On average, students apply in their third semester (fall second year in the Pre-Nursing program) when enrolled in NURS 216.

No, while this is encouraged it is not required. Read our minimum eligibility requirements. Applicants for upper division are scored only on progression GPA and interview score. Click here for more details.

Read our minimum eligibility requirements. Students must be competitive for admission. 

No. We do not admit anyone directly to Upper Division with the exception of Smart Start Nursing Students or a maximum of (3) Navy ROTC Nursing Scholarship students and (3) Army ROTC Nursing Scholarship students. 

First, meet with Exploratory Advising to find out if you are a good candidate based on our requirements. If you wish to proceed with a change of major, complete the Change of Major application.

• Students may indicate a preference, but this is only a preference. 
• Summer or Fall start dates are assigned to admitted students based on clinical availability only.  No other factors (i.e., ranking, Progression GPA) are taken into consideration for placement.
• Only ROTC students are guaranteed a Fall start based on summer obligations to ROTC/military service.

Students may take advantage of accommodations if they are registered with the university SDRC to have extra time on the interview portion of the application. Students are required to submit documentation on the application form in order to receive this accommodation.

Students will know of their acceptance to Upper Division before Spring semester begins. If accepted, students are also given their Summer or Fall start assignment within the acceptance letter. 

Accepted students attend a mandatory Upper Division Orientation. We also highly encourage accepted students to view these resources for more information on the program, financial aid and scholarships, housing and more. 

Upper Division courses are taken exclusively at our new College of Nursing Clinical Education Building in West Columbia, in partnership with Lexington Medical Center. This is a short drive from main campus, but students are responsible for their own transportation to class and clinical sites.

Yes. Students will need to provide their own transportation to clinicals. Students may be placed anywhere within an 80-mile radius from the College of Nursing for clinical sites. 

Students may have clinical experiences at Lexington Medical Center, Medical University of South Carolina Columbia, Prisma-Midlands locations, William Jennings Bryan Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center, other sites in Rock Hill, Fort Mill and Orangeburg.