Incorporating Group Interviews Into Holistic Review in Baccalaureate Nursing School Admissions

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Admissions Processes
• Higher Education

Background:

• Holistic review in admissions balances academic metrics with applicant background and experience.
• Traditional admissions may not fully capture the potential of diverse nursing candidates.
• Evaluating baccalaureate nursing school applicants requires comprehensive assessment methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate the effectiveness of group interviews as part of a holistic admissions process for a baccalaureate nursing program.
• To enhance the diversity and academic quality of the incoming nursing student cohort.
• To assess candidate and faculty satisfaction with the revised admissions strategy.

Main Methods:

• Consultation with peer institutions to inform best practices.
• Development of structured interview questions for group assessments.
• Implementation of a systematic group interview process for all applicants.
• Data collection on student demographics, preadmission GPA, and satisfaction levels.

Main Results:

• High levels of satisfaction reported by both candidates and faculty involved in the group interviews.
• Successful enrollment of a diverse cohort of students.
• The admitted students demonstrated a high preadmission grade point average.
• The group interview process contributed positively to the holistic review.

Conclusions:

• Group interviews are an effective component of a holistic review for nursing school admissions.
• This strategy can lead to a more diverse and academically strong student body.
• Further research is recommended to refine the process and explore long-term outcomes.