[maryshome8]

I'm a 37 year old single mother and it's been 10 years since I graduted from college with a degree in Psychology. My mother was an RN Supervisor for 43 years at the same hospital, and she pushed me so hard from the time I was very young to be a nurse, and I think that is why I rejected the idea so much.

Well, what has changed: 2 years ago I had a micro-preemie daughter that spent 2 months in the NICU. Looking at all of those teeny tiny babies...I knew right away that as soon as I was able, I needed to take a look at nursing school because that is what I wanted to do.

The problem: Besides having no family and no help, which will present it's own set of challenges..my grades when I was in undergrad was only a 2.0 GPA.

I need to take all of the science prerequisites, and I am wondering if I can get A's on those...the school I am applying to when I complete my prerequisites also requires an essay (I used to write professionally and had a weekly column in a local paper, so this is my strong point) and an interview.....what do you think my chances are?

[BCzito]

I wouldn't worry too much about your grades 10 years ago. Do well on your pre reqs (that doesn't mean you need all A's allthough that would be nice!). In addition I think (depending on the essay question of course) you should explain your mothers wish for you to be an RN how how that eventually changed... In addition I would focus on how your past experiences (good and bad) have made you come to realize (now) what you really want to do with your life. I found my best essay was the one that was completely honest and heartfelt... in the past I always avoided this in my essays for fear of sounding like a sap, but I felt so strongly about what I said this time, I just left it, and that was the one that got me in.

as far as the no childcare help issue, that can be a real challenge because nursing school is stressful and time consuming. Childcare is often expensive. Try posting some ads at a local college for nursing school students for a nanny position. Or talk to the college you are planning to attend and see if they have any day care services for adult students going back to school.

what type of program are you looking to get into?

[sunnyjohn]

If you do well in you science prereq's i think your cahnces are excellent.


Sidebar-

In addition to diploma, ADN and BSN programs consider the direct-entry Masters programs. Since you already have a degree you might find that you are wll suited to these programs. They often work for people with no previous nursing experience who have Bachelor's degree. Some are able to obtain more financial aid pursuing the Masters and get an advanced degree at the same time.

[sweetface18]

I think you might have to talk to someone to be sure that your grades 10 years ago would even be considered....if it is, you probally have nothing to worry about...the committee looks at a lot of factors...and as long as they see that you have a positive trend (doing bad/okay to doing better) they will consider it...just to be sure, you should try to nail the essay portion or the entrance exam....

[BCzito]

what is a nursing entrance exam? is it the GRE? I'm confused cause I never had to take an entrance exam

[maryshome8]

I have actually contacted the 4 nursing school programs that are in my area.

One is at a very expensive private college...so that is definately an OUT.

The other is a hospital-based system, and their qualifications for getting in are extremely vague and I have heard from others that it's more or less designed so the sons and daughters of hospital employees get the first shot at getting in....that coupled with limited openings, make it hard for an outsider.

There is a local community college that has an RN program, very inexpensive..but get this: They look at volunteer work at a hospital very heavily in their admissions for the nursing program...they look for 20 hours a week. There is no way I can be somewhere else 20 hours a week, on top of getting my prerequisites and on top of working a 50 hour week job. I would never see my daughter.

So that leaves the public university...which is actually working to make the nursing school LESS competitive...they allow 100 students in each year...50 in the fall, 50 in the spring.

There is no entrance exam for any of these schools.

[sweetface18]

Originally Posted by BCzito

what is a nursing entrance exam? is it the GRE? I'm confused cause I never had to take an entrance exam

For my school, the test was called TEAS...i know of a community college that had to take an entrance test by another name....some schools require, some don't. If your grades are so so you can use it to your advantage by doing better on the test to make up for it.....

[Kiren]

I'm doing the same thing pretty much. I have a BS degree in sociology from '95. Like you, my GPA was nothing to brag about either. I got in to a local community college's ADN program with no problem. I was able to transfer enough credits that I only had to take A&P, Micro, 1 psych and nursing I had to swallow my pride and go to a community college because I goofed off in undergrad before. I can always go into a ADN to BSN bridge program later.
BTW I have a 4.0 now that I've got my head on straight.