.
• Are you the perfect person to take advantage of an internship program (e.g., because you have already worked in this field, were exposed to it through your parents, or have completed academic work that gives you some experience with it)?
• Are you the ideal candidate for a study abroad opportunity (e.g., because you can speak the language of the country, it's a place where you've worked or studied before, or your career goals are international in some respect)?
• Are you a stand-out match for an undergraduate research project (e.g., because you'll major in this field, you've always wanted to work with this professor, or you want to pursue research as a career option)?
• Is there something you were deeply involved with that doesn't currently exist on campus? Offer to start a club for it. And I mean a club; you aren't going to magically create a new academic department or even a new academic course, so don't try offering that. If you do write about this, make double (and even triple) sure that the school doesn't already have a club, course, or program for this interest.
• What are some of the programs or activities you plan to get involved with on campus , and what unique qualities will you bring to them?
• Make this a mini version of a personal statement you never wrote.  Use this essay as another chance to show a few more of the skills, talents, or passions that don't appear in your actual college essay. What's the runner-up interest that you didn't write about? What opportunity, program, or offering at the school lines up with it?

One way to impress admissions staff in a "Why You?" essay is to discuss your fascination with a particular topic in a specific discipline, such as kinetic sculpture, and how you want to pursue that passion (e.g., as a studio art major).

Possible Topics for a College That's Not Your First Choice

• If you're writing about a school you're not completely psyched about, one way to sidestep the issue is to focus on what getting this degree will do for you in the future . How do you see yourself changing existing systems, helping others, or otherwise succeeding?
• Alternatively, discuss what the school values academically, socially, environmentally, or philosophically and how this connects with what you also care about . Does it have a vegan, organic, and cruelty-free cafeteria? A relationship with a local farm or garden? De-emphasized fraternity involvement? Strong commitment to environmental issues? Lots of opportunities to contribute to the community surrounding the school? Active inclusion and a sense of belonging for various underrepresented groups?
• Try to find at least one or two features you're excited about for each of the schools on your list. If you can't think of a single reason why this would be a good place for you to go, maybe you shouldn't be applying there!

Topics to Avoid in Your Essay

• Don't write about general characteristics, such as a school's location (or the weather in that location), reputation, or student body size. For example, anyone applying to the Webb Institute , which has just about 100 students , should by all means talk about having a preference for tiny, close-knit communities. By contrast, schools in sunny climates know that people enjoy good weather, but if you can't connect the outdoors with the college itself, think of something else to say.
• Don't talk about your sports fandom. Saying, "I can see myself in crimson and white/blue and orange/[some color] and [some other color]" is both overused and not a persuasive reason for wanting to go to a particular college. After all, you could cheer for a team without going to the school! Unless you're an athlete, you're an aspiring mascot performer, or you have a truly one-of-a-kind story to tell about your link to the team, opt for a different track.
• Don't copy descriptions from the college's website to tell admissions officers how great their institution is. They don't want to hear praise; they want to hear how you connect with their school. So if something on the college brochure speaks to you, explain why this specific detail matters to you and how your past experiences, academic work, extracurricular interests, or hobbies relate to that detail.
• Don't use college rankings as a reason you want to go to a school. Of course prestige matters, but schools that are ranked right next to each other on the list are at about the same level of prestige. What makes you choose one over the other?
• If you decide to write about a future major, don't just talk about what you want to study and why . Make sure that you also explain why you want to study this thing at this particular school . What do they do differently from other colleges?
• Don't wax poetic about the school's pretty campus. "From the moment I stepped on your campus, I knew it was the place for me" is another cliché—and another way to say basically nothing about why you actually want to go to this particular school. Lots of schools are pretty, and many are pretty in the exact same way.

Pop quiz: This pretty gothic building is on what college campus? Yes, that's right—it could be anywhere.

When you've put together the ideas that will make up your answer to the "why us?" question, it's time to build them into a memorable essay. Here are some tips for doing that successfully:

• Jump right in. The essay is short, so there's no need for an introduction or conclusion. Spend the first paragraph delving into your best one or two reasons for applying. Then, use the second paragraph to go into slightly less detail about reasons 2 (or 3) through 5.
• To thine own self be true. Write in your own voice, and be sincere about what you're saying. Believe me—the reader can tell when you mean it and when you're just blathering!
• Details, details, details. Show the school that you've done your research. Are there any classes, professors, clubs, or activities you're excited about at the school? Be specific (e.g., "I'm fascinated by the work Dr. Jenny Johnson has done with interactive sound installations").
• If you plan on attending if admitted, say so. Colleges care about the numbers of acceptances deeply, so it might help to know you're a sure thing. But don't write this if you don't mean it!
• Don't cut and paste the same essay for every school. At least once, you'll most likely forget to change the school name or some other telling detail. You also don't want to have too much vague, cookie-cutter reasoning, or else you'll start to sound bland and forgettable.

For more tips, check out our step-by-step essay-writing advice .

Avoid cookie-cutter responses to "why this college?" essay prompts. Instead, provide an essay that's personalized to that particular institution.

At this point, it'll be helpful to take a look at a "why us?" essay that works and figure out what the author did to create a meaningful answer to this challenging question.

Here is a "Why Tufts?" essay from James Gregoire '19 for Tufts University :

It was on my official visit with the cross country team that I realized Tufts was the perfect school for me. Our topics of conversation ranged from Asian geography to efficient movement patterns, and everyone spoke enthusiastically about what they were involved in on campus. I really related with the guys I met, and I think they represent the passion that Tufts' students have. I can pursue my dream of being a successful entrepreneur by joining the Tufts Entrepreneurs Society, pursuing an Entrepreneurial Leadership minor, and taking part in an up-and-coming computer science program.

Here are some of the main reasons this essay is so effective:

• Interaction with current students. James writes about hanging out with the cross-country team and sounds excited about meeting them.
• "I'm a great fit." He uses the conversation with the cross-country team members to talk about his own good fit here ("I really related with the guys I met").
• Why the school is special. James also uses the conversation as a way to show that he enjoys the variety of opportunities Tufts offers (their fun conversation covers Asian geography, movement patterns, and other things they "were involved with on campus").
• Taking advantage of this specialness. James doesn't just list things Tufts offers but also explains which of them are of specific value to him. He's interested in being an entrepreneur, so the Tufts Entrepreneurs Society and the Entrepreneurial Leadership courses appeal to him.
• Awareness of what the school is up to. Finally, James shows that he's aware of the latest Tufts developments when he mentions the new computer science program.

