Hi,

I went to LCC from 2003-2004 and nearly completed an Associate in Arts degree. I was really in a terrible place personally and financially when I started LCC, and between having to work well over 40 hours a week as well as go to school full time, I could not give it 100%. I got B's and C's in my classes. The last semester I was there, I had a personal traumatic event, and I stopped going to school completely. I took F's in all 4 classes I was taking. Fast forward 10 years, I have been a Phlebotomist and Medical Screener for 4 years. I absolutely love working in the medical field, and with the public, and I really want to get into the BCTC ADN program. My current GPA is a 1.7....obviously not even close. I realize the advisers can't give you definite answers when it comes to a selective admissions program. I really just need advice on what is going to give me the best CHANCE. The way I see it, I have 2 options. Option 1, I can retake those F's, as well as 5 pre-req classes I still need and at best bring my GPA to a 2.9 with over 40 credit hours. Option 2, is academic bankruptcy. The word bankruptcy scares me. I would finish my pre-reqs with around 20 credit hours but Im quite sure I would have at least a 3.0 GPA. I was a good student in high school, and do well when I do my best. Does anyone actually declare academic bankruptcy and ever make it into a nursing program? Is academic bankruptcy more common than I realize? Would it help my chances if I finished the Associate in Arts degree? I'm a different person than I was 10 years ago. I have a little girl to provide for now and I can't give her the life I want to give her in my current situation. I'm of the mindset that this is what I want to do with my life, and Ill do whatever it takes to make it happen. I will not take no for an answer, no matter how long it takes. I just need to know which is the best direction to go and then I'm taking off running in that direction with everything I have in me. I can handle any opinion that anyone is willing to give. If the ADN program is a pipe dream, is the LPN program a more realistic option? If anyone has the time to give me some advice, I would be grateful.

Thanks,

James

James,

Something that might help would be to get letters from anyone who helped you while you were going through and working out the details

of your trauma. I know where my husband teaches they'd much

rather give someone in your situation a chance than a kid who has a C+

average and absolutely no idea what he wants to be when he grows up.

Set up an appointment with both financial aid and with admissions and just tell them both exactly what you told us here. Believe me, they've heard much worse! Those people have heard every sad tale in the book. They're a

pretty nonjudgemental bunch. If you're in a 12 step program, have your sponsor write a letter. Ditto for any doctors,lawyers, counselors, etc. who

know how you've turned yourself around or who helped you do it.

Don't lose hope! Welcome to Allnurses. Check the site out.

I'm sorry, I think I gave you the wrong impression. Ive never had any type of addiction issues. I don't even drink alcohol. My issues in my younger days was depression due to obesity. My size has plagued me my entire life. I was approaching 400 lbs at that point in my life. I was more than just self conscious about my size, I was completely miserable in my own skin, even at home. When I was in school, I was engaged to the only girlfriend I ever had. In that last semester that I bombed out of, she broke it off and completely cut me out of her life. I was beyond devastated and never felt so alone. I just didn't care what happened anymore. I wish I had understood the opportunity that was right in front of me. That was a long time ago though. That person doesn't exist anymore. I ended up meeting my true soul mate. My wife showed me that it really is the person inside that counts, not whats on the outside. I joined Weight Watchers and I'm down to 269 lbs and dropping 1-2 lbs a week. I'm active and full of life. I have a little girl now, she just turned a year old. I'm happier and healthier than I have ever been. My only regret in life is throwing away my education. I can't give my child the life I want to provide for her without going back to school. I feel that nursing is what I was meant to do with my life. I just want to help people. I want to take care of people who are not able to take care of themselves. I want to ease the suffering of others and help them heal. I'm going to get where I want to be, and I know its going to take time. I just want to put myself in the best position I can. Like I said earlier, I just need help figuring out which direction to go in and then Im going at it full steam ahead.

Thanks for the added information! You really didn't give us much to go on in your first post so I was covering all bases -- or trying to anyway. My suggestions stand. Be absolutely and completely truthful. Truth goes a long way. Thanks for the additional information.

Depression is nothing to be ashamed about nor is being overweight. You've lost a LOT of weight! Shout it from the rooftops!

I would just go in and talk to an advisor and see what you need to do and what would be the best route to go. They can't give you the exact specifics like tell you oh if you do this, this, and this you are a shoo-in, but they can help you choose the right path to take. That is what they are there for. Nursing school is very competitive and they should be able to tell you how to make yourself the most competitive applicant.

James,

I declared academic bankruptcy at ECTC in 2011 after completing one semester of nursing pre-req's, in which I earned all A's. That gave me a 4.0 GPA when applying to the RN program. I was accepted into a class of 25 out of hundreds that applied. They did not take the bankruptcy into consideration, they went strictly by my new GPA and my score on the NLN-PAX-RN. I graduated in May with a 3.755 GPA. :) Don't be scared, it's a great option for those who need a second chance, and I would definitely take advantage of it again. You do not lose credit for the classes you have already taken (as long as you have not yet earned a degree), it just wipes your GPA slate clean. Please feel free to message me with any questions.

I think you should try the bankruptcy route first, and if that doesn't work then try to retake those F's. Also, your ranking rises when you obtain a degree so strive towards that goal if you don't get in the first time you apply. Good luck!