Confused about nursing program Gpa requirements

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hello all :) I'm new to this site and I am hoping to finally get some answers to a question I have been extremely confused by. Ill start off by saying I am currently an undergrad studying psychology. Over all I have a low Gpa (2.6) due to a bad semester caused by severe anxiety and depression. I love psychology but its not what I want to do the rest of my life so I have been looking into going to nursing school. I plan to start at a community college, where I will take the remainder of my pre-reqs for the professional phase (clinicals and such). The professional phase only requires a 2.5 Gpa to get in, but I will have to transfer to another college or university to finish my bsn. Many programs require a 3.0 to a 3.5 for transfer admissions. Do these programs look at major Gpa (just courses used toward the program) or overall Gpa? I really want to go to nursing school, becoming a nurse just feels so right, but I'm scared my current Gpa is going to hold me back. Any feedback is very much appreciated, I haven't been able to get a clear answer to this and I'm not sure where to turn.

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It actually depends on the program. Although most schools have a minimum of 2.5 GPA they normally accept people with a 3.5 or higher (at least in my state). I would try to bring my GPA up in the meantime.

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Maybe you should think of applying to an ADN program. Most BSN programs look at cumulative gpa. I had a different major before nursing and my cumulative gpa is 3.1 and finishing my prereqs won't raise it too much. Look for an ADN program that only looks at prereq gpa and work your butt off because a 2.6 won't get you in anywhere. The one I will apply to next year only looks at 9 classes and with 5 classes done I have a 3.6 gpa in prereqs.

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Specializes in INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

Good morning, futurernluvenia wht state are you at.

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I have a 2.7 GPA with associate's applied science from 24 years ago.

I also took a one year certificate program 14 years ago with a 4.0 GPA.

IF I receive a 4.0 in prerequisites, will the 2.7 make it unlikely to get into a good BSN program?

I really don't want another associates degree, especially since the BSN is about the same time to complete.

I don't mean to hijack this thread. It seemed same topic. Didn't want another

similar thread.

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I have a 2.7 GPA with associate's applied science from 24 years ago.

I also took a one year certificate program 14 years ago with a 4.0 GPA.

IF I receive a 4.0 in prerequisites, will the 2.7 make it unlikely to get into a good BSN program?

I really don't want another associates degree, especially since the BSN is about the same time to complete.

I don't mean to hijack this thread. It seemed same topic. Didn't want another

similar thread.

Do you know the college(s) you want to transfer to afterwards? You can usually look on their website to find out. Go to the undergrad nursing section and see the admissions. If it says cumulative GPA your 2.7 will count towards it. A 4.0 in prereqs would change it a little, but not much since you have so many classes done already.

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I plan to start at a community college, where I will take the remainder of my pre-reqs for the professional phase (clinicals and such). The professional phase only requires a 2.5 Gpa to get in ...

Have you actually been accepted to the nursing program at this community college? Or spoken with anyone in the nursing program about getting accepted? The reason I ask is because nursing programs have become extremely competitive in recent years, because of the numbers of people wanting to get in, and, while many schools have literature that says they require a minimum GPA like 2.5 (or even lower) to apply, the reality is that no one with that GPA actually gets accepted because there are so many applicants with higher GPAs. The literature and official position of the last state uni BSN program in which I taught said the same thing, minimum GPA 2.5 to apply, but the reality was that no one with less than a 3.7 GPA got in, because of the sheer numbers of applicants with GPAs higher than that. You may want to look into this further.

Best wishes for your journey!

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Most schools allow you to re-take classes and they will post the higher grade on your transcript. This is a good way to change your GPA.

Also, some schools look at both, the culmative GPA and the core classes (pre-reqs) GPA. I would think a strong core GPA will help, but remember it is competitive, so the culmative GPA will factor in, but I wouldn't let it deter you from trying. I know all the schools in my area look at people with straight A's in the sciences first. Make that your first goal.

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Do you know the college(s) you want to transfer to afterwards? You can usually look on their website to find out. Go to the undergrad nursing section and see the admissions. If it says cumulative GPA your 2.7 will count towards it. A 4.0 in prereqs would change it a little, but not much since you have so many classes done already.

I was going to try for UNC Wilmington because it will be close to my area.

It mentions Math/Science Prerequisite GPA Average: 3.64 given a weight of 50%

Designated Prerequisite GPA Average: 3.73 given a weight of 25%

TEAS Score. To be given a weight of 25%

Does this mean cumulative GPA not factored ?

From previous degree I only have statistics and English that matches to nursing courses.

Being over 20 years ago they will have to be retaken.

I will do up to 60 credits pre-req's at community college.

I want to see if there's any hope before moving down to North Carolina.

I know getting accepted is not guaranteed.

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I was going to try for UNC Wilmington because it will be close to my area.

It mentions Math/Science Prerequisite GPA Average: 3.64 given a weight of 50%

Designated Prerequisite GPA Average: 3.73 given a weight of 25%

TEAS Score. To be given a weight of 25%

Does this mean cumulative GPA not factored ?

From previous degree I only have statistics and English that matches to nursing courses.

Being over 20 years ago they will have to be retaken.

I will do up to 60 credits pre-req's at community college.

I want to see if there's any hope before moving down to North Carolina.

I know getting accepted is not guaranteed.

I looked on that schools website and it looks like they only factor in prereq weight so you should be fine :). You should call their admissions office just to double check since you are moving for it. A lot of BSN programs do look at cumulative gpa that's why I gave you the little warning, but your school doesn't look like it takes it into account.

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I live in VA. One of the main universities here (ODU) says that the minimum is 3.0 but the counselor will tell you that for the past few years they have only been accepting people with a 3.6 and above

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Thanks princesax11,

I will look at some other schools in area and verify requirements with the one I have looked at.

I like that Chapel Hill has 6 semesters, but with their ranking I'm not that hopeful I will get in there.

I have money saved up for school but need to stay with family for living expenses.

I need some sort of plan to present to them.

Then I can move and work full time while waiting for instate residency.

Take Prerequisites and apply to local 4 year schools.

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