Need advice-

My horrible grades from the past has finally caught up to me :-/

I graduated with an Associates degree a few years ago. I was young and was going to class just to make my parents happy. This was reflected on my GPA. Now that I am older and figured out what I want to study, I have the burden of my bad grades from the past.

I have returned to community college as a second degree in nursing but I keep reading on how competitative it is. I know messed up bad, but I am focused and determined to put in the work to get into the nursing program.

Is this an unrealistic dream?

grades from 1st degree transferred to my new school:

eng 1 - C

eng 2 - B+

intro to psy - B

art survey - D

soc - B

new grades:

a&p1 - A

chem - A

can I/should I just retake all of my transferred courses?

Please help

Definitely retake the Eng 1 and art survey class at the college you first took them. That is b/c if you take them at your current college it won't erase the GPA from the first college. The nursing program looks at your whole transcripts from all colleges you attended and gives you an overall GPA score.[that's how my community college does it]

So that means if you retake the classes at the current community college and not at the college where you originally took these classes, your overall GPA will include the bad grades as well as the new ones.

However, if you retake them at the college where you got the bad grades your highest grade will be used to calculate the GPA and won't be used against you

It really depends on your schools prerequisites. What they are asking/requiring from you to have as "meeting the criteria"

It wouldn't hurt to take other classes to boost the GPA but as for retaking those classes, ask your counselor. But the A's you are getting now show great character and maturity and will account for something at some point. What else do you have going for you academically? Extracurriculars?

Are these prerequisites?

eng 1 - C

eng 2 - B+

intro to psy - B

art survey - D

soc - B

If so, I'd retake English 1 and Art Survey.

Every program is different on what it allows. One school may only look at Prereqs while the next will look at all courses taken. Some schools will drop the earlier grade if the course is retaken, where others will average the two grades. You really have to get intouch with your program of choice and see what they have to say.

The Pre-reqs are:

ENG 10/11 Fundamentals of Composition and Rhetoric I/II

CMS 11 Fund. of Interpersonal Communication

PSY 11 Introduction to Psychology

PHM 10 Pharmacology Computations

BIO 23 Human Anatomy and Physiology I

not sure if I can retake the courses at my previous community college since I already obtained a degree there :-/

You need to talk to a councilor and here is why....

There is no answer that fits all schools for this because all schools have different ways of looking at transcripts from other schools and each school has different admission requirements for their programs. So this could get a bit complex, but let me see if I can get the basics across.

First you need to find out how the Nursing program selects its students. Some use the total GPA of all undergrad classes, some only look at a select core but require a certain GPA grade in other classes. Usually you have to complete a certain percentage of your classes at the school too. Additionally, there many be another requirement such as a nursing entrance exam (similar to sat/act but with an emphasis on science) and/or interview (schools seem to be dropping this).

What transfers and how it effects your GPA will also depend on the school, how long ago you took the classes and if you got a degree with these credits. Many times anything under a C will not transfer to a new school. If the grade is of a certain number of years you may be able to appeal and get it removed. Usually grades are only good for 5-10 years unless you have completed a degree with them. Your associates kind of complicates matters here, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Some schools are understanding that we don't always have the same maturity when we are 18 as we do at 25 and maybe willing to work with you.

How the school treats these grades again depends on the school. Some times the grade from old schools don't count toward your new GPA and some do.

The competition to get into NS can be somewhat insane. At my school, for instance, they only look at four classes and the TEAS, as a result no without A's in these four classes doesn't get in and even then you must score high on the TEAS.

I would say if these classes count against your chances of getting in retake them and if not then don't worry about it. But again this depends on your school and their requirements.

The Pre-reqs are:

ENG 10/11 Fundamentals of Composition and Rhetoric I/II

CMS 11 Fund. of Interpersonal Communication

PSY 11 Introduction to Psychology

PHM 10 Pharmacology Computations

BIO 23 Human Anatomy and Physiology I

not sure if I can retake the courses at my previous community college since I already obtained a degree there :-/

Before you look at re-taking any classes anywhere, take the advice to talk to an advisor at your current school. There are as many variations in requirements as there are schools. English 101 & 102 are pre-reqs at my school but they don't factor into the admission GPA. The person who gets an A in English is no better off than someone who got a C when it comes to applicant selection. My school also replaces your old grade with a new grade for retakes. Not all schools do the same.

So gather your transcripts and make an appointment with an advisor!!

Thanks all! I will make an appointment to see an advisor. I appreciate all of the advice.