Rush Direct Entry MSN Interview (GEM): Format, Dates, Tips
What we know about Rush's GEM faculty interview, how applicants are reviewed, and the dates for Fall 2027.
Rush's Generalist Entry Master's, a direct-entry MSN for people with a bachelor's in another field, includes a faculty interview by invitation only. Review is holistic and rolling, and for Fall 2027 the early decision deadline is January 4, 2027 and the final deadline May 24, 2027.
Key facts (Fall 2027 entry)
- Format
- A faculty interview, by invitation only.
- How applicants are reviewed
- Holistically, on degree, GPA, essay, three recommendations, resume, prerequisites and the interview. No GRE.
- Grades
- A 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 prerequisite GPA.
- When
- Fall 2027: early decision January 4, 2027, final deadline May 24, 2027, classes start September 7, 2027.
- Admission
- Rolling. Rush says cohorts often fill well before the deadline.
- Program
- Full-time and hybrid, 6 semesters.
What happens in the interview
Rush lists a faculty interview, by invitation only, among the things it evaluates.
- Faculty interviewers. The interview is with College of Nursing faculty.
- By invitation. Not every applicant is interviewed.
- Holistic review. We take a holistic approach to reviewing applicant credentials.
Expect your essay to come up. Rush's GEM essay asks why you chose nursing. Be ready to go deeper on that answer in person.
How offers are decided
Timing matters because admission is rolling.
- Rolling decisions. Decisions are emailed as they become available.
- Cohorts fill early. Rush encourages you to apply while still finishing prerequisites, which must be done by the deadline.
- Full cohort. If the cohort fills before the final deadline, you are considered for the next available term.
- Complete and accurate. Applications with missing or inaccurate information are not considered.
How you get an interview
Rush reviews applications holistically and says you are more than a test score. These are the items it evaluates.
Grades and courses
- A bachelor's degree. From a regionally accredited institution.
- 3.0 and 3.0. A cumulative GPA and a prerequisite GPA of at least 3.0.
- Four prerequisites. General Chemistry I, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology and Microbiology, each with a C or higher by the deadline. Survey chemistry and cell biology do not count.
- No GRE. GRE scores are not required.
Essay, letters and resume
- One essay. What was your reason for choosing nursing as a career? (2,000 characters)
- Three recommendations. From faculty or work managers who can speak to your clinical and leadership abilities and critical thinking. Letters from friends, relatives or co-workers are not accepted.
- Resume or CV. Including educational, leadership and professional activities, and any scholarly work.
- Your own work. Rush says applications must be completed independently and without artificial intelligence.
Dates and other details
Rush admits GEM students for fall and spring terms. The Spring 2027 deadlines have passed.
Fall 2027 dates
- January 4, 2027. Early decision deadline.
- May 24, 2027. Final deadline.
- September 7, 2027. Term starts.
Applying
- NursingCAS plus $40. Apply on NursingCAS, then complete a brief Rush supplemental application with a $40 fee.
- One program, one term. You may apply to only one Rush program and one admission term per cycle.
The program
GEM takes 6 semesters, full-time and hybrid, and prepares you for the NCLEX-RN and Clinical Nurse Leader certification. Clinicals are at Rush University Medical Center and other Chicago-area sites.
Classes and clinicals generally run Monday to Friday during the day. Rush discourages working during the first two terms.
How to prepare
With no published format, prepare for a conversation with faculty about why nursing, why now and why a leadership-focused master's.
- Own your career change. Explain what you did before, what pulled you to nursing, and which skills carry over.
- Know the Clinical Nurse Leader role. Rush describes a CNL as a master's-prepared nurse who improves patient care, coordinates care across teams and supports quality and safety work.
- Plan your life around it. Be ready to say how you will manage a full-time weekday schedule and limited work.
- Apply early. Rolling admission rewards early, complete applications.
Why a master's? Have a clear answer for why a direct-entry MSN and not an accelerated BSN, tied to the leadership focus.
Practice questions
Questions in the style of a Faculty interview (by invitation) station, written for applicants to Rush University College of Nursing, Generalist Entry Master's (GEM) Clinical Nurse Leader. They are practice questions, not the school's own. Open one for what a strong answer does.
Why become a nurse through a direct-entry master's program rather than a BSN?
Tie the choice to the leadership and care coordination a master's adds, not just the credential.
What made you leave your previous career, and why become a nurse rather than stay in your field?
Be honest about what you are leaving and specific about what nursing gives you that it could not.
You have already built a career in another industry. How do the skills you developed in your previous profession translate to the demands of nursing?
Pick two skills and give a real example of each, then say what you still need to learn.
On your unit, you notice that one physician consistently ignores the nursing assistants' input and misses details about how patients are eating or walking. How would you bridge this communication gap?
Focus on the patient details being missed and suggest a simple, respectful way to get them heard.
Your unit is short two nurses tonight, and the charge nurse gives you a patient load you believe is unsafe. What do you do?
Raise the concern through the chain of command, suggest options and keep patient safety at the center.
Who in your life will support you through nursing school, and what have you already arranged with them?
Give concrete plans for money, time and family, which shows you can finish a demanding program.
Frequently asked questions
Does Rush's direct-entry MSN require an interview?
Rush evaluates a faculty interview, offered by invitation only, as part of the GEM application. Not every applicant is invited.
Is the Rush GEM interview online or in person?
Its admission guidelines say only that there is a faculty interview by invitation, so check your invitation for the details.
When is the Rush GEM deadline for Fall 2027?
The early decision deadline is January 4, 2027 and the final deadline is May 24, 2027. Classes start September 7, 2027. Admission is rolling, and cohorts often fill early.
What GPA do you need for Rush's direct-entry MSN?
A cumulative GPA and a prerequisite GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The GRE is not required.
What is the Rush GEM essay question?
What was your reason for choosing nursing as a career? The answer is limited to 2,000 characters.
Sources
Official pages only, read on the date shown. Schools change their process every year, so check the school's own page before you apply.
- Rush University College of Nursing: Direct Entry MSN for Non-Nurses Admissions · read October 24, 2026
- Rush University College of Nursing: Generalist Entry Master's in Nursing (MSN) for Non-Nurses · read October 24, 2026
- Rush University: Applying to the College of Nursing · read October 24, 2026
- Rush University: Essay Questions for College of Nursing Applicants · read October 24, 2026