2nd Entry BScN — York University

SpaceCat Fit Notes

CASPer: Not used. SpaceCat cannot leverage her very high CASPer score here.
GPA window & upgrading strategy: York evaluates both cumulative GPA (all university courses, minimum B / 3.0) and last 30 credits (minimum B+ / 3.3) separately. The cumulative component means new courses have limited impact — adding 10-20 courses to an existing transcript of 40+ courses will only modestly shift the overall average. However, the last 30 credits (~10 courses) component is a rolling window. If SpaceCat takes 10 new courses with strong grades (B+ or higher), she can fully reset the last-30-credit GPA, which is the higher bar (3.3 required). This makes a year of upgrading meaningful for the recency component, though the cumulative GPA remains harder to move.
Experiential / written advantage: York requires a Supplementary Information Form (accessed through MyFile after applying). The exact prompts are not publicly published, but supplementary forms at York typically evaluate motivation, understanding of nursing, and relevant experience. SpaceCat’s shelter work experience and strong writing skills could be showcased here. However, the form’s weight in admissions relative to GPA is unknown.
Out-of-province: Ontario resident. - None found. The OUAC 105 application is used by all external applicants regardless of province. The program is open to “Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons, and international applicants.”. - Minimal. Ontario domestic studen…
Overall assessment: Reach — Admission is primarily academics-based (GPA + supplementary form, no CASPer, no interview). SpaceCat’s strong experiential background (shelter work) and writing skills may help on the supplementary form, but her weaker GPA is a significant barrier given the “mid- to high 80s” competitive range, and there is no CASPer to offset it.

Quick Facts

Institution: York University, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health
Program name: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) — 2nd Entry (Specialized Honours)
Degree granted: BScN (Specialized Honours)
City, Province: Toronto, Ontario (Keele campus)
Program type: Accelerated / Second-Entry
Duration: 2 years (6 consecutive semesters — fall, winter, summer, fall, winter, summer)
Delivery format: In-person
Total credits: 150 (60 prior university credits + 90 nursing credits at York)
Full-time / Part-time: Full-time only. No part-time option available.
Language of instruction: English
Start date(s): September (Fall intake only)
Intake frequency: Annual
Application deadline(s): OUAC application by February 2, 2026 (for Fall 2026 entry); Supplementary Information Form via MyFile by March 20, 2026
Application system: OUAC 105 (program code YHK); Supplementary via York’s MyFile portal
Must be completed within: 4 years (12 terms) of admission
Program URL: https://futurestudents.yorku.ca/program/nursing-second-entry
School of Nursing URL: https://www.yorku.ca/health/nursing/undergraduate-programs/2nd-entry/
Faculty of Health URL: https://www.yorku.ca/health/2nd-entry-nursing/
Accredited: Yes — CASN accreditation. The “Second Entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing” is listed among York University’s accredited programs on the CASN Accredited Programs page. Also approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), qualifying graduates to write the NCLEX-RN.

Admission Requirements

GPA

Minimum overall GPA: B average (3.0 on a 4-point scale) across all university studies
Minimum last-year GPA: B+ average (3.3 on a 4-point scale) in the last 30 credits (last year of study)
Competitive GPA: Not officially published. York states: “A competitive applicant would meet, if not exceed, all minimum admission requirements.” OUInfo lists the grade range as “Mid- to High 80s.” York also states: “To gain admission to this program, your academic average should be in the mid-70s.” The program is “very competitive with many more qualified applicants than available spots.” Meeting minimums does not guarantee admission.
GPA calculated on: Overall cumulative GPA + last 30 credits separately evaluated
GPA scale used: 4-point scale (York uses a 9-point GPA scale internally, but admission requirements are stated on a 4-point scale: B = 3.0, B+ = 3.3)

Source: Future Students page, Source: OUInfo, Source: Faculty of Health

Prerequisites

All prerequisites must be completed at an accredited university before admission. Each prerequisite requires a minimum grade of B. Prerequisites can be taken at York or at other accredited institutions, including online/open-enrolment universities such as Athabasca University, Thompson Rivers University, and University of New Brunswick. York states: “Missing or low pre-requisites can be taken/re-taken at any accredited in person or online university.”

Important: “The Office of Admission and the School of Nursing cannot pre-assess transcripts nor pre-requisites for admission prior to application.” A sample equivalency list is available but is “subject to change” and “not an exhaustive list.”

Course	Credits (York scale)	Minimum Grade	Notes
Psychology	6.0 credits (two half-courses)	B in each	Psychology Statistics and Research Methods courses do not fulfill this requirement. Must be general/introductory or upper-level psychology courses.
Human Anatomy & Physiology	6.0 credits (two half-courses)	B in each	Can be fulfilled as: (a) 6.0 credits in combined Human Anatomy and Physiology, OR (b) 3.0 credits in Human Anatomy + 3.0 credits in Human Physiology separately. Athabasca BIOL 235 (Human Anatomy & Physiology) is on the equivalency list.
Statistics	3.0 credits (one half-course)	B	Added as a prerequisite (confirmed on LOA Portal and multiple sources).
Microbiology	3.0 credits (one half-course)	B	Added as a prerequisite (confirmed on LOA Portal and multiple sources).

