how is gpa calculated for the accelerated BSN program

Shorty11, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2012

Not all Accelerated BSN programs calculate GPA in the same way. But when I was looking into accelerated BSN programs in my state (Texas), I found that most required a minimun cumulative GPA of 3.0 from the first Bachelors Degree. ALTHOUGH THIS MAY NOT BE TRUE FOR MOST SCHOOLS, I found this to be true for the 5 accelerated programs that I looked into. I hold a BS in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. I graduated with a 2.89 GPA. Because of my graduating GPA I was not eligible for any of the accelerated BSN programs that I was looking at. I decided to not let this hold me back from getting my BSN and now I am starting my second semester of nursing classes in a traditional BSN program. The traditional BSN program I am in allowed me a second chance, because they broke my GPA down and only counted those courses that would be required to complete my BSN. Without counting all the advanced biology courses and chemistry classes I had taken and made C's in, this changed my GPA to a 3.3 and I was able to get into nursing school. I would look on the websites of the schools you are interested in. They should have a breakdown of the minimum requirements to be considered for the accelerated BSN program. From what I understand these programs can be very competitive. Although it is taking me longer than it would have if i had been able to get into an accelerated BSN, I will be completing my traditional BSN program in a total of 3 years.

Getting A's in all your prereqs will without a doubt increase your possibility of getting into the school you want to.

I would wait until you have finished all of your prereqs or are at least a semester away from finishing to apply. I had most of my prereqs already completed when I decided to go to nursing school because of my biology degree. I only had one semester of prereqs that I needed to complete after finishing my BS. I applied to the program while I was mid semester of my last semester of prereqs, got in, and started the next semester.

Keep your options open like I did. I wasn't able to get into an accelerated BSN, but I was able to get into a traditional BSN. I too made mistakes when I was younger and didn't take college seriously enough the first time. I am paying the price... But I am still trying to achieve my dream of becoming an RN... Just going to take me a little longer than it would have if my first degree GPA would have been higher.Good Luck!

**CalicoKitty, BSN, RN** · Jun 17, 2012

I had a decent (3.2?) average from my community college, but I bombed my bachelor's (and had a 2.8ish). When I decided I wanted to go to nursing school, I went back to the community college and completed/retook pre-req's and got all A's (or almost all A's). Got enough credits to bring my average GPA up to about a 3.0, and my community college up to a 3.4 or so. I also took the GRE and scored pretty highly. I included my GRE score, a personal statement (in which I emphasized my ability to do well in school and test-taking skills: GRE and a previous certification, as well as my personal reasons for choosing a 2nd degree in nursing).

For you, I would definitely recommend having most/all of your pre-requisites done before applying to bring up your GPA. I'd also recommend finding some other "things" to help you get in to school: Volunteer at a hospital or become a CNA.

Many nursing schools may weight pre-reqs or more recent courses more heavily than others.

minnymi · Jun 18, 2012

I went through a second degree program and the requirement was 3.0, but nobody with a 3.0 was accepted. The lowest GPA that I know of someone who got in was a 3.6 something. Everyone else's was higher.

I did learn when I applied that "undesirable" grades more than 5 years old weren't calculated. I had gotten a couple of D's when I was "young and dumb" but they were thrown out of the calculation.

If you really want to go for your BSN though....apply for both programs...the accelerated and traditional. That's what I did. I was lucky to get into the accelerated, but I would've gone the extra six months if that's what it took. Some people made the mistake of applying only for the accelerated program, and when they didn't get in....they didn't have the option to start the traditional program a semester later either.

champagnesupeRNova · Jun 18, 2012

The ABSN program I went to calculated the GPA for all college coursework TOGETHER. So my crappy first Bachelor's GPA got improved by my good pre-requisite GPA. If you get good grades in your pre-req coursework (especially science courses), I'd say that would considerably increase your chances of getting in - a lot of people mess up their first time around in college and get serious later in life.

Inori, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2012

Every school calculates the GPA for admission slightly differetly. I'd suggest you apply to a mix of schools some associates, traditional BSN, and accelerated. this way you have options to choose from should your dream school reject you. An RN is a nurse regardless where you went to school so .. keep on applying. Just make sure school is accreditted by the NLN, and state Board of nursing. All state university/community colleges are accredited.

DoGoodThenGo · Jun 18, 2012

More and more nursing programs are using Nursing CAS as part of the entry process. That adds an entire new wrinkle to how GPAs are counted. https://portal.nursingcas.org/applicants2012/faq/faq_education.html

sailornurse · Jun 21, 2012

The school I taught at, GPA was based on Pre-reqs only for both traditional BSN & accelerated. Minimum was a 3.0 however many semesters the lowest anyone of the 48 accepted each semster for traditional BSN program, well everyone had 3.5 and higher. It can be very competitive. I have not heard about the centralized applications mentioned above. Every school has it's own way of calculating and most will not consider you until all pre-reqs are completed. That's how it is where I was teaching, yet every semester, people apply who have pre-reqs still to complete. There applications are not even put in the pile. And there was no waiting list at this university but rumors that there is waiting list continues with those taking pre reqs.

DoGoodThenGo · Jun 22, 2012

It is rapidly becoming more and more difficult to give a single answer to the question as schools keep altering admission GPA requirements.

What used to be just one's GPA from the pre-nursing sequence has morphed into:

Culmative GPA of all previous course work with a required minimum only for pre-nursing courses.

Culmative GPA of all previous course work with a required minimum for both the gen ed *and* pre-nursing courses.

Variations of the above but exempting "old" or "stale" courses taken more than "X" years ago.

And so forth.

The other wrinkle is that more and more programs are not basing admission by GPA alone, but using percentage of standard testing scores (NLN, TEAS, SAT) as well. Hunter College for instance takes 50% of each (NLN and GPA) to arrive at ranking.

RNStudent20192020 · May 26, 2017

May I ask what school you went to?