Tech's Nursing Scholars Edge Direct Entry Program Gives Students Advantages

When Cassie Sampson thinks about her time in the Sherry Lesar School of Nursing at Montana Technological University, she has a single piece of advice for prospective students.

“Don’t underestimate Butte and Montana Tech,” Sampson said. “I think a lot of people underestimate it and I’ve found it to be a really incredible program at a great college with a lot of good people.”

Sampson, originally from Laurel, is a junior in the nursing program. She decided to attend Montana Tech after a tour of campus as a high school senior. At the time, the Lesar Family Nursing Simulation Center was under construction and piqued her interest. As a student, it became a vital piece of her success.

Sampson has practiced physical assessment, IV medication administration, and bedside manner with patients in varying degrees of physical stress.

“I think the simulation center gives everyone a much better idea of what to expect,” Sampson said. “It’s very hands-on and you get a lot of help from the professors. It’s a lot less nerve wracking than practicing on a live patient. It makes it feel very real without the high stakes of a real situation.”

Sampson said another opportunity was critical to her academic journey: the Nursing Scholars Edge Direct Entry Program.

The Nursing Scholars Edge Program is a direct entry opportunity that selects 25 top Montana high school seniors every year from a pool of qualified applicants. Additionally, applicants will be considered for a $500 scholarship. All incoming freshmen selected for the Nursing Scholars Edge Direct Entry Program secure clinical spots in the Sherry Lesar School of Nursing. Earning a seat in the clinical program is a highly competitive process for students who don’t have the Nursing Scholars Edge Program advantage. The Sherry Lesar School of Nursing has been named the #1 nursing program in the state in numerous publications over the past several years, and was named a Top 20 BSN Program in the U.S. by EDsmart in 2022. The school’s excellent reputation helps draw applicants from across the United States.

By applying and being selected for one of the Nursing Scholars Edge Direct Entry Program spots, the student needs to maintain a 3.5 grade point average in pre-nursing coursework in order to enroll in the clinical portion of the nursing program, after taking prerequisites. Program participants get to bypass one of the major hurdles to clinical selection: the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) exam.

The TEAS exam is a test administered to gain admission into the clinical portion of nursing schools. At Montana Tech, your exam score is factored into your application, along with your overall GPA, and grades in certain prerequisites.

Sampson says not having to take the exam after her third semester was a huge relief.

“Not having to take the TEAS was a huge asset, Sampson said. “I was able to focus on my school work while in the program. I was able to learn without the TEAS hanging over my head.”

Sampson is currently leaning toward being an emergency room nurse.

Director of Nursing Janet Coe, calls the program a tremendous opportunity.

“The ability to have direct entry into the clinical portion of a nursing program is a tremendous opportunity for our Montana students,” Coe said. “It awards a prestigious honor for students with a clear understanding of the professional nurse role and who demonstrate high academic performance along with strong work ethic and leadership. Selection criteria gives students from all Montana communities, large and small, an opportunity to be honored.”

Montana high school seniors need a 3.5 grade point average to be eligible for the program. Students are asked to apply for the program, in addition to a regular application to Montana Tech, high school transcript, résumé, and written responses to essay questions.

This year’s essay questions:

• What is your understanding of the role of the professional nurse and why have you chosen to pursue nursing as a career at Montana Technological University?

• What are your views on rural health? Would you ever consider working in a rural area?

• Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution, or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud, and how does it relate to the person you are?

• Do you have any experience in healthcare or with patient care (such as volunteer opportunities, job shadowing, employment etc)? Please describe.

• Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for the Nursing Scholars Edge Program?

The program application is open now. The deadline to submit is 4 PM on January 15, 2025. Questions? Email nursing@mtech.edu. Click here to view the Nursing Scholars Edge Direct Entry website.

Montana Tech’s general acceptance application can be found here. Students must be admitted to the university first in order to be accepted into the Nursing Scholars Edge Direct Entry Program.