Stuudents kicked out of nursing program in NY state

U.S.A. New York

Published

Hi all...need some adivce,

I was kicked out of a nursing program last spring after my first semester due to failing two classes with a C. Even though it was just shy of point something mind you (not even a full point). I was not prepared for the rigorous full time work load, my family was going through a lot of hardships and I was also working which I think all contributed to my dismay. I filed a grievance letter but to no avail I was still let go. I won't call the name of the school because I don't want to bad mouth it just yet before I graduate. Anyway, since then I changed my major to Psychology and will be graduating this may. I manged to pull my gpa back up to a 3.0 and have been applying EVERYWHERE in New York since i got dismissed but all I seem to be getting are rejection letters. You name it, i've probably applied there (Accelerated, Associated, 4 year programs). I have spent almost over $200 in application fees, transcript requests and exam fees. My total rejection letters as of today are 5 and I am really starting to give up hope. Nursing is my passion and I really don't want to give up on my dream. I think that one semester of nursing school on my transcript is really screwng me over. I am not a dumb girl. There are mostly all A's on my transcript from gen prereq's and also B's in my science prereq's. Made the deans list 3 semesters since my 4 years in college. Any advice? Has this happened to anyone else and they got accepted somewhere else? If so which schools? Please help me. Please give me some ounce of hope.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi all...need some adivce,

I was kicked out of a nursing program last spring after my first semester due to failing two classes with a C. Even though it was just shy of point something mind you (not even a full point). I was not prepared for the rigorous full time work load, my family was going through a lot of hardships and I was also working which I think all contributed to my dismay. I filed a grievance letter but to no avail I was still let go. I won't call the name of the school because I don't want to bad mouth it just yet before I graduate. Anyway, since then I changed my major to Psychology and will be graduating this may. I manged to pull my gpa back up to a 3.0 and have been applying EVERYWHERE in New York since i got dismissed but all I seem to be getting are rejection letters. You name it, i've probably applied there (Accelerated, Associated, 4 year programs). I have spent almost over $200 in application fees, transcript requests and exam fees. My total rejection letters as of today are 5 and I am really starting to give up hope. Nursing is my passion and I really don't want to give up on my dream. I think that one semester of nursing school on my transcript is really screwng me over. I am not a dumb girl. There are mostly all A's on my transcript from gen prereq's and also B's in my science prereq's. Made the deans list 3 semesters since my 4 years in college. Any advice? Has this happened to anyone else and they got accepted somewhere else? If so which schools? Please help me. Please give me some ounce of hope.

Sadly many programs have a policy of not accepting students whom have been "removed" from another nursing school for "any" reason. So while this does happen quite allot, there isn't a clear cut answer that will suit everyone.

First I would try appealing the dismissal from your previous school. Or, continue on with your current degree, and pull the highest GPA you can. Once you have your BS degree, try applying to more "second degree" BSN programs, even if it means going out of state. You may also try applying to a private nursing program such as Beth Israel, or St. Paul's where during an interview one can explain what happened at your first attempt, and more importantly show via your other work that you are capable of the course content.

Another option I've heard used, and while dishonest (IMHO), is to apply to another program as a total "freshman", that is not sending transcripts from any previous post high school education. Again, this can be seen as dishonest because most nursing programs, indeed colleges require those whom have attended any sort of post high school work, to submitt *ALL* transcripts, and not apply as a rank freshman. There are other ways a school can find out if you attended other colleges or such, and I for one wouldn't want the pressure of looking over my shoulder for two or four years risking being found out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks DoGoodThenGo,

But won't i have to take all of those prereq's over again? I have all the prereq's already. I would have to pay for classes that i took already again...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You can't apply to college as a freshman. It is just simply impossible. If you went to a trade school (ie: Lincoln Tech or something like that), then yes you can but for one, you wouldn't be able to do it because financial aid would catch you, and that's just adding more that you don't need. And yes, you would have to start from scratch and I know you don't want to do that, who would?

Have you tried private schools? They might be a little more open to that policy. Try meeting with the dean of nursing to explain your situation before you apply, so you can talk to someone directly so your transcript isn't the only thing they know about you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thanks DoGoodThenGo,

But won't i have to take all of those prereq's over again? I have all the prereq's already. I would have to pay for classes that i took already again...

Yes, you may have to take all the pre-reqs again, and or the nursing classes (if any) as well.

