Academic fresh start and acceptance to nursing school

[brandyb680]

Hello everyone. I am attending a community college right now after many years out of school. I had a few semesters under my belt but my grades were not stellar and I had a ton of withdrawls. Since being back, I have a 4.0 overall and a 4.0 in my science pre-reqs. I am ready to start applying to nursing schools for the fall 2015 start, but I am worried about getting in. When I returned to school, I did an academic fresh start. I know they keep saying that it doesn't count, but is can't help worrying that it will. All the schools I plan to apply to accept the fresh start, but I still worry. Has anyone dealt with this? Thanks.

[seconddegreebsn]

Maybe write about it in your admission essay? I don't think this is as uncommon as you might think - people come from a variety of academic backgrounds. Just speak to the fact that you're doing well now and very committed to being a nurse, maybe volunteer a little bit to get some extra healthcare experience.

[smf0903]

Believe you me, if they took me, they'll take you.

I went to college fresh out of high school many moons ago and flunked out after two quarters. Life happened, and I didn't go back to school until I was in my late 30s. The community college I go to calculates GPA from everywhere in the universe you took classes. I had a 4.0 for all of the semesters I took pre-reqs, but when I applied to the nursing program my former GPA (literally like a 0.65 or something ridiculous like that) dropped my GPA down to something like a 2.68...our school requires a minimum 2.5 cumulative (they wouldn't forgive the crummy stuff from 20 years prior because it didn't pull my GPA below a 2.5). I thought I'd be on the waiting list until I was able to collect social security, BUT I actually had one of the shortest waits of anyone I talked to. I took tons of classes during my time I took pre-reqs, many which I was taking toward a second degree I figured I'd aim for at the same time. I don't know if that helped me get in earlier?? I honestly couldn't tell you...just wanted you to know that it IS completely possible to get in, even if you have a horrible prior college experience...I'm proof of that!! :) Good luck to you!!

[mommy_endeavor]

They won't even consider it. You have to retake your prereqs within five years or something like that in CA. absolutely don't worry! I don't even think an explanation would be necessary. You can try to call someone from admissions of some schools you are applying to and see what they recommend.

[Suckitupbuttercup]

I am in TX and utilized the academic fresh start when I applied to my BSN program. Here, it means that only the last 10 years of your academics are taken into consideration. For me, that meant that the failing grades I'd received 20 yrs ago as a result of family issues out of my control were not going to keep me from achieving my dream of becoming a nurse. It can be done.

[rls927]

I know each school is different, but for our school they only look at certain things (your grades in your pre-reqs, your GPA in your classes that count towards nursing school, etc.) so any of your grades in "other, previous" classes wouldn't necessarily count.