[lullaby]

Hi,

I am a 29 year old woman who has a BA in interior architecture/design. I live in NYC and over the past year I have decided I want to become a nurse. I feel SO great about this decision and I have never wanted anything more in my life. I have been researching heavily for the past 8 months and I am currently on the path to taking all my pre-reqs at a community college in nyc starting this summer. Once all my pre-reqs are completed I will be applying to several accelerated BSN programs throughout the country, but mostly in nyc. I will go anywhere that will accept me!!!

but lately I have been feeling pretty discouraged I know how hard it is to get into nursing school and how important your gpa is. I'm scared that it will be really hard for me to get into an accelerated bsn program because my gpa from my BA is only a 2.8

BUT the program I was in was VERY hard to get into and is so competitive [the top ranked interior architecture program in the country] and it was also a 5 year program. our PORTFOLIOS were what were most important NOT our gpa's and I was one of the top students in my class! just making it through that program with anything above a 2.5 was considered a huge accomplishment.

I guess what i'm looking for are any stories of people who got into programs relatively quickly, despite lower gpa's. I have some really great recommendation letters, my personal essay will be great, I'm doing volunteer work in a hospital, and I will HOPEFULLY get a 4.0 on all my pre-reqs as I know how important all A's will be!

I don't mind waiting a while to get into a program but i'm hoping i don't have to wait more than 2 years after i'm done with all my pre-reqs.

my other question is do you think schools will finally give you a chance if you apply like 4 times?! do they finally let you in if you meet all of their requirements and continue to apply for years?!

I need some encouragement. I really have never wanted anything more in my life and am willing to do whatever it takes to become a nurse!

[Mission]

2nd degree bachelor's programs are easier to get into then other programs. I think NYU says on their website they'll consider someone with a 2.75. I think your pre-reqs will count more than anything else. Also, if you haven't already, get some experience as a volunteer, especially doing health education will be helpful and look good on your application. Good luck!

[lilnat03]

hey there,

i went to school for psychology originally and had a less than stellar gpa but i got all A's on my prerequisites. those are what the nursing programs really look at. so don't let your past keep you from going for something you really want. study hard for those prereqs and apply to as many programs as you can. you can do it!

[PMFB-RN]

Cheer up! Getting into accelerated BSN program is much easier than traditional BSN programs. I currently work with several new accelerated BSN grads in the SICU were I work. One guy had a degree in zoology and tells me that he mostly partied while getting his first degree and barely graduated with a 2.2 and had no problem getting into UW (Wisconsin) Oshkosh's program. Another guy has a degree in business administration with similar grades and got right in no problem.
Here is the web site:
http://www.uwosh.edu/con/undergrad/accelerated.php

Also UW Eau Claire just started an accelerated program.

[Suesquatch]

You'll get in.

[MiaNJ]

Originally Posted by lullaby

Hi,

I am a 29 year old woman who has a BA in interior architecture/design. I live in NYC and over the past year I have decided I want to become a nurse. I feel SO great about this decision and I have never wanted anything more in my life. I have been researching heavily for the past 8 months and I am currently on the path to taking all my pre-reqs at a community college in nyc starting this summer. Once all my pre-reqs are completed I will be applying to several accelerated BSN programs throughout the country, but mostly in nyc. I will go anywhere that will accept me!!!

but lately I have been feeling pretty discouraged I know how hard it is to get into nursing school and how important your gpa is. I'm scared that it will be really hard for me to get into an accelerated bsn program because my gpa from my BA is only a 2.8

BUT the program I was in was VERY hard to get into and is so competitive [the top ranked interior architecture program in the country] and it was also a 5 year program. our PORTFOLIOS were what were most important NOT our gpa's and I was one of the top students in my class! just making it through that program with anything above a 2.5 was considered a huge accomplishment.

I guess what i'm looking for are any stories of people who got into programs relatively quickly, despite lower gpa's. I have some really great recommendation letters, my personal essay will be great, I'm doing volunteer work in a hospital, and I will HOPEFULLY get a 4.0 on all my pre-reqs as I know how important all A's will be!

