Courses to improve my GPA for graduate school

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · May 4, 2018

I think you'd be unlikely to be admitted to an acute program with a GPA like that. How are you planning on doing the clinical portion of the program if you're not in the country? There is a higher bar to admission to AGACNP programs and being out of the country may hinder you, as will your GPA. Any acute program that accepts students with a GPA less than 3.5 probably isn't worth going to, to be honest. You can maybe try to boost your GPA by taking some classes over again. I would at least aim for a 3.0.

umbdude, MSN, APRN · May 4, 2018

Hello
I want to apply to graduate school (ACAGNP). However, my GPA is 2,91.
I'm international student and I need online classes.
Should I take undergraduate courses (the ones With really low grades)? Or should I take graduate classes?
would you please tell me the codes/names of the graduate courses I should take? And which school offer accredited courses online ?
thank you

You've already asked this question in another thread.

You might first want to make sure that NP programs will actually accept international students. Are you currently in the USA and have a RN license in one of the states? Having a state license is required in many programs. You also will need to complete clinical requirements, likely in the US.

amb1234 · May 6, 2018

I'm currently not in the US and I've an RN license from Colorado. If I got accepted I will come to the US as a full time student and do my clinical requirements. and you're right some programs wants my nursing experience in the US; however, many don't require that. do you advise me to take grade or undergrads courses ?

amb1234 · May 6, 2018

if I got accepted I will come to the US as a full time student and do my clinical requirements. Also, I'm willing to boost my GPA to at least 3.0, and I was wondering if I should take grads or retake undergrads courses to show the admission that I can success in grade school.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · May 6, 2018

if I got accepted I will come to the US as a full time student and do my clinical requirements. Also, I'm willing to boost my GPA to at least 3.0, and I was wondering if I should take grads or retake undergrads courses to show the admission that I can success in grade school.

It depends on why your GPA is low. If it's low because of nursing, math or science courses, you'd be better off repeating the courses that are dragging down your GPA to bring it up. It is a bit more difficult to take courses at the grad level because you typically have to be accepted into some type of program to even be able to take courses. With a GPA lower than 3.0, that will be difficult to do at a reputable school.

Bear in mind that if your degree is from a foreign country, it's going to be even harder to get in to NP school in the US, especially if you are not currently residing in the US.

umbdude, MSN, APRN · May 6, 2018

I'm currently not in the US and I've an RN license from Colorado. If I got accepted I will come to the US as a full time student and do my clinical requirements. and you're right some programs wants my nursing experience in the US; however, many don't require that. do you advise me to take grade or undergrads courses ?

Take graduate courses but for these to be useful you have to get "A" in them.

Callthenavynurse15 · May 11, 2018

Some colleges/universities will allow you to take courses for credit without being on an official trac (duke University allows this). You could apply for this option as a way to "prove" that you can do well in a masters program but be aware some schools may require you to redo those classes through their program (but honestly extra patho pharm and assessment never hurt).

I'm not on the AGACNP track but I was admitted to Georgetown with a 2.86 GPA. But I agree with an above poster that many programs are looking for high GPAS for nps in acute care settings.