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Application Planner methodology

How the planner builds your checklist.

Every rule, every typical lead time, every guardrail. The point of this page is that nothing in the planner is a black box.

The contract

Same answers in, same checklist out. No randomness, no third parties scoring you, no hidden assumptions. Five inputs, four phases, a deterministic engine. Every task on your plan came from one of the rules below. You can read the source at lib/application-planner/engine.ts.

The hard guardrail

The planner uses typical lead times, not program-specific deadlines. Every program sets its own dates and requirements. The planner never asserts a real program's deadline. It will not say, for example, "your application is due February 1." It will say, "submit each application packet before its deadline" and direct you to confirm with the school.

State Boards of Nursing govern prelicensure documentation (background checks, fingerprinting, immunization rules). Confirm directly with your state board — see /licensure.

The five inputs

  • Target start term. Season (Fall, Spring, Summer) and year. The planner works backward from this date.
  • Program type. ADN, BSN, ABSN, direct-entry MSN, LPN/LVN, or "not sure yet." "Not sure" routes you to the Path Finder before running the planner.
  • Where you are now. Three sub-questions: prerequisites status, entrance exam status, and whether your school list is set.
  • Application count. 1-2, 3-5, or 6+. Scales the recommendation, transcript, and essay reminders.
  • Financial aid. Yes adds the FAFSA track to the Next phase. No skips it.

The four phases

Tasks land in one of four phases, in this order:

  • Start now (12+ months out). The long-lead items. Prereq planning when not started; finish remaining prereqs when in progress; shortlist programs if you're still deciding; pick which entrance exam (TEAS or HESI) your programs require.
  • Next (6 to 12 months). The mid-cycle work. Register and sit the entrance exam (or, if already scheduled, just sit it and request the score report). Line up recommenders 6 to 8 weeks before the earliest deadline. Request transcripts. Draft and revise the personal statement. File the FAFSA when it opens October 1 (only if aid is needed).
  • Final stretch (3 to 6 months). Confirm each program's deadline directly with the school. Submit at least 48 hours early. Prep for interviews if any of your programs require them.
  • After you're in (0 to 3 months). Pay the deposit by the date your acceptance letter specifies. Background check + drug screen via the program's vendor. Immunizations (and titers where required). BLS / CPR certification through an AHA-approved course. Confirm your state Board of Nursing's prelicensure requirements.

The rules that vary your plan

  • Prereqs done. Drops the Start-now prereq-plan and Start-now prereq-finish tasks entirely.
  • Prereqs in progress. Emits the "finish remaining prereqs" task only; skips the "plan the science sequence" task.
  • Entrance exam done. Drops every exam- related task. You already have a score.
  • Entrance exam scheduled. Drops the Start-now "decide which exam" task and the Next "register + start studying" task. Emits the "sit the exam + request the score" task in Next.
  • Schools list set. Drops the Start-now shortlist task; you already know where you're applying.
  • Schools still deciding. Adds the shortlist task pointing to the Program Finder.
  • Application count 1-2. Recommendation task copy asks for 2 recommenders.
  • Application count 3-5. Asks for 3 recommenders and warns about portal-vs-fresh-letter requirements.
  • Application count 6+. Asks for 3 recommenders with explicit batching guidance and a tracking-sheet recommendation.
  • Financial aid yes. Adds the FAFSA task in the Next phase.
  • Program type "not sure". Adds a credential-decision task in Start now pointing to the Path Finder.

What the planner does NOT do

  • It does not predict admission, completion, licensure, or employment.
  • It does not assert a specific program's deadline. Every deadline is "confirm with the program."
  • It does not assert that any specific school is "approved." That is a state Board of Nursing question.
  • It does not score, rank, or compare programs. Use the Program Finder for that.
  • It does not assume your race, age, identity, or background. It asks five questions about your situation and tailors the checklist by your answers.

Persistence + privacy

Your answers and which boxes you've checked are stored under the key nursingfloor:application-planner:v1 in browser localStorage. Nothing is sent to a server. Nothing is shared with another company. Clearing your browser data clears the plan.

If you'd like to share or back up your plan, copy the URL after building the plan (v2 will include URL-encoded inputs; v1 stores only locally).

Source + corrections

The engine lives at lib/application-planner/engine.ts, the unit-tested persona fixtures at lib/application-planner/personas.ts, and the test runner at scripts/application-planner-personas.ts.

If something on this page is wrong or out of date, write to support@nursingfloor.com. Editorial policy: /editorial-policy.