Need your advice!! Pursing 2nd degree in Nursing

U.S.A. New York

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Hi everyone. :)I came across this forum while I was researching on pursing career change to Nursing and wanted to see if you guys can give me any advice on how it can happen for me. Sorry, this might be long but here it goes!

I graduated with a psych BA degree in 2006 and have been working in human resources as a recruiter. I really enjoyed it at first but have been feeling really burnt out and bored the last year or so,I don't think I can do this for the rest of my life working in a small cubicle, in front of a computer all day and not to even mention how bad the market is doing( I am a finance recruiter):bluecry1:. I've always had a passion for the medical field and feel that nursing might be a great fit for me. I love working, interacting with people and want to have a career that can help people in great ways.

Now here is my dilemma, I have a low undergrad gpa; 2.4. :banghead:Yes, I know it's extremely low but I was immature and young back then and studying wasn't my priority. I know how competitive it is out there for both BSN and ADN programs and after reading all the posts, it is very discouraging. I know if given the chance, I can make the commitment and ready for a challenge to show myself that I could do well academically. Plus, I have been thinking of going back to school and wanted to study.

The question now is if it's even possible, realistically for me to get into any nursing programs. I know I would have to complete the pre-reqs and willing to do so but how should I approach it? Should I complete the pre-reqs for the BSN 2nd degree programs or should I complete the ADN pre-reqs? They are slightly different in ways that in cc programs they only look at 4 pre-reqs: Soc 101. Psych 101, Eng 101 and A & P. Also- I heard that cuny programs has a waiting list. Is this true for BMCC and Laguardia?This is really confusing and would like any advice or your 2 cents about what the best way would be.

Thanks in advance

I am in the same boat you are, with a BA from several years ago that was earned with an extremely "modest" GPA.

The bad news is that you're stuck with your low GPA. Since you used it to earn a degree, you are ineligible for academic renewal. Simply omitting any reference to an earlier degree is a serious ethical breach, and can result in dismissal from most programs if discovered.

The bottom line is that the low GPA will hurt you at some colleges.

However, there is some very good news. If you live in an area where you have a choice of different colleges and universities, you can probably find one that will look primarily at your pre-req grades or performance on standardized tests such as the TEAS or NET. Also, there are some colleges will look only at your most recent colleges grades, basing admittance on the last 30 or 50 college units (pre-reqs will account for a major chunk of the 30 units).

Don't ignore ADN/ASN programs at community colleges. They can offer an excellent nursing education at a very attractive price. If you have your heart set on a BSN, many four-year colleges and universities offer step-up programs for moving from an ADN/ASN to a bachelor's degree.

Two final bits of advice:

1) Space out your pre-reqs so you can achieve A's in every class. Don't try to take chem, micro and A&P in the same semester. Since you'll be applying to at least some programs where the pre-reqs are the primary criteria, you can't afford anything less than straight A's.

2) Do not, under any circumstances, withdraw from a pre-req class. At a number of colleges, a withdrawl from a science class is the kiss of death, since students who have withdrawals are statistically far more likely to fail in nursing programs.

Good luck. You can do it!

Specializes in Pediatrics.
The question now is if it’s even possible, realistically for me to get into any nursing programs. I know I would have to complete the pre-reqs and willing to do so but how should I approach it? Should I complete the pre-reqs for the BSN 2nd degree programs or should I complete the ADN pre-reqs? They are slightly different in ways that in cc programs they only look at 4 pre-reqs: Soc 101. Psych 101, Eng 101 and A & P. Also- I heard that cuny programs has a waiting list. Is this true for BMCC and Laguardia?This is really confusing and would like any advice or your 2 cents about what the best way would be.

Welcome. Fortunately, you are wrong about what the AD programs look at. The more pre-reqs you have, the better off you are (especially if they are high grades). You need A&P 1 and 2 and Micro, as well as Psych and developmental psych, you may need more than one english (depending on the school), Soc and possibly pharmacology. This is a perfect opportunity to boost your GPA, to be more competitive in the rat race :).

And yes, the CUNY schools have a sort-of-waitlist. But with a GPA of 2.4, you will not even be put on it. I am not saying this to sound harsh, but they will lead you to believe tyou are on a waitlist, but you will not be. Because, lets say you are o the 'list' with your GPA, and someone comes along with a 3.9, they will get the seat over you, even though you applied first. it is what it is, fair or not. They only want the best.

Having said that, it does not mean your dreams may be shattered. You need to get into any school (a CC will be cheaper, so you may as well start there), and take your prereqs, and ACE them. Take one at a time to start, until you get into the swing of college again. It will take you longer, but if you rush it and do poorly, you may not get in to a nursing program. You are already at a disadvantage, b/c those old transcripts will follow you, but you can boost your GPA if you do well. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice. I know I would have to take the pre-reqs one at a time and ace them all but one of things I've heard was that if I take pre-reqs at qcc for an example, it would be harder for me to apply to the nursing program at laguardia because they take their students into consideration first...which makes absolute sense but the problem is that most programs accept 30-40 applicants at a time. Isn't this a huge disadvantage to others who took their pre-req's somewhere else?

