Am I competitive??

[michelledavies]

So I graduated in 2008 with a degree in Biology. My grades weren't great, but I finished just under a 3.0. After college, I worked as a high school tutor, helping students with mostly sciences and some math. I now work as an entry level web designer and need a change! I have taken some of the pre-reqs because of my undergrad degree, but I am thinking about retaking Micro and A+P to improve my final grade in each. I mostly did poorly in college because I didn't care (unfortunately)..is it possible for me to recover and get into a great ETP or Accelerated BSN program?

Thanks so much for any help or suggestions you may have!

[leenak]

Most of the ABSN/ETP programs I've seen require a 3.0/3.2 or above. Some of them will weigh more heavily your last 60 units as well as take in consideration classes you've taken after your degree.

Many of them also report average entering student GPAs being very high such as 3.6-3.8.

So if I were you, I'd definitely retake the pre-reqs you did poorly in and make sure you get As in them.

[rockiesgurl]

Most schools will tell you what the previous class GPA average was in order to give you an idea of the type of students they are accepting into their program. I've seen those averasges at 3.1, 3.4 and 3.6 for various schools. There is a minimum GPA requirement that each school puts out in their admissions requirements page. I've researched atleast 100 ABSN programs and 3.0 is the typical minimum GPA they want. But I have seen schools that only require a 2.75 cumulative GPA... I would look for those schools, then repeat any courses you can to bring up your science GPA. Depending on the program, there are other factors weighted like TEAS exam or essays, or letters of recommendation and volunteer work. I think the key is being willing to move anywhere to get into the program that fits you. Just work with what you got, you might not get into Yale nursing school but I guarantee that there is a school out there that will take you if you put your best foot forward and show them you want this.

Good luck!! :))

[NCRNMDM, ASN, RN]

It all depends on the minimum GPA requirement for the program you are trying to get into. I think the minimum GPA requirement for my program was a 3.3 or 3.4 and at least a 1050 on the SAT, if you took it. If you didn't take the SAT, you had to take college algebra, statistics, and another advanced math. I exempted that requirement because I had a 1986 on the SAT. My GPA at the time of my application was a 4.0. I had taken all of my prerequisites except microbiology and an advanced level English course. I had also taken some extra elective classes, and that made me more competitive. I had graduated seven months early from high school in order to apply for the program when I did. I was the youngest person to ever apply (and, eventually, be accepted to) my nursing program, and that was both good and bad. It showed initiative and determination on my part, but the faculty members were hesitant about taking me at first because I had only recently turned 18, and they were concerned about maturity. When they met me, however, that issue resolved itself. Two semesters into nursing school, my GPA is still a 4.0.

Once you've finished the classes you are taking now, and know what your GPA is, you will have a better idea about which programs you have a chance of getting accepted to.