depressed pre nursing student, is a 3.6 gpa good enough?

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I have applied to two places before Seattle University and University of Washington and they both rejected me. So now I've waited a whole year and about to reapply to a crap ton of places like UW and SU (again) also, Seattle Pacific University, Washington State University, Shoreline Community College, Tacoma Community College, and South Seattle's LPN program as well. I'm probably going to go broke from all the application fees but really want to start nursing school and get it over with because I feel the longer I wait, the harder it will be to get a job. Also, when I called WSU the nursing advisor guy was basically telling me not to apply, he said I was borderline on being accepted and only took 10 transfer students and that I would be competing for 300+ for one of those 10 transfer student slots. I've already been rejected twice before... I guess I just need words of encouragement... I want to be a nurse so bad, I've even gotten my CNA certificate and am licensed but I knew I wanted to be a nurse even more by helping people in my clinicals. Do you think I have a shot?

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Specializes in ER.

I would apply and be prepared to blow them away with a letter of intent. I had to write a letter about why I wanted to become a nurse. I understand there is vast competition for limited spaces in nursing school. Sounds like you have looked into more than a few. That really stinks that those who want in are fighting for a space with a great GPA. Keep plugging away and get certifications in the meantime and see if you can knock out some prerequisites - like chemistry or A&P. Have a plan B - what if you can do another aspect of medicine while waiting on nursing school? What about CRNA? What about PA school??

Why have you been rejected?? Have you had a sit down with the dean of the nursing program? I'd get more information and plead your case. I find you have to break down doors sometimes to stand out above the competitors. GOOD LUCK!!!!

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Yeah thanks for the input. In the meantime I have gotten my CNA license and was going to find a job for more experience. I actually completed my AA in Prenursing for the BSN track so I have all of my prerequisites done! I think I didn't get in because at that time i only had a year of preqs done and had a D in anatomy... but i retook it and got a 4.0! I don't know if that'll be good enough....

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KEEP THE FAITH! I am about to start my prereqs in the Spring, however, I worked for 2 years in GW Med schools admissions office and I am telling you keep the faith! GW is the most applied to school in the US, 14K applications for 175 seats! I will tell you what I told thousands of applicants, keep trying and you will get in. Yes, GPA matters but it really isnt everything. I saw people who were admitted who never though they would get in but they wrote an amazing essay or had an interesting experience or blew them away in an interview. Its isnt always the numbers, alot of the times, yes but NOT always.

Seattle and UW are also really hard schools to get into, some of the best rated progs in the country. Branching out and applying to more schools is a good idea. You may not end up at you top choice but you will be in and you may love that school even more than the others you considered. I am looking at DC area schools but I know that UMD and Hopkins are so competitive, I have to branch out, so I am applying to schools in NC, MA and other areas.

YOU WILL GET IN, just keep remembering why you want to do this, talk to admissions counselors, use any connection you have and most importantly, believe that this will happen for you. I saw people get admitted to med school thinking they had zero chance and about to give up and its amazing to see that happiness on someones face, it will come for you too!

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Specializes in ER.

it should be. That's great that you went from a D to an A. That shows heart and anyone would think that.

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.
What about CRNA? What about PA school??

I don't think you can be a CRNA without being an RN with a bachelor's first.

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I don't think you can be a CRNA without being an RN with a bachelor's first.

That's true : ) You usually need to have 1-2 years of floor experience as a RN in an ICU as well for most programs, so that wouldn't be an option for the OP right now.

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Specializes in ER.
That's true : ) You usually need to have 1-2 years of floor experience as a RN in an ICU as well for most programs, so that wouldn't be an option for the OP right now.

the point is, look at other options. I just threw CRNA out there.... my bad.

Look elsewhere - there are a lot of careers out there! Sometimes we get to where we are by accident. Perhaps you'll find something while you're waiting to get into another program.... just food for thought.

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Get your RN through a community college, knock the grades out of the park, then apply for an RN to BSN program at a great school. That's what I'm going to do. RN @ my tech college, BSN @ UNC-Chapel Hill, MSN @ Duke University (well, that's the plan! We'll see what happens along the way!) Good luck!

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

Things have sure changed. My GPA was horrible when I went to nursing school because I absolutely refused to study. I hated it. In nursing school I HATED required reading. I was a B-C student but made A's in clinical. I did not care one damn about my GPA because back then all the hospitals needed were nurses who had a license. That was 32 years ago. Standards have changed since. I got my BSN and passed boards on the first pass so I guess I learned something in spite of myself.

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