BA with VERY low GPA, want to do 2 year RN program

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Hello everyone! I'm pretty sure there are tons of forums on this very topic(believe me I have read them) but i still have more questions....

I graduated with an undergrad degree in interdisciplinary studies with a VERY low GPA. it was a 2.2. many things went on in the first 4-5 semesters of college(family troubles and job issues) that caused me to not go to class, withdraw and pretty much not be a responsible student. if course that all comes back to bite me now that i want to go into nursing.

I currently have been working as a Medical Secretary in the ER for almost four years now so i know what nursing will entail.

i live in NYC and have already talked to Molloy College about their accelerated program but told me off the bat with my very low GPA i would not be considered at all for most ABSN programs. I was told to try community college. Now since i already have my BA going back to a CC seemed like such a downgrade but i am now realizing that is not so i have signed up to start taking classes in the winter for Nassau CC.

Now my question is this. NCC only looks at the 13 credit pre reqs towards your nuursing app(A&P I, Statistics, Eng 101, Psych 101). I took 3 of the 4 pre reqs but got horrid grades(C in eng, C in psych and D in stats, YIKES!) because i never went to class. Im taking over the stats class in winter, should i take over the two classes I got Cs in as well? Also with a GPA as atrocious as mine, what do you believe my chances are to get into a 2yr RN program? Please be honest. I really do want to be a nurse but feel as though I am doomed. :(

Specializes in FNP, ONP.

I'd start from scratch and take it all over. You need all A's at this point.

Do the 2 yr RN pre reqs and pretty much take all of it over? im pretty sure either way they need my old transcript. The counselor told me they would figure out which grades can transfer but im going in as a non-matriculated student. Taking over a C and getting an A will those average together?

You NEED those classes, not just for the grade but for the knowledge contained within them. I would retake everything and start over. Honestly, I would not pursue an associates, that is what I did and I regret it. Now that I have a bachelor's it is far easier for me to find employment.

Whether the grades will average or simply replace is up to the policy of the school. To be honest, anything less than a B is not worth transferring. A BIS is not worth much beyond being a life lesson, my wife has one.

Specializes in FNP, ONP.

I guess I don't fully understand what you are asking. IME, most schools don't count transfer courses into your GPA, but they do look at your transcripts as part of your application. You can transfer any course with a "B" or better for credit. At least that is how it was at my alma mater. Perhaps this school will accept a "C" for credit, you will have to ask them. You have a significant disadvantage going in with that transcript, but if you repeat the prerequisites you have already taken and get all As the second time, and get all As from here on out in the rest of the prerequisites, they will probably overlook your old transcript when it comes time to apply to the pre-licensure program. What did the school counselor suggest you do?

You NEED those classes, not just for the grade but for the knowledge contained within them. I would retake everything and start over. Honestly, I would not pursue an associates, that is what I did and I regret it. Now that I have a bachelor's it is far easier for me to find employment.

i believe since I am a college graduate already I have to enter as a transfer. Please forgive my ignorance I have never transferred schools and have been in the same school on and off for 7 years. getting into a traditional BSN i believe I would still have a grave disadvantage and that is where my stress lies.

I guess I don't fully understand what you are asking. IME, most schools don't count transfer courses into your GPA, but they do look at your transcripts as part of your application. You can transfer any course with a "B" or better for credit. At least that is how it was at my alma mater. Perhaps this school will accept a "C" for credit, you will have to ask them. You have a significant disadvantage going in with that transcript, but if you repeat the prerequisites you have already taken and get all As the second time, and get all As from here on out in the rest of the prerequisites, they will probably overlook your old transcript when it comes time to apply to the pre-licensure program. What did the school counselor suggest you do?

Thank you for your response! I am honestly completely lost on how transfer credits work but i thought the grades were averaged in if you repeat a course. I'm thinking either way i would have to start from scratch. the counselor does not know my full situation, merely that I have a low GPA and since only those 13 credits are considered for placement into the program to be completed with the best grades as possible. I will work as hard as possible and I am hoping the growth in my transcript in my last 2 semesters (3.6 both semesters) will be seen growth.

Yeah, but I don't think she can get in a BSN program with her past grades. I would go the ADN route, which still isn't easy! Getting in will be easier but staying in will not! She should take them one at a time if she has to and make it a goal to get every single point available! She can get her BSN later, online (RN-BSN). That's my 2 cents.

ok so with your current grades your all ready in back of the game. You want to get ahead. I had a similar situation that dropped me from a 3.5 to a 2.6 in 2010 i took about 1 1/2 years off and went back for a semester for A's and high B's and now im back at 3.2 its not easy but if you want it you will go get it. I went to Nassau cc for their help trying to get in but because my college (Berkeley college midtown manhattan) wouldn't release my transcripts i couldn't get in to any school until i pay them money i owe for withdrawing. Im currently applying to St.pauls school of nursing accelerated program they have test you can take if you score high that will be a good look for you. But back to you it is really really hard to get in to a cuny schools nursing program they give u a paper and tell you take these classes but what they don't tell you is that your grades better be all a's because every one with better grades then you has a better chance and also that they only take like 30-40 kids per semester or year. So in my opinion start over go in speak with the nursing adviser she is a older woman short she is very helpful but strict no non sense DO NOT SPEAK WITH THE SECRETARIES THEY ARE THERE TO ANSWER PHONES AND GREET PPL AND DONT KNOW ANY THING. ALL THEY KNOW IS FILL OUT THE AP GIVE US 50 DOLLARS. Tell the nurse adviser that you want to sign your credits away that will put you back at zero and you will start clean then all you have to do is get A's shoot high. and if after 2 years you don't get in please don't do like my friend did and stay there for 4 years taking unnecessary classes that have nothing to do with nursing just to keep applying every semester to the nursing program take your credits and go back to Molloy college with your high gpa......Good luck

Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Trauma ICU.

First, don't give up! Most importantly, I would check with the nursing school you are trying to apply to. Do they accept retakes? Do they average out the grades once you do repeat? I just got accepted to a ADN program and my program thankfully took the retaken, higher grade . However, they did not allow retakes for grades C or better. So you should make up the D and check if your schools okay with making up the C's. you have to realize that even CC nursing schools are very competitive nowadays. Also find out if the nursing school has a point based system. If so, you might want to take extra classes (ex. Pharmacology) that might get you extra points... Or take on volunteering.. Etc. and since you worked as nurse secretary, some schools might give you extra points for having medical experience (my school did). Good luck to you! As long as you prove that your old GPA doesn't reflect where you are now, and do well from now on, you can do it! (:

I'm not sure what NCc needs, but Suffolk requires pre-rec

Chemistry

Anatomy & physiology 1 and 2

Phycology

Sociology

English

To graduate

A second English

Phycology life span

Humanities

I would take all above courses, and apply.

Once you graduate with your RN, do your RN to BSN.

I know that's not what you want to hear, but most accelerated programs won't accept you, unfortunately.

Or you can take all of them again and apply to ABSN and maybe you'll get in

Good luck

if they only look at 4 classes to calculate your gpa that should be pretty easy. you could have those knocked out with As in 6 months (spring/summer semesters). the CC close to me looks at nine classes and you need a 3.6+ gpa.

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