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Questions a prospective student might want to ask
Preparedness and Resources• Does the program suit my interests and career goals?
• Do I have the time, energy and financial resources required to be successful in the program?
• What type of job am I seeking when I finish the program and how much money do I hope to earn? Are my
expectations realistic?
• Have I investigated my options thoroughly through research, visiting institutions and speaking with potential
employers?
Visiting the School
• Is the institution a pleasant and comfortable place to spend my time in?
• Did the institution make the information I asked for available to me?
Admissions
• What are the pre-requisites for admission?
• How many students apply for the course or program and how many are accepted?
• Do I need to take a test to be considered for acceptance? If so, what score do I need to achieve to be
considered?
• Are there waitlists for the program or courses I am interested in?
Financial Considerations
• Is the tuition cost of one program much more or less than a similar program you have encountered? If so,
why?
• Are books and equipment included in the tuition fee?
• Is it possible for me to borrow resource materials, or do they need to be purchased?
• If I need to repeat a course or subject, will I have to pay for it?
• What are the institution’s policies for refunding tuition in case of withdrawal or dismissal?
• What is included in the price of tuition? What other costs are necessary for me to complete the program?
• Are grants, bursaries or scholarships available?
• Beyond the costs of tuition, what can I expect my cost of living expenses to be while I am attending school?
Student Loans
• Is the institution you are considering designated under the British Columbia Student Assistance Program so
that you are eligible to apply for student loans?
• Is there anyone at the institution to help you to submit an application for student assistance?
• Can someone at the institution help you to estimate your potential loan amount?
• Does your potential loan award cover both your tuition and basic living expenses?
• When will I be expected to start repaying my debt?
Employment Opportunities and Job Placement
• Is it expected that there will continue to be opportunities in the field I have chosen?
• What types of employers have hired recent graduates of the program?
• Does the institution offer job placement services? What do these services involve?
• Does the institution have any information about how many previous graduates of the program have been
successful in finding jobs?
• Is a practicum or work term component a mandatory part of the program? How long is it? Is the work term
paid?
• Will the institution arrange a practicum for you or are you expected to take on that responsibility?
• Will my potential employers recognize this training?
Registration, Accreditation and Licensing
• Is the School and or program accredited? (to the best of my knowledge, all
the schools listed at www.FindNursingSchools.com
are)
• Is the approval up-to-date?
• Is the credential that you hope to achieve through the program recognized by the profession or industry?
• How many students of the program pass the licensing exams necessary to enter the profession?
Institutional Policies
• What are the institution’s policies for resolving student complaints?
• Is there an institutional code of conduct?
• What are the institution’s rules for a student’s attendance? Behavior? Attire?
• Where is information on the institution’s policies available?
Facilities, Services and Equipment
• Is there any tutoring, advising or support service available?
• Are classes a reasonable size for one instructor? What’s the institution’s student/instructor ratio?
• Will you have reasonable access to the equipment and resources you will need in the course of your
studies?
• Is there enough equipment, tools or laboratory space for each student?
• What type of equipment is used, and how does it measure up to what industry uses?
• If your training involves software, what software is being taught, and how does it relate to knowledge you
will need for employment?
Training and Instruction
• How long is the course or program?
• Does the program cover all of the subject matter you are hoping to learn?
• What percentage of the training or instruction is theory and what percentage practical experience?
• What are the qualifications of instructors?
• Do instructors have the necessary licenses or credentials in order to deliver the instruction?
• What are the completion/dropout rates for the program/institution/campus?
• What are the pass/fail rates for the program/institution/campus?
Course and Program Transfer
• Does the institution have any transfer arrangements with other institutions?
• What opportunities for further education will you have after you graduate?
• Will other post-secondary institutions recognize the training, and if so, how much credit will they assign?
For Graduate Students
Ask The Graduate Department:
- What are the academic regulations/requirements for graduating?
- What percentage of the students pass the Nursing Board exams the first time? How many chances are there?
- Are a large percentage of the students graduating with only a terminal masters degree?
- What is the average time to obtain a Ph.D.?
- When (and how) do you choose your advisor? How difficult is it to switch advisors after, say, a year?
- Who selects the dissertation committee?
- Is the support offered as a teaching or as a research assistantship? How much is the stipend?
- How many working hours per week is expected for a TA or RA?
- Are you guaranteed support for the entire time, or is it on a year by year basis? If it is year by year, what would disqualify you?
- Is there a teaching requirement? How are teaching assignments made (lottery or choice)?
- What sort of computing facilities do they have?
- What are their provisions for housing, day care, health insurance, etc.?
Ask Current Graduate Students:
- Do different research groups interact? Is there collaboration within the department or across departments?
- What is the actual time commitment for a TA/RA?
- Is the TA/RA stipend enough to live on in that area?
- Do the students have enough time for a social life? Is the type of social life you desire available?
- What are the environs like? Do you like them?
- Do graduate students have access to athletic and other university facilities?
- Is there a graduate student organization?
- Are the provisions for housing, health insurance, etc. adequate?
Talk to current graduate students before you choose an advisor to learn:
- Do most of the students like working with this research advisor?
- What is the average time for a Ph.D. in her/his lab?
- How much monetary support is there for research?
- Is the prospective advisor sensitive to women's issues?
- How independent is the research of the students?
- Do the students work together (with other students and/or the advisor)?
- Is the advisor personally involved in the research? How frequently is the advisor available?
- Do the students present their work at national conferences? Who pays for attending such conferences?
- Does the advisor take an active role in placing her/his students? Do students go into industry or academia?
- How quickly does the advisor publish completed work?