Looking for adn-FNP online program with a low GPA

Specialties NP

Published

I just graduated with an associates degree in May and have just joined the workforce as an RN. Due to bad self discipline after high school, my GPA isn't very good (2.5). But, once I went back to school (for nursing), about 7 years later, I never failed a class and did much better.

I now would like to pursue becoming a FNP through an online program but they all seem to require a higher GPA. I was wondering if anyone knew of an online ADN to FNP program that my GPA wouldn't keep me out of? Thank you for your time.

Specializes in Mental Health.

Unfortunately you will have to go back to school and get that GPA up. I had to do something similar, since I also screwed around when I first went to college and failed a bunch of classes. What you should do is first learn how the GPA is calculated, then create a spreadsheet with your GPA from every college you've been to, and then calculate your overall GPA. You can't just average the GPAs together. Add up the quality points and then divide by total # of credits. Then create another column and call it your hypothetical future education. Figure out how many credits of good grades you need to get that overall GPA up to a 3.0. It may take a few years, but it'll be worth it. Your salary potential is much greater as an NP, so whatever loans you have to take out now to get that GPA up will pay dividends later with your higher salary. Also, I just want to mention that admissions do tend to look at your most recent grades first, so the fact that your bad grades are from many years ago is a huge plus. But you do need to meet the minimum, which is 3.0

Having read Tasha's post above, I do want to confirm that there are programs that only look at your last 60 credits, but I haven't seen many. I do believe that both University of Washington and Seattle University only take last 60 credits into their GPA calculations

0 Votes

Tasha, did you include an optional statement to GU why you did not do well in your earlier college days?

I think the advice to do bsn first and get A's is a good one.

0 Votes
Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.
Tasha, did you include an optional statement to GU why you did not do well in your earlier college days?

I think the advice to do bsn first and get A's is a good one.

Yes I did, I explained that i was 17, living on my own, and in an abusive relationship...I was married and divorced by the time I was 20...I failed two full terms and explained that in GU's optional statement as well as notating that I didn't go back to school for 5yrs once I was in a stable place in my life and mature. That since then I had gotten all A's and B's (albeit the one C in statistics lol) and that I had the GI Bill now which financially would pay for my NP education, and no housing payment meaning I wouldn't have to work and could focus solely on school...again the adviser said that my statements, recommendations, and sciences made me competitive, the overall GPA is the ONLY reason I wasn't selected...I call BS on that, but ya know it's their decision, and I feel like i have found a better school to go that will fit me anyway =)

0 Votes
Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.

There are many post-master certs you can search for online, this is part of my list that i had made incase I couldn't get into a MSN/FNP, I had planned to do MSN educations, then go on for post-masters cert....

College of Nursing and Health Professions • Master of Science in Nursing --- post master cert requires advanced pharm

Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate | School of Nursing | University of Nevada, Las Vegas ----cert says nothing in requirements about GPA, but must have a MSN of some type

http://www.slu.edu/x19796.xml --St. Louis University post-master cert all online, one campus visit need 3.2 and MSN

Family NP, University of Virginia School of Nursing - need MSN, 3.0 cumulative- has post master cert w/ 1 year RN experience

0 Votes
Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.
Having read Tasha's post above, I do want to confirm that there are programs that only look at your last 60 credits, but I haven't seen many. I do believe that both University of Washington and Seattle University only take last 60 credits into their GPA calculations

Even if it's not the last 60 hours though, if she were to hold a BSN/MSN and have great grades that improve her chances of getting into an FNP cert program, she shouldn't have a problem even if they do cumulative.

Tasha

0 Votes

I shake my head sometimes.

Imagine similar threads... "Looking for an online medical school with a low GPA" or "Looking for the shortest path to become an MD"

I wish there was a whole lot more uniformity and control over the NP route because I think this stuff makes the whole field look bad.

0 Votes
I shake my head sometimes.

Imagine similar threads... "Looking for an online medical school with a low GPA" or "Looking for the shortest path to become an MD"

I wish there was a whole lot more uniformity and control over the NP route because I think this stuff makes the whole field look bad.

I hear you. The whole GPA requirement is not to keep good nurses out of NP school but to help pick nurses who are up to pa r for an advanced degree. Doing advanced pharmacology and patho is not a joke if your science GPA shows that you never had a grasp on the content. If would be unfair to select a student who will fail the program and have student loans on top of that. A reasonable thing to do is go do your BSN, show them that you can be a sharp student, then proceed.

0 Votes
Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

I would tackle the BSN first and make sure you can handle the advanced work. This will help get your GPA up and make sure you are ready for that next step. Don't rush it because it could come back to bite ya!

0 Votes
I shake my head sometimes.

Imagine similar threads... "Looking for an online medical school with a low GPA" or "Looking for the shortest path to become an MD"

I wish there was a whole lot more uniformity and control over the NP route because I think this stuff makes the whole field look bad.

Although I do respect your opinion, and I agree with what you are saying in most circumstances, I feel you are degrading me when it isn't warranted. Assuming you read my posts, my GPA is low because of schooling I did fresh out of high school when I didn't have the maturity/self discipline to apply myself to school. I then went back to school years later and took care of business. My science and math GPA after returning is right around 3.7, and my overall GPA since returning would be close to a 3.5. But, because I messed up when I was young, I am now stuck with a low overall GPA. Why degrade a person and their comments when all I want to do is better myself and career and have done nothing but prove I can handle the coursework (since returning to school).

0 Votes
I hear you. The whole GPA requirement is not to keep good nurses out of NP school but to help pick nurses who are up to pa r for an advanced degree. Doing advanced pharmacology and patho is not a joke if your science GPA shows that you never had a grasp on the content. If would be unfair to select a student who will fail the program and have student loans on top of that. A reasonable thing to do is go do your BSN, show them that you can be a sharp student, then proceed.

Basically the same thing as the post I just commented on. Although what you are saying is correct, it isn't correct in my situation and the topic at hand. But, I would still like to thank you for your input and opinion.

0 Votes

Sorry op, you never indicated that your current gpa is way up there. All the best with your endeavors.

0 Votes
Specializes in FNP, ONP.

NewNurse29:

I think those comments are more general in nature and not specific to your situation. Most of us feel the bar is already set far too low, and it does, in fact, reflect badly on the profession when those (even due to egregious circumstances such as yours) cannot meet the already pitifully low standard for admission as a candidate for advanced nursing practice. That we feel this way is not a reflection on you personally. There are probably scores of individuals out there that would make outstanding physicians, physicians assistants and nurse practitioners because of some special talent they offer, but are not given the opportunity due to inability to meet admission standards. That is just they way it is; it is they way it needs to be, and is not a judgement of the worth of individual applicants that need to be denied entry in order to maintain integrity of the professions.

In other words, it's not all about you. ;) I do wish you good luck, but I also hope that APN programs defer from accepting any candidates with less than stellar academic records. Of course, I also think all APN programs should require high GRE scores and O'Chem, lol. My opinion is rarely popular. I wish, for our profession, that candidates with 3.8-4.0 averages, 93-97th percentile on GRE and outstanding community service records represented the mean, and not the top of the bell curve. I only want to see the cream of the crop make it to advanced practice; as a profession, nursing is far too accepting of mediocrity.

Remember, "If caring were enough, anyone could be a Nurse (Practitioner)." ;)

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment