Can I Explain My ADN Grades to Schools I Apply to?

Published

I have an issue that has been bothering me since I began my first semester of nursing school this fall, and I would really appreciate some insight on this.

Currently I am wrapping up my first semester of school at Prince Georges Community College. My program has been challenging but definitely doable if you study hard. My only issue with the program is the absolutely absurd grading scale that they have in affect. The grading scale is as follows: A= 94-100%, B= 87-93%, and C= 80-86%. Anything below that is a failing grade.

I am completely frustrated with this, because I study my behind off each and every day and my current score in the course is an 85.55 or a C. Depending on how my final exam goes I will get a C or a B.

I am trying to get into the University of Maryland school of nursing for my BSN. Their GPA requirement is a 3.0. I am really afraid that my nursing school grades will drop my GPA below a 3.0. (I currently have a 3.0 GPA).

My question is.. if my gpa is (God forbid) below a 3.0, is there a way I can explain my previous schools grade scale to admissions??

I really feel PGCC's grading scale is completely unfair to students, especially in comparison to other nursing schools. It denies students from earning the grades they deserve, and can ultimately shuts them out from any potential future educational endeavors.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

First off -- the grading scale that you have posted is pretty common for any nursing school... I was a bit luckier than you since mine had a 7 point grading scale instead of a 6 --- 93-100 A etc. and absolutely no rounding of grades.. make a 92.99 and you have a B

however, guess I'm not exactly following your post.. are you saying that you are finishing your 1st semester of NURSING school at one college but wish to transfer to another NURSING school?

Generally, this is very difficult to impossible to do and be prepared for most of your prior nursing credit to not transfer with you. But I would warn you that the next program isn't going to care about excuses as to why you didn't make their cut.. They want a 3.0 and you don't have it? It's nothing more than an excuse that you attempt to blame the grading scale.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am currently in community college. I eventually want a DNP, but that requires me to get a BSN. So after I finish at PGCC, I would go to University of Maryland for my BSN. The problem is they require a 3.0.

(Apologies if this is a duplicate post. I couldn't tell if my first reply went through)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

OP, the grading scale you describe is pretty standard for nursing programs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That's very interesting because compared to most schools in the state where I am from (I researched many) its high.

But my focus is not about the grading scale. There's nothing I can do about that.

Say for instance my final GPA is a 2.9. Will the schools that I apply to for my BSN consider my previous school's grade scale as a factor, or can I exaplain it to them?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What do you find "absurd"? Every nursing program I've attended or in which I've taught has had a similar grading scale. And there isn't going to be any way to "explain" your grades to another school if you have a GPA below the minimum they accept.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've already explained to you, in comparison to schools within the state of Maryland (excluding universities because I did not look into those) this grading scale is quite high. If that is standard among nursing schools nationally, I was not aware. Thank you for your response.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Say for instance my final GPA is a 2.9. Will the schools that I apply to for my BSN consider my previous school's grade scale as a factor, or can I exaplain it to them?

I doubt it very much.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am currently in community college. I eventually want a DNP, but that requires me to get a BSN. So after I finish at PGCC, I would go to University of Maryland for my BSN. The problem is they require a 3.0.

(Apologies if this is a duplicate post. I couldn't tell if my first reply went through)

Gotcha.. and that's makes more sense.

My only advice would be to no consider what will happen if you don't make the required 3.0 rather look for ways to assure that you have a 3.0 or higher.

If it were me and I was running the risk of either coming close or just a tad below (2.9) I would consider taking a general elective course that could be an easy A to pull up the overall GPA.. or retaking a course that I have fell short in to improve the grade... Amazing at what replacing a C with an A could do.

Best of luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you! That's actually a really great idea. Hopefully if I do fall below my goal it will be easy to pull my GPA up with just 1 or 2 classes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

And it could be courses you need for your RN to BSN that will transfer like Composition II and Statistics, so you wouldn't really be throwing money away, in fact you'd be saving it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was recently accepted to umson for the rn to bsn program. i attended an adn program in md and your grading system is different from mines, it was lower. But since you accepted to go there , you just have to deal with it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion