Accelerated programs & GPA

[hopefullRN11]

Hello! I am applying to nurses school, mostly in the South, but some in NY and CT. I have a lot of questions about my application and how strong of a contender I can be so I am hoping someone can help me!

I have a Bachelor's of Science degree in Kinesiology with a GPA of 2.9. I attended a major university while being a student-athlete for a Division 1 athletic program. I was heavily involved in volunteer work, logging in over 100 hrs every year both with my team and on my own (community based, hospital based, etc.) while handling an athletic commitment of over 20 hrs a week (travel weekends, athletic commitments, missing full weeks for competition) so I can say that it was not an easy 4 years. I am retaking some courses, because nursing schools would not accept separate human anatomy & human phys. courses but also because I want higher grades. My pre-req GPA is a 3.1 and my passion for becoming a nurse is insurmountable. Nursing was always my dream but could not achieve it while being a division 1 student athlete. Will accelerated programs even consider me?

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

What are the GPA requirements for the schools you are applying for? A lot of schools look at your prereq GPA mainly and they usually require a 3.0, not sure about general course GPA.

[hopefullRN11]

The schools that I am looking to apply to just want the applicant to have the general pre reqs and gpa isnt mentioned. If it is they say 3.0 is good to have but are willing to look at GPAs lower. I just don't want my past to hurt me for my future. I don't want to make excuses but I tried my best during undergrad given my circumstances.

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

If you meet the minimal requirements, they will consider you. If able, definitely send them a personal statement. Try to highlight your strengths as much as possible, and focus your applications on everything BUT your GPA. If you're an all around person, then I think they will look at you as a stronger candidate, given the colleges look at students from a holistic approach.

[Stephalump]

The schools that I am looking to apply to just want the applicant to have the general pre reqs and gpa isnt mentioned. If it is they say 3.0 is good to have but are willing to look at GPAs lower. I just don't want my past to hurt me for my future. I don't want to make excuses but I tried my best during undergrad given my circumstances.

That's life, unfortunately. Our past affects our future. Might as well stop running ?

Programs are all so different with differing levels of competitiveness, it's hard for me to give you odds or advise you. All I can say is in this situation, where there's a will, there's a way. You may have to spread your net to as many different programs as possible. You may have to go the non-accelerated net. You may have to take more prerequisite classes to up that GPA

Good luck!

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

Will they consider you, probably. The problem is that every nursing program (traditional and ABSN) are very competitive with the lowest GPA accepted well above the minimum required. The fact that you were a student athlete in your previous degree will most likely have no bearing in their decision. There are plenty of student-athletes that had high GPAs in their degrees, some may even be your competition now.