Note on prerequisite changes: Some older sources (pre-2024) list only Psychology and Anatomy/Physiology as prerequisites. More recent sources (LOA Portal, 2025-2026 information) also list Statistics (3.0 credits) and Microbiology (3.0 credits) with a minimum grade of B. Applicants should verify the current prerequisite list directly with York, as requirements may have been updated.

Prereq source URLs: - https://futurestudents.yorku.ca/program/nursing-second-entry - https://www.yorku.ca/health/2nd-entry-nursing/ - https://loaportal.com/en/schools/york-university/programs/bachelor-of-science-in-nursing-nursing-second-entry-18274 - Equivalency list (PDF): https://secure.students.yorku.ca/pdf/ug-equiv-bscn2.pdf (not publicly accessible without York credentials at time of research)

Prior Degree Requirement

Minimum credits required: At least 60 university credits (typically 2 years of full-time study) from an accredited university
Full degree required? No — 60 credits is sufficient; a completed bachelor’s degree is not required
Degree field restrictions: None — “There is no disciplinary requirement”
Specific undergraduate courses required beyond prereqs: No

Supplementary Requirements

CASPer: Not required (as of Fall 2022 admissions cycle). York’s School of Nursing dropped the CASPer requirement. Prior to Fall 2022, CASPer was required. Source
GRE: Not required
Interview: Not confirmed as part of current admissions. No interview requirement is mentioned in any official source.
Personal statement / written component: A Supplementary Information Form is required, accessed through MyFile after applying. The exact questions/prompts and word limits for the 2nd Entry BScN supplementary form are not publicly published on York’s website. York states: “A supplementary evaluation is required after you apply for admission.” The form must be submitted by March 20, 2026 for Fall 2026 entry. Applicants should check MyFile after submitting their OUAC application for the specific questions.
Resume / CV: Not explicitly listed as required in published sources
References: Not explicitly listed as required in published sources
Volunteer / work experience: No stated minimum requirement. However, the supplementary form likely evaluates motivation, understanding of nursing, and relevant experience (based on the pattern of York nursing supplementary applications).
Language proficiency: For non-native English speakers: TOEFL 94 iBT, IELTS 7.0 Academic, Duolingo 130, or equivalent. Also accepted: 4 years of English instruction at accredited high school in English-primary country, 1+ year university study in English, or 2+ years college/applied degree in English.
Other: Documents must be uploaded to MyFile in PDF format (max 2.5 MB). Course outlines/descriptions may be required for prerequisite courses taken at institutions outside York.

How Applications Are Evaluated

York does not publish a detailed rubric or weighting system. Based on available information:

Applications are reviewed holistically in the context of the minimum admission requirements and the applicant pool of that year
Academic consistency, prerequisite performance, and course repetitions are considered
Failed/repeated courses are evaluated; highest grade is considered
The supplementary evaluation is part of the review process
“The 2nd Entry Nursing program is very competitive with many more qualified applicants than available spots”
“A competitive applicant would meet, if not exceed, all minimum admission requirements (including overall GPA, GPA in the last 30 credits, and successful completion of all pre-requisites with at least a B) and submit all required supporting documentation before the application deadline”
Applications are processed within “4 to 8 weeks” and conditional offers are issued as applications arrive

Source: OUInfo, Source: Faculty of Health

Out-of-Province Considerations

Residency restrictions or quotas: None found. The OUAC 105 application is used by all external applicants regardless of province. The program is open to “Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons, and international applicants.” Source | Source
Out-of-province tuition differential: Minimal. Ontario domestic students pay ~$7,289/year; out-of-province domestic students pay ~$7,595/year (a difference of ~$306/year). Source

Cost

Tuition (per year, domestic Ontario, approximate): ~$7,289/year (Fall/Winter, full-time)
Tuition (per year, domestic out-of-province, approximate): ~$7,595/year
Tuition (total program estimate, domestic): ~$14,500–$15,200 over 2 years for tuition alone (6 semesters including summers; summer term fees additional). Note: One third-party source (LOA Portal) lists $38,000–$39,000 CAD annually, but this appears to be the international student rate and is inconsistent with York’s published domestic rates. Domestic students should expect significantly less.
Application fee: $130 CAD (OUAC)
Additional fees: Supplementary/ancillary fees (student services, health plan, etc.), textbooks, scrubs, stethoscope, Police Vulnerable Sector Screen (VSS) fee (varies by police service), Clinical Preparedness Permit requirements

Note: York’s tuition fee schedule is dynamic and based on per-credit enrollment. For exact figures, see: https://students.yorku.ca/sfs/course-and-program-fees or https://futurestudents.yorku.ca/tuition/

Competitiveness

Cohort size: Not officially published. York does not disclose the exact number of seats in the 2nd Entry program. Based on the overall School of Nursing size and typical Ontario accelerated nursing cohorts, estimates range from 60–120 students, but this is unconfirmed.
Acceptance rate: Not officially published. York states the program is “very competitive with many more qualified applicants than available spots.”
Number of applicants: Not published

