I have a BA degree in an unrelated field and a 2.99 overall GPA and have been working to bring it up - all my nursing/science prerequisites are post-bacc and have high marks (As and Bs). I have a story behind my GPA and I do plan on explaining it to schools. After this next semester, assuming I get As and Bs, it should be 3.01, but this GPA change will occur after many application deadlines...They'd see I have courses in progress but my GPA will still be 2.99.
Should I still apply to programs that want 3.0? Or will they see 2.99 and automatically reject it?
I have clinical experience and I'm making a big effort. It's so close I can almost taste it....Does that have any merit?
I suggest saving the time and money that it would take you to apply. No school that will accept a 2.9GPA is any kind of school you want to attend. Don't feel bad though, there are many other careers you can select that do not require as high of a GPA and you will most likely be happier in the end anyway. You may mourn the nursing career you dreamt about but fantasy and reality are two different things and nursing is *not* all it is cracked up to be.
I mean only to be honest, not to harm your morale in any way. Bad schools are REALLY BAD. And believe me, they will hurt a lot more than your morale.
I truly hope that you find an answer that brings you satisfaction and joy. Be open minded and explore all options, consider using a career coach to help you. Don't look back, look forward. It's a bright new day, you don't have to be a nurse. I WISH my grades had not been so good, then I could have never been accepted into nursing school and I would have avoided massive, overwhelming, all-consuming suffering.
Things are not as bad as they seem.
Please don't project your disillusion with nursing school and the nursing profession on the OP. There are GOOD programs that have accepted people with a GPA of 2.9 with certain circumstances.
I'm in a BSN program where the min requirement is 3.0. The lowest admitted GPA was a 3.7. Good luck to you! I certainly hope you are able to get into a program.
It sounds like there are some schools that will admit as long as you reach the minimum requirement, others not so much. It's a matter of finding those programs. There's also schools that seem to take other things into consideration other than cumulative GPA. So I'm having less of a crisis as time goes on. lol
I had 2.8 undergrad GPA and I got into a good ABSN program. It wasn't easy and it took some time, but it is possible.
1. Look for programs that have a "holistic" application review process. This means they don't just look at your GPA. It's true that a lot of schools just look at GPAs.
2. Build that resume! Volunteer, get work experience, and gain skills (like CNA). You might also be able to retake classes at a community college if you took a pre-req class at a university and got a low grade.
3. The last thing I did, that I think really helped overcome my low GPA, was I received my master's in public health. I did really well in that program and I think it's showed the admissions committee that I could handle a strenuous program.
4. My motto is "it doesn't hurt to apply!" It might be time consuming but apply to as many schools that you can! What's the worst that can happen? Also consider applying to community colleges. It might not be ideal, but it could save you time in the long-run.
Just in case anyone stumbles across this thread feeling down about their stats, I just got accepted into a darn good school and I couldn't be more excited. It is possible to find schools (good schools) that see more than just your overall GPA.
You got in to U of R right? If you don't mind me asking, how low was your GPA? I applied there, and did get a interview. I'm nervous because my GPA is only a 2.95. I messed around when I first started college. I joined the ARMY to become a combat medic and became more focused and since than I've had all A's and B's. I also am an EMT and have a ton of healthcare experience . I guess I'm just trying to see what my chances are. U of R is the only school I really want to go to.
Just in case anyone stumbles across this thread feeling down about their stats, I just got accepted into a darn good school and I couldn't be more excited. It is possible to find schools (good schools) that see more than just your overall GPA.
KayGee,
You got in to U of R right? If you don't mind me asking, how low was your GPA? I applied there, and did get a interview. I'm nervous because my GPA is only a 2.95. I messed around when I first started college. I joined the ARMY to become a combat medic and became more focused and since than I've had all A's and B's. I also am an EMT and have a ton of healthcare experience . I guess I'm just trying to see what my chances are. U of R is the only school I really want to go to.
You got in to U of R right? If you don't mind me asking, how low was your GPA? I applied there, and did get a interview. I'm nervous because my GPA is only a 2.95. I messed around when I first started college. I joined the ARMY to become a combat medic and became more focused and since than I've had all A's and B's. I also am an EMT and have a ton of healthcare experience . I guess I'm just trying to see what my chances are. U of R is the only school I really want to go to.
I would love to chat with you KayGee about your U of R experience. I do not have enough posts however to do a private message. If you are willing to talk, please let me know and I'll give you my email address. Thanks!
KayGee
85 Posts
I like that idea better than just giving up on nursing all together, which I will never do.