Low GPA... should I drop out?

[sarah14]

Hi everyone. I was wondering if someone might be able to give me some advice... I have been attending a community college for my RN and haven't been doing very well, mostly because I have to work a lot to support myself. Also, the grading scale is 7 pt, so an 84 is a 'C'. The first semester I got a 'D' and repeated the course, only to get a 'C' the second time around. I then completed a summer 1/2 semester with a 'C'. So, I am 1.5 semesters into a 5 semester program. I have a bachelor's degree in Biology and eventually would like to go on to graduate school in nursing. However, with such a low GPA, I am afraid that would be impossible. Should I drop out now and try to restart somewhere else and make better grades? What do you think? I'd really appreciate any input. Thanks a lot.

[mazy]

If it were me, I would not drop out, I would just keep plugging along and working as hard as I could until things started falling into place. Some of us have a different learning curve than others.

I don't think going to another school will change that, also, it will look bad to have that on your records.

If I am to understand, you are going for your RN, and hope to continue on to get your Master's?

My two cents would be to just put the Master's out of your head completely for now and focus on your RN, the added stress of worrying about how this will affect something so far into the future isn't going to help.

My college story is that I flunked out the first semester, went on probation and mandatory part time the next year, then went on to graduate with honors in a dual major; then on to get a Master's cum laude.

Then many years later, to get an LPN, and struggle, struggle, struggle with that degree. But I just kept going and in the end did very well.

Just keep at it, have faith in yourself, and keep your eye on the ball -- in this case, your RN.

[jpeters84]

I would not drop out. Keep working as hard as you can at your classes and giving it your all. This may seem like really bad advice and feel free to disregard it, but how about getting a small student loan to help you out with tuition and some living expenses so that you don't have to work so hard? Your nursing education should come first, and I know that wasn't realistic for me as I was putting myself through school to, so I got small amounts of loans to help me through so that I didn't have to work so much and could concentrate more on my studies. Hang in there! Nursing school is tedious and exhausting but you will make it. Just keep your motivation up the best you can, take care of yourself, put one foot in front of the other, and keep plugging away. Before you know it you will be done. Don't worry about your GPA so much. What is done is done. I don't think going to another program is going to help. Just keep your head up and keep going. Good Luck!