I need some encouragement :(

[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!

:)

[chuck1234]

I went from LPN to AAS in Nursing...I think it is easier to do it that way...originally, I tried the RN Program in a Community College...but it had a long waiting list....you are talking about 3 years long....I have seen some people with a MS/MA applying for an LPN Program....

The point is this....you have to try all the options....including applying the LPN and RN Programs in the same time...other program including hospital based nursing program....to name one....Long Island College Hospital has an RN Program...

Good luck!

[MiaNJ]

Yeah, for my case. I wouldn't ever have taken the prereqs without being accepted into nursing school first. I just wouldn't have risked it. In the OP's case, she's not sure she'll get in with the 2.8 even with the prereqs. So if she doesn't get into a school, she'll have taken the preqeqs, wasted a term and money for nothing. That way, if you get into NYU first, you'll know you're taking the prereqs for something. It's only one term at NYU anyway. I admit it is expensive but I needed the insurance to pursue something like that. I mean it's just another option, she doesn't have to go even if she got in.,..

But some schools won't even consider your application until your done with pre reqs, or if you're 'almost' done, meaning need less than 2-3 courses and they put you on the waiting list.

But i agree that NYU is super expensive, especially if you want to go full time - and nursing school is not that simple to work and go to school at the same time, so most people don't work (if they want to do very well) or work very few hours. So most people need to take extra loans to pay bills on top of tuition, and the federal stafford loans have a max, which NYU exceeds, so you would most likely need private loans with higher interest.

If someone can afford it great, but i personally am glad that I don't have an $80,000+ loan to pay off, and entry level nursing isn't always top bucks at first.

I think there are many schools with accelerated programs which most people with a BA can get in. I know people with less than 2.75 GPA that got in.

I had an ok GPA, not the best ,but I didn't apply before finishing most of my pre reqs. I somehow had confidence that I would get in,and besides the pre reqs were not expensive since I took them at a commmunity college. I have known people with less GPAs and no BA degrees and gone to nursing school, so I somehow thought that even if I didn't get into the Accelerated programs, I could at least get into an ASN program if I had to..but surpisingly 4 out of the 5 schools I applied, accepted me.

I somehow think it's easier to get into Accelerated programs, after my experience and talking to many classmates who went thru similar experiences.

[chuck1234]

But some schools won't even consider your application until your done with pre reqs, or if you're 'almost' done, meaning need less than 2-3 courses and they put you on the waiting list.

But i agree that NYU is super expensive, especially if you want to go full time - and nursing school is not that simple to work and go to school at the same time, so most people don't work (if they want to do very well) or work very few hours. So most people need to take extra loans to pay bills on top of tuition, and the federal stafford loans have a max, which NYU exceeds, so you would most likely need private loans with higher interest.

If someone can afford it great, but i personally am glad that I don't have an $80,000+ loan to pay off, and entry level nursing isn't always top bucks at first.

I think there are many schools with accelerated programs which most people with a BA can get in. I know people with less than 2.75 GPA that got in.

I had an ok GPA, not the best ,but I didn't apply before finishing most of my pre reqs. I somehow had confidence that I would get in,and besides the pre reqs were not expensive since I took them at a commmunity college. I have known people with less GPAs and no BA degrees and gone to nursing school, so I somehow thought that even if I didn't get into the Accelerated programs, I could at least get into an ASN program if I had to..but surpisingly 4 out of the 5 schools I applied, accepted me.

I somehow think it's easier to get into Accelerated programs, after my experience and talking to many classmates who went thru similar experiences.

When I had 1 year experience in Medical-Surgical Unit, I was working per-diem for an agency which sent me to another hospital....I made close to $500/shift....that year, I made about $98,000 and I still had two days off each week...this year, I am expecting to make more than $100,000...

If $80,000 student loan is a lot to you, then think of how much you can make when you finish school....I think the most important thing is to get in....then worry about paying it back later on....

[MiaNJ]

When I had 1 year experience in Medical-Surgical Unit, I was working per-diem for an agency which sent me to another hospital....I made close to $500/shift....that year, I made about $98,000 and I still had two days off each week...this year, I am expecting to make more than $100,000...

If $80,000 student loan is a lot to you, then think of how much you can make when you finish school....I think the most important thing is to get in....then worry about paying it back later on....

I already finished my Accelerated BSN program and studying for the NCLEX. But most places hospitals, etc. I have looked into applying are not paying that much for new grads. It's not bad, but most are about $55-60K to start and it's been difficult finding places that take new grads w/o experience.

I still have my first BA loan to pay off, so I didn't want to go to a school that was over $80K.

I have about $55K in loans for the Accelerated program which i did in a year, plus another $20K left for the first BA. Plus I borrowed money to pay my bills during school. So I don't expect to pay all that off so quickly.

I also want to buy a house, travel, have fun. LOL I don't want to work years just to pay off my loans.

[studentmalenurse]

hey, In nyc its getting harder to get into a program, theres a friend on this site who got into a nursing program after I recommended that she take a LPN program in Jersey instead. Thats the best thing to do if you can travel. Its easier to get in , and after one year you can take a LPN to RN program. No need to wait, look for a LPN program in Jersey :)

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I have heard that it is a bit easier to get into the bachelor's degree nursing courses than it is for the associate's, but am not sure. I wish you luck. Have you considered the on line courses?

[jandramauri]

Hello! I'm new here. I have a worse gpa, 2.75 in my BS degree as well and my program was also very difficult. I want more than anything to become a nurse and have been researching and live in the city. I found a couple of programs that require only a 2.8 I will have to find my list...Hunter College but not sure if it's accelerated or not. Anyway, well my plan is to take the pre reqs and do very well then try to get into a school as accelerated BSN student. I don't understand the NYU student second degree plan lilkaymin is suggesting. What is your second degree major at NYU and what type of gpa in needed for NYU (lilkaymin)??? Well Im determined to find a way even if it takes a couple years so Ill let you know what happens and keep us posted too! Good luck!!!

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Hello! I'm new here. I have a worse gpa, 2.75 in my BS degree as well and my program was also very difficult. I want more than anything to become a nurse and have been researching and live in the city. I found a couple of programs that require only a 2.8 I will have to find my list...Hunter College but not sure if it's accelerated or not. Anyway, well my plan is to take the pre reqs and do very well then try to get into a school as accelerated BSN student. I don't understand the NYU student second degree plan lilkaymin is suggesting. What is your second degree major at NYU and what type of gpa in needed for NYU (lilkaymin)??? Well Im determined to find a way even if it takes a couple years so Ill let you know what happens and keep us posted too! Good luck!!!

Hunter is a Bachleor's degree program, I believe. I have heard that their requirements are lower in terms of GPA, but again, not sure. I do wish you luck. It is a CUNY school, making it cheaper, but the problem may be with that is it may be more competitive since the tuition is cheaper.

[jandramauri]

Thanks for the advice. I have checked it out (Hunters program) but wondering if I can raise my gpa if I do very well in the pre req courses. That will help right?

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Not sure, but find out if you can repeat classes that you wish to improve grades with the classes where you think you didn't do so well. A visit with a college advisor may be to your advantage at this point.

[hannah8]

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