Can you get into nursing school with a D for A&P1?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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So, my friend asked me if she can get into nursing school with that D. That's her only pre-req left. She applied for Spring 2010. It's her 3rd time taking that course but still came out with that grade. But, she's done well on her other pre-reqs. It's just that one class.

Do you guys think she has a chance? I don't know what to tell her so I figured I should ask more experienced people.

I do not know of one school that would accept a D in A&P. At my nursing school you are only allowed to repeat a course twice and anything more will not be considered as they review your transcript. I made an "A" in A&PI-II lab & lect , 3.6 GPA and my profile score was only above average for program. I did not feel confident, but I after I seen that one girl was accepted and she still had to take A&P II, then I knew I was safe.

As has been stated already every program is different but I was accepted into a BSN program with a 4.0 in all science courses and an

overall GPA of 3.79 and I still wasn't sure I was going to get in. It is very competitive in some of these programs.

Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.
Actually to be honest, most schools will not accept anything less than an 80%. in my program, an 80% is a C. So anything below a C is failing.

CD and D is the same as an F to them

Same at my school, a D is considered a failing grade.

I had the toughest A&p teacher ever!

He was AWESOME though. He knew how to present the info and make it interesting and make sense... but...

His exams were TOUGH.

Why?

Because he wasn't all about memorization.

We had to understand it.

He was preparing us for nursing school.

And while I cursed him while I had him, I am SO GLAD I did!!!

Yes. A&P is vital in school and I don't know how I would have gotten so far without his excellent teaching and intense exams. I cannot tell you how often I sat in a nursing school lecture and silently thanked Mr. D.

I'm those who say it will be impossible for her to grasp the content in nursing school if she cannot grasp A&P.

Everything you learn is based on it.

Thanks for the replies everyone. So, now she was wondering if it's possible for the school to accept her while she takes the A&P course again. Is it really impossible?

Schools have different requirements, but most require a "C" or better to even be considered. It really isn't a matter of will a school accept someone while they are retakng A&P, but rather was the completed grade in A&P good enough for admission. If the grade doesn't meet the requirements chances are she wouldn't even be considered.

Most nursing programs are very competitive as well as selective. There are far to many people applying that meet the minimum requirements that do not make it in due to others with better grades and entrance exam scores.

I am not saying that she should give up by any means. However, her time may be better spent in making herself a stronger candidate and applying for the next class. A&P is vitally important and so much builds on top of it. I am not sure how the program is at her school, but at our school if you fail out of a core (nursing class) you have to start over and reapply.

I wish her the best! It is a stressful trying to position yourself to getting selected for a seat.

I agree with jak2010 that many ADN programs are harder to get into than BSN. At the initial information session at my school we were told you needed an "A" in A&P. I think if someone isn't able to pull at least a "B" in A&P they are going to struggle in nursing school.

I keep looking for someone to post that they were accepted for nursing school after getting a D in A&P.

Just because it is an ADN does not mean it is easier, lesser or the bar is set lower. I waited 1.5 years to get into my ADN program and they did not accept grades lower than a C, just like the BSN programs. Technical college ADN's were hired over BSN graduates of the University's very own hospital because of technical prowess and had a shorter orientation (by almost four months).

I think you misunderstood my meaning. I was in no way suggesting that the ADN program was easier. The admissions process, however, IS usually different. For example, the CC I'm taking my pre-reqs at accepts people on a points system. A&P I is just one of the classes that you are awarded points for. You also get points for A&P II and Micro. All I meant by my comment was that if she had high grades in all her other classes and her gpa was also high, she still might have enough points to get in with the D (0 points) in A&P I.

Also, at my CC as well as all the others I've looked into in my state, A&P I is not required for admission--it's part of the normal curriculum taken during the first semester. That's why, in my opinion, she has a better (but still small) chance at an ADN program. Like I said before, she would still need to repeat the class if accepted and get a C or better to continue on to get her degree. I know of no program, ADN or otherwise that doesn't require at least a C in a core class.

Specializes in LTC.

In addition the question of the OP,

I took chemistry last spring and I received a D. That was my first time taking it. If I retake it and get a B or higher grade will RN programs accept me?

In addition the question of the OP,

I took chemistry last spring and I received a D. That was my first time taking it. If I retake it and get a B or higher grade will RN programs accept me?

You will have a better chance where chem is not listed as one of the required courses that are counted in the group that is scrutinized for entry. For example, some schools will have, say, 7 classes listed as required prerequisites for application, but they list that only the GPA of four of those 7 is the basis for admission to the program. Micro, Anat, Phys, and English are the classes that are most used to determine acceptance.

Specializes in LTC.
You will have a better chance where chem is not listed as one of the required courses that are counted in the group that is scrutinized for entry. For example, some schools will have, say, 7 classes listed as required prerequisites for application, but they list that only the GPA of four of those 7 is the basis for admission to the program. Micro, Anat, Phys, and English are the classes that are most used to determine acceptance.

I have a B in English and Psych 101 which I am seeing are requirements. I still need Microbiology, A&P and Chemistry. I want to get started on one of those in the spring. I feel if I retook chemistry I would do a whole lot better. Not because I know the material(I've forgotten it as nursing knowledge has taken over my brain) because the LPN program I went to totally changed the way I look at learning.

Specializes in Operating Room.
In addition the question of the OP,

I took chemistry last spring and I received a D. That was my first time taking it. If I retake it and get a B or higher grade will RN programs accept me?

Of course the higher the grade the better. But the important thing is, what is the school's admission process? Are they looking at the cumulative GPA of all the classes? Or do they only look at the GPA of certain classes?

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