You did everything right. You took the prerequisites. You studied for the entrance exam. You kept your grades up. And you’re still waiting to find out if there’s a seat for you in a nursing program.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone, and it’s not a reflection of how hard you’ve worked. New York has a nursing school capacity problem. The good news is that there’s more than one way into healthcare.
The Numbers Behind the Nursing Bottleneck
New York needs more nurses, but its schools can’t train everyone who wants to become one. According to the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University at Albany, roughly half of New York nursing program deans reported turning away qualified applicants in 2025.
The reasons have nothing to do with student talent. Programs say they don’t have enough qualified faculty, enough clinical training sites, or enough room under their admission caps. Faculty shortages alone were cited by 72% of New York BSN programs and 50% of associate degree programs.
Nationally, the picture is the same. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reported that U.S. nursing schools turned away 93,176 qualified applicants in the 2025–26 academic year, and more than 75,000 of them were applying to entry-level BSN programs.
What This Looks Like at NYC Colleges
Here in the city, many students start in a “pre-nursing” or “pre-clinical” track and then compete for a limited number of clinical seats. Being accepted to the college is not the same as being accepted to the nursing program.
- Seats are capped. Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) notes that its nursing department limits how many students can enter, so not every eligible student is admitted.
- Reapplying is common. BMCC also says some students have needed to apply two or three times before getting in.
- Cohorts are small. Kingsborough Community College’s published data shows clinical classes of roughly 60 to 90 students per semester.
- Getting in isn’t the finish line. At Kingsborough, the share of clinical students graduating within three years ranged from about 49% to 80% across recent cohorts.
Every semester spent waiting is a semester without a healthcare paycheck, without patient experience, and often with more tuition and more retakes.
| THE BOTTOM LINE
Your path into healthcare doesn’t have to start with a waiting list. |
Why Medical Assisting Is a Smart Move Right Now
Medical Assistants work at the center of patient care. They take vital signs, prepare patients for exams, assist providers with procedures, perform clinical tasks like phlebotomy and EKGs, and keep a practice running smoothly. For many people, it’s the fastest way to go from “I want to work in healthcare” to actually doing it.
You can start building your career now.
Instead of spending another semester on prerequisites and waiting for a decision, you can be learning the clinical and administrative skills employers look for in doctors’ offices, clinics, and hospitals.
You can get real patient experience.
Allen School’s Medical Assistant training includes an internship at a healthcare site, so you graduate with hands-on experience working with real patients and providers, not just classroom knowledge.
Nursing stays on the table
Becoming a Medical Assistant doesn’t close the door on nursing. Many people who later pursue nursing say working in a clinical setting first confirmed their passion, strengthened their applications, and made nursing school feel less overwhelming. You can keep growing while you earn.
Side by Side: Waiting vs. Starting
| Waiting on a nursing seat | Medical Assistant at Allen School | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting in | Competitive; seats are capped and many students apply more than once | A focused career program built to get you started |
| While you wait | More prerequisites, retakes, and reapplications | Training for patient care and clinical skills now |
| Patient contact | Comes later, once you reach the clinical phase | Built into your training, including an internship |
| Income | Often on hold until you finish | A path to a paycheck in healthcare sooner |
| If nursing is still the goal | You keep competing for the same limited seats | You apply later with real healthcare experience behind you |
Why Allen School of Health Sciences
Allen School has been training healthcare professionals since 1961. Our focus is simple: give students the skills, confidence, and hands-on experience to start a healthcare career.
- Over 65 years of healthcare training. Generations of graduates have started their careers with Allen School.
- Nationally recognized. Allen School was named one of USA Today’s Top Vocational Schools two years in a row (2025 & 2026).
- Close to home. Campuses in Brooklyn and Jamaica, Queens.
- Career-focused training. Medical Assistant and Healthcare Management programs built around what employers need.
- Hands-on internship. Practice your skills in a real healthcare setting before you graduate.
- Support from day one. Admissions advisors and Career Services help you plan your path, from enrollment to your first job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it hard to get into nursing school in New York City?
Yes. Roughly half of New York nursing programs turned away qualified applicants in 2025 because of faculty shortages, limited clinical sites and admission caps. Many NYC students apply more than once before getting a seat.
What can I do if I didn’t get into a nursing program?
You can reapply, but you don’t have to put your career on hold while you do. Training as a Medical Assistant lets you start working in patient care and build experience that can strengthen a future nursing application.
Can I become a nurse after becoming a Medical Assistant?
Yes. Medical assisting is a common first step into healthcare. You’ll still need to meet a nursing program’s admission requirements, but you’ll bring clinical experience and a clearer sense of your goals.
Where are Allen School’s campuses?
Allen School has campuses in Brooklyn and Jamaica, Queens in New York City.
Ready to start your healthcare career?
Talk with an Allen School admissions advisor about the Medical Assistant program.
SOURCES
— Center for Health Workforce Studies, Trends in New York Registered Nurse Graduations, 2015–2024
— Center for Health Workforce Studies, State of New York’s RN Education Pipeline (infographic)
— RegisteredNursing.org, Why Qualified Nursing Students Are Being Turned Away (AACN data)
— Borough of Manhattan Community College, Admission to the Nursing Program
— Kingsborough Community College, Nursing Program Outcome Data