Can an "C" average student make it in the nursing world? Help Please

cannolis · Jan 17, 2013

I think what counts the most are the science courses. You definitely need to bring those up.

Edit: not only that, those grades pretty much determine how you'll do in a nursing program. If you can't meet the demands of prenursing, imagine nursing itself?

x_factor · Jan 17, 2013

Honestly, I'm not sure you'll even be accepted into a program with 2.8 GPA. Most schools are very competitive, with GPA cut-offs as high as 3.7 and 3.8. I'm not sure I've ever heard of a student being accepted with a pre-req GPA of 2.8. For many schools, the minimum to even apply is higher than that.

With that said, if you struggled to make C's in your pre-req classes, it is a true, honest probability that you will struggle in nursing courses. Pre-reqs are generally very easy compared to nursing classes, where you will begin learning how to think critically, and exams are written with NCLEX style questions. Nursing classes are a whole different ballgame, especially compared to pre-reqs. If you struggled that badly in pre-reqs (sciences included), I'm not sure how you would succeed in nursing classes, where the work is much more difficult.

Beautifulvirgo · Jan 17, 2013

my school nursing program min gpa to apply is 2.75, so i'll be able to apply. i'm in a community college.

x_factor · Jan 17, 2013

That's the minimum to apply, but I highly doubt you'll be accepted, to be honest. Many community colleges are extremely selective, and many are harder to get into than University BSN programs. I am also attending a community college. The minimum to apply for us is a 2.8, but the GPA cut-off for acceptance is always around 3.7 - 3.8.

A minimum to apply is just that.... the minimum to apply. But the minimum to actually get accepted is much, much higher.

My advice is to see how many re-takes your school allows, as some only allow one or two, and some allow much more. I would then re-take some of the classes you received C's in, starting with your sciences, and aim for obtaining A's in those classes in order to raise your GPA and make you a competitive candidate for acceptance into the program.

nurseywifeymommy1 · Jan 17, 2013

We had to hv a minimum 3.00 to apply.

cannolis · Jan 17, 2013

Same here. :S

Music in My Heart · Jan 17, 2013

Is it possible? Sure... it's generically possible.

You've got a long, uphill grind, though... keep in mind that many employers are also interested in your grades and yours are substandard.

You really need to figure out how to not be 'book dumb' because there's a lot of 'book work' in the nursing world.

B in the USA · Jan 17, 2013

I agree with the other posters. I saw many classmates come into nursing program with a 4.0 GPAs and then drop to B-/C+ students in the nursing program. People who came into the program as B-/C+ students barely passed or didn't make it. The science pre-reqs are particularly important. If you struggled in anatomy and physiology, the chances of making it through nursing tests might not be so good. :unsure: That being said, you shouldn't give up on your dream. Apply to the program and then work your butt off if you get in. If you don't try, then you'll never know if you could have made it or not! But I'm serious about working your butt off. Kiss your Friday and Saturday nights goodbye! Throughout nursing school I pretty much saw my friends once a month for about 2 hours, and I might as well have had my mail forwarded to the library, because I lived there! Good luck!

Stephalump · Jan 17, 2013

I've never really bought into the mentality that you can be bad at the knowledge part of nursing but great at the clinical aspect. The best nurses out there have an incredible knowledge base AND a great skill set, among a dozen other things. I don't care how good you are at starting IVs and giving hugs if you know squat about my disease process.

I don't necessarily think grades always reflect what we know, but that's really the only way admissions committees can objectively gauge us, other than standardized testing. So that's the world we live in. Retake classes you didn't quite "get." Don't hide behind the idea that you just aren't "book smart." If you struggle with testing and things like that, still take responsibility to learn everything you can, because you'll need it for nursing school and in your practice.

courty21 · Jan 17, 2013

Okay this is my last semester, i did 6 semester in all, my science and graduation prereqs are all done now it's just applying to the program.Only thing is that I have a 2.87 GPA due to few C's in my math and science courses. next week I'm taking teas test i'm so scared that I will barely past with the 60 passing grade. My heart is in nursing I have the experience in clincals I cant think nothing else, but nursing, so I'm asking can an "C" average student that is book dumb and clincal smart and making good descision make it through nursing school and become a RN. Thanks.

You can ABSOLUTELY make it in nursing school and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! I was also an average student in college. I failed both organic 1 and 2 on my first trys and barely made it through biochemistry alive. I passed my other science classes (histology, virology, endocrinology) with Cs. I graduated with a 2.9 GPA. I am just about to graduate from nursing school with a 3.3 GPA. If you want it badly enough you will find a way to make it happen. Good luck!

zoe92 · Jan 17, 2013

I think nursing is a mix of passion and smarts. You need to be book smart & have a strong foundation in your science and math courses, not just have the heart for it.