The Bottom Line: Writing a Great "Why This College?" Essay

• Proof that you understand what makes this college different and special
• Evidence that you'll be a good fit at this school
• Evidence that this college will, in turn, be a good fit for you

The prompt may be phrased in one of two ways: "Why us?" or "Why you?" But these are sides of the same coin and will be addressed in your essay regardless of the prompt style.

Writing the perfect "why this school?" essay requires you to first research the specific qualities and characteristics of this school that appeal to you. You can find this information by doing any or all of the following:

• Visiting campuses in person or virtually to interact with current students and faculty
• Posing questions to your college interviewer or to representatives at college fairs
• Reading the college's own materials , such as its brochures, official website, alumni magazine, campus newspaper, and social media
• Looking at other websites that talk about the school

To find a topic to write about for your essay, find the three to five things that really speak to you about the school , and then link each of them to yourself, your interests, your goals, or your strengths.

Avoid using clichés that could be true for any school, such as architecture, geography, weather, or sports fandom. Instead, focus on the details that differentiate your intended school from all the others .

What's Next?

Are you also working on your personal statement? If you're using the Common App, check out our complete breakdown of the Common App prompts and learn how to pick the best prompt for you .

If you're applying to a University of California school, we've got an in-depth article on how to write effective UC personal statements .

And if you're submitting ApplyTexas applications, read our helpful guide on how to approach the many different ApplyTexas essay prompts .

Struggling with the college application process as a whole? Our expert guides teach you how to ask for recommendations , how to write about extracurriculars , and how to research colleges .

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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Interview Questions

Comprehensive Interview Guide: 60+ Professions Explored in Detail

22 Common Nursing Interview Questions and Answers

By Biron Clark

Published: December 5, 2023

If you’re going on a nursing job interview, there are some frequently asked questions that you need to be ready for. Employers ask these questions often and early, and the wrong answers can cost you the job.

So we’ll go through the most common nursing interview questions you can expect to hear, how to give the best possible answers, and mistakes to avoid if you want to get the job.

Let’s get started…

Frequently Asked Nursing Interview Questions

1. why did you choose a career in nursing.

Employers want to hire someone motivated and passionate to be in Nursing, not someone who is doing it only for the paycheck.

So be prepared to explain why you choose a career in Nursing, why you enjoy it, what motivates you , etc.

They may also ask, “What do you enjoy about this career?”

Try to share specific, tangible reasons when answering why you chose this career or why you enjoy it. It can be a personal reason, like a family member that you cared for at a younger age, and how that experience made you passionate about caregiving.

Or it can something else! That’s just one example answer. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s true. You’ll sound a lot more genuine/convincing if you’re telling true stories in your interview answers , so I do not recommend lying!

2. What interested you in this job?

Next, the interviewer is going to want to know why you want their particular position or why you chose to apply.

Employers want to hire somebody who is targeting specific things in their job search and knows what they want. This makes them less worried that you’ll dislike the job, quit soon after joining, etc.

To prepare for questions like this, make sure you’ve studied the job description. Then, talk about one or two things you saw that excite you. Explain how the work you’ll be doing in this position fits with your goals and interests.

For example, you could say:

“I’ve always enjoyed working in oncology. It’s what I’m most passionate about and most interested in. I saw your job description mentions that this role is focused entirely on oncology. In my past role, I split my time 50/50 between oncology and cardiovascular, and while I enjoy both, I’d be very excited to have that one single focus in this role, and I think it would allow me to continue learning and growing in my career as a Nurse.”

The answer above is detailed and directly answers their question. Better yet – it explains why you’re qualified and why you’ll succeed in this position. Employers ALWAYS want to know that you’re ready to step into their job and succeed. So by mentioning relevant experience, you’re convincing them that you will do well in their role.

Another example answer:

“After five years in Nursing, I’m looking for an opportunity to become a Nursing Supervisor, Manager, or Shift Leader. When I saw your job mentioned the chance to lead a small team in clinical areas that I already have experience with, like oncology, I thought it sounded like a great fit and I knew I should apply.”

3. Tell me about yourself

This isn’t just one of the most common nursing interview questions, it’s one of the most common questions in any interview. And it’s important to have an impressive answer because it’s asked VERY early usually, and sets the tone for the whole interview.

I recommend keeping your answer professional and just walking them through the highlights of your recent career.

For example, when they ask this question, you could say:

“I graduated three years ago with my degree in Nursing , and have been working at XYZ hospital since then. I’ve been promoted once and enjoy my work, but I’m now looking to gain exposure to new clinical areas to broaden my experience. Our hospital doesn’t have any openings outside of my current floor, so I’m beginning to look elsewhere to try to find a career-advancing position that will allow me to continue growing as a Nurse.”

More info and examples of answering “tell me about yourself.”

4. Tell me about your educational background

This is another one of the most common interview questions for nurses. Employers will typically want to know where and when you got your Nursing degree .

So be familiar with this before your job interview, and give a brief, concise answer. There’s no need to talk for long, but tell them your degree, where it’s from, and consider highlighting one or two key projects you completed during your academic work.

Here’s a sample answer:

“I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Nursing two years ago from the University of New Hampshire. I did my clinicals at XYZ hospital and focused mainly on respiratory and cardiovascular care. Is there anything else you wanted to know?”

5. What type of work environment do you prefer?

There are many different types of Nursing jobs, from large hospitals doing surgeries and emergency care to small clinics specializing in skin care, cosmetic procedures, and more.

And in the interview, the employer is going to want to know that you will enjoy their particular environment.

They never want to hire someone who’s going to hate the job or lose motivation and leave soon after joining… because it costs a lot of time/money to hire and train someone.

So that’s why they ask what work environments you prefer.

When answering, try to show them that you’d succeed in an environment like theirs, but be honest, too. It’s okay to say you do well in a variety of workplaces. It’s best to give an example as well.

Keep your answer positive, too. Don’t say, “I hate large, fast-paced environments.”

Instead, say:

“I do well in a range of work environments, but I think the environments I’ve enjoyed most in my career are smaller organizations where I can focus on giving great care to each patient that comes in, without feeling rushed.”

The example answer above would be great for a small, high-end organization like a skin clinic. Their clients are paying a lot and expect great care.

If you’re applying to be an ER nurse in a high-volume trauma center, your answer should focus much more on being able to handle a fast environment, and enjoying being busy and helping many patients.

6. What clinical areas have you worked in?

Next, the hiring manager or interviewer will want to know which clinical areas you’ve worked in, and possibly how much time you’ve spent in each.

While you don’t need to have every piece of experience that their job description mentions, it does help to name the similarities between your background and the work you’d be doing in this next role.

So be confident, and just highlight the most relevant experience that you do have.

They clearly liked your resume and your background if they invited you to the interview, so don’t worry – just give a clear, concise answer explaining the areas you’ve worked previously.

And be clear about whether an area was academic research, patient care, etc.

7. What do you find most rewarding about being a Nurse?

This next nursing interview question isn’t about your technical expertise – it’s all about finding out more about your personality to make sure you’re a good cultural fit for the team.

Prepare an answer to this question ahead of time. Be ready to mention one or two specific things that you find rewarding. Think about what makes you smile at the end of the day, or what gets you excited to tell friends and family about after a shift.

It can be something about your patients. It can be handling tough situations and seeing a great outcome. Or it can be getting through challenges as part of a team. I recommend choosing something that focuses on your interaction with patients, though.

8. Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?

This is one of the trickier interviewing questions for nurses because it requires you to know what type of work you’ll be doing in this role.

Most likely, you’ll be working on a team, so it’s important to show you can work well with others.

If you’re unsure what type of work situation this job involves, you can give an answer that shows them you’re versatile.

Example interview answer:

“I enjoy working as part of a team. However, I’m also able to handle things independently. Sometimes you’re the only Nurse available to help a patient in the moment, and you need to deliver great patient care on your own. So I enjoy working as part of a team, but I feel capable of accomplishing tasks on my own, too. I suppose I prefer a mix of both.”

That example answer is a way to “cover your bases” if you’re unsure of their work environment.

Also, you can wrap up your answer by asking them a question. This is a great tactic to turn the interview into a more relaxed, back-and-forth conversation.

For example, at the end of your answer, you could say:

“…How would you describe the work environment here for the typical Nurse? Is it very team-oriented?”

9. How do you deal with stress at work?

Most Nursing jobs involve some stress (okay, a LOT of stress), so employers want to know you’re prepared to handle this type of situation.

Ideally, you want to show them that you’re “battle-tested” and have been through stressful situations and have a method for getting through it.

This can involve reminding yourself why you do this work and why you’re passionate about helping patients. Or it can be more of a tactic, like taking five minutes to do breathing exercises and gather your composure during your break.

Try to share something that’s true/honest in your answer. You’ll sound a lot more convincing this way.

10. What do you feel is the most difficult part of working as a Nurse?

This is one of the trickier nursing interview questions, because you want to share something genuine/true, but without sounding like it’s a major weakness. You don’t want to make it sound like you’ll struggle in their role!

So I recommend naming something that’s challenging about nursing, but then explaining how you’ve learned to handle it.

Example answer:

“When I took my first Nursing job, it was a challenge to learn to communicate with so many different personality types, both on my team, and with the wide range of patients I interacted with each day. However, I quickly learned how to communicate well with all sorts of people, and this has become one of my strengths now. I’ve become a better listener, I’ve become more patient and better at communicating. I enjoy making sure patients feel understood and comfortable. I also enjoy the teamwork aspect of my role with my fellow Nurses.”

Related interview question to be ready for: “What is your greatest weakness?”

11. Why are you looking to leave your current job?

If you’re currently employed, then you should expect an interview question about why you are looking to leave your current job.

Don’t ever badmouth your current employer, though. Instead, talk about what you’re hoping to gain by making a move.

This could be experience in new clinical areas, experience in a different type of work environment (e.g. large hospital vs. small clinic), or something else that your current job cannot offer you.

Or, you can simply say, “I’ve been in my current role for X years, and I’ve learned a lot, but I feel it’s time for a change to keep learning and developing as a Nurse.”

That example answer above is best if you’ve been in your current company for a few years, though. And if you do answer like that, it’s best to also explain what you’re looking for next and why their job caught your interest.

So you could end by saying:

“I was interested in applying for this job because I saw the job posting mentions an opportunity to work with ____.”

Also, if you’re not currently employed, they may ask why you left your most recent job. This article has 20 good reasons for leaving a job.

12. What are your greatest strengths as a Nurse?

When they ask interview questions about your strengths in Nursing, don’t be timid or say, “I’m not sure.”

This is your chance to brag about yourself and be confident/bold. So be ready to name a few things you excel at, and how those would help you succeed in this position.

Think about what sets you apart from other Nursing candidates they’re interviewing. What helps you deliver excellent care to patients? What will you do that will help them grow their business, strengthen their reputation, etc.?

This is a question to think about and practice before your interview, because you do not want to hesitate or say, “I don’t know,” here.

This is also true if they ask, “Why should I hire you?” as well. Be confident and be ready to explain why you deserve the position!

13. Why are you the best person for this position?

This is similar to the question above and involves the same answer strategy.

Try to think of something unique that you bring to the position, or a strength that other candidates might not have. What are you best at? What can you do better than other Nurses who they are interviewing? Now is your chance to brag and show that off!

And always explain how your strengths will help you in this particular job. Don’t just talk about your skills in general – make it about them. How will your skills allow you to be successful in their position?

The more you can show that you’re ready to step into their job and succeed right away, the better. That’s what they’re looking for in the interview.

That’s why it’s so important to study the job description and research the company before your interview , so you can make your answers about their needs.

For more info on this, we have a job interview preparation checklist here.

14. How did you hear about this job?

This is one of the least tricky nursing interview questions you’ll hear, and the worst thing you can do is overthink it! Just give an honest answer about how you first came across their position.

This can be a friend or colleague, an online job posting, their company website, an advertisement you saw, etc.

Then, to cap off your answer, name one thing that caught your interest in the position. Explain why you decided to apply.

This extra step will show them that you’re excited about their position and that you did some research and thinking before you applied. A lot of candidates will apply to many jobs without really looking or thinking much about them, and employers prefer to hire someone who’s being more careful/thoughtful in their job search. So this will impress them!

15. Tell me about a time you failed. How did you handle it?

Nobody’s perfect, and everyone fails. When they ask about a time you failed , talk about a specific situation where you failed to accomplish your goal, and most importantly – how you corrected it, learned from it, and used the experience to make sure it doesn’t happen again!

Never sound like you laid the blame on others or refused to take responsibility. It’s much better to sound humble and show you can admit a mistake.