For one thing it is nearly difficult to impossible to transfer undergraduate nursing credits (that is nursing classes) from one program to another. It would require someone from the nursing department sitting down to compare your previous course content to theirs, and see if it maches. Then there is the fact another school may not wish to graduate, and by extension certify you to take the boards based upon some nursing or core classes you didn't take at their school. Non-nursing classes such as English, Psyc, Soc, etc are another story.

Most colleges require a certain waiting period and or amount of classes taken at that school before transfer applicants may apply for their nursing program. This is done to prevent "program shopping" and students from other places trying to jump queue ahead of students who have been taking classes at the school from the start.

The only way to get around certain pre-req requirements is to attend a "second degree" BSN program. At least there you will be given credit for your previous college work, science and other nursing core related programs should count as well. While they probably will not exempt you from the nursing classes (see above), you might get to apply those credits elsewhere towards your degree.

Again, your situation happens often, more often than you think, however many nursing programs tend to view those chucked out of other nursing schools as "damaged goods". You are going to have to prove to admissions that what happened was a one off, and that you are not only capable of the course work, but that you are dedicated to the cause.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thanks DoGoodThenGo,

But won't i have to take all of those prereq's over again? I have all the prereq's already. I would have to pay for classes that i took already again...

You can't have it both ways. How can you start over from scratch and remove the dismissal from view if you expect to bring along the benefit of the classes you got good marks in? With the good, comes the bad.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Ran into a friend who went to NYU's nursing program and asked about your situation, and she suggested after getting your BS, look into either that school's 15 month BS to BSN program, or even their undergraduate BSN program. You can find information here:

http://www.nyu.edu/nursing/academicprograms/bachelors/faq.html

My previous comments regarding the transfer of nursing classes may not be totally true, as it seems NYU does accept classes taken elsewhere.

NYU's nursing program both undergraduate and second degree are by all accounts difficult to say the least, and rather expensive, but if they will accept you...... The school does hold open houses so you can go and speak with someone in person.

Finally a word in your shell like ear; *ALL* nursing programs are hard these days, and most equally unforgiving about grades as your former program. You really should do some soul searching and think about if you really at this stage of your life want to jump back into the pool. If your family situation has not changed, and or there will be distractions, you may very well find yourself back in the same spot, doing poorly and or at risk of being chucked out. If you read comments from current students on this site, most state clearly their programs expect 100% from their students, including no outside employment. This means you are likely to find little or no sympathy should your personal life once again mess up your nursing studies.

Best of luck

DGTG

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I wonder what schools you have been applying to because I know too many schools that requires a C to pass a Nursing course in NY state. Unless the schools that you applied to actually contacts your school to find out what is the passing grade for Nursing, and decides not to take you because of it. The schools that I know of may not even make you retake the Nursing class as long as the courses match and that you have a C or better.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Behavioral health.

I suggest getting your LPN. You have the knowledge so it will be a less steep learning curve. Then pursue a LPN-RN bridge program. At that point, they'll be looking more at your certification and not your transcript.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If one is reading the OP's original post correctly, she only finished one semester of the nursing program, before being removed. If that is so the best one figures is Med/Surg I or perhaps Med/Surg II, either way won't be enough to sit for the LPN boards. Maybe it is just me, but can't see paying tuition for an LPN program if one really wishes to be an RN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

To the two people that mentioned LPN and nursing grades of C or higher, the problem is not necessarily her transcript, it's the fact that she was dismissed from a nursing program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thank you all for the advice however there is no indication that i was dismissed from the program on my transcript it just shows that i have one semester of nursing school, the grades i received in those classes then the following semester i changed my major to psychology and took psych classes. But there is no note saying "academic dismissal" or anything like that thank god they spared me. Because i know some classmates of mine that does state of their official transcript "academic dismissal from the school of nursing" which would make it even harder for them to get accepted somewhere else. So i can say it was my personal choice to switch my major due to blah blah blah (if given the opportunity). also i will look into lpn programs...then consider the bridge. To DGTG i actually applied to NYU's accelerated 15 month program and they informed me that the only class i am missing is nutrition. my school didn't require it as a prereq for nursing. NYU said as long as i show proof that i took it before the start of the fall program in sept then i would be considered for admission but they will not be able to make a decision before they know for sure that i have completed it my sept, only problem is where would i take this nutrition course?? im thinking at a community college because my school is way too expensive just to take one nutrition class...thank u all for the advice...keep it coming.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment