Bet my GPA is lower than yours. . ugh!

FLTraumaRN · Aug 19, 2008

Well, it wouldn't hurt to take some graduate level classes, especially science classes. I would also consider contacting the program director of the school of your choice and have them guide you. Most are willing to point you in the right direction. Where there is a will there is a way. Plus, you will be 45 no matter what you do. If you want to be a CRNA and are willing to work to make it happen, then go for it!

jfk6668 · Aug 19, 2008

I can't say I'm an expert, but since most schools require a 3.0....your only chance would probably be to take graduate level classes and get As

I'm afraid that a 2.3 just isn't competitve.....I'd call the schools you are interested and tell them your situation and ask what you can do to be a competitive applicant

tonyccrn · Aug 19, 2008

what was your last 60 credit hours. alot of schools look at that. if that is still on the low side, what I would do is contact the shchools you are interested in and see what they have to say. explain your situation, i bet they tell you to get a good gre and take some grad classes and ace those then apply.

you definitly have the experience, now you just gotta show them you are a better student then you were back in the day. which most people are!

good luck, it can be done.

tony

MayisontheWay · Aug 19, 2008

Is your degree a Bachelor's? 120 hours or so? It would take another 80 hours of course work making straight a's to get to a 3.0, which really is near the minimum considered...and that doesn't mean it's competitive.

120 x 2.37= 284

80 x 4 = 320

604/200 hours = 3.02 GPA

26 three hour courses

Highly recommend you speak to some program directors before embarking on that journey.

May

cometwfour · Aug 19, 2008

First of all, NEVER give up if it's something you really want to do. I was in a similar situation(undergrad=2.67, almost 20 years ago). I met with an ad com member and told her my concerns. Obviously I can't go back and fix my GPA from so long ago. I had already taken several hours of Grad classes, which showed I was able and serious. I have since taken 17 hrs of Graduate classes(3.87), and 23hrs of undergrad(4.0). (I got carried away and really was enjoying them, plus the Grad hours were core classes for my "plan B" degree, just in case). I made alternate last year and am hoping to get in this go around. I say go for it. Persistance and determination are hard to overlook.

FloridaCCRN, CRNA · Aug 19, 2008

I'm just in the application process myself, but I would definitely retake some courses, maybe even at the graduate level to prove that you can handle the workload. Most schools won't even consider you if you don't have a 3.0 or higher, and every year it's getting more and more competitve so I would retake them.

Good luck to you!

Claymor · Aug 19, 2008

Thank you all so much for the help. I have been playing with the numbers and realized that I miscalculated a bit. The 2.37 is my last 60 credit hours (nursing school). The overall science gpa is 2.38, but the cumulative is 2.81. I went to two different schools. A JR college then a upper level university for the 2 yr nursing program. Still, a pretty anemic GPA, but I'd rather recover from a 2.81 than a 2.37!! Will they look at either the last 60, science, or cumulative? Or will they weigh the science GPA heaviest?

I am going to call TCU in the morning and see if I can speak with someone regarding my plan of action. I am not giving up.

Another question, and please forgive me if this topic has been addressed in other threads, I obviously need to take a refresher class this fall (starting next week !!!) in order to take a Grad level science in the spring. Should I take college O-chem or Patho or what? If O-chem, should I prepare for that with college algebra? (It's been 21 yrs since any algebra) Or is there a better class to prepare? I had a difficult time in '95 with general Chem for nursing school. I had not had an algebra or any math in 10 years prior to, and I took the class in the summer (not smart!!). Plus I had never taken any chemistry in HS. Needless to say I felt that even passing with a C was a relief (and it got me into Nursing school).

If I tackled grad level O-chem right now I wouldn't do as well as I would need (understatement).

So what is the best plan from here to there??

Again, your input above has been priceless.

Thank you

Raas4555 · Aug 21, 2008

If you want to prepare for Chemistry, really I would recommend starting out with General Chemistry 1. That will be a good review for O-Chem etc, while still being a full college credit class, not a Prep Chem class which will probably be unnecessary. Algebra etc. really will not prepare you for Chem at all in my opinion.

tonyccrn · Aug 21, 2008

While taking O chem, shows determination. not sure if thats the best thing for you right now. unless you are pretty confident you will get an A in it. since you havent had any chem in awhile, I would say go with a grad level physiology or pharmacology class. much easier to pull an A in those than O chem. and right now you need A's and A's only. also check the requirements for the schools you are interested in. some do not require O chem, so no sense risking not getting an A when they dont even require it.

this is just my opinion so good luck.

tony.

Claymor · Aug 25, 2008

Well, the school here only offered O-chem and genetics for this sem. In the spring they offer Physiology but I need something done by Jan.

So, here I go. I want to get in the program and it looks like my only shot (right now at least) is to take O-chem. So I am enrolled. Yes I am pretty intimidated but I'm just going to have to do it. No other answer works.

Thanks for all your advice and comments. I'll be keeping my head down for the next few months!

I'll let you know how it goes.

nurseman78, BSN, RN, NP · Mar 19, 2010

How did that O Chem class turn out? I've heard that O Chem is a nightmare. I would have done the two semesters of regular chem first if you hadn't done so recently.