However, you don’t want to name a catastrophic mistake that led to disaster. Try to name a real mistake, but nothing too critical. If you sound mistake-prone or careless in general, they’re not going to hire you.

16. Tell me about a time you had to communicate with a difficult patient. How did you handle it?

You’re unlikely to get through a nursing interview without hearing a question or two about handling difficult patients.

Every Nurse has dealt with them! And the interviewer wants to make sure you’re able to stay calm and handle the situation appropriately.

So share a story about how you handled a difficult patient by listening, communicating clearly, trying to understand their perspective, and addressing their concerns.

However, don’t be afraid to show that you were firm in explaining your organization’s policies and why they must be followed. Sometimes a patient wants something that’s not possible, and part of a Nurse’s job is to explain this.

A similar question you might hear: “How do you handle conflict?”

17. How would you deal with a patient who is not satisfied with the care they received?

This is another behavioral interview question that you can expect to hear as a Nurse. (Like the question above).

In this case, they’re not asking for a past example, but you can give one if you want.

To answer, start by explaining your overall approach. I recommend talking about how you’d stay calm and quiet.

Discuss how you focus on listening and asking questions to understand their point of view, and then respond.

Also, explain that you do everything possible to make sure the patient feels like they were given excellent care.

If you do want to share an example, you can say, “For example, in my last job, I…” and tell a real story of how you dealt with this situation. That’s a great way to end your response to this question.

18. Do you have ___ certification?

Along with asking about your educational background (mentioned earlier), the interviewer may also ask an interview question about a particular nursing certification.

So review your certifications before the interview, and review the job description to see if any certifications are mentioned there, too.

Be ready to answer clearly and directly when asked. This is NOT one of the interview questions for nurses where they’re looking for a long-winded answer. Try to keep it brief.

19. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Employers often ask questions about your long-term goals, for a few reasons. First, they want to see if you sound motivated/energetic in general… about your work, your career, and your life.

They’d rather hire someone who sounds positive and enthusiastic about their career.

(Tip: This article explains how to show enthusiasm in an interview ).

The second reason they ask is: They want to make sure their job fits your general goals and career direction. The last thing they want to do is hire and train someone who’s going to quit after six months because the job isn’t satisfying them.

So you need to demonstrate two things:

A) You’ve thought about where you want to be in a few years

B) Their job fits your goals and helps you get where you want to be

If you do that, they’ll be a lot more comfortable offering you the job. For more help and example answers to this question, read this article .

20. Nursing can be stressful. How do you handle stress in your life?

Earlier, we looked at the question, “How do you handle stress at work?” but they may also ask a more general question about how you handle it in your life overall.

Because Nursing exposes you to stressful situations often, it’s a topic that many employers want to talk about in the interview.

Try to show that you stay level-headed and maintain your composure and that you do relaxing, healthy activities outside of work to maintain a balance.

“Over the past couple of years, I’ve been practicing breathing exercises and meditation. Both have been very effective in reducing stress while on the job, and after a shift. I also like to exercise regularly by going to the gym and doing yoga. Finally, I spend time in nature when I’m not working. I’ve found that’s a great stress reducer.”

That’s how to effectively answer interview questions about how you cope with this stressful career, or how you take care of yourself personally.

Another variation of this question that you might hear is: “How do you practice self care?”

These are all frequently-asked nurse interview questions, because it’s a career that often comes with stress.

21. How do you make decisions?

Before offering you a Nursing job, employers want to know they can trust you to make calm, calculated decisions that are best for the patient and the organization.

They don’t want to hire someone who’s going to be reacting in the heat of the moment, making knee-jerk decisions without thinking things through, and committing errors along the way.

So try to show you have a logical, methodical approach and that you stay calm under pressure. Describe how you look at the pros and cons of each choice, the possible risks and likely outcomes, etc. You can also discuss how you speak with a supervisor if you’re unsure how to proceed.

And if they ask for an example, walk them through a recent situation where you had to make a decision under pressure and where you made the right choice and got a great outcome!

For answer examples and more tips on this question, read our full article on explaining how you make decisions.

22. Do you have any questions for me?

After going through the interview questions and answers above, you’ll likely have a chance to ask questions of your own.

You can ask questions throughout your Nursing interview, but if you haven’t, you should ask some at the end. Asking questions shows that you’re interested in their job and that you care about your job search and career.

Employers don’t want to hire a Nurse who will take the first job they can get. They want to hire someone who’s looking for the right fit and targeting certain things. (A type of work environment, an opportunity to learn something specific, etc.)

And you show them this by asking questions!

For ideas of what to ask, here are 26 creative questions to ask employers.

Conclusion (And What To Do Next):

If you study the nursing interview questions above, you’ll be better-prepared and make a better impression.

Make sure to practice your answers before the big moment, too, though.

Reading once through these common nurse interview questions is great, but you’re going to perform even better if you practice giving answers before your interview. You can do this by recording yourself on your phone or doing a mock interview with a friend.

You don’t need to memorize everything word-for-word, but you should know what general ideas you want to talk about for each question and topic! The point of doing a practice session is to make sure you’re able to communicate these ideas clearly.

I like to practice by recording myself talking on my smartphone (every modern phone has a sound recorder app). Then, I play back the recording to make sure I sound natural and am hitting the key points I wanted to mention.

If you prefer to do this with a real person, pull aside a friend or family member and ask them for help.

The more you get familiar with these interview questions for nursing jobs, the better you’ll perform and the more job offers you’ll get!

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• College of Nursing
• Location Location
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• Colleges and Schools
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Why USC Nursing

Why usc nursing graduate school.

Best in the state

We earned the top ranking for MSN nursing programs in the Palmetto State.

You'll be confident in your choice when you choose USC Nursing. At the master's level earn your advanced practice degree to expand your clinical role or training for a new position in nurse leadership or informatics. The College of Nursing  ranks No. 1 for our online graduate programs by the 2024 U.S. News and World Report — four years in a row.

• #1 for our online graduate programs by 2024 U.S. News & World Report.
• Online Nursing Education program ranked #3 by 2024 U.S. News & World Report.
• Best MSN program in the state by U.S. News and World Report's 2024 Best Graduate Schools list.
• 96-100% ANCC pass rate for new nurse practitioner graduates
• $771,332 in scholarships, traineeships, departmental support awarded to 360 students in Summer 2023 - Spring 2024.

Director of Clinical Partnerships, Jeanne Cavanaugh works with graduate students to find clinical placements for required clinical hours. 

