Vanderbilt Nursing Interview: Master of Nursing (Former PreSpecialty)
Applications for spring and fall 2027 entry to Vanderbilt's Master of Nursing are open now and reviewed as they arrive. Here is whether Vanderbilt interviews, and what it reads instead.
Vanderbilt's route for non-nurses is now the Master of Nursing (MN), with an MN + Post-Master's Certificate path for future nurse practitioners and midwives. Its pages list no interview, except a phone interview for international applicants whose first language is not English. Spring and fall 2027 applications are open and reviewed as they arrive.
Key facts (Spring and fall 2027 entry)
- Applications
- Open now for spring and fall 2027. Applications open in May for spring and August for fall, are welcome throughout the fall and spring semesters, and are reviewed as they are received.
- Interview
- None listed for most applicants. International applicants whose native language is not English have a phone interview.
- What is graded
- Your answers to the application questions. Vanderbilt evaluates both your writing style and your content.
- What to show
- A clear understanding of the RN or advanced practice nurse role, and interest in a particular patient population.
- References
- Three, from faculty, professional colleagues or supervisors. At least one must hold a master's degree or higher.
- GPA and tests
- A 3.0 GPA is recommended. No standardized tests.
- Program
- 66 credits over 4 full-time, in-person semesters. MN + PMC adds 3 to 4 semesters of specialty study.
How offers are decided
Vanderbilt reviews applications as they are received, so finishing early is an advantage. Both paths are selective.
- Complete files only. Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded for application review, with official transcripts required upon admission. Faculty review does not begin until all your transcripts arrive.
- One application. Only one application is considered per student, per term.
- Specialty included. MN + PMC admission includes your advanced practice specialty. No second application is needed after the MN.
- No switching later. You cannot move from the MN path to MN + PMC after you start. You would apply to a DNP or Post-Master's Certificate instead.
Is there an interview?
Vanderbilt's MN pages list no interview for most applicants. The written application questions are where you make your case.
- Not in the checklist. The application checklist covers the fee, the application questions, references, transcripts and prerequisites. No interview.
- Phone interview for some. International applicants whose native language is not English have a phone interview with the program director and an admissions committee member, and submit TOEFL (minimum 100 Internet-based or 230 computer-based) or IELTS (minimum 6.5) scores less than 2 years old.
- Writing is graded. Vanderbilt says it evaluates your writing style and content. Everything must be your own work.
What Vanderbilt reads instead
Your answers should show you understand what a nurse does and who you want to care for. Vanderbilt says this directly on its MN page.
- The role. Show a clear understanding of the role of the registered nurse or advanced practice nurse.
- A patient population. Name the group of patients you are interested in caring for.
- Your path. MN + PMC applicants pick a specialty when they apply. Vanderbilt says this path may need more clarity about your long-term goals.
- References. Three, from faculty, colleagues or supervisors only. Vanderbilt says extra references bring no benefit.
Unsure of a specialty? Vanderbilt suggests the generalist MN path if you are still exploring or want RN experience first.
Dates and other details
Applications are reviewed as they are received and are welcome throughout the fall and spring semesters. Spring and fall 2027 applications are open now.
Applying for 2027
- Spring start. Applications open in May for the following spring. The generalist MN admits in January.
- Fall start. Applications open in August for the following fall. MN + PMC students start only in the fall.
- Fee. A non-refundable $75 application fee.
Prerequisites
- Courses. Statistics, human anatomy, human physiology, microbiology, lifespan development (or developmental psychology) and nutrition.
- Five-year limit. Anatomy, physiology and microbiology must be taken within five years of applying.
- Before you start. Prerequisites, including online courses, must be done before the term begins.
The program
- 4 semesters. Full time and face to face. Vanderbilt asks students to live within daily commuting distance.
- Then the NCLEX. MN graduates take the NCLEX-RN after earning the degree. Under the previous PreSpecialty program, students sat it before finishing their degree.
- Tuition. $2,057 per credit hour in 2025-2026, plus fees.
How to prepare
Treat each application question like an interview answer on paper. Be specific about the nurse you want to become and the patients you want to serve.
- Know the roles. Be able to explain how an RN, a nurse practitioner and a nurse-midwife differ.
- Name your population. Pick one patient group and explain what drew you to it, with a real example.
- Edit hard. Your writing style is graded. Read every answer aloud before you submit.
Apply early. Review is rolling, so a complete file early in the cycle is your best move.
Practice questions
Questions in the style of a No interview (written application questions) station, written for applicants to Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. They are practice questions, not the school's own. Open one for what a strong answer does.
What do you know about advanced practice nursing roles, such as nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists and nurse midwives?
Describe what each role does day to day and how it differs from the RN role.
Why become a nurse first if your long-term goal is to work as a nurse practitioner?
Show you value bedside experience as the base for advanced practice, not a step to skip.
Nurses work in hospitals, schools, clinics, homes and public health departments. Pick one setting and describe what a nurse there spends the day doing.
Be concrete about tasks, patients and the team, ideally from something you saw.
How is the role of a registered nurse different from that of a licensed practical nurse or a nursing assistant?
Focus on assessment, judgment and accountability, not only on tasks.
You clearly have a strong interest in science and patient care, so what is it about the nursing model of care that appeals to you more than becoming a physician?
Talk about what nurses do, not about what you dislike in medicine.
What part of nursing school do you expect to find hardest, and how are you preparing for it?
Name a real challenge and the specific steps you have already taken.
Frequently asked questions
Does Vanderbilt nursing interview Master of Nursing applicants?
Vanderbilt's MN pages list no interview for most applicants. International applicants whose native language is not English have a phone interview with the program director and an admissions committee member.
What happened to Vanderbilt's PreSpecialty program?
Vanderbilt now calls PreSpecialty its previous program. Non-nurses apply to the Master of Nursing, or to MN + PMC to continue straight into an advanced practice specialty.
When is the Vanderbilt Master of Nursing deadline?
Applications open in May for the following spring semester and in August for the following fall semester. Applications are welcome throughout the fall and spring semesters and are reviewed as they are received.
What GPA do you need for Vanderbilt's MN?
Vanderbilt recommends a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Standardized test scores are not required.
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.
- Vanderbilt University School of Nursing: Master of Nursing Program · read October 26, 2026
- Vanderbilt University School of Nursing: MSN, MN, Post-Master's Certificates admissions · read October 26, 2026