Considering my options....kind of low GPA after freshmen year of college

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Pretty new here, but so far I am LOVING IT!! This site is such informative and helpful and I wish I knew about this earlier.

So, quick summary: Basically, my fall semester screwed me up.

I had a nice schedule, but a couple things I did not realize: That every class has a different grading scale (I was still attuned to the high school fact that a 70 was a C); that when it is nearing finals week and it looks like you're going to get a low grade in that class, DROP IT! (I was borderline and thought I could save it); and that your GPA is CRUCIAL in college. End of fall semester, I had a 2.53.

I was crushed, devastated. I am a DUS major at a Penn State branch campus, going to be an upcoming sophmore, but was hoping to get into their nursing program by the end of my freshman year. I learned that there was a spring review and that seemed like my second chance. But it was a trap.

End of spring semester, I have a 2.72 semester wise; 2.62 cumulative. Due to nobody telling me that my GPA was too low for just about anything, I got rejected from the program (you can only apply once) and am planning to bring up my GPA this upcoming fall and spring semester and am looking to apply at UPMC Shadyside for a fall 2014 start date.

It's not that I'm not putting enough time into my schoolwork or I don't understand the material. We had to take these tests on a computer in my anatomy course my fall semester and they were basically around 70 questions and had 50 minutes to do them, give or take. I remember that the first test had four sets of matching, ten pairs each. Yeah, it was rough.

I don't party. I don't smoke or do drugs. And I had literally no life at all my first year at college, always just concentrating on schoolwork. But I am fine with that and have accepted that fact.

Fall semester, I took Anatomy and an Intro to Psych course.

Spring semester, I had to retake Anatomy and also took Physiology, a social problems class, and a Human Devlopment course.

And this fall semester I am slated to take Microbiology and Nutrition. I am wondering if I should take some more general courses to bring up my GPA, because I am also taking Calculus...and I am not a huge fan of math.

SO. Am I doing the right thing? Did I rush things too quickly with the application and all? My oh-so-somewhat-helpful-somewhat-not-helpful advisor told me to look at other majors or transfer to other universities. But becoming a nurse is all I ever want to be, and before for most of my life I had no idea what I wanted to become. I'm so sick and tired of feeling like that and now, I can't imagine myself doing anything else. I hope to one day become a pediatric nurse because I love kids and I want to one day do mission trips to third world countries like my grandparents do. I am currently taking a summer statistics course and hopefully it will bring my GPA up some, but after our recent test, I have a feeling that it is going to be a bit rough.

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Specializes in Oncology, Critical Care.

If you want a low GPA option and want to start soon, Mount Aloysius College (Cresson, PA) is a good nursing program. Its an Associates but they have a 2+2 program (BSN program where you get the associates first). Im more than halfway done there, and love the program, and as long as you have a C in the pre-reqs you can get in. Its not easy, but its do-able.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

If you're set on a BSN and you can only apply once to your current school it looks like your best option might be to transfer to another university as a nursing major. If, however, your GPA is too low (which it may be, sorry - here in CA it takes around a 3.7 to transfer into a public university nursing program) you could either finish your bachelors in a non-nursing major and then apply to accelerated BSN programs for second-degree students, or as Fireman suggested get an associates degree in nursing and then complete an ADN-to-BSN bridge program later. Whatever you decide, good luck!

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Mount Aloysius...hmm well, I'm not sure, but I'll keep it in my thoughts. How is the program? What are your thoughts, ups/downs? It looks to be a small campus (smaller than the one that I am currently at) and I am not exactly sure how I'll deal with that. But what must be done, must be done... Also, have you ever taken classes online? Like I said, my main goal is UPMC Shadyside, but to get the BSN they have a deal with Chatham University where the classes are all online and I'm not feeling too great about that. I'm also looking at Duquesne University but not sure of how good their program is and if people like it as much.