Program Structure & Curriculum

The 2nd Entry BScN is a 90-credit nursing program completed over 6 consecutive semesters (Fall-Winter-Summer-Fall-Winter-Summer). Key features:

Minimum GPA to graduate: 5.00 (C+) on York’s 9-point scale in all nursing (NURS) courses and overall
Upper-level requirement: Minimum 60 credits at 3000-level or higher, including at least 27 credits at 4000-level
Core nursing courses: 72 credits of required NURS courses
Additional required nursing credits: 18 credits (including 6 nursing credits at 3000+ level, NURS 4527 at 9 credits, NURS 4531 at 3 credits)

Specialization Streams (Optional)

At the end of Term 2, students can apply to join a specialized stream with focused electives, a capstone course, and an integrated practicum:

High Acuity and Critical Care
Mental Health, Illness, and Addiction
Nursing Leadership and Care of the Older Adult

Source: Academic Calendar 2022-2023, Source: School of Nursing

Fieldwork / Clinical / Practicum

Placements guaranteed? Yes (built into curriculum; multiple practicum courses with “P” suffix)
First practicum: Starts in week 6 of the first semester, with a focus on lifespan and wellness
Total required hours: Not published as a single number
Practicum courses: NURS 2547/2547P, NURS 3510/3510P, NURS 3511/3511P, NURS 4526/4526P (6-credit clinical courses with 0-credit practicum components)
Placement settings / locations: Hospitals, community health centres, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare settings. Partner locations include Brampton, Toronto, Mississauga, Newmarket, Vaughan, Durham, Barrie, and Oakville.
Placement hours: Minimum 6 hours per day (AM or PM shifts), following agency business hours
Geographic preferences: Students submit a GeoPreferences e-form to the Nursing Practicum Coordination Office (NPCO) by August 30th. Placement assignments are based on geographic preferences via HSPnet.
Clinical Preparedness Permit (CPP): Required before starting clinical. Includes Police Vulnerable Sector Screen (VSS), which may take up to 12 weeks to process. CPP must be officially stamped at NPCO (HNES 306) by October 15th deadline.
Can placements be done out of province? Not indicated; placements are GTA and surrounding areas

Source: 2nd Entry Checklist

Facilities

Nursing Simulation Centre: Located on the 3rd floor of the Health, Nursing and Environmental Studies Building (HNES), Keele campus. 5,000 sq. ft. facility opened February 2006.
Nursing Skills Lab (HNES 304 & 304J): Simulated hospital environment accommodating up to 100 students. Features adult medical-surgical beds, pediatric area, two isolation rooms, headwall systems for oxygen/suction simulation, and mannequins across the lifespan.
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) Lab: 2,000 sq. ft. lab for immersive, self-paced learning.
Computer Skills Lab: Separate area within the Simulation Centre.

Source

Licensing & Career Path

Licensing exam: NCLEX-RN
Graduates eligible to practice in all provinces? Yes (NCLEX-RN is accepted across Canada)
CNO approved: Yes — program is approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario
Any known issues with credential recognition? None

Reputation & Notes

York’s 2nd Entry program emphasizes a patient-centred approach that “focuses on cultivating human relationships” and “answers a growing demand for health care services and practitioners that respect patients’ values and choices about health and quality of life”
The program offers optional specialization streams (High Acuity/Critical Care, Mental Health, Nursing Leadership/Older Adult Care), which is a distinguishing feature not common in all Ontario accelerated programs
Clinical placements span a wide geographic area (GTA and beyond), which may involve significant commuting
The 2nd Entry Nursing Association (2NA) provides peer support, mentorship, and community: https://www.2nayorku.com/
The program does not require CASPer, interview, or references (as of current admissions cycle), making it primarily an academics-based admissions process with a supplementary form

Student Reviews (Mixed)

Reviews from EDUopinions (average 3.0/5) and RedFlagDeals forums:

Positive: Professors described as “reliable,” content quality praised, campus facilities noted as “really beautiful,” strong simulation centre and VR/AR lab
Negative: Multiple complaints about administrative support — “Admin and program director staff were horrible. They were not supportive of students.” One older review noted the York portion was “more theoretical than hands-on.” A particularly negative RedFlagDeals post alleged serious issues with instructor conduct and institutional culture, though this represents one individual’s experience.
Overall: Reviews are limited in number and mixed. The program appears academically solid but administrative/student support has drawn criticism.

Source: EDUopinions, Source: RedFlagDeals

What Could Not Be Confirmed

The following information was not found despite thorough searching:

Exact supplementary form questions/prompts and word limits — not publicly published; only accessible via MyFile after applying
Exact cohort size / number of seats — not published by York
Exact acceptance rate — not published by York
Exact total clinical/practicum hours — not published as a single number
Detailed evaluation rubric or weightings — York uses holistic review without published weights
Whether Statistics and Microbiology are confirmed current prerequisites — these appear on some sources (LOA Portal) but not on all official York pages. Applicants should verify directly with York.
Whether references or resume are part of the supplementary form — not confirmed in any public source