I am currently taking my nursing pre-reqs, getting all A's in them - but waaay back when I went to college I didn't take school seriously at all and my grades were awful, like a 2.9 average.
I don't want to be out of work for two years while in nursing school if I can help it, so I am debating between going to LPN school for a year, then getting my LPN to RN online while I work a couple of LPN shifts a week, or getting a second Accelerated BSN.
My concern is for the second degree program - I know they're very competitive.
I'd be willing to relocate anywhere in the continental U.S. for a 12 to 15 month program. Does anyone know of any accelerated BSN programs that would give more credit to my recent grades then my undergrad grades? I tend to test well (now that I actually study and prepare myself!) so I think I would do well on the GRE as well.
Would I have a chance getting into such a program in my situation? I don't want to waste a ton of money and time applying to programs if I don't have a chance of getting in.
Marymount University in Arlington, VA has a BSN accelerated program that accepts students based on their entrance exam scores and puts less weight on your GPA. I think mine was maybe 2.5/2.8 if I was lucky. Buy they only wanted to see the scores of their entrance exam called the ATI exam, which I think I got a 97th percentile on. I also wrote the optional admission essay on why I wanted to be a nurse, which I think got me extra brownie point... Don't must of the comm. colleges take you pretty fast once you complete all of your pre-req's though?
and noooo, unfortunately, community colleges do NOT let you in quickly once you finish your pre-reqs, at least not in my area. Everyone wants to be a nurse these days, apparently.
My friend with a 3.8 GPA finished her pre-reqs and tried to get into Polk Community College's nursing program twice, and there were too many applicants and she didn't make the cut. ANd they don't do waiting lists; you just have to reapply again the following year.
I called another local community college and they told me that if I had my pre-reqs done right now I might be able to get in in 2009, but more likely 2010. Even a lot of the public LPN schools around here are booked for this year and taking people for 2008 or 2009.
and noooo, unfortunately, community colleges do NOT let you in quickly once you finish your pre-reqs, at least not in my area. Everyone wants to be a nurse these days, apparently.
My friend with a 3.8 GPA finished her pre-reqs and tried to get into Polk Community College's nursing program twice, and there were too many applicants and she didn't make the cut. ANd they don't do waiting lists; you just have to reapply again the following year.
I called another local community college and they told me that if I had my pre-reqs done right now I might be able to get in in 2009, but more likely 2010. Even a lot of the public LPN schools around here are booked for this year and taking people for 2008 or 2009.
Hey OP! Try USF's (University of South Florida) Accelerated 2nd degree BSN program. I personally know someone who got in with a 3.01, which is like 2/10 of point from where you are. The website states that you must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, but you're so close it may be worth a try. Good luck!
I appreciate that. It's just frustrating because I know what I am capable of. If I had put in even a little more effort in college it would make it so much easier to get into an advanced program now. Of course no 18-year-old college student is thinking 20, 25 years down the line - all I was thinking was "My parents are paying for college? Time to party party party!"
I graduated high school when I was 17 and I been paying out of pocket since my second semester. My parents never paid for school. I was never a party girl and I still did bad. I just simply didnt like school. I am paying for it now. I'm an LVN trying to get into a bridging program. I know this post is old but I just had to say not all bad grades come from people partying because their parents pay for school. Some come from people overwhelming themselves because they want to get out quick (like me taking 18+ hrs a semester) which caused poor grades, which is causing me to be in school longer.
Anjann, RN
135 Posts
Marymount University in Arlington, VA has a BSN accelerated program that accepts students based on their entrance exam scores and puts less weight on your GPA. I think mine was maybe 2.5/2.8 if I was lucky. Buy they only wanted to see the scores of their entrance exam called the ATI exam, which I think I got a 97th percentile on. I also wrote the optional admission essay on why I wanted to be a nurse, which I think got me extra brownie point... Don't must of the comm. colleges take you pretty fast once you complete all of your pre-req's though?