Denied Nursing School.... Again

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I was sadly denied nursing school again. I have applied the last 2-3 years and keep getting denied. I'm 27 years old with two kids. I feel like a failure because I can't get in. My grades probably aren't like they should be, but I have taken too many classes that won't bring my GPA much. My GPA looks like a 2.9. I'm ready to give up. Is there anyone out there that has felt the way I do and have succeeded? I feel like I will never get in. There's only one or two schools that I can apply to, and I have applied to both. One of them is highly competitive, and the other is pretty competitive as well. I just feel like I am not good enough.

Why is your GPA so low?

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Specializes in MICU, Burn ICU.

Try a private school. I waited 1 and a half years (I applied to standard colleges/universities all over NorCal: Chico, Napa, Sac, Oakland, Stockton) before applying to the private one and got in immediately. Sure I'll be in a ton of debt, but I can pay that off quickly (I have no other obligations). If this career path is something you really have a passion for, consider making the investment.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
how is this question helpful to the OP?

If OP has struggled in the past, OP will need to have a plan to overcome any obstacles that come up. Perhaps the past truly is in the past, perhaps it is not.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
Every school is different, but a 2.9 is super low for most. I would contact the program(s) you're interested in and ask them how to best improve your chances. Some will allow classes to be retaken, for example. Others may give credit for CNA experience or even speaking a second language.

This.

It is not about you being good enough, but based on your own statements your GPA isn't good and the two places you are applying to are extremely competitive. If you decide that you want to continue down this path, you may need to look into alternatives. This might mean alternative schools than the 2 you're applying for; alternative degrees such as getting your LPN first; or alternative cities if you are set in stone about nursing school. None of those are guarantees, but might improve your chances of getting things going.

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I found that applying to community college programs may better my chances. I'm not even considering state or universities. I hope this approach helps me. Are you looking into community colleges?

Coming from a community college, it's very competitive. Mine had three applicants for each available space. A lot has to do with lower tuition cost. The minimum GPA is 2.5 but they give more weight to sciences. They also gave preference to local students.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Have you tried applying to Unitek? It's ccne accredited and they have an RN program.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.unitekcollege.edu/docs/disclosures/Unitek-College-School-Catalog.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiphrSzvrneAhXF0FQKHRiPCLkQFjADegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw0sQXxqvRGEImoEN-jjOXyk

This is a link to their catalog and according to page 47, their RN program costs about $17,000. (If the link doesn't work, type in "2018 school catalog Unitek college.")

They have campuses in fremont, concord, Hayward, Sacramento, San Jose, South San Francisco. I don't know if all campuses have the rn degree. I believe it's a private school and that's why it's expensive. I typically don't encourage the private school route especially ones that cost about $120,000 (seriously) however, this is a bit reasonable. I'm in SoCal and the sciences (anatomy, physio, and micro) in some of the schools in my area expire after 5 years.

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My GPA is low because of personal issues in the past. I had a boyfriend-who later turned into my husband- being deployed, my father was deployed and I had a lot on my plate at that time. I also did not have parents that helped guide me down the path of finding a good school and helped me achieve my dreams. I was a mom at 20 years old and married at 20. The list goes on. I have no issue going to get my LPN, but the programs (again) in my area are not accredited nationally. That's an issue because I'm moving in 2 years and that will ultimately hurt me because I won't be able to transfer my license. There is a school where I am moving that is private that I'm very much considering. I will hopefully be moving into the Chicago area where my husband is from in the next 2 years. There's more schools there then they are here. I'm hoping that will increase my chance. Trust me, if I could change the past, I would. I just didn't have good parents that made me feel like school was a priority.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

So I failed my first semester of college. It destroys your GPA. I took some poor advice from a college counselor and took molecular biology and another science class that really was beyond my ability to manage while working full time.

Some colleges do have the option of academic renewal it may or may not work in your case. In mine you essentially could erase subpar grades for one or two semesters. This changed my over GPA significantly. But you had to wait 4 or 5 years since the semester and show you done well in college otherwise. It's basically a chance to fix a mistake. Not sure if that will help but thought I'd throw that out therem. Hang in there.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.
Have you tried applying to Unitek? It's ccne accredited and they have an RN program.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.unitekcollege.edu/docs/disclosures/Unitek-College-School-Catalog.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiphrSzvrneAhXF0FQKHRiPCLkQFjADegQIBxAB&usg=AOvVaw0sQXxqvRGEImoEN-jjOXyk

This is a link to their catalog and according to page 47, their RN program costs about $17,000. (If the link doesn't work, type in "2018 school catalog Unitek college.")

They have campuses in fremont, concord, Hayward, Sacramento, San Jose, South San Francisco. I don't know if all campuses have the rn degree. I believe it's a private school and that's why it's expensive. I typically don't encourage the private school route especially ones that cost about $120,000 (seriously) however, this is a bit reasonable. I'm in SoCal and the sciences (anatomy, physio, and micro) in some of the schools in my area expire after 5 years.

They're in Oklahoma I think....a bit far to be an option.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.
My GPA is low because of personal issues in the past. I had a boyfriend-who later turned into my husband- being deployed, my father was deployed and I had a lot on my plate at that time. I also did not have parents that helped guide me down the path of finding a good school and helped me achieve my dreams. I was a mom at 20 years old and married at 20. The list goes on. I have no issue going to get my LPN, but the programs (again) in my area are not accredited nationally. That's an issue because I'm moving in 2 years and that will ultimately hurt me because I won't be able to transfer my license. There is a school where I am moving that is private that I'm very much considering. I will hopefully be moving into the Chicago area where my husband is from in the next 2 years. There's more schools there then they are here. I'm hoping that will increase my chance. Trust me, if I could change the past, I would. I just didn't have good parents that made me feel like school was a priority.

So the program shouldn't affect whether or not you can transfer your license. Your license is what you would be transferring. I did my LVN (same as LPN) at a private college and then transferred to a LVN to BSN state school that everyone said I was not elligible for because I went to a private school. They legit only cared that i has the license. There may be more options than you realize. No school is really nationally certified, most programs are regional.

I hope you find a solution that works for you í ½í¸Š

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Specializes in ICU.
In many areas, it's just as hard (or harder) to get into community college nursing programs as it is to get into four year universities.

That is true. The 4 year colleges in my area take pretty much anybody, because they have to do their basic pre-reqs before they get into nursing school anyway. The community colleges want the nursing students with the best grades because they are going straight into the nursing classes.

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how is this question helpful to the OP?

Perhaps it could have been worded more kindly, but it could help OP if she could figure this out.

Working, raising 2 young kids - this is at least a partial answer.

I have no suggestions for you, OP, but good luck.

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