I don't mind waiting a while to get into a program but i'm hoping i don't have to wait more than 2 years after i'm done with all my pre-reqs.

my other question is do you think schools will finally give you a chance if you apply like 4 times?! do they finally let you in if you meet all of their requirements and continue to apply for years?!

I need some encouragement. I really have never wanted anything more in my life and am willing to do whatever it takes to become a nurse!

If it's any encouragement, I didn't have such a high GPA from my first BA, and still got into almost every school that I applied, for Accelerated BSN programs. I did very good on the prereqs though. Also, I had good reference letters, and I think the essay counts too.

I just completed an Accelerated BSN program and it was very stressful since it was alot of info to absorb, but it went by fast.
I still have the take the NCLEX and am currently studying for it.
I have found that the second degree programs or Accelerated BSNs don't have a large waiting list like traditional programs, since most people apply to traditional program, and most people that want to get into nursing aren't second degree students. So more than likely you will get into at least one of the schools you apply. Just do good on the prereqs, at least B or better overall if you can. But some schools will even take 2.75. So your references, and essay count too. They look at everything.
But like i said, there aren't as many applicants to second degree and although some schools are competitive, you can find a school that will accept you.

[lullaby]

thanks for all the feedback everyone! i do feel better, i'm just focusing on getting the best grades i can in the pre-reqs, and then i will be applying to as many programs as i can in NYC, chicago and cleveland. i will also apply to AAS programs but it's my understanding that it's actually easier for me to get into an accelerated BSN program.

hopefully it won't take too long to get into a program, good luck to everyone who is also trying to get into nursing!

[MiaNJ]

Originally Posted by lullaby

thanks for all the feedback everyone! i do feel better, i'm just focusing on getting the best grades i can in the pre-reqs, and then i will be applying to as many programs as i can in NYC, chicago and cleveland. i will also apply to AAS programs but it's my understanding that it's actually easier for me to get into an accelerated BSN program.

hopefully it won't take too long to get into a program, good luck to everyone who is also trying to get into nursing!

I personally don't think you should waste your time with an ASN program if you already have a Bachelors in another field.
I looked into ASN programs when I was first applying, and it turns out that most have a long waiting list, sometimes 2-3 yrs or more, since most people apply to these program, esp. those right out of high school.
Also, even if I had a BA, they wanted me to take certain general ed courses that were part of their currciculum, and I had not taken them as part of my degree - such as a second type of literature course, and developmental course, etc. I have taken regular college English and literature, but they have a different curriculum requirements, and want those before even applying to the nursing program, and before even getting on the waiting list. Plus some of the general Ed courses I had taken, they wouldn't take since they said it was equivalent to theirs. So it would take me much longer to even get into their list.

Not all ASN programs may have the same requirements, but the fact is that even if you can get in easily, the way they structure their program, it will take you longer to finish then with an Accelerated BSN.
The Accelerated BSNs go straight thru,full time even thru summer, and they are usually 12-16 mos. I would personally recommend one 15-16 mos though since I found the 12 mos program very stressful since it was so much info in a short amount of time.

There are several programs in NYC and nearby north NJ that you can apply to, and I'm sure you'll get into one of the Accel. BSN programs, since there is such a large nursing shortage, that they need as many students as possible. Of course, they take the best candidates. But you don't need to be a perfect A student to get in.

[onesunniegal]

Keep looking up! Think positively! If you want this badly, it will come, because you will work for it. I know you will be fine. Please do keep us posted.

[lilkaymin]

Why are you *waiting* for your prereqs to apply? you can apply to NYU for a 'traditional' 2nd bachelors. That way you have another option. That's what I did. I didn't want to take the prereqs and apply only not to get in anywhere - I'm paranoid about wasting a term or two. So I just applied to NYU. I got in and am planning to attend this fall. I think it'll be four full terms and one term of summer school.