Where can I find sample college essays for nursing school applications?
I’m putting together my application for several nursing programs and I’m feeling kind of lost about how to start my personal statement. I know the essay is supposed to be personal and specific to why I want to go into nursing, but I’d love to see some examples to get a sense of tone and structure.
Are there any websites or resources that share strong sample essays specifically for nursing school? Or if anyone here has gone through the process or knows people who have, would you be willing to share what worked for you? I want to make my application stand out but I don’t want to just write something generic.
Are there any websites or resources that share strong sample essays specifically for nursing school? Or if anyone here has gone through the process or knows people who have, would you be willing to share what worked for you? I want to make my application stand out but I don’t want to just write something generic.
4 months ago
•
20 views
Camille Luong
• 4 months ago
Advisor
Finding sample essays for nursing school applications can be a huge help as you get started. While there are plenty of general college essay examples online, essays for nursing programs often need to address not just your academic history but also your motivation for choosing nursing, your experiences in healthcare, and your personal qualities like empathy, resilience, and teamwork.
Many nursing schools have their own advice and sometimes even post examples of successful essays—check the admissions sections of the schools you're applying to first. There's also the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing website, where they’ve published several strong applicant essays that could give you a sense of what works (search for 'Johns Hopkins nursing essay examples'). The Nurse.com and MinorityNurse.com websites sometimes publish advice and sample essays, and AllNursingSchools has a couple of short personal statement examples as well. If you’re comfortable navigating Reddit, the r/nursing or r/StudentNurse threads sometimes discuss application essays and occasionally people will share snippets or tips.
If you know any current nursing students or recent grads, asking them directly can give you the most accurate impression of what’s expected. Another good step: see if your high school or college counseling office has a database of sample essays for specialized programs like nursing. Some tutoring or essay review services (like Sundial Essay Review) offer personalized feedback or even examples if you sign up for their newsletters or free resources.
Beyond finding examples, pay attention to the moments of personal growth, conflict, or challenge that nursing essays highlight. Instead of writing, for example, the classic 'I want to help people' essay, you might focus on a singular experience: such as the first time you cared for someone in distress and how it shaped your commitment to healthcare. For instance, one strong essay described how a student helped a neighbor manage post-surgery care, learned the challenges of patient communication, and was inspired to become a nurse after seeing how critical that support was.
When reviewing sample essays, notice how they balance storytelling (a specific, memorable personal anecdote) with big-picture reflection (what the journey means, and how it connects to your goals). Identify elements you genuinely connect with, then use your own authentic stories—the best essays always reflect your unique path and motivations.
Many nursing schools have their own advice and sometimes even post examples of successful essays—check the admissions sections of the schools you're applying to first. There's also the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing website, where they’ve published several strong applicant essays that could give you a sense of what works (search for 'Johns Hopkins nursing essay examples'). The Nurse.com and MinorityNurse.com websites sometimes publish advice and sample essays, and AllNursingSchools has a couple of short personal statement examples as well. If you’re comfortable navigating Reddit, the r/nursing or r/StudentNurse threads sometimes discuss application essays and occasionally people will share snippets or tips.
If you know any current nursing students or recent grads, asking them directly can give you the most accurate impression of what’s expected. Another good step: see if your high school or college counseling office has a database of sample essays for specialized programs like nursing. Some tutoring or essay review services (like Sundial Essay Review) offer personalized feedback or even examples if you sign up for their newsletters or free resources.
Beyond finding examples, pay attention to the moments of personal growth, conflict, or challenge that nursing essays highlight. Instead of writing, for example, the classic 'I want to help people' essay, you might focus on a singular experience: such as the first time you cared for someone in distress and how it shaped your commitment to healthcare. For instance, one strong essay described how a student helped a neighbor manage post-surgery care, learned the challenges of patient communication, and was inspired to become a nurse after seeing how critical that support was.
When reviewing sample essays, notice how they balance storytelling (a specific, memorable personal anecdote) with big-picture reflection (what the journey means, and how it connects to your goals). Identify elements you genuinely connect with, then use your own authentic stories—the best essays always reflect your unique path and motivations.
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Camille Luong
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Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
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