Need advice

[enan]

Hi everyone, I've been reading allnurses for a while and decided to post. I am in need of some of advice. I went to a state university (RI) for a few years after high school as a business major. Long story short, I didn't try my hardest, had some struggles in my personal life, and left the university with a 2.7 GPA. I knew I wanted to go for nursing, and applied to a local college with a good BSN program. I was accepted to the college, began taking pre-reqs and just finished up my second semester. So far I have made all A's and one B+.

I know that my GPA from my old school didn't transfer over to my new school, and I now have a new GPA of 3.8. However, my advisor said that my application will include a cumulative GPA including my horrible 2.7 from my previous school, bringing me to right around 3.0 GPA. 3.0 is the minimum GPA allowed to even apply for the nursing program at my school. I am wondering if I apply with 3 A's in the main pre-reqs (psych, chem, & anatomy) and the lowest GPA allowed (3.0) would I ever even get in? Or am I completely screwed because of my bad grades in my business courses from my old university? My school puts the main emphasis on grades and GPA. I think my academic record at my new school is good, but my GPA is still low. I think I would have to take dozens more classes and receive A's in order to ever boost my GPA up that much higher and that could take a decade. I transferred 75 credits from my other school and have already done all my gen-eds. So another two semesters of A's would barely make a dent.

What should I do?! I am going to apply this spring and hope for the best, but if I don't get in, what could I possibly do to make it better? Graduate in another major, apply as a second degree bsn, or something else? Any ideas? I am so determined now that I have found a major that I am truly interested in. I think I have matured from the 17 year old I was when I started college and take school much more seriously now. I know that I would be willing to put in the work to get through a nursing program. I'm not sure what to do at this point. Thanks in advance :)

[lovenotwar14]

Most schools don't go by GPA alone. Good luck. I think you would eventually get in somwhere.

[HopefulSRNA1234]

It all depends on what school you apply to. I had lower than a 2.7 in my first degree and was accepted to an accelerated BSN program. When I was looking into schools I only focused on schools that either calculated my GPA to my advantage (like looked at my last 30 units since I had a 4.0) or put less of an influence in GPA.

Mind if I ask what state you're in? I looked at schools all over the country so maybe I can help :)

[NeoNatMom]

Id say broaden your choices. My school goes by gpa of only 5 prereqs and for the RN program only, they look at your best attempts! Check out policies on several possible schools around you. I went to another school and didnt do well. so i applied without putting down previous school info. started over from scratch and now I have a 4.0 :) anything is possible.

[enan]

I'm in Rhode Island

[enan]

Thanks! That makes me feel a bit better... Maybe I will check out other schools if this one doesn't work out.

[NeoNatMom]

Thanks! That makes me feel a bit better... Maybe I will check out other schools if this one doesn't work out.

for sure do that! I thought I was down and out because I was stuck. Then a friend told me about restarting my schooling if I thought it would be worth it. boy was it. I never regret starting over for a second.

[RunBabyRN]

Ug, I've been there! I was young and dumb once, too, and I had to work to pull it up.

Cast a wide net. Apply to as many programs as you're able to. You never know what may work out. I'm not sure what the difference in tuition would be in CT or MA, but it might be worthwhile to find out just in case.

What are your prereq grades? How much emphasis is placed on those vs. overall GPA?

PS: I miss RI! I was stationed in Newport when I was in the Navy. :)