Our  Clinical Simulation Center  allows for an an immersive teaching modality that replicates clinical scenarios in realistic practice environments. Through the use of patient simulators, robotics, and other sophisticated teaching tools, nursing students experience clinical scenarios that range from common patient cases to low-frequency, high-risk events. 

As a graduate student at South Carolina, you’ll have the flexibility to learn on your own schedule with our  online courses . If you are enrolled in an advanced practice specialty program, you may be required to come to campus at least twice per semester during your clinical rotations. 

Our  researchers  are examining ways to improve our profession locally and globally as we prepare the next generation of nurse leaders. Our Office of Research helps develop faculty and Ph.D. students as scientists and scholars and provides specialized expertise to enhance success. We also provide support for all phases of the sponsored-award life cycle.

Get To Know Us

Work fulltime and earn a degree.

“I returned to school to further   my career, I have always   wanted to practice in the   provider role. I received   my BSN from USC and   had great experience,   I loved it so much I   decided to come back.   Go Gamecocks! I have   been able to work full-time   while attending school part-time   and appropriately balance both. I am thankful for the   support I have received from faculty and my colleagues   and leaders at work." -  Saraann Fagan, ‘16 BSN, DNP student

Top Ranking

"I  liked the fact that USC   is ranked the #1 online   graduate nursing program   for public universities by U.S.   News and World Report. I feel confident in my choice of school.” -  Clare Chiarolanza, 17 BSN, MSN student

Career Opportunities

" With the experience from my clinicals and the reputation of USC, I received a job offer from my top choice: Shock Trauma at University of Maryland in Baltimore.  Dr. Dievendorf's  billing lectures still chime in the back of head while practicing." - Katie Lidard, ‘18 MSN 

Local or Long Distance

"When I started in the MSN NA program, I was not sure what to expect. I lived on the opposite coast, was not terribly familiar with the College nor did I know anyone who had previously attended. But I was pleasantly surprised every step of the way. Despite the distance, there was a true sense of community due to the excellent faculty and wonderful classmates. The program was run so efficiently, and every member of the faculty and staff embraced us as adult learners. It felt like being part of a team where everyone worked together to help us succeed in the program." - Allison Williams, '19 MSN

Honing in on Practice Passions

"My certificate has given me the ability to transform the focus of my practice.  It has given me the tools necessary to address complex health issues from a mental-health perspective. Through obtaining the certificate, I have been empowered to create a practice that aligns with my values and my clinical interests." - Meredith D'Agostino,  ’12   DNP, ‘17 Certificate of Graduate Study, Advanced Practice Nursing 

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

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Should i go into nursing.

im a junior in high school right now and ive been thinking about going into nursing for my career. Ive seen many people say theyve regreted it and that its awful but is that just a new nurse thing? or does it depend on the hospital or floor or something? My sister is a nurse and she says she has regrets, but shes also a newer nurse. i dont want other peoples bad experiences to influence my desicion too much but i dont want to be misrable. does it get better after a while? Im scared that if i decide to go into nursing ill be just as regretfull as many others were. idk what to do and i kinda need someone to tell me that theyve had a good experience or that it gets better because everything ive seen oneline is that it sucks.

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How To Answer “Why Do You Want to Be a Doctor?” (With Examples)

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Summary. To answer “why do you want to be a doctor ?” in an interview, you should first give some background and provide some reasons for wanting to be a doctor. Describing and highlighting your experiences is a great way to show your interest in medicine. Finish the answer with your goals and what you want to achieve during your time as a doctor.

Have you ever asked a doctor why they chose their career path ? You’ll get a million different answers, but chances are all of them will have a great reason behind their decision to become a doctor.

If you want to become a doctor, at some point or another you are going to be asked, “why do you want to be a doctor?” When this moment arises, you need to have a great answer.

We’re going to take a look at the common reasons doctors list for choosing their field, as well as some tips for you to reflect on as you think about a career in the medical field. This is just a starting point so if you’re thinking about becoming a doctor do as much research as possible before making this momentous career decision.

Key Takeaways:

To answer the question “why do you want to be a doctor?” provide background about yourself, explain your reasons and experience, and finish with your goals.

It can take 11 years to become a doctor, so carefully consider the time, academic, and financial commitments.

A desire to help others, a strong interest in medicine, and the need for mental challenges are all good reasons to become a doctor.

Prepare your answer by talking to people in the field and doing extensive research.

How to Answer “Why Do You Want to Be a Doctor?”

How to prepare your answer to “why do you want to be a doctor, example answers to “why do you want to be a doctor”, why interviewers ask “why do you want to be a doctor”, why do you want to be a doctor, what to consider when becoming a doctor, how to become a doctor, bad reasons to become a doctor, “why do you want to be a doctor” interview question faq.

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Follow these steps for a good written or verbal answer to “why do you want to be a doctor?”

Give some background. Think back to mentors , impactful childhood experiences with doctors, or any other root cause of your interest in the field. This is compelling from a personal standpoint and allows the interviewer to understand how you came to your decision.

Provide a few reasons. Now that you’ve set the stage, you can provide some of the reasons. There will be some listed below to help you consider your answer. You can describe how your initial experiences or interests matured into one specialization or how much satisfaction you get from helping people. Be sure that you are honest during this part.

Describe your experiences. To really impress your interviewer or the reader of your application essay, make sure to highlight and emphasize some of your relevant experiences while you’re outlining your motivations.

Finish with goals. Now that you’ve described how your past led you to this decision and your present activities show that you’re on the proper course for medicine, it’s time to discuss your future. The more detail you can provide for how you see your career playing out and what communities you hope to serve, the stronger your answer will be.

Everyone comes to their answer in their own way and in their own time. You just need to sit with yourself and consider all of the factors that go into studying medicine and being a doctor to find your answer. You can take a few helpful extra steps to ensure that becoming a doctor is right for you. Here are a few ways to make an informed career choice:

Talk to people in the field. If you know anyone who’s a doctor or in a medical profession, you should talk to them about their experience. Even if they’re not in a field that you’re interested in, you can still learn a lot about the process of becoming a doctor and the lifestyle that comes with it.

Get experience. Often, medical practices and doctor’s offices offer internships or opportunities to shadow a doctor. No matter what step of the process you’re in, try to get as much hands-on experience as possible. Even just shadowing a doctor will give you an idea of their daily tasks and whether you’ll like the job.

