undergrad GPA?

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Mar 21, 2006

Here's a quick background from me...I have @115 college hours but a rather low gpa (2.89) and was not going to be competetive for RN programs so I am starting a LPN program in May, then plan to do a LPN-BSN bridge program. My gpa is low because like many kids, when I first went to college I didn't think into the future. 10 years down the road I regret not working harder but am bringing up my gpa slowly but surely. Most grades these days are A's, but since I have so many hours it is hard to bring up the 'ol gpa. I'm working very hard to make sure that my science classes will be A's. I'm just wondering though about getting in to grad school later. I don't know exactly what speciality I would like to pursue, but how much will this gpa affect me? If I plan to pursue a graduate degree at the same school I got my BSN will that make a difference? I just hate to make plans/dreams if it's not possible to get in.
Thanks!

I think every school is different. You should ask the schools you are interested in if they have minimum GPAs they require for admission. If they do, maybe you can take some classes one at a time to bring up your GPA. I bet that if you go to a school for your BSN, that you will have an edge if you apply to their MSN program as well, as you will already be a student in their school. Best wishes to you.

-Christine

LanaBanana · Mar 21, 2006

Thanks. The one I'm planning to go to requires a 3.0 on the last 60 hours for full standing or a 2.75 for conditional admittance. I think my last 60 hours is about a 3.4, but I'm just concerned that when they look at the overall picture I won't be as competetive. Surely it will look still look good for me to have continuous improvement and good grades now?

lovingpecola · Mar 21, 2006

Hello Kayte!

I was where you are!!! When I dropped out of school I had a 1.something GPA. As soon as I came back (3 years later) I got 4.0s so that I could start raising my CUM GPA. My cum GPA is now 3.3, but when I applied it was 3.2 -------->The schools I applied to required 3.0.

The programs I applied to also counted the last 60 hours, and my GPA for those hours was about 3.6, so not much higher than yours is! I think the GPA only gets you in the door, they look at so much more than that when they actually begin to review. And they do look highly upon people who can show a change in grades, at least my interviwer did! She asked me about both situations (when I did badly and when I did well, and asked me how I did it). Of course my experience was tailored to graduate school, so GRE scores were another big factor...

Don't give in, keep getting good grades and your cum GPA will continue to rise...I know how hard it is when you have like 19 credit hours though....it is soooo hard to raise!

Good Luck!

LP

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Mar 21, 2006

I think the only time a GPA makes a huge difference is when you are trying to get into a graduate program, and from what I understand, you have to have AT LEAST a 3.0 but you have to have your BSN to even apply. That would give you lots of time to raise your GPA. Maybe you could write a letter to your school explaining tou situation, they could see that you have been getting A's and that your grades the reflected the lower part of your GPA were from when you were younger and not serious about school like you are now. I know how you feel. My GPA is not as high as I want it to be becuse of the same reasons (being a kid once and not caring as much) but now I am obsessed with getting A's and study my you know what off!! :lol2:

LanaBanana · Mar 21, 2006

but now I am obsessed with getting A's and study my you know what off!!

If only I really could study it off! Then I could get some smaller scrub pants! :)

I have made it my mission to get all A's from here out. I WILL get my GPA up. I would like to get it to a 3.0 CUM GPA, not just the last 60 hrs but I don't know if that's possible since I already have so many hours.

lovingpecola · Mar 22, 2006

I just wanted to add that you don't have to have a BSN to get into graduate school...(there are lots of us on here who are in (or been accepted to) graduate school with Bachelors degrees inother fields!

birthmamaew · Mar 23, 2006

From what I have been told by lots of different programs, they are very understanding about low GPA's in youthful years. While each school probably has a minimum GPA requirement ( usually 3.0) they focus more heavily on your recent work. I know this because I myself ahd a low GPA from College 1 as I like to refer to it. I took some prereqs at Community College about 12 years later. I'm at one of the ivies now doing a second degree BSN, and have been accepted at two other ivies for my graduate work. Just keep working as hard as you have been and it will pay off for you. And maybe just maybe you will get into those smaller scrubs!!!