What is the best admissions strategy for getting into Stony Brook's nursing major?

For Stony Brook’s direct-entry nursing program, the most important parts of your application are a very strong academic record, the highest rigor available in core classes, and clear evidence that your interest in nursing is informed and genuine. Nursing at Stony Brook is one of the more selective undergraduate options there, so grades in math and science matter a lot, especially biology, chemistry, and any advanced coursework like AP or IB. If your school offers them, taking challenging science courses and doing well in them is usually more important than stacking unrelated activities.

After academics, the strongest extracurriculars are the ones that show sustained exposure to service, health, or caregiving rather than just a long list of clubs. Hospital volunteering, patient-facing service, EMT or CNA training if available, nursing home volunteering, public health work, or even consistent caregiving responsibilities can all help if you can explain what you learned from them. What matters most is not just being around medicine, but showing that you understand nursing as hands-on, team-based, patient-centered work.

Your essay should connect your experiences to why nursing specifically fits you, not just why you like science or want to help people. The best approach is usually to focus on one or two concrete moments that changed how you see care, communication, responsibility, or advocacy. A specific interaction, setting, or realization will usually be more persuasive than a broad story about always wanting to work in healthcare.