Do your research. If you can’t get hands-on experience, look for ways to educate yourself about being a doctor. Many doctors have written autobiographies, and there are documentaries about medical procedures, so there are plenty of chances to learn more about medicine.

Think about your end goal. What’s your ideal role as a doctor? Think about what you want to achieve and how you can get there before taking steps to become a doctor. Does your ideal job exist?

Consider other opportunities. You should also think about what you would want to study if you don’t become a doctor. Think about your other interests and what you might want to do more than being a doctor. What other career opportunities interest you? How do they rank compared to being a doctor?

Now that we know what to factor into to an answer to the question “why do you want to be a doctor?” we can use this information to come up with a few example answers.

Example Answer

“I have wanted to be a doctor ever since I broke my leg when I was five years old. It may sound strange to say, but I loved being in the hospital. I was so interested in everything going around me. Then, while I healed, I enjoyed talking to my doctor any time I had to see her. She was very funny and good at explaining things to me. From then on I decided I would make a career in medicine and have the same impact on people.”

“I love the mental challenge of being a doctor. I want to spend time learning about medicine and building a series of skills that will let me solve all kinds of medical problems. Even the challenge of investing so much time and money into becoming a doctor is worthy it my eyes. I know that with this effort I can find very rewarding work and I will never be bored.”

“I want to serve my community and I am very interested healthcare. A job as a doctor would be a great use of my academic and professional skills. I graduated top of my class and after getting my bachelor’s degree in biology I spent three years working as a hospital administrator . I have seen first hand what it takes to be a doctor and it looks like the perfect job for me. I know I can get a lot of satisfaction using my skills to help people.”

Applications and interviews for medical school often feature this common question. Your MCAT scores certainly matter, but people on admissions panels sift through thousands of stellar candidates every day — your passion matters .

Interviewers know that becoming a doctor is an incredibly long and challenging path and that without real determination founded on solid motivations, you won’t be cut out for the field. Plus, the motivations you provide will give insight into who you are and what elements of the medical profession you value most.

Asking yourself why you want to be a doctor is the first thing you should do as you start thinking about a medical career. There are all sorts of reasons for becoming a doctor, and all of them are valid. What’s important when asking yourself this question is how your answer aligns with the demands of the job and the work it takes to get there.

There’s no right or wrong answer, but make sure your response fits with the skills, experience , and education necessary to become a doctor.

There are a few common responses to “why do you want to be a doctor?” and we’ll list a few here. Think about whether or not any of these popular reasons resonate with you.

Helping others. One of the primary roles of being a doctor is to help people . With the wide variety of medical positions out there, you can choose how you help people, but at the end of the day, you’re going to be there to save someone’s life or improve their health.

Interest in medicine. Many doctors want to be involved in cutting-edge research and making advancements in the field. This goes along with ultimately helping people, but these doctors tend to be more interested in medical research and are motivated by learning more about the human body and the world we live in.

Sharing their knowledge. Doctors hold a lot of knowledge that everyone should know, like how to stay healthy, but because of the involved education requirements, not everyone can. Doctors act as a link between all of this knowledge and its everyday implementation. Some doctors want to share their knowledge and empower their patients to take control of their health.

Job outlook . We will always need doctors to take care of us, so there’s a lot of stability in the medical profession. That can be appealing to some people since there will always be a need for doctors, and they’re doing meaningful and necessary work.

Prestige. Because of their immense education and training, doctors are respected for their background and their work to help people. While being a doctor isn’t all about glory, there is some worthy respect that comes along with the title. Beyond prestige, doctors are well-known community members who have an integral role in serving that community.

Salary. As we mentioned before, doctors can be paid quite a lot of money. This is even more true for extremely specialized doctors who practice in difficult fields like anesthesiology.

Mental challenge. There are no repetitive days as a doctor. Many people enter the profession because they want the mental stimulation and constant challenges that the life of a doctor offers.

While there’s no surefire way to figure out if being a doctor is the right job for you, spending time and reflecting on the career is a good start. There are many things to think about when it comes to being a doctor, so really think through all aspects before coming to your answer. Here are a few of the most significant factors to consider when it comes to becoming a doctor:

Time commitment. It takes a long time to become a doctor, so you’ll want to be sure that you’re okay with dedicating years to training for your job. You won’t be able to jump into the practice that you pick immediately, so patience and dedication are key to becoming a good doctor.

Financial situation. Since becoming a doctor takes years, you need to think about your financial situation and if you can pay for years of schooling. There’s a lot of support available for people who want to become doctors, but taking finances into account is essential. Doctors eventually make a lot of money, but you’ll need to spend a decent amount to reach that point.

Medical specialization. There are many fields doctors can practice in, and you should give some thought to what you want to do before starting. Think about what you’re passionate about and how you can align that with a specific medical field. For example, if you care about women’s issues, gynecology is a good option, or if you care about educating people, preventative medicine could be your future career.

Job location . Sometimes you have to live in a certain state or city to practice your specialty.

Other opportunities. Becoming a doctor is not the only way to be involved with cutting-edge medical advancements or caring for people. There are plenty of other roles in health professions that allow you to fulfill many of the same duties as a doctor, but with fewer education requirements, less time commitment, and fewer big responsibilities.

To become a doctor, you’ll need to spend about 11 years in school . First, you’ll spend four years getting a bachelor’s degree in a related field (like science, math, or even liberal arts ), then another four years at medical school for a medical degree.

After you graduate, you’ll have to complete a residency, fellowship, or internship to get firsthand experience as a doctor. You’ll get to shadow doctors with different specialties for three to eight years; then, you can become a licensed doctor.

Despite the hefty requirements to become a doctor, the rewards once you land the job are pretty great. Not only will you get to help people and contribute to advances in medicine, but doctors are also usually paid very well.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that physicians and surgeons have some of the highest salaries in the country. They estimated that in 2019, the median annual wage was $208,000.

Here are some reasons you should never state when asked why you want to be a doctor:

Wealth. There’s no doubt that doctors typically earn a lot of money, but it’s a cringey thing to hear as someone’s motivation. Plus, if a life of glamor is what you need to be happy, then the decade it takes to become a doctor will be extra challenging for you, as you’re unlikely to be rich during the process itself.

Power. Prestige or esteem are better-sounding variations of just plain “power,” but all of these answers skew toward egotistical. Instead, opt for something more palatable, like being an important part of the community.