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I agree, you should transfer to a RN or bsn program. You could do a associate of nursing program and do a bridge(RN-bsn). I think that is your best route, since nursing is what you ultimately want to do

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I think that before you apply to another program you need to evaluate your situation because to me it sounds like alot of finger pointing, when in reality you did not get such a low gpa due to anyone else but yourself. I do not know any programs that you will get into with that low of a gpa. So yes I think your best option is to continue taking pre-req's, get A's in them and bring that gpa up. Take more general courses to get your gpa up. In my area you are not getting into a school with less than a 3.5, I urge you to check around to see what the gpa accepted is at the schools you are applying for.

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Specializes in Oncology, Critical Care.

I enjoy Mount Aloysius. I dont know how to true it is, but many Penn State nursing students say the mount's nursing is tougher but more rewarding. I can not remark on that comment since Ive only heard it and can not attest to it. The professors are nice, the entire Associates aspect of it is in person, but the BSN portion is in person as well as online. The NCLEX pass rates for this past year are 97% for 40 something students taking it. And theres tons of simulation labs you can use almost any time of the working day you want to use. it is a small school, about 1500 students but the nursing program is solid, and anyone in nursing usually does well if you pass nursing. And if you dont like the size of the school just get an apartment off campus. I lived on campus for a year (and i lived on 2 other college campuses before) and hated the MAC campus, but moving off campus solved all these problems. If you ever want to see the college in person let me know.

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@kaydensmom01: Yes, I know that it is my fault, I've been given warnings, yet I chose to ignore them and I have already berated myself time and time again for it. So bringing up my GPA is one of my priorities...

@Collegegal28: Yes, I plan to do that. Right now I just want to get into a program, preferably a good one....

@Fireman767: Thank you, I'll let you know if I ever want to see the college in person. Do you know when you guys start clinicals? And did you take Microbiology yet? I'm going to really try to aim for all A's this upcoming semester (I doubt it will happen though...) and I'm really worried about doing well in Calculus (math and me never mix well).

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Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

What kind of GPA does UPMC look for? Answer that and decide whether you should take more general courses. What about other criteria? Focus on perfecting all other aspects of their application before worrying about taking more courses. In case you haven't learned, nobody will serve you information on a silver platter so you can succeed. Get out there and find out what you need to do to reach your goals.

Don't take calculus if you want to become a nurse. It's unnecessary and if you are not good at math, you will definitely lower your GPA. Microbiology is not easy. If you already study hard but for whatever reason you are getting C's, think hard before you take another science course. You might have to figure out what's lacking first. Also, consider taking these science courses at a community college because 4-year university courses are usually slightly harder than those at CC's.

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Hey Shinealight,

I am a Shadyside grad and I know that entrance has become pretty competitive. I started college way back in 2001 (starting to feel old!) in psych and had a 1.8 GPA my first semester...too much partying, didn't take school seriously, blah-blah. Well, my parents freaked out and I CLAWED my way out to have a 3.0 (exactly!) cumulative GPA by the time I graduated. I then decided I wanted to be a RN, and I have nothing but great things to say about SHY. I studied like hell for the PSB and was in the 99th percentile in all subjects. I was beyond happy to find out I had been accepted. NS is hard work and they don't mess around. Their grading scales are different and if you fail twice, you are out-no exceptions! I say this not to scare you, but just to let you know the reality. Anyway, I graduated from SHY second in my class with a 3.9 gpa. I am now at obtaining my PMHNP and have a 4.0 gpa. The point is, that no matter how you start (1.8 for god's sake!) you can claw your way out if you really want it. I wish you lots of luck and don't fret (I know, easier said than done) but life has a way of working out. Remember, Mercy and St. Margaret also have SON. PM me if you need any assistance and GL!! Don't let a couple of mistakes in college define your career and life.....

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@megank5183: Thank you so much!! I'm trying to keep my eyes on a goal, but it's hard. I would PM you with more questions, but alas I have not started enough topics yet. How competitive would you say is it to get into Shadyside? And did you do the whole Chatham BSN pathway? Apparantly those classes are all online and I'm still not sure how I feel about that, if I even get that far. I was planning to send in my SAT scores instead of taking the PSB test. They're not super great, but they're okay I guess....and I have just started looking into Mercy and St. Margaret and don't know much about them. Oh wow, a PMHNP? I wish you all the luck! : ) I wonder if that could be something for me, for some reason I always liked psych and felt intrigued by it.

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