Bad GPA - history of F's and retaking classes

Bree124, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2008

This is really something you need to speak with an academic advisor about. There are too many variances between schools for us to shed light on how this will all affect your GPA, transcripts, etc.

Good luck!

caliotter3 · Mar 15, 2008

It would be a lot easier to find a new school and start over from scratch. No explaining away the past. Too much effort and trouble. Just start over. This time around, let nothing get in your way, even if it means taking one class at a time. Good luck to you.

Bicster · Mar 15, 2008

It would be a lot easier to find a new school and start over from scratch. No explaining away the past. Too much effort and trouble. Just start over. This time around, let nothing get in your way, even if it means taking one class at a time. Good luck to you.

OP would still have to disclose past academic history. To not do so would be immoral, illegal and ill-advised.

NurseKeiKei · Mar 15, 2008

Hey RN wannabe. There is hope for you. I started college several years ago and had a transcript that was almost identical to yours. About two years ago I returned to college and found myself on the dean's list every semester. It was a long road fought with many tears but I committed to it and you won't be able to do it until you COMMIT. I took no chances. I made an appointment to meet with the nursing director of a BSN program I wanted to apply to. Despite the last four semesters of stellar grades, I was rejected face-to-face by the director this very prestigious BSN program. However the director did tell me that she would accept me into the program following my graduation from an associate RN program. Recently I applied and was accepted into an ADN program. So the road may be longer but it can be done.

The first thing you need to do is talk to your academic advisor. Many schools have a forgiveness/clean slate program that allows students that have a certain grade point average (usually a really low one) to re-take classes they have attempted and replace low grades with more favorable ones. I believe in most cases this option removes the unfavorable grade from the transcript for good.

Lastly, starting over is not an option. On each nursing application they ask you if you have ever attended any other college. If you don't include all information that is considered forgery and frowned upon by all. If they find out, they can remove you from the program no matter how well you are doing. It's called lack of integrity. There is this clearing house that many schools use these days that allows them to research each student and other schools they have attended. Something to consider.

Take a minute to catch your breath. Do you really have time to commit to your academics? If not then you need to wait until you do. After all nursing school is going to be way harder than any of those pre-req courses.

Good luck. You can do this. :up:

clhRN2b2010 · Mar 15, 2008

Have hope! All is not lost. While I cannot speak directly re: your school, I can say that I had a similar situation. My school will replace old grades w/new ones and only took GPA from 8 pre req classes for admission. I had a very spotty past academic history, the advisors I spoke to were very hesitant and truthfully not very encouraging..but I knew I was capable.

When things calmed down in my life and I was able to committ, I did so and have managed a 4.0 in the past 3 semesters, replacing 24 poor GPA credits and bringing my overall GPA into a competitive range. Hopefully, I will be admitted for Fall '08..and if not, I'll take those other 2 classes over and try again in the spring. It has taken longer than I would have wanted but I have proven to myself and others, that I can succeed.

Keep your eye on the prize and put one foot in front of the other!

FriendlyGhostRN · Mar 15, 2008

Find out if your school of interest will allow you to retake classes for better grades. The good thing is, I noticed you haven't yet taken the sciences for a nursing degree, and those (at least for my university) are the most important classes! Try your best in those, and if you can retake the other ones. Unfortunately, my school only looks at your first attempt grades at all pre-requisites. This is why you should first make sure they'll allow you to replace your lower grade with the newer,higher grade instead. I wish you all the best, and don't give up or lose hope! This is your dream, and so you can do it!

rph3664 · Mar 15, 2008

I've known a lot of people who flunked out of college when they went right after high school, but they went back a few years later (usually, but not always, to a different school) and since they were more mature, did very well.

Best wishes! You sound very determined.

picurn10 · Mar 15, 2008

lots of schools have "academic forgiveness policies" which not only include replacing the bad grade with a higher one, when you retake it, but if it's been long enough, and you have a good reason (your dh's medical issues) you can often get two full semesters forgiven :up: I would think in your case, that might be the best way to go. The grades don't just disappear, they will always be viewable on your transcripts, but they won't factor into your GPA, which is huge!