Does anyone know about how competitive private schools are like NYU or PACE? Would it be easier to get into those schools if I raised my GPA and had a rocking recommendation letter & essay.

I appreciate all ur help and advice guys, I need to be realistic!

My advice to you is to take your prereqs and RUN!!!!!! Cuny is definitely out with the GPA. However, Molloy, LIU, or College of New Rochelle MAY look at you after having your prereqs. Another option is to do the LPN first IF you have the time to invest in a one year program. MANY doors open up if you are a LPN, such as Excelsior College, Helene Fuld College of Nursing, and Molloy LPN to BSN. Don't give up!

Hi,

Google a g.p.a caluculator that will tell you how many credits you will need to boost your gpa to a good level then figure if it is do-able. Yes, cheaper schools are more competitive but thats because no one wants to pay an arm and a leg for a degree. At the more expensive schools you mentioned you may have a better shot after raising the gpa due to the fact that alot of people don't want to deal with a loan of 50k so they don't apply.

Don't be scared off by the 3.9 ers, everyones diffrent. Do what works best for you. Take your pre-reqs and other gpa boosters. Im Post-Bacc and have been taking pre-reqs non-stop since I graduated...My gpa has seen a boost, while my wallet has decreased but its all worth it, and I hope you find that too.

Thanks for the advice. I know I would have to take the pre-reqs one at a time and ace them all but one of things I've heard was that if I take pre-reqs at qcc for an example, it would be harder for me to apply to the nursing program at laguardia because they take their students into consideration first...which makes absolute sense but the problem is that most programs accept 30-40 applicants at a time. Isn't this a huge disadvantage to others who took their pre-req's somewhere else?

Does anyone know about how competitive private schools are like NYU or PACE? Would it be easier to get into those schools if I raised my GPA and had a rocking recommendation letter & essay.

I appreciate all ur help and advice guys, I need to be realistic!

Thanks for the advice. I know I would have to take the pre-reqs one at a time and ace them all but one of things I've heard was that if I take pre-reqs at qcc for an example, it would be harder for me to apply to the nursing program at laguardia because they take their students into consideration first...which makes absolute sense but the problem is that most programs accept 30-40 applicants at a time. Isn't this a huge disadvantage to others who took their pre-req's somewhere else?

Does anyone know about how competitive private schools are like NYU or PACE? Would it be easier to get into those schools if I raised my GPA and had a rocking recommendation letter & essay.

I appreciate all ur help and advice guys, I need to be realistic!

When I applied, I heard from a few admission advisors that recommendation letters & references are far less important than the GPA. Some schools won't even look at reference letters unless they specifically ask for them. It's very competitive, in general, to get into any nursing program, esp. now because many nurses are returning to the field and others are career changers, etc. However, not everyone passes while in the program (the courses get tougher), so seats may open up. You could either obtain your LPN (which may be slightly easier to get accepted to, but certainly not an easier program), or you could put all your energy into obtaining lots of A's in those pre-req's & re-apply to both public/private nursing schools, towards both 2-yr and 4 yr- programs. I'll tell you what I did: I completed pre-req's part-time at a community college (cheapest) until I was finally accepted at my first pick school. I'm going for my 2nd B.S. degree. I was accepted a month before classes started at my first pick (Adelphi, not NYU), & I took it right away. In the meantime, I had worked & saved up money for living expenses, so I didn't waste my time. There's going to be lots of competition because schools are flooded with applicants at the moment, so just be persistant & keep those grades as high as possible. Good luck.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

You have misspelled "pursuing" twice as "pursing." My school was BIG on spelling and would give back all paperwork with spelling errors. They felt that spelling errors on medications could have tragic results. Rockland Community College is a tough nursing school. Of the original 30 students I started with none made it through...and I guess I may be next in my last semester. They let you repeat two different courses only once each and then they kick you out of the program. They do not have an entrance exam so the first classes are loaded with people, mostly non-English speaking. Unfortunately most of those that fail out early are the non-English speakers. The lectures are 2 hours of rapid furious talking-that is so fast you can't write it all down. Tough school.

Does anyone know about how competitive private schools are like NYU or PACE? Would it be easier to get into those schools if I raised my GPA and had a rocking recommendation letter & essay. !

For Pace, the second degree program starts in NYC in the fall and the Pleasantville campus in the spring, make sure you take that into consideration. Since Pace's second degree program is a dual degree (meaning you can continue onto get your Master's after completing the BSN portion, you do NOT have to, you CAN graduate after the BSN portion) you need to take the GRE and do well on it. I took part in a few online discussion boards about the nursing program this summer and it seems Pace is a competitive school.

NYU's application requires a few short personal statements and a long essay, but I am not too sure how significant the are. NYU is known overall to be a very competitive school so I am assuming the nursing program would be about the same.

There are a lot of schools you can look at, do not be discouraged!!

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