Family. While it’s fine to have mentors who are family members in medicine, indicating that you’re only interested in the field because your family always produces doctors might raise some red flags for admissions boards.

Note that these aren’t just bad answers to say in an interview or write in an application essay. They’re also unhealthy sources of intrinsic motivation , and you should examine them closely before pursuing a medical career.

What are common medical school interview questions?

Some of the most common medical school interview questions include:

Why do you want to come to this school?

What primary care area of medicine would be the greatest interest to you?

Where do you plan to practice?

What concerns you about medicine?

What is your source of inspiration in deciding to pursue medicine?

What most recent advances in medicine have occurred that you believe will have the greatest impact on how you will practice medicine?

Who are your heroes and why?

What are reasons that people want to be doctors?

One main reason people want to become doctors or work in the medical field is to help others. The primary job for a doctor is to help others by either saving their life or to help improve any health concerns. This is rewarding to many. Other reasons people become doctors is to explore science, to solve problems, and to contribute to breakthroughs.

How long does it take to become a doctor?

It can take between 10 and 14 years to become a doctor. Depending on the field that you do it, it can take longer. The education requirements become a doctor are to complete an undergraduate degree program, preform well on your Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and complete four years of medical school.

After medical school you must enroll and complete a residency program. Once that is complete you can obtain a medical license in your state.

Missouri State – Preparing for the Medical School Interview – Sample Questions, Tips, and Format

The Ohio State University College of Medicine – Medical School Interview Questions and Recommended Answers

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Amanda is a writer with experience in various industries, including travel, real estate, and career advice. After taking on internships and entry-level jobs, she is familiar with the job search process and landing that crucial first job. Included in her experience is work at an employer/intern matching startup where she marketed an intern database to employers and supported college interns looking for work experience.

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Introductions

What this handout is about.

This handout will explain the functions of introductions, offer strategies for creating effective introductions, and provide some examples of less effective introductions to avoid.

The role of introductions

Introductions and conclusions can be the most difficult parts of papers to write. Usually when you sit down to respond to an assignment, you have at least some sense of what you want to say in the body of your paper. You might have chosen a few examples you want to use or have an idea that will help you answer the main question of your assignment; these sections, therefore, may not be as hard to write. And it’s fine to write them first! But in your final draft, these middle parts of the paper can’t just come out of thin air; they need to be introduced and concluded in a way that makes sense to your reader.

Your introduction and conclusion act as bridges that transport your readers from their own lives into the “place” of your analysis. If your readers pick up your paper about education in the autobiography of Frederick Douglass, for example, they need a transition to help them leave behind the world of Chapel Hill, television, e-mail, and The Daily Tar Heel and to help them temporarily enter the world of nineteenth-century American slavery. By providing an introduction that helps your readers make a transition between their own world and the issues you will be writing about, you give your readers the tools they need to get into your topic and care about what you are saying. Similarly, once you’ve hooked your readers with the introduction and offered evidence to prove your thesis, your conclusion can provide a bridge to help your readers make the transition back to their daily lives. (See our handout on conclusions .)

Note that what constitutes a good introduction may vary widely based on the kind of paper you are writing and the academic discipline in which you are writing it. If you are uncertain what kind of introduction is expected, ask your instructor.

Why bother writing a good introduction?

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. The opening paragraph of your paper will provide your readers with their initial impressions of your argument, your writing style, and the overall quality of your work. A vague, disorganized, error-filled, off-the-wall, or boring introduction will probably create a negative impression. On the other hand, a concise, engaging, and well-written introduction will start your readers off thinking highly of you, your analytical skills, your writing, and your paper.

Your introduction is an important road map for the rest of your paper. Your introduction conveys a lot of information to your readers. You can let them know what your topic is, why it is important, and how you plan to proceed with your discussion. In many academic disciplines, your introduction should contain a thesis that will assert your main argument. Your introduction should also give the reader a sense of the kinds of information you will use to make that argument and the general organization of the paragraphs and pages that will follow. After reading your introduction, your readers should not have any major surprises in store when they read the main body of your paper.

Ideally, your introduction will make your readers want to read your paper. The introduction should capture your readers’ interest, making them want to read the rest of your paper. Opening with a compelling story, an interesting question, or a vivid example can get your readers to see why your topic matters and serve as an invitation for them to join you for an engaging intellectual conversation (remember, though, that these strategies may not be suitable for all papers and disciplines).

Strategies for writing an effective introduction

Start by thinking about the question (or questions) you are trying to answer. Your entire essay will be a response to this question, and your introduction is the first step toward that end. Your direct answer to the assigned question will be your thesis, and your thesis will likely be included in your introduction, so it is a good idea to use the question as a jumping off point. Imagine that you are assigned the following question:

Drawing on the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass , discuss the relationship between education and slavery in 19th-century America. Consider the following: How did white control of education reinforce slavery? How did Douglass and other enslaved African Americans view education while they endured slavery? And what role did education play in the acquisition of freedom? Most importantly, consider the degree to which education was or was not a major force for social change with regard to slavery.

You will probably refer back to your assignment extensively as you prepare your complete essay, and the prompt itself can also give you some clues about how to approach the introduction. Notice that it starts with a broad statement and then narrows to focus on specific questions from the book. One strategy might be to use a similar model in your own introduction—start off with a big picture sentence or two and then focus in on the details of your argument about Douglass. Of course, a different approach could also be very successful, but looking at the way the professor set up the question can sometimes give you some ideas for how you might answer it. (See our handout on understanding assignments for additional information on the hidden clues in assignments.)

Decide how general or broad your opening should be. Keep in mind that even a “big picture” opening needs to be clearly related to your topic; an opening sentence that said “Human beings, more than any other creatures on earth, are capable of learning” would be too broad for our sample assignment about slavery and education. If you have ever used Google Maps or similar programs, that experience can provide a helpful way of thinking about how broad your opening should be. Imagine that you’re researching Chapel Hill. If what you want to find out is whether Chapel Hill is at roughly the same latitude as Rome, it might make sense to hit that little “minus” sign on the online map until it has zoomed all the way out and you can see the whole globe. If you’re trying to figure out how to get from Chapel Hill to Wrightsville Beach, it might make more sense to zoom in to the level where you can see most of North Carolina (but not the rest of the world, or even the rest of the United States). And if you are looking for the intersection of Ridge Road and Manning Drive so that you can find the Writing Center’s main office, you may need to zoom all the way in. The question you are asking determines how “broad” your view should be. In the sample assignment above, the questions are probably at the “state” or “city” level of generality. When writing, you need to place your ideas in context—but that context doesn’t generally have to be as big as the whole galaxy!

