Am I out of options?

U.S.A. Florida

Published

Hi everyone!

I'm looking to apply to HCC's nursing program next fall (2017) however I looked at my GPA and its at 2.66 :bag: and that would be IF I got an A in micro and lab. Florida has some law that doesn't allow retakes for courses you earned a C in and I'm so lost. My hopes and dreams are crushed. I'm cursing freshman year me for ruining my chances.

I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas if there is a way I can still pursue nursing or to get my prerequisite GPA up? I was thinking of an LPN program but I'm not sure where to go about that.

Any help would be great.

Private schools like and Kaiser will accept any GPA as long as you can pass the TEAS test. They are expensive, but if it's your only option, it's well worth it.

I'm finishing up an LPN to RN bridge through Rasmussen and while expensive, and not perfect, I feel I'm getting a MUCH better education than I received in my community college LPN program.

Buyer beware, BSN

1,137 Posts

Specializes in GENERAL.

That's the lowest common denominator choice. I'm not sure why Florida has some rule that you can't repeat a course you recrived a "C" in. If you want a first-class ticket to hell go to any for profit. They'd love to have you on board, dip into your loan money and leave you by the roadside without a degree and in life-destroying debt. So be desperate and try it. They're waiting for you with open arms, I'm sure.

Rasmussen is ACEN accredited and as I said above, I'm getting a MUCH better education than the CC I attended for my LPN.

Meeshie

304 Posts

If you really want to go to nursing school then.... private college is likely your best choice here. And yes, a lot of people fail out of private nursing schools... but they also have a much lower entrance threshold and that means that you get a greater percentage of students who are not going to keep up. Chicken and egg kind of thing. Just make sure you pick an accredited college.

How empathetic of you

Risky

69 Posts

Specializes in LPN.

I knew I didn't want to go the private school route (too expensive), so I was determined to find a state college that would accept me. My pre-req GPA wasn't the greatest 3.3 and I knew I wouldn't get accepted at HCC where I did my pre-reqs so I tried PHSC and got in. If you get high TEAS scores (mine was 77.3) you have a chance to get in. As far as retaking classes, I believe you can take the same class at PHSC that you got a C in and if you get a better grade you can use that when you apply so your GPA will be higher.

Also, if you know you are going to end up with a C in micro I suggest asking your teacher to just give you a D so you can retake it since it may be too late to just drop the class. I had a professor at HCC that would happily do that to help people out.

Takeyla22

25 Posts

On 7/24/2016 at 4:42 PM, Dave_In_Florida said:

Private schools like Rasmussen and Kaiser will accept any GPA as long as you can pass the TEAS test. They are expensive, but if it's your only option, it's well worth it.

I'm finishing up an LPN to RN bridge through Rasmussen and while expensive, and not perfect, I feel I'm getting a MUCH better education than I received in my community college LPN program.

Hey, I’m due to start the LPN-RN at in a couple weeks. How was it? Did you do their RN-BSN?

I just did the LPN-RN bridge, no BSN. I honestly didn't have a problem with . Many in my cohort complained about the lack of organization, lack of information, last minute scheduling changes, etc, but having gone through a community college for my LPN, I had experienced all of those issues previously, and I just believe that's how nursing school is. Aside from the cost (which I knew it would be expensive before deciding to go there) I really don't have any complaints about Ras.

Not sure if all campuses are similar, but they technically don't have a bridge "program". LPN's just have a few less classes to take within their RN program. So half or more of my cohort were not LPN's, which I kindof liked because it means you will review material you may already know, but a refresher is always a good thing.

I didn't give a rip about my grades back in my late teens, C's get degrees yada yada. When I was one class away from finishing my prerequisite for the nursing program at the local community college I met with the advisor who informed me I hade zero chance at getting into their nursing program. That was a hard pill to swallow, especially because I had earned all A's in the classes I took at their school. Unfortunately, my grades from 1995 still follow me and ruin my GPA. I ended up at a private nursing college, graduated, and passed my NCLEX in 75 questions. I made sure that the school I went to was ACEN accredited, but that still isn't good enough for local community colleges. If I want to bridge to my BSN, I'm now trapped in the private college sector. BUT!! I am an RN, I love(ish) my job! I wouldn't have had the opportunity otherwise. If you want it, go for it. Yes it costs more money, but there are grants out there and loans. When all was said and done, I owe $113 a month for my student loan payment probably forever, but it is manageable.

On 8/6/2020 at 9:59 AM, Wannabeeinscrubs said:

I didn't give a rip about my grades back in my late teens, C's get degrees yada yada. When I was one class away from finishing my prerequisite for the nursing program at the local community college I met with the advisor who informed me I hade zero chance at getting into their nursing program. That was a hard pill to swallow, especially because I had earned all A's in the classes I took at their school. Unfortunately, my grades from 1995 still follow me and ruin my GPA. I ended up at a private nursing college, graduated, and passed my NCLEX in 75 questions. I made sure that the school I went to was ACEN accredited, but that still isn't good enough for local community colleges. If I want to bridge to my BSN, I'm now trapped in the private college sector. BUT!! I am an RN, I love(ish) my job! I wouldn't have had the opportunity otherwise. If you want it, go for it. Yes it costs more money, but there are grants out there and loans. When all was said and done, I owe $113 a month for my student loan payment probably forever, but it is manageable.

So, local colleges and universities won't even take you seriously as a nurse if you went to a private/for profit nursing school? Could they at least consider the circumstances and see that you clearly passed the NCLEX and became a nurse? 

 

This is what I was afraid of.

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