Corpsman Worried About Admissions Requirements

[DocMattEB]

I'm a Hospital Corpsman in the US Navy, been on active duty for a bit over 9 years. In about a year or so I'll be submitting a package to go from enlisted to Nurse Corps Officer.

Before I enlisted I graduated from Boston University with a BA in psych. I did not apply myself well after a semester in Junior year went badly and ended college with a 2.68 over all.

I feel I have matured considerably, I have lead junior enlisted sailors, deployed as a part of a forward operating surgical unit in Afghanistan and currently run a Radiation Health program independently (a job normally run well beyond my pay grade).

Looking at post-bac bsn programs, all have admission requirements >3.0, many with 3.5 minimums. Has my youthful foolishness doomed me or will my experience and the help of exceptional pre-reqs (taking a&p, chem, and micro in the next year) help make me competitive enough for admission?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

I urge you to look for "veteran friendly" nursing programs.. usually located in areas that have large military presence. These programs will be able to offer you special considerations, including advanced placement for corpsmen or medics. Your local resource for VA benefits should be able to provide the information. You deserve it, you've earned it.

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

Contact the schools you where you want to apply and ask if you are eligible to apply. The degree GPA minimum on your first degree has nothing to do with pre reqs. The reason for these minimums is to show you can handle 21 hours a semester. Contact them directly and see if they will accept your application even though you do not meet minimums. Youthful "foolishness" is not really an excuse as many people who were in school at the same time were able to successfully earn GPAs >3.0. I would not use any excuses when contacting them and simply be straight forward about your GPA and what you have done since then. Who knows maybe you will be able to get in. Also check the Univ. of Wyoming. I think they have a 2.5 Min GPA on first bachelors. Good luck man.

[ASUNAVY]

I think if you take your pre-reqs 1 or 2 classes at a time, in time your overall gpa will improve. Also I agree to look at veteran friendly schools. Just be patient and you will find schools that work with you.

I applied to Jacksonville University, University of South Florida, and The George Washington University. I was accepted to 2/3. Some schools will only look at certain courses for GPA, so that may help as well.