Try writing your introduction last. You may think that you have to write your introduction first, but that isn’t necessarily true, and it isn’t always the most effective way to craft a good introduction. You may find that you don’t know precisely what you are going to argue at the beginning of the writing process. It is perfectly fine to start out thinking that you want to argue a particular point but wind up arguing something slightly or even dramatically different by the time you’ve written most of the paper. The writing process can be an important way to organize your ideas, think through complicated issues, refine your thoughts, and develop a sophisticated argument. However, an introduction written at the beginning of that discovery process will not necessarily reflect what you wind up with at the end. You will need to revise your paper to make sure that the introduction, all of the evidence, and the conclusion reflect the argument you intend. Sometimes it’s easiest to just write up all of your evidence first and then write the introduction last—that way you can be sure that the introduction will match the body of the paper.

Don’t be afraid to write a tentative introduction first and then change it later. Some people find that they need to write some kind of introduction in order to get the writing process started. That’s fine, but if you are one of those people, be sure to return to your initial introduction later and rewrite if necessary.

Open with something that will draw readers in. Consider these options (remembering that they may not be suitable for all kinds of papers):

• an intriguing example —for example, Douglass writes about a mistress who initially teaches him but then ceases her instruction as she learns more about slavery.
• a provocative quotation that is closely related to your argument —for example, Douglass writes that “education and slavery were incompatible with each other.” (Quotes from famous people, inspirational quotes, etc. may not work well for an academic paper; in this example, the quote is from the author himself.)
• a puzzling scenario —for example, Frederick Douglass says of slaves that “[N]othing has been left undone to cripple their intellects, darken their minds, debase their moral nature, obliterate all traces of their relationship to mankind; and yet how wonderfully they have sustained the mighty load of a most frightful bondage, under which they have been groaning for centuries!” Douglass clearly asserts that slave owners went to great lengths to destroy the mental capacities of slaves, yet his own life story proves that these efforts could be unsuccessful.
• a vivid and perhaps unexpected anecdote —for example, “Learning about slavery in the American history course at Frederick Douglass High School, students studied the work slaves did, the impact of slavery on their families, and the rules that governed their lives. We didn’t discuss education, however, until one student, Mary, raised her hand and asked, ‘But when did they go to school?’ That modern high school students could not conceive of an American childhood devoid of formal education speaks volumes about the centrality of education to American youth today and also suggests the significance of the deprivation of education in past generations.”
• a thought-provoking question —for example, given all of the freedoms that were denied enslaved individuals in the American South, why does Frederick Douglass focus his attentions so squarely on education and literacy?

Pay special attention to your first sentence. Start off on the right foot with your readers by making sure that the first sentence actually says something useful and that it does so in an interesting and polished way.

How to evaluate your introduction draft

Ask a friend to read your introduction and then tell you what they expect the paper will discuss, what kinds of evidence the paper will use, and what the tone of the paper will be. If your friend is able to predict the rest of your paper accurately, you probably have a good introduction.

Five kinds of less effective introductions

1. The placeholder introduction. When you don’t have much to say on a given topic, it is easy to create this kind of introduction. Essentially, this kind of weaker introduction contains several sentences that are vague and don’t really say much. They exist just to take up the “introduction space” in your paper. If you had something more effective to say, you would probably say it, but in the meantime this paragraph is just a place holder.

Example: Slavery was one of the greatest tragedies in American history. There were many different aspects of slavery. Each created different kinds of problems for enslaved people.

2. The restated question introduction. Restating the question can sometimes be an effective strategy, but it can be easy to stop at JUST restating the question instead of offering a more specific, interesting introduction to your paper. The professor or teaching assistant wrote your question and will be reading many essays in response to it—they do not need to read a whole paragraph that simply restates the question.

Example: The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass discusses the relationship between education and slavery in 19th century America, showing how white control of education reinforced slavery and how Douglass and other enslaved African Americans viewed education while they endured. Moreover, the book discusses the role that education played in the acquisition of freedom. Education was a major force for social change with regard to slavery.

3. The Webster’s Dictionary introduction. This introduction begins by giving the dictionary definition of one or more of the words in the assigned question. Anyone can look a word up in the dictionary and copy down what Webster says. If you want to open with a discussion of an important term, it may be far more interesting for you (and your reader) if you develop your own definition of the term in the specific context of your class and assignment. You may also be able to use a definition from one of the sources you’ve been reading for class. Also recognize that the dictionary is also not a particularly authoritative work—it doesn’t take into account the context of your course and doesn’t offer particularly detailed information. If you feel that you must seek out an authority, try to find one that is very relevant and specific. Perhaps a quotation from a source reading might prove better? Dictionary introductions are also ineffective simply because they are so overused. Instructors may see a great many papers that begin in this way, greatly decreasing the dramatic impact that any one of those papers will have.

Example: Webster’s dictionary defines slavery as “the state of being a slave,” as “the practice of owning slaves,” and as “a condition of hard work and subjection.”

4. The “dawn of man” introduction. This kind of introduction generally makes broad, sweeping statements about the relevance of this topic since the beginning of time, throughout the world, etc. It is usually very general (similar to the placeholder introduction) and fails to connect to the thesis. It may employ cliches—the phrases “the dawn of man” and “throughout human history” are examples, and it’s hard to imagine a time when starting with one of these would work. Instructors often find them extremely annoying.

Example: Since the dawn of man, slavery has been a problem in human history.

5. The book report introduction. This introduction is what you had to do for your elementary school book reports. It gives the name and author of the book you are writing about, tells what the book is about, and offers other basic facts about the book. You might resort to this sort of introduction when you are trying to fill space because it’s a familiar, comfortable format. It is ineffective because it offers details that your reader probably already knows and that are irrelevant to the thesis.

Example: Frederick Douglass wrote his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave , in the 1840s. It was published in 1986 by Penguin Books. In it, he tells the story of his life.

And now for the conclusion…

Writing an effective introduction can be tough. Try playing around with several different options and choose the one that ends up sounding best to you!

Just as your introduction helps readers make the transition to your topic, your conclusion needs to help them return to their daily lives–but with a lasting sense of how what they have just read is useful or meaningful. Check out our handout on  conclusions for tips on ending your paper as effectively as you began it!

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Douglass, Frederick. 1995. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself . New York: Dover.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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