How to Learn About Student Life at Goldfarb School of Nursing Before Applying

You can get a solid picture of student life at Goldfarb School of Nursing without contacting the school by using three resources on its website: The Goldfarb Experience viewbook, the events calendar (including virtual information sessions), and the program pages that describe how students learn. The viewbook is the fastest starting point because it covers degree options and life in St. Louis in one place; events and program descriptions fill in the day-to-day experience.

Start with The Goldfarb Experience Viewbook

The homepage describes The Goldfarb Experience as a viewbook that breaks down "everything you need to know about studying at Goldfarb—from degree options to life in St. Louis." This is the closest thing to a single overview of student life, so open it first.

What to look for as you read:

• How the school describes its learning environment (the site emphasizes a "student-centered environment" and "flexible learning options")
• Any detail on living in St. Louis, since the viewbook explicitly covers it
• How each degree path is framed, which tells you what daily study in that program is likely to involve

The viewbook is linked from the homepage as "Open Viewbook." If you are comparing programs, note which degree options the viewbook presents alongside the St. Louis material—that pairing is the main reason to read it before anything else.

Use the Events Calendar to See the Community in Action

The homepage lists upcoming Goldfarb events for prospective students, current students, and alumni, with a "See all upcoming events" link for the full schedule. Events are the best way to observe the school's culture directly, even before applying.

Examples from the published calendar:

The High School Preview Day is described as a chance to "learn about nursing careers, connect with our community, and discover the opportunities waiting for you at Goldfarb"—that language of connecting with the community is a direct signal of what the school considers student life. The PMHNP session is program-specific, so it is most useful if that specialty is on your shortlist. The pinning ceremony is a traditional nursing milestone; watching how the school presents it gives you a sense of cohort identity and ceremony culture.

Practical step: open "See all upcoming events" and check whether any session matches your level (undergraduate vs. graduate) and format preference (in-person vs. virtual). Dates on the homepage are specific, so confirm details on each event page before planning around them.

Read Program Pages for How Students Actually Learn

The homepage notes that Goldfarb offers "simulation-based learning" as part of its programming. Program pages are where that description becomes concrete, so use them to answer the question "what will my weeks look like?"

What to extract from each program page:

• Whether simulation-based learning is emphasized and in what context
• Which delivery formats are offered—the site mentions flexible learning options and, for undergraduates, "a class option outside of traditional hours," which matters if you plan to work while studying
• The pathway that fits your starting point: the site separates Bachelor's programs, High School to BSN, Master's programs, Postgraduate Certificates, and Doctoral programs

For example, if you are a transfer student or need evening-type classes, the undergraduate BSN options are the pages to read closely. If you already hold a BSN or MSN, the graduate program pages describe how the school frames advanced practice roles.

A Simple Sequence to Follow

1. Open the viewbook for the broad picture of degrees and St. Louis life.
2. Scan the events calendar and pick one session at your level; a virtual session is the lowest-commitment option if travel is a barrier.
3. Read the program page for your intended degree and note how learning formats and simulation are described.
4. Check the financial aid page if cost affects your decision—the site states that currently 80% of Goldfarb students receive grants or scholarships, and it describes the BJC Full-Ride Scholars program, which the homepage says provides 100% coverage (read the program page for the full conditions).

Common Sticking Points

• Event dates are far out. The listed events fall in late 2026, so if you are applying sooner, check the full events page for additional sessions rather than assuming the homepage list is complete.
• The viewbook is a marketing document. Treat it as a starting orientation, then verify specifics—class formats, simulation details—on the individual program pages.
• Specialty sessions are narrow. A PMHNP information session tells you a lot about that track and little about undergraduate life; match the event to your actual path.
• Don't skip the St. Louis angle. The viewbook deliberately covers life in the city, which is part of student life if you will be relocating.