Nursing as a second career...am I doomed

[TryingToFindAWay]

Hi I am a 24 year old male college grad living in westchester, ny, in need of advice and perspective. I graduated 3 years ago from Boston College with a business management degree. I have been working for the past 3 years in the operations department of a large finance firm in New York and am looking to make a career switch to nursing but I am face several significant hurdles that I cant seem to find a way around.

By far the biggest obstacle is my college transcript. I am a person who went through a really bad adjustment to college. After going through high school with an average of 97 on a scale of 100 and was in the 90th percentile on my SATs I went away to college and really screwed up. I wont get into all the detail or try to make excuses for my performance, but I ended up graduating with a 2.1 GPA and alot of Cs in math and science courses.

Now as I seek a career transition to nursing I feel that that I will never be able to overcome my poor college transcript. Everywhere I look I see GPA minimums of 3.0 or at minimum 2.5. I know that inside I am the person who spent the first 18 years of my life excelling in school not the person who lost his way in college.

After spending a few years working for a large finance corporation, despite the pay, I do not find it rewarding and want to spend my life helping people (I currently volunteer 1-2 weekends a month to charity). I want to work in the heathcare industry but specifically I want to work with and help people and feel that nursing would be a good fit.

If anyone please help provide some perspective on how I can overcome my poor college performance I would be greatly indebted to you. What schools/programs should I inquire about in the NYC/westchester. Can exceptional grades in pre-req's and entrance exams overcome my college shortcomings. Any other advice is greatly appreciated.

Lately I have been feeling like my college transcript is an albatross hanging around my neck that I dont know how to overcome. I could really use some advice, perspective, and frankly a little hope.

[AragornSkywalker]

Some programs only look at specific classes, not your overall grade.

[Bob_N_VA]

Have you spoken to any of the local programs representatives about your situation? Nursing is a very human endeavor and the folks that run these programs may take your background into consideration if you are honest about it. Most likely you will need several courses to make up for health and science pre-reqs such as microbiology and anatomy and physiology so getting really good grades on those courses would be a positive indicator of your potential to succeed. I can sympathize with you for wanting a career that offers more than just a fat paycheck, just don't get too discouraged before you even get started. A positive attitude will help to impress the folks at the school and will keep you moving in the right direction. Good Luck.

Bob

[K.P.A.]

Can exceptional grades in pre-req's and entrance exams overcome my college shortcomings. Any other advice is greatly appreciated.

They did for me. However, I still had to pull my GPA up to a competitive level to get in to the program I wanted.

First thing you need to do is sit down with the admissions folks and learn what GPA you need and what you have to do to get there. For me it was 3 semesters of very hard work. Had I not done well, I'd be at a different school and $30k poorer.

[Anoetos, BSN, RN]

Yes, exceptional grades in pre-reqs and testing can overcome a lot of bad history. I am a GED guy, case in point.

Also, if your school is like mine, you get the "testicle curve" which helps too.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

If you can afford one, private colleges are far less competitive than public ones.

[bluemalibu]

I begin our RN program in a few weeks... at 53. I maintained a 4.0 through school as I thought that it would offset my age during selection. This worked for me being accepted into the university's program, but I was also accepted into the local CC's program which only requires a 3.0 on your prerequisites and a 69% on the TEAS test, then applicant names go into a lottery... overall GPA is not looked at. A program like this would be your answer. (As a bonus, the entire program here only costs $4500 which includes books and uniforms)

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Lots of community colleges don't even take your GPA into account. Here in Wisconsin for example. I moved from the west coast to attend nursing school at one of Wisconsin's 16 technical (community) colleges. If you meet the minimum requirements you will be put on the waiting list (from one semeter to 5 years depending on the school you choose).

http://www.wtcsystem.edu/

[AutoRotate, MSN, RN]

I felt like I was in a similar situation. I graduated with a 2.9, but nearly all of the schools said that they required a 3.0 or 3.5. When I actually talked to them, they said that those were not strictly enforced and they would also take into account the pre-requisite grades. Since I assume you didn't have to take A&P or microbiology for your degree, you're probably going to have to take classes before you can apply anyway. Just study your ass off for the pre-req's and use that to show them that you're serious about the career change.

[caliotter3]

Some would advise you to start over at a community college and give yourself a fresh start.

[RNOkie]

I also spent a LOT of time in college; actually got my PA ( party animal) degree. I figured as long as I was in school, I didn't have to get a job.:)

However, I would agree with the previous posts; nursing is a very forgiving, for lack of a better term, profession when it comes to one's past/background and often directors take much of that into consideration. I would strongly encourage you to pursue this career choice. With a double degree, especially with one in business management, you would be invaluable and highly marketable in health care administration, if you chose to pursue that field. God knows we need all the administrators we can get that have a good nursing backgroud and have actually walked the halls, not just looked at numbers. Good Luck.

[magn1jes]

I am in exactly the same boat as you. I have a degree in Business Finance, and a 2.53 GPA, I was planning on attending the same college for my nursing degree as I had for my business degree, but was told that they don't even look at candidates with a 2.5 GPA or less. Talk about bursting my bubble, so I contacted to the local technical college. It just so happens that my *good* grades will transfer, and I won't have to worry about my poor grades hanging over my head the entire time. The technical college was also much more helpful and inviting than the state college. As others had mentioned, you can try the smaller technical colleges, and get a start fresh. You can also do a bridge program later on if the degree you want is not offered. The bridge programs (from what I know) are not as picky as to who they let in, since you would already have your license.