Bad at Science

[cek35]

Currently, I'm a junior in high school and extremely interested in becoming a nurse; however, I am not the best in my science classes. I've gotten c's and b's in my chemistry and biology courses, but decent grades in anatomy. I'm worried that the c+'s and b-'s might have a detrimental effect on my chances of getting into a nursing program. No other occupation really strikes my interest like nursing does.

To account for my lacking science grades, I am a trained EMT and have become experienced in the field. As well, I have good scores on my ACT's/SATs and my GPA is in the high 3's. I am nervous that I won't get accepted into the schools I am interested in because of my science grades.

Also, I was wondering if applying undecided to a college and then switching into the major of nursing will increase my chances of getting accepted.

[Extra Pickles]

If you are applying to a 4-year university you are applying with a nursing-intended major, you won't be accepted into the nursing program itself until you have completed their prerequisite courses and applied specifically for the nursing program. Your high school grades affect getting into the university itself, NOT the nursing program. For that, you will need to maintain excellent grades while in your first two years, doing the courses that are required prior to applying to the nursing program.

You could also go the community college route and take the required courses necessary to apply to the nursing program you ultimately wish to attend. Many do this to save money on the cost of the prerequisites. Just be absolutely certain that the program you want to transfer to will take the courses you've completed.

Depends on the nursing program itself in the area you live as to what kind of competition you face. Some schools admit students with a B average and others who have straight A's will be wait-listed. Really varies quite a lot.

Look into what is needed to enroll in the colleges themselves FIRST, then see what individual nursing programs will require of you to apply.

Good luck!

[RSP.SN]

Hey cek35,

1. Are the courses that you are referring to college accredited or AP courses? Because in all honesty, unless that is the case, your high school grades and ACT/SAT scores will not count against you after you apply to college and actually get accepted because at that point after your first semester, your success will be based solely off of your grades that you are receiving until the time you graduate from college. Now if those courses are college accredited and you are not passing with C or better, they will just not accept those courses as college credit, but they also won't limit your chance of getting accepted into nursing school. But by all means and most importantly, KEEP YOUR GRADES UP AND INTACT.

A few other questions: Are you planning to obtain your Traditional BSN (4 years), ADN (usually 2 years), or LPN (approximately one year)? If you are planning to attend a four-year college/university, depending on the school, it usually takes two years of college-level general ed. courses (math, science, English/literature, health), and, during the last two years, is when you will begin with your pre-nursing/nursing clinical material. For example, at my school, at the beginning of spring semester (immediately after winter break) of our sophomore year is when we actually apply and send in our application to the nursing program by the deadline (usually end of January) in hopes of receiving our acceptance letter into the department by the end of March.

2. Applying undecided and then switching your major? Unless you are already decided with your major, I don't really understand why you would want to apply undecided. It's not really a good idea to do that if you know exactly which path you want to pursue, however, it will neither increase or decrease your chances. You want your major to be declared by the end of your freshmen year because once your sophomore year approaches, you are in the process of moving into your major courses, so try to avoid that at all costs. College is literally on its own time and goes by really fast. Think of freshmen year as the "trial run" that begins its official run during the sophomore year.

3. Once you are accepted into the college and begin your first semester, always ALWAYS visit your professor office hours and look into forming study groups with classmates that you know for sure are willing to not only pass the class but to learn and implement the material together. Find you a small group to meet with weekly. Time management will be your best friend. Study smart, not hard.

I hope this helps.