Desire to be a nurse, is it to late?

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Hi,

I am a 28 year old student and currently still in undergraduate school. I have switched majors once and right now basically in my senior year of college. I realized as I was working through my new major (I switched fall 2014) that I have became passionate about nursing. My current major is history (I know silly major). While taking some Anthropology classes (Because we are required to have a minor), I met some nursing students and they kept telling me about how much they loved their major. Fate would have it I was hospitalized a few short weeks later and was there for 2 weeks. While there I had various nurses and I was always so curious and interested in what they did there. This confirmed to me that I really wanted to become a nurse, but it wouldn't be as simple as changing majors. I have a bad GPA (2.5), did bad in my first major because it was something my parents wanted me to major in. Now that I realize that I want to go into nursing I am afraid that it is way to late. I was wondering has there been anyone in a similar situation and found it easy to transition to nursing? I am also afraid to inquire about it at my school. I attend The University of Texas at Arlington and it is fairly competitive program to get into in the North Texas region. I am afraid they will look at my transcript and laugh me out of the office. Is there any hopes at all of pursuing a nursing degree at this point, or is it way to late?

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

Def not too late! I started an ADN program at 35. After a BA in chemistry and masters in public health.

Get your thick skin and bring your transcripts to the nursing advising office for evaluation. See what they have to say. Also look at ALL the other options available. ADN at CC, BSN, ABSN. Remember that once you have a bachelor degree you are no longer eligible for pell grants, so you may want to halt your current education to transition into nursing. You will likely have to take at least a year or 2 of pre reqs- micro, AP, etc - those will vary slightly from program to program. Do a lot of research and if you can shadow a nurse, do it

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28 years old is nowhere near old, so no, you're not too late. Plenty of people on this site started a nursing career in their 40s, 50s, and beyond.

I would look into the program requirements in your area. Some schools strictly go off of your cumulative GPA, some go off your last 60 or so credits. If the school does the latter, I'd be doing extra classes to pull up my GPA in that way, as 2.5 will not be competitive. You will most likely have to take some courses to meet their admissions requirements anyway, so it's a win win. All you can do it try.

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I started taking my pre reqs at last year at 28. I have a non-science degree so I needed to go back and take some courses. You'll be ok

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I am starting nursing school in January at age 30. Don't let age bother you one bit. Your GPA is a bit low so make sure you look into several schools and different programs (ADN, BSN, etc.). You can always take more classes to raise your GPA but most importantly look at school's application information. Here in California most schools publicly post the previous semester's admission stats such as the lowest cumulative GPA that was admitted. Good luck!

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

Your age doesn't matter..what WILL matter is your GPA. THAT is what will be the limiting factor. A 2.5 is not getting you into nursing school. Contact the school and just tell them about your GPA and if they will even accept an application from you. Who knows they may be able to guide to towards a way to submit an acceptable application. You are going to have a grind ahead of you You dug a hole for yourself.

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You're still very young so don't let age get you down. Your GPA is the only thing that's gonna hold you back a little. Have you thought about trying the LPN route? I know some say it's a waste of time but for you it may be worth it. You could finish within about a year and it would give you a chance to make sure nursing is your thing.

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Lots of fears and insecurities. You won't know unless you try anything. What's worse never trying or getting laughed at? Grow that spine!! You'll definitely need it in nursing! You need to pull that gpa up by studying harder or differently now. You don't need to be in the nursing program to take prerequisites which you can get A's in if you work hard.

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I started my prereqs at 30. I had never been to school prior and was out of HS for s million years. You've got this! (I'm 32 now.)

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Before you graduate, I would really check with FAFSA (call them) and your financial aid office (schedule an appointment this week to meet with an advisor at your school) to see what funding you would receive by transferring somewhere else for your nursing degree. This could mean using your senior year to boost your GPA before transferring depending on what those two parties say. If you are still pursuing your FIRST undergraduate degree, that might put you at a significant ADVANTAGE in receiving financial aid rather pursuing it after graduating with some degree.

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