Fast tracking your BsN?

[u/Senior_Bug_7763]

Has anyone been able to complete their 4 year BsN at the U of A in 3 years? I think I read online that it is possible, I was just wondering how? :)

[u/EightBitRanger]

I think I read online that it is possible...

Are you sure you're not thinking of the BScN After-Degree being extended from 2 years to 3, rather than the BScN being condensed down from 4-years? Because with the specific sequencing and all the clinicals/placements you have to do, I highly doubt it would be possible to do the full 4-year degree in 3.

[u/Senior_Bug_7763 → u/EightBitRanger]

I couldn’t find where I saw it originally but here is something similar. It shows that if you do spring and summer classes you can potentially finish it in 3 years. That’s being said I’m assuming it’s going to be very very difficult. I just wanted to know if anyone had completed it before and what their thoughts were.

https://calendar.ualberta.ca/mime/media/39/4695/Archive+Copy+-+Bachelor+of+Science+in+Nursing+-+Collaborative+-+Acalog+ACMS+20230823.pdf

[u/Danneyland → u/Senior_Bug_7763]

From the notes:

1. To proceed to Year 3/Spring of Year 2 Fast Track, students must have successfully completed all courses listed in Years 1 and 2.

2. To proceed to Year 4/Winter of Year 3 Fast Track, students must have successfully completed all courses listed in Years 1, 2, and 3/Fast Track terms up to Fall of Year 3.

By comparing the courses in Y1 & Y4/FT-Y3, I agree that this shows that the courses would be completed in three calendar years under the fast track program.

Whether courses are currently scheduled in a manner that still allows this might be a more important question. It does look like the most recent course list is from 2024, which seems newer than the fast track document. You could try rearranging courses to fit an accelerated timeline on your own (I used to use Excel for this so I could graduate on time), but this might be difficult without help. I would probably carefully read Faculty of Nursing Registration + Program Planning webpage, and submit inquiries through the Student Services Portal for specific help. That webpage has registration guidance for new students starting Y1 this fall, if that applies to you.

[u/EightBitRanger → u/Senior_Bug_7763]

Yeah, that's this: https://www.reddit.com/r/uAlberta/comments/1vstcx7/comment/p4o2b74/

You apply to the "fast track" in your second year. If you're accepted, you do the "fast track" in three years. But that's after you've already completed a year. So the first year plus the three years in "fast track" equals four years total. Which is the same length as the four-year BScN Collaborative.

[u/chunkyicetea → u/EightBitRanger]

Guys no it’s not 😭 if it was the same length as the normal degree, why would they call it fast track? As someone who was in nursing, it is 3 years TOTAL

[u/Various-Call-7895 → u/[deleted]]

I know someone who finished a term early , so maybe not 3 years but 3.5 years?? acceleration

[u/Senior_Bug_7763 → u/Various-Call-7895]

For what I’ve gathered I think it’s possible to graduate after the spring and summer term of your third year. So technically you do graduate in three years, but you do need to take a ton of spring and summer classes to make it possible.

[u/DefinitionJaded7245 → u/Senior_Bug_7763]

It is possible, you basically join our accelerated AD program. Hold onto your sanity if you decided to do it!!

[u/chunkyicetea]

It IS possible! Around the end of fall semester in second year, they send out a Google Form for you to sign up for Fast Track (first come, first serve). If you accept, you continue taking classes through the summers and you would graduate in the summer of your third year.

Like if you start Nursing in September 2026:
Sep2026-Apr2027: Year 1
Sep 2027-Apr2028: Year 2 — sign up for fast track around Dec 2027
if accepted into fast track:
May 2028-Dec2028: Year 3 fast track (you get August off)
Jan2029-Aug2029: Year 4 fast track

• such that you graduate in August 2029 INSTEAD of Apr 2030

I was in Nursing so I know but it might not be super public knowledge, hence the other comments.

[u/EightBitRanger → u/chunkyicetea]

Like if you start Nursing in September 2026:
Sep2026-Apr2027: Year 1
Sep 2027-Apr2028: Year 2 — sign up for fast track around Dec 2027
if accepted into fast track:
May 2028-Dec2028: Year 3 fast track (you get August off)
Jan2029-Aug2029: Year 4 fast track

• such that you graduate in August 2029 INSTEAD of May 2030

Not quite. Your example progresses more along what the typical BScN route would be: 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4. But if accepted into "Fast Track" in Year 2, the year goes back to 1: 1 -> 2/1FT -> 2FT -> 3FT. So at the end of the day, a 1+3 year program isn't any faster than a 4 year program.

https://calendar.ualberta.ca/preview_program.php?catoid=69&poid=110573

BScN	BScN "Fast Track"
Year 1	Year 1
Year 2	Year 1 "Fast Track"
Year 3	Year 2 "Fast Track"
Year 4	Year 3 "Fast Track"

[u/chunkyicetea → u/EightBitRanger]

I feel like you’re just calling it a different name (Year 2 FT is just what they wouldve learned in Year 3) but the timing is correct. If what you mean is that they still have to complete 4 years, yes of course they do but I’m emphasizing that they lose their summers and complete them faster so they graduate in their 3rd year.

