Accelerated Nursing Program - Low GPA

U.S.A. New York

Published

Hello!

I'm going to be applying to accelerated nursing programs (in NY) this fall, but I'm worried I won't be able to find a program that accepts me. Most of them require a 3.0 cumulative GPA and mine is only a 2.86. However, I have a good GPA for the prerequisite courses (though I have some courses left to take). I've also volunteered at a hospital and have over 400 hours and I am very involved on campus. I was wondering if there's still a chance for me and where it would be best for me to apply.

Thanks for the help!

heynow1313

158 Posts

Hi! I recently graduated from an accelerated program in Florida. Each school is different in terms of how strict they are about their admission criteria. For some schools, "GPA at least 3.0" means exactly that; other schools list that figure as a guideline but are willing to bend a little if they see other stuff on your application that appeals to them. Getting really strong grades in your pre-reqs is very important, as well.

I would call admissions at each school you want to apply to and straight up ask them about your GPA. Most advisors are very honest and will advise you one way or the other.

Good luck!

If you want to go the long route...

1. Do you have any classes that can be forgiven via Academic Renewal? For example, if you got a D or lower in some classes, do the colleges offer Academic Forgiveness where they don't count those grades toward your end GPA?

2. You can also take some more classes just to raise your GPA.

Specializes in Home health, Med Surg, LTC.

I'm glad someone finally made a post on this topic. I am going thru a similar situation. My overall undergraduate GPA is under 3.0 and i am interested in accelerated nursing programs. I live in NY and have applied to both NY and NJ schools. The schools that I have attempted to apply to are really strict on their GPA requirement. So I had no choice but to apply to Associates Degree Nursing program because I wanted to start nursing right away and all the social science that I took for my undergrad can be transferred letting the workload in the ADN program lighter. I also could have taken classes to raise my gpa, but to be honest THat is a waste of time! I did it and waited a year to apply to Accelerated programs and my GPA did not jump that much because i graduated with 120+ credits for my undergrad. I hope this helps

Jasmine589

2 Posts

Thank you for all of your replies! The are really helpful!

Su Wi 05 - Thanks for the advice! I'm definitely going to e-mail the schools I'm interested in. Hopefully not many of them are going to be strict with their GPA requirements.

Noob to Nursing - I don't think my school has academic renewal. Most of the schools I'm thinking of applying to have applications due while I'm still in the Fall semester so I don't think I'll have the time to take other classes in order to raise my GPA.

CeceStar5 - What schools did you apply to, if you don't mind me asking.

Specializes in Home health, Med Surg, LTC.

Lehman, pace, liu, stonybrook, a few in jersey I cant remember the names

cabo1216

1 Post

I have the same problem too! I have an undergrad of 2.5 but have taken 5 pre-reqs like anatomy and physiology and nutrition and have earned A's in all. I think I stand about a 2.75. I'm going to take classes again this fall to raise it more, but I was seeing if anyone had any school suggestions that give a little consideration to harder majors, harder classes, and shown improvement. I applied to two schools and already received my rejection letters :( its very frustrating! also, im on the west coast but would be willing to go anywhere! help!

Specializes in Home health, Med Surg, LTC.

I am in the same boothe. I applied to around 4 accelerated programs and was denied. Even the ones that would consider GPAs under 3.0. I even tried AAS Programs and I am on a waiting list for one. I am so desperate to start in Fall that I am considering LPN schools at this time. Only the ones that are considering taking my transfer credits

DoGoodThenGo

4,129 Posts

Entering nursing classes usually are made up these days of a combination of GPA, NCLEX or other test scores and perhaps an interview/essay.

For the CUNY programs I think most of the associate programs still have on paper the same 2.5 culumative pre-nursing sequence they've had for ages. Only thing is now most all require the NCLEX or similar exam as well. CSI did experiment for awhile with requiring SAT scores, but that went in favour of the the above.

What one is trying to say is your chances of entry have always been and still are stacked up against the strength and number of other applicants.

Say an incoming class only has say 50 slots and 200 students apply. If anywhere from one half to three-quarters are in the top percentile/have GPAs >3.0, then the remaining students with averages

Pre-nursing exams, interviews, essays and such may carry some weight, but probably only where marginal students are concerned.

IIRC some schools like Hunter's undergraduate program to level the playing field a bit have moved to a percentage of GPA and score on the NCLEX blend to determine admission. This still probably means those with high averages stand a better chance of entry than those with lower.

Long as persons are beating down doors to enter nursing programs competition will be tough. Hard to believe back in the 1980's or early 1990's you probably wouldn't have any problems getting into a nursing program even with a GPA just at or above 2.5. No one was really applying thus the applicant pools at times barely met open slots, so basically all who applied got in.

Think the problem is that for most programs the pre-nursing sequence is basically the same, so everyone pretty much has only one shot at the same set of classes to score high enough grades for entry.

jeneefir

2 Posts

hello, i am new to this. I wanted to know if you have gotten into a nursing program? I am in the same boat as you and am very hesitant in applying because I feel like no nursing program these days would accept a student with a low gpa

NYtoFLRN

104 Posts

My undergrad GPA wasn't outstanding- I had a 2.9 when I graduated. However my GPA improved drastically through the second half of my time in college- once I got it together lol. On many of the applications I filled out it asked me if I had ever been on any type of probation in school. I was on academic probation following my first semester (which in retrospect did me a lot of good). But anyway I was given the opportunity to explain myself and used that to explain why my life circumstances at that time led to a low GPA. I also had a 3.7 in my prereqs and have a masters degree. I was accepted to both NYU and Utica College this semester. It can't hurt to try- just try to beef up your application with internships, volunteer experience, etc.

Specializes in Home health, Med Surg, LTC.

Hey Jeneefir, I am in a nursing program right now and I am going to be an RN in December. The school that I am in gave me hope in pursuing a nurse career. I was accepted to a school that will allow you to get an LPN in one year and an RN degree in a second year. At first I was reluctant to go because I have a bachelors degree and an accelerated program seemed practical but Im very glad I did because I am an LPN and will be a RN by the end of the year. There is hope dont give up! You might just have to start from LPN program as I did, where the prereqs (A&P, Micro,etc) will be transfered into the school..

Any questions.. feeel free to contact me

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