I agree that since most of the classes weren't your sciences that will be better. Some schools only factor your GPA using your sciences and the classes specifically realated the their program. So, you just have to sit down with each programs advisor and figure out how to get there.

Just a word of caution, in all of the schools I've attended (military brat and then military wife) the advisors typically have been sort of discouraging. I think the err on the side of caution because they don't want you coming back to them if you don't get in. Plus nursing is so competititve that it will be hard work, but you can do it!!!

jmw1 · Mar 16, 2008

The last time around I was doing good until around the middle of the class and I got stuck and couldn't get past my hang up so I failed due to bad grades and missing the exams.

What happened in that semester? I don't want to try to diagnose learning disabilities or psychological disorders over the internet but I know someone who did something like what you did (doing very good work until mid semester and then losing it) and she got diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which can be controlled by medications and psychological counseling.

Some of stuff you're doing like giving up when you get stuck, not showing up for exams, and not dropping classes by the deadline suggests something else is going on. I understand family stuff happens but when that happens to me, I drop classes. How many weeks into the semester is the last drop deadline with W? If it's past the midpoint of the semester, I think that's usually plenty of time to concede defeat and go to the college's website to drop the class online. You lose big money by dropping but it's the same thing but worse with an F.

I hate to be a party pooper but I think something else is going on.

trimeduRN, BSN · Mar 16, 2008

i understand exactly where you are coming from. i had the similar experience. at least it was only a couple of semesters for you. i had family issues and it went off and on for years. then, i figured out that i was basically destroying my chances if i continued. the school that i attend replaces the newest grade. but some of the bsn and msn programs wont accept them. they add everything together, whether the school you attend counts them or not.

your best bet, just like the other posters said, is to find out the policy of the college. i personally dont speak with academic advisors because all that i have encountered have been discouraging. the only thing they would say to me is that i would never make it. that i would never get into nursing school.

but, find out their policy. then check the policy of the schools you are wanting to attend after you would graduate. i've found that some bsn and rn-msn programs will accept the most recent gpa from the school you attended. in that case, you may want to find another 2yr school.

1. the main thing is that you must do the research first. find out your school's policy, see if they offer replacement of grades or academic forgiveness.

2. check the school where you want to attend after that. see if they honor the prior school's gpa or will they still count those courses into your gpa as well. check to see that if you have attended more than one college, will they take the gpa from the most recent school.

3. after getting all of that information, you then, can make an informed decision. you would know whether you wanted to stay and repeat the courses, or start over. you still would report the other school you attended. when starting a new school, your gpa basically starts over for that institution.

sorry for the long post. i have had my share of exactly what you are going through. my husband became sick as well. everytime i thought things were fine and i could go back, he would get sick again, or have an acute attack of his condition. then, i got pregnant 3 times while attending school. all of what we go through is a part of life. these obstacles help us become better people. we fight harder because we know what we want and what we have been though. and that we want to overcome where we are at that time.

i graduated high school in 95. i attended college off and on for 8 yrs until i, somehow, figured out that i was just going in circles. but i made a promise to myself and my family that i would do this. so, after all that, i will graduate in december with my adn. and like some other posters have said. nursing school is much harder than pre-requisites. (so make sure you are truely ready.) the schools that i am looking to attend looks at gpa, but also take into account my gre scores.

after my babbling, dont give up. it can be done. just because you have had obstacles thrown your way, it doesnt mean you have a disorder. it just means that when you finish, you will appreciate it more.

g00d luck and stay focused!!!!!!!

if you believe you can do it, and put your all in to it. it can be done and you will succeed!!!!!

keep your eyes on the prize!!!! :nurse:

Piglet68 · Mar 17, 2008

I agree with the other post to talk to your academic advisor about retaking the classes and if they have a forgiveness program. When you do take the classes over, look into a tudor for the classes that seem to give you difficulty.