Unique situation, application to RN program

Jolie, BSN · Nov 19, 2014

Congratulations on your newfound determination and hard work. I learned in nursing school that success had a lot more to do with dedication and commitment than it did "smarts." Plenty of highly intelligent students washed out, while plenty with average intelligence, coupled with work ethic graduated with honors.

As far as your question, the answer is that it depends. Some programs choose candidates based upon GPA alone. Some couple GPA with other indicators such as interview, essay, life/volunteer/work experience, etc. And others have a GPA cut-off at which they technically "accept" all those who qualify, but then place them into a lottery for seats in the program. In general, community college based programs, which are intended to serve students from a wide range of backgrounds and academic situations, are more likely to admit students based upon criteria other than GPA. 4 year colleges and universities tend to be more focused on prior academic success in selecting candidates.

I suggest you spend the next term researching 3-5 possible programs and becoming familiar with their admissions policies. Consider applying to more than one type of school, keeping in mind cost differences and how you will finance your education. Be aware that many schools will accept applications for fall admission in the early spring months, so don't delay. Good luck!

RunBabyRN · Nov 19, 2014

LVN programs are about as competitive as RN programs. Just FYI.

Each cycle, the applicant pool varies. Some may be more competitive than others. Having the high prereq GPA will help a lot. Prereq GPA is weighed as heavily as cumulative GPA at most schools. Schools will not look at the improvement, sadly. I know that would have helped me, too. My old GPA is MUCH lower than my more recent GPA. Classes I took 15+ years ago still count against me.

Where are you looking to apply? I can take a guess where you are when you say "junior college," as VERY few schools call themselves this (most say community college).

Casting a wide net will help a ton. I assume you're looking at BSN programs, since you're taking stats?

I would STRONGLY suggest taking additional English classes to work on your grammar. I don't mean that in a mean way, but there will be a lot of papers to write in nursing school, and spelling, grammar and punctuation are all factors in your grade. If you are planning to apply to that junior college, your English 1A grade is heavily weighed. If you're looking at the CSU near there, there's an essay you will need to write, and your English skills are part of the consideration (though the biggest stickler of an instructor is retiring this year).

caliotter3 · Nov 19, 2014

I would contact some advisors at potential nursing programs and have a candid talk with them. They will be able to give you some insight on your chances. And for that matter, if you want to try, then, apply. You don't know what the criteria might be, or not be, for your application period. As long as you can afford the cost of the applications, you should simply go ahead and apply because if you don't apply, you can't be admitted. Good luck.