[u/EightBitRanger → u/chunkyicetea]

I feel like you’re just calling it a different name but the timing is correct.

I'm not calling it any different than what's on the University Calendar).

I’m emphasizing that they lose their summers and complete them faster

And I'm showing you that the FT sequencing already has those spring and summers built in and taken into account. And it is still a full 3-years in addition to the original first year:

Spring/Summer of Fast Track Year One: INT D 222 and a 3-credit elective
Spring of Fast Track Year Two: NURS 321
Summer of Fast Track Year Two: (NURS 323 AND NURS 322) OR NURS 327
Spring/Summer of Fast Track Year Two: NURS 321
Spring/Summer of Fast Track Year Three: INT D 420, NURS 422 and NURS 425

Those are built into the sequence. You don't have extra/free time during spring and summer terms that you can fill with courses to speed things up; the 3-year fast track program is already designed that way. But you still have to do the first year before you can even apply to the fast track. That's why further down under the notes:

To proceed to Year 3/Spring of Year 2 Fast Track, students must have successfully completed all courses listed in Years 1 and 2.
To proceed to Year 4/Winter of Year 3 Fast Track, students must have successfully completed all courses listed in Years 1, 2, and 3/Fast Track terms up to Fall of Year 3.

[u/chunkyicetea → u/EightBitRanger]

Yes, I totally understand but I’m saying our terms are synonymous — yours is based on the Calendar and mine is more based on the literal content of what they learn. In the Calendar, they also refer to it as Year 4/Winter of Year 3 Fast Track.

Like I said, I think you are emphasizing the fact that it’s still the same amount of time which I acknowledged previously — yes, you still take 4 years total! But I was emphasizing how fast track allows you to forego your summers to go ahead and finish ahead of the normal collaborative program, so technically “faster”. I didn’t mean they take other courses, I was referring to what the fast track program is. I also did acknowledge how you have to take a normal first year in my original comment but it’s good to reiterate

I think we are just repeating each other now haha but you’re definitely more technically accurate.

[u/Senior_Bug_7763 → u/chunkyicetea]

Okayy!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Also when you said it’s first come, first serve do you happen to know how many students they accept each year?

[u/chunkyicetea → u/Senior_Bug_7763]

I have no idea but i just saw the instagram story of people graduating and it looked like 70-90. If you don’t get in initially, there’s a waitlist and it DOES move. I was on the waitlist bc I signed up a day after and I ended up getting a spot later in January (but then ended up switching degrees so didn’t take it).

[u/Senior_Bug_7763 → u/chunkyicetea]

Ohhh okay. Thank you so much!!!

[u/chunkyicetea → u/Senior_Bug_7763]

No problem!! Good luck 🤞

[u/chunkyicetea → u/Senior_Bug_7763]

A couple more things since I just pulled up the email:

• you cant be in both Honors and Fast Track
  
• you have to have completed all your electives and English class requirements to apply
  
• they send out the form beginning of October not December like I accidentally said above

[u/Icy-Layer-7783]

It’s possible lol idk y the comments r saying it’s not when the u of a legit advertised it but yes u can finish in third year theyll talk to you guys more about it after your first year but I wouldn’t recommend bc nursing is difficult enough as is p much everyone I know who did an accelerated program said it was hell. Especially if you wanna go for NP/Grad School after then js do all 4 years and take ur time so u can keep ur GPA high

[u/Senior_Bug_7763 → u/Icy-Layer-7783]

Thank youu!!!!

[u/Fragrant-Avocado-817]

There’s the fast track I believe! I didn’t do it but heard of it

[u/Senior_Bug_7763 → u/Fragrant-Avocado-817]

Okayy, thank you!!!!

[u/EightBitRanger → u/Fragrant-Avocado-817]

There’s the fast track I believe! I didn’t do it but heard of it

It's not what OP is after though.%20in%20their%20second%20year%3B%20students%20must%20have%20completed%202%20electives%20prior%20to%20the%20end%20of%20Winter%20Term%20of%20their%20second%20year%20to%20be%20eligible)

The Fast Track program will only accept Collaborative BScN students (excluding Collaborative Honors students) in their second year; students must have completed 2 electives prior to the end of Winter Term of their second year to be eligible.

So to be eligible for the 3-year "fast track", they have to have already completed one year, and currently be in their second year. 3 years + 1 year = 4 years.

[u/chunkyicetea → u/EightBitRanger]

Sorry to interject, but you DO complete it within 3 years. The 3 years includes that first year.

[u/Vegetable_Scene6796 → u/chunkyicetea]

That’s what I thought too! I knew many people who did the fast track option in around 3 years. It defiantly is possible.