Competitiveness Grades etc

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I know, it's on almost everyone's mind. We want to learn, we want to learn well, but we also need those GRADES. How competitive are nursing schools in your area? Do you obsess over your GPA? I've actually had a few anxiety attacks while studying, not good. I just finally decided that I'm not gonna stress like this anymore. I will do my best and if that isn't good enough than it isn't. Im a B student in the sciences (thus far) and an A student in everything else. I heard that the top two BSN programs in this area cut off at 3.7 something or other. ONe of them doesn't do interviews or essays or anything ALL they look at is GPA.

The ADN program isn't so crazy to get into, but it's a monster to complete. That's what the grapevine says anyway. So what are things like in your area. Are you happy with your grades, do you feel confident enough that you will be able to get into the degree program of your choice? Let's chat.

If the GPA of your nursing prereqs are excellent but your undergrad GPA not too hot, will nursing schools not consider you? I have a Masters (in Education with high GPA) but my undergrad GPA was low (due to my not being responsible and young and immature). I'm a mid-life career changer, all grown-up now and my prereq GPA (and Masters) prove that but my question is: do nursing schools turn you away for having a low undergrad GPA (and everything else good?) :uhoh3:

Specializes in ER.

Nursing is my second go round at college. I never finished the first time around, and I'm bound and determined to do my utmost best, which I know I have never done before. In highschool I was an A/B student, as well as my previous attempt at college - but I know if I had applied myself at ALL, I could have been straight 4.0. So, I'm busting my butt in my pre-reqs, and I have a 4.0 so far. After 6 weeks of A&P, I have a 104% average - and this is how totally neurotic I am, okay? I actually was dissappointed when I got a 100 on the second test, because it dropped my total average from 108 to 104. How sadly obsessive is that??? :rotfl: But I am determined to get in this next fall, and will do just aboiut anything to do so. I study hard and get good grades, I'm already planning out who will write my references, and I've decided that if I get less than a 90 on the NET, I'm retaking it. I too, feel like everyone else is sizing each other up, and I'll go so far as to refuse to join study groups or share the information I've busted my butt to learn, because I'm afraid I'll give someone that "aha" moment that will help them do as well or better than me. There is only one program I can go to in my area, so this is my one shot, and I'll be darned if I give my spot to someone else because I opened my big mouth and told them how to remember the difference between metaphase and anaphase.

Specializes in Operating Room.

It depends on your school. My program only looks at the pre-reqs.

If the GPA of your nursing prereqs are excellent but your undergrad GPA not too hot, will nursing schools not consider you? I have a Masters (in Education with high GPA) but my undergrad GPA was low (due to my not being responsible and young and immature). I'm a mid-life career changer, all grown-up now and my prereq GPA (and Masters) prove that but my question is: do nursing schools turn you away for having a low undergrad GPA (and everything else good?) :uhoh3:
Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

I am not sure what the cut-off is at my school but it should be quite high since there are only 39 spots :o

Very competitive and mind boggling. I applied now with a 3.85 hopefully it was enough. :)

At all the programs I've applied to in three states, Anthing under a 3.77, and you are pretty much out of luck.

A 3.77 is only one B and the rest A's.

I guess I must have middle age overachiever's syndrome cause I get wiggy any time I don't get an A!

I've learned to relax a bit though. I am going to aim for a 3.5 GPA each semester during nursing school. Two A's and Two B's.

My NS is 100% lotto. I have seen some pretty terrible students get into my program.

That seems so unfair!

I'd rather have it on gpa and nursing enterance exam, like my college, because at least I know I can DO something to better my chances. Makes me feel more in control of my own destiny. :)

After 6 weeks of A&P, I have a 104% average - and this is how totally neurotic I am, okay? I actually was dissappointed when I got a 100 on the second test, because it dropped my total average from 108 to 104. How sadly obsessive is that??? :rotfl:

:rotfl: I think alot like you. I was so mad at myself during HESI (our equivalent of the NET test) when I got a 96% accumulative, that I let our an audible groan. I was pretty dissappointed in myself, even when my husband figured out that that is only 9 missed out of 213 questions. It's like I have set my standard bar really high for myself.

I too, feel like everyone else is sizing each other up, and I'll go so far as to refuse to join study groups or share the information I've busted my butt to learn, because I'm afraid I'll give someone that "aha" moment that will help them do as well or better than me.

I agree with you on this one! I also don't join study groups because they are a waste of time. Everyone just talks when I want to get to it. I am really enjoying my speech class because it is the only attendance class I am taking that is not 50-70% nursing students. There is only one other woman going into nursing and she is headed for a university. I can actually relax and enjoy the diversity of the class.

It seems like grades are sometimes inflated. I wonder how so many people can get almost a 4.0. Many people work very hard for their grades, I agree but if so many applicants have such high GPA's a person might wonder if the prerequisites are difficult enough. I am in A&P and Micro right now and the majority of my class (about 20 of us in each) are spread out in the grade scale. I do agree that many nursing students study more than in some other programs but if you can't get into a program or school because you have "only" a 3.5 I think that's crazy!

Maren, you are right, it is crazy if someone with a 3.5 can not get into a nursing program because their gpa isn't high enough. I don't think the gpa itself is the problem. As the nursing program will take anyone with a 2.5. It is that there are so few slots and so many applicants that only the top 10%, sometimes less get in. It really stinks though. Some colleges put everyone on a wait list and people can be on the list for a couple years waiting for them to get through all the students. What is really needed is more nursing instructors.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Hospice.

I am applying to a 2 year college that looks at GPA and ACT scores. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and an ACT of at least 20.

Since I too am a middle-aged perfectionist, I am setting my personal goals higher. I want to maintain a 4.0 this semester and get 28 or better on the ACT (which I will take for the first time ever at the end of October).

My school looks at the total college GPA, so when I apply in March, I will have just this one semester of credits to consider. If I don't get in the first time I apply, I'll have to continue to keep my grades up for another year.

We were told that they received 200 applications last year and accepted 83, so 42% who applied got in.

Specializes in LTC.

Most of the schools I've looked at in Minnesota require a 2.8, but the average GPA accepted is 3.5. I'm so scared. I have a 3.1 right now and am bombing A&P1.

I'm startting to think about retaking some of the classes I took when i was fresh out of highschool and not ready for college yet. See if that helps my GPA.

I am applying to a local community college. It has a good rep, & goes strictly by gpa. In this area, the ASN is the most difficult to be accepted to. The cutoff is 2.5 but to actually get in, you will need a 3.5, possibly higher as they are cutting program size this year. I too lament the fact that my first undergrad degree I played around & didn't do as well as I could have. I'm paying for it now.

The BSN isn't quite as competitive, but it has additional pre-reqs that some people don't want to take.

I will apply to both, & be thrilled if I am accepted into either!

Heather

Heather are you applying to Purdue Calumet or Purdue North Central?

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