DNP: Nurse Practitioner Admissions

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• A completed bachelor's or graduate degree from an institution that is accredited by one of the regional accrediting organizations (e.g. Higher Learning Commission).
• The baccalaureate nursing program (i.e., initial major or upper division, post-baccalaureate second major) or comparable master's-level program in which the nursing degree is awarded must be accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) or higher on a 4.0 scale, and a grade of not less than 'B-' in every nursing course. Applicants who do not meet these requirements should provide an explanatory statement along with the required admission essay with rationale for an exception to the requirement. If you are unsure of your cumulative GPA, please use these instructions as a guide to help you determine if an explanatory statement is necessary.
• A current, unencumbered nursing license.
• Work experience (Neonatal NP applicants): A minimum of one year of NICU clinical experience is required (two years preferred) prior to starting the plan of study, contingent on continuing to work as a NICU RN during the first year of studies.
• Work experience (all other NP applicants): Two years of recent clinical practice as an RN is preferred but not required, with at least one year of experience in the patient population you are applying for (adult-gerontology, family, mental health, or  pediatrics).

State-level restrictions

Due to state-level regulations, we are unable to enroll students who will be residing in any of these states while enrolled in this program: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and Canada.

Application form

Please read the application instructions below before completing the online application at the bottom of this page.

Admission essay

Prepare an essay that demonstrates written communication skills and clarifies your purpose in pursuing a graduate program in nursing. Do not exceed two typed, double spaced pages.

• Describe a situation when you or your care team had a significant impact on a patient or a group of patients.
  • What impact did you have from your perspective?
  • What was the impact from the patient's perspective?
  • How were you transformed by this experience?

If you have already submitted the application form, you may upload your essay via your Application Status page (instructions for accessing the status page were provided at the time you submitted the application). Please include your full name at the top of the essay.

If you wish to submit the essay prior to the application, or if you are unable to upload the document to your Application Status page, you may send the essay as an attachment via email to graduateadmission@stkate.edu with “Nurse Practitioner Essay” in the subject line.

Explanatory statement

If you are an applicant who does not meet the minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA requirement or received a grade of C+ or lower in any nursing course, please include an explanation of factors that affected previous academic performance, as well as your plan to ensure academic success in a graduate program. This statement should be limited to 400 words and is in addition to the essay described above.

Résumé

Submit a current résumé highlighting professional and volunteer experiences.

If you have already submitted the application form, you may upload your résumé via your Application Status page (instructions for accessing the status page were provided at the time you submitted the application).

If you wish to submit the résumé prior to the application, or if you are unable to upload the document to your Application Status page, you may send the résumé as an attachment via email to graduateadmission@stkate.edu with “Nurse Practitioner Résumé” in the subject line.

Admission Video

Using YouTube or Vimeo, record a 5-7 minute video addressing the topics below.  For best results, consider recording from a desktop computer or with your phone on a tripod or other stable surface, in a well-lit space with limited background noise.

You may wish to use notes for your talking points, but don’t be concerned about providing a scripted or polished presentation – this is meant to be informal and conversational. The goal is to help the admission committee get to know you, so feel free to be casual and comfortable.

• What types of clinical experience have you had? (comment specifically on experience related to your Nurse Practitioner area of interest)
• What motivates you to become a DNP-prepared Nurse Practitioner?
• What qualities about the St. Kate's Mission & Vision attract you to study here? 
• Tell us briefly about your leadership roles and/or any involvement with professional organizations.
• Describe your strategies for being successful in graduate school. What learning style works best for you?

To submit your video: After submitting the application form, you will receive instructions for logging into your Application Status page. On that page, click on the link to the “Video Statement” form in your Application Checklist. Add or verify your contact information, and add the YouTube or Vimeo link in the field provided. Please make sure that the share settings on your video are “everyone” or “anyone with the link.”

If you have any questions, or need any special accommodations to complete the Video Statement requirement, please contact the Graduate Admission office (graduateadmission@stkate.edu).

Recommendations

One recommendation is required for Nurse Practitioner applicants. The recommendation should be from a professional in a clinical setting. Personal references are not acceptable.

A link to the recommendation form will be sent when the Recommendations section of the application form has been completed. Please alert your reference in advance to expect an email from St. Catherine University. This is a confidential recommendation submitted directly from the reference to the Office of Graduate Admission; applicants who wish to view the recommendation are responsible for making the appropriate arrangements with their reference.

Transcripts

To review your admission file, we'll need transcripts from the college or university from which you earned your bachelor's degree and, if applicable, associate and graduate degrees. St. Kate's will review your admission file and make offers of acceptance using unofficial transcripts uploaded by you to your St. Kate's admission portal. However, official transcripts sent directly from your bachelor's (and associate and graduate, if applicable) degree-granting institutions are required, and must be received before registration for courses is allowed.

Need assistance finding out how to order your official transcripts?  Contact your admission counselor for help!  See contact information at the bottom of this page.

All documents must be up-to-date and include your name, institution name, all courses taken with grades and degrees received (if applicable). Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded using your Applicant Status page, or sent as an attachment to graduateadmission@stkate.edu.  

To be considered official, electronic transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing college or university to St. Kate's (at graduateadmission@stkate.edu). Paper transcripts must be mailed in a sealed envelope directly from the registrar of each institution to the Office of Graduate Admission at St. Catherine University (see address below).

TOEFL/IELTS scores

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test or 80 on the IBT, or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.5. This requirement is waived for students who have completed a baccalaureate or graduate degree in the United States.

Credential evaluation

Applicants with a college or university degree completed outside of the United States must submit an official course-by-course evaluation from World Education Services (WES) or SpanTran. Original transcripts and official translations of all documents not in English must also be included. All costs related to document translation and evaluation are the applicant’s responsibility.

Interview

A virtual, synchronous interview may be requested by the Admission Committee, if needed for clarification of the information provided in the application materials.

Submitting materials

Please review all application instructions. Once you’ve submitted the online application form, you will have access to your Application Status page to upload any supporting documents (instructions for accessing the status page are emailed at the time you submit the application). If you are unable to upload electronic documents to your Application Status page, you may send items as an attachment via email to graduateadmission@stkate.edu. Paper documents may be mailed to:

St. Catherine University
Graduate Admission #4027
2004 Randolph Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their application is completed by the deadline. The Admission Committee will not review your application until we have received all required documents. Fulfillment of the admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. No credentials will be returned to the applicant.

Please review the information below regarding other application materials that may be required for international applicants.

Deadlines

Earlier deadlines may apply for international applicants to ensure that all immigration requirements can be met in time for you to enroll in the desired term. Contact your admission counselor with questions.

International Student Forms

All international applicants for graduate study must complete the International Information section of the application form.

The U.S. government requires international applicants to provide proof of ability to pay tuition and living expenses before the University can issue forms necessary to obtain a visa. International applicants must submit a Certification of Finances form.

Additional Documentation

Some international applicants may be required to submit additional documentation, such as a credential evaluation, language test scores, etc. Please review the application instructions for your graduate program for more information.