ADN versus Second Degree BSN with non-nursing degree

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Hello,

I am currently a second semester senior at an ivy league university and will be graduating in the spring with a non-nursing degree. I would really like to become a nurse but unfortunately I feel like my gpa is holding back my prospects. I currently have a 2.33 gpa and it probably won't change much from now until I graduate. Many of the second degree programs I've looking at require gpa's much higher than what I have and therefore my chances of getting into them are pretty much slim to none. Would getting an associates degree at a community college be a better option for me (if at all possible?) and then perhaps later on pursing a BSN? I'm really lost and don't really know what to do or where to go from here. I have big dreams but very little hope right about now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

An ADN may be a good option for you.

Many community colleges use lottery systems for determining admission to their nursing programs. That means that any applicant who has successfully completed the necessary pre-requisites with an acceptable GPA goes into a lottery and the first 100 names drawn at random (or the number of seats available) are admitted. This can make for a longer wait to get in, if your name isn't chosen for the first term after you apply, but does make admission possible for students whose GPAs are not at the top of the class.

Have you requested an appointment with an academic advisor at your local CC to determine whether or not you've completed the necessary pre-requisites? If not, that would be the first step. If you need to complete coursework, you can enroll upon completing your BS degree, and perhaps bring up your GPA a bit with these classes.

In the meantime, do you plan to look for a post-college job? That would enable you to save up for some of your nursing school expenes.

Good luck to you.

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Future,

Very important for you to speak with someone, or go to open info sessions at community colleges in your area. Some do this lottery deal, mine did not. I think many more do enrollment by merit starting the top and working down the list of applicants till space is filled. My college did not keep a wait list. Be especially informed if the college has a limit on age of prerequisites, it is not unusual to have a 5 year limit. That would mean you would need to not dilly dally in your quest once you began, or you'd have to retake them. This all with no guarantee of entry.

Again so, so, important to make those calls.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Before you make any final decisions, check with the Nursing Departments of the schools you want to attend. The university that I obtained my BSN from did not take my previous GPA from a non-nursing degree into account for admissions.

The university I attended only considered my GPA obtained from the pre-reqs I took to get into the Nursing program (Microbiology, Chem, Organic Chem, Anatomy/Phys).

So, don't give up hope yet!

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There is actually a university in Oklahoma that accepts everyone regardless of gpa as long as you have the pre reqs already done. They have the second degree option there as well. The only downfall is that its a tad bit expensive, but you would be guaranteed in. They have some type of agreement with the government to help with the nursing shortage. Heres the website if you wanna check it out. http://www.okcu.edu/nursing/

Hope this helps!

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Specializes in CNA in LTC, Hospital.
There is actually a university in Oklahoma that accepts everyone regardless of gpa as long as you have the pre reqs already done. They have the second degree option there as well. The only downfall is that its a tad bit expensive, but you would be guaranteed in. They have some type of agreement with the government to help with the nursing shortage. Heres the website if you wanna check it out. http://www.okcu.edu/nursing/

Hope this helps!

This is good info..i've seen this school on another post as well. They seem to have a pass rate over 90% on the NCLEX. I wish i lived closer or that there was something like that in the tristate area. There tier 3 schools with pass rates that are only 70% and are hard to get into despite high cost.(To reply to the original post) Some community colleges have less prereqs. Try taking the prereqs over at a community college where it's cheap and do some work or volunteer in healthcare setting and then apply. think of it like this..take it at a community college, get your ADN and you can do the RN to BSN online so u can work and make the same money and take classes online after or b4 work. You can also just take the prereqs at a community college and get high grades in them then apply to a for yr school and get a BSN there. Just focus on getting the prereqs in w/ high grades and your gpa should shoot up. the four yr schools may take into consideration that your previous degree was at an ivy league school

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

I agree with everyone who has posted, that you should check out prospective schools before making another move. I'm a career changer who received a B.A. in another field 4 years ago. I'm heading into an Accelerated BSN program this Fall and yes, their requirements were at least a 3.0 GPA from the college where I got my B.A., irregardless if I got straight A's on all the prerequisites courses.

If the colleges you looked at has strict GPA requirements, then you would need to look into 2-year ADN programs that looks at your prerequisites classes. From there you want to get good grades in those classes to bring a great GPA to the table. These programs are very competitive, but do your research.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.
There is actually a university in Oklahoma that accepts everyone regardless of gpa as long as you have the pre reqs already done. They have the second degree option there as well. The only downfall is that its a tad bit expensive, but you would be guaranteed in. They have some type of agreement with the government to help with the nursing shortage. Heres the website if you wanna check it out. http://www.okcu.edu/nursing/

Hope this helps!

I just checked out that website and the Bachelors to BSN program for second degree students requires a minimum of 3.0 GPA to be eligible.

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ADN is definitely an option for you. Like others have said, meet with the counselors at the CC you'd like to attend and see what you're chances are. Also, there are some programs that even let RN's with a BS in another field apply to get an MSN, so if your future goal is to pursue an MSN, you may not even need to get a BSN. Don't worry, you still have lots of options!

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If you want to stop at getting a RN license: I would advise you to consider ADN programs at community colleges. I hate to say it, but you're right, second degree BSN programs are incredibly competitive. And yet there is a bonus to going to a community college over any place that offers a second degree BSN-the PRICE. Community colleges can be very reasonably priced especially when considered w/ some of the second degree BSN programs. Furthermore, I'm assuming you're on the east coast if you attend an ivy league school. If so, consider diploma RN programs. Some are as short as 2 years.

If you want to go onto to get your MSN: there are many direct entry Master degree programs for people who hold a non-nursing degree. It's not much different than a typical MSN program, just a year longer to cover the basics that you would need to know. It's important to note that not all direct entry MSN programs allow you to sit for the NCLEX-RN though. So after all that you still not be a RN (however, that won't really matter if you're applying for a NP position)

hope that all made sense!

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Future123,

If you'd like, I can send you a PM regarding the university I attended. Yes, they do require a certain GPA and it is competitive. However, as I stated earlier, they only calculate the GPA obtained from your nursing pre-reqs.

So, let me know if you're interested.

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I think the key here is that if your goal truly is a career in nursing - there are many ways to join. Each college has different admission criteria. Some will look at your cummulative GPA and others may only look at your pre-req grades. I'm in a similar boat to you. The local state university which is my first choice to receive a BSN considers 4 factors when deciding admission: 1) overall lifetime GPA 2) Science prerequisite GPA 3) Non-science prerequisite GPA 4) TEAS test score. My Pre-req GPAs are both 4.0, my TEAS test score is 92 (99th percentile) but my lifetime GPA is only about a 3.4 and the school's assistant dean has told me that that my overall GPA may still keep me out. At my local community college, I could earn an ADN in the same amount of time it would take me to get the BSN but my admission is nearly certain. They have a totally different admission criteria. They assign points for different life experiences and degrees along with points based on grades earned taking prerequisites. The lowest admitted point value for the last class was around 37 points. Based on what I've done so far, I've already got 42 points. I'd rather get my BSN at the university but the community college is my back-up.

You need to do the research, call the colleges, and find your path to make your goal come true.

I wish you the best of luck.

Gpedia http://img.an-file.info/smilies/jester.gif

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