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Applying to the Doctorate of Nursing Practice Degree

Spring 2024 Admissions - November 1, 2023

Summer 2024 Admissions - March 15, 2024

Fall 2024 Admissions - July 1, 2024

How To Apply

1. Complete The Online SUNY Application

Online Application

Take your first step toward applying to Upstate Medical University by completing the online application. The application takes approximately 40 minutes to complete. As a first-time applicant, you will be prompted to set up an account. You can always take a break and come back to your application. 

SUNY Upstate is proud to waive the Upstate application fee for US Veterans and/or Active Duty Military! Instructions on how to submit a waiver are provided within the application. If you have any questions regarding this waiver, please email apply@upstate.edu and indicate your program of interest.

2. Three Letters of Recommendation

Letters should come from nursing professionals who can comment on your clinical expertise and academic abilities (faculty, supervisor, and/or preceptor/mentor). At least one of the letters should be from a doctorally prepared person. Applicants will submit their reference's information when filling out their application for admission. Upon submission of the application, the references will receive instructions on how to submit them through MyUpstate.

3. Current National Board Certification

APRN must have current National Board Certification in their designated specialty and upload it to the application: Family NP, Family Psychiatric Mental Health NP, Pediatrics NP, or selected Clinical Nurse Specialists.

4. Current and unencumbered RN and Advanced Practice licenses

Nurse practitioner applicants must upload their RN and NP licenses as part of the application. CNS applicants must upload their current and unencumbered RN license.

5. Writing Sample

Essay guidelines are included in the SUNY Upstate Application. You will describe your population of interest and a potential health care issue that you plan to focus on as your identified topic in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Include relevancy of the issue and the role of the DNP graduate in leading practice change (about 750 words).

6. Submit Official Transcripts

Request to have your transcripts sent directly to Upstate Medical University from each educational institution you attended. Official transcripts must be mailed directly to the Admissions Office by the records office of the issuing institution. Official transcripts delivered by hand will be accepted only if they are sealed in the original envelope provided by the community college or university and bear the university seal and the signature of the registrar of the issuing institution. Please have your previous academic institutions mail your official transcripts here:

If sending by stamped mail:

SUNY Upstate Medical University
750 East Adams Street
Admissions Office
Weiskotten Hall 1213
Syracuse, NY 13210

Electronic Delivery

Official transcripts delivered electronically should be sent to apply@upstate.edu.

Notes:

  • If your college transcripts are not in English, or are not in the same grading system as the United States, you will need to get a translation and a course-by-course educational credential evaluation completed by an approved agency.  While we are most familiar with World Education Services (WES), we will accept any evaluation service that is accredited by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
  • If you have completed an associate degree or higher, you will not need to send a high school transcript

Interview

Selected applicants will have a virtual interview with two faculty members from the College of Nursing. 

 


The Application Process

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Pre-Applying

Before applying, applicants are encouraged to review the Admission Requirements for their intended program of study and GPA requirement. Official transcripts showing a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

We encourage prospective students to learn more about their program of interest by attending an Open House or any of our Virtual Events. We also offer Individual meeting with an Admissions Advisor to discuss transfer credits, program requirements, etc.

 

Application Deadlines

Spring 2024 Admissions - November 1, 2023

Summer 2024 Admissions - March 15, 2024

Fall 2024 Admissions - July 1, 2024

Applications are accepted for Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters. Admission is rolling until the program is full.

Apply Now

Once Your Application is Complete

After all admission required items are submitted, your application will change the status to complete. You will be contacted to schedule an interview if appropriate.  

Admission decisions are sent out via e-mail. See the acceptance letter for the deadline to submit a deposit to secure a place in the class.

Accepted students will be required to submit their unencumbered U.S. registered nurse license and current CPR certification through the Incoming Student Checklist. We also require a background check after being offered admission, and prior to the start of the program at SUNY Upstate. All admitted students are admitted conditionally until background check results are obtained and reviewed by SUNY Upstate.

Academic Advice and Project Consultation

Academic Advice for students applying to the Post-Masters DNP program is provided by the Program Director at College of Nursing. Accepted students are assigned an academic advisor who will help you create your schedule and register for classes.

Checking Your Application Status

The Admissions Office will be communicating application status changes via email.  You can also check the application status by login back to the application you have submitted. Your checklist is updated live as our application processing team receives your documents.

Reapplication Process

We encourage applicants who have previously applied to SUNY Upstate, and who were not admitted, to reach out to our admissions office for a post-advisement session to learn how to strengthen their application for re-applying. You can request an appointment by calling our office at 315-464-4570 or by emailing admiss@upstate.edu (please be sure to include the name of the program in the subject of your email). 

The application process is still the same for reapplying, as outlined below, but we do hope to see an improvement in the quality of an application from one year to the next. 

Those reapplying will need to submit:

  • A new College of Nursing Application
    (please indicate the year of the previous application)
  • Three new Letters of Recommendation
  • Updated transcripts. Official college transcripts are required for any coursework completed since the previous application. Previously submitted final college transcripts are transferable from the earlier application.
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