Discouraged after speaking to a counselor

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Today I went in to speak with my counselor on the progress I have been making to apply to a nursing program near by and she kept telling me that I would not get in to the program unless I get A's in all of my pre-requistes. I failed Anatomy this semester because of personal reason and am retaking it next semester. I am wondering if the F will look bad and pretty much disqualify me into getting in. Do I also have to achieve all A's in order to get in.

She also mentioned that even if I am put on a waitlist that doesn't guarantee me a spot. Is she correct?

I am feeling pretty discouraged right now and un-motivated because of her un-kind words.

Please express any opinions on my situation. Thank you

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It varies school by school, I'd recommend trying to speak to someone within the nursing program.

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Dennise,

This really depends on your target school's policy on retaking prereqs. Most schools do allow you retake them if you made below a C and they would just accept your highest score. Don't get discouraged. You don't need all As but you need to show a strong commitment to your education through your grades.

I, too, have failed courses because of personal disruptions in my life. Don't feel bad. It happens to the best of us. School can take the back burner when your personal life becomes trying. Now that you know what you have at stake, don't allow it to happen again. If the school you WANT to attend doesn't allow you retake it, see if you can locate another school nearby who will. If you feel like nursing is what you want to do, don't let anyone tell you can't do it. Never allow yourself to be discouraged in your goals. If nothing else you may realize there is simply some other path you were meant to take. (Although I am not saying you won't be a nurse). The counselor you spoke with does not determine your future so don't allow his opinion to bear so much weight. Keep trying and I can guarantee you will find your path.

Kali

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I don't know your school or your counselor, but it's been my experience that counselors don't really know too much regarding other programs unless it's at their own school. I can't tell you how many times I or my classmates were told wrong information by counselors regarding various Nursing Programs. Your best bet would be to talk to the various schools you are interested in directly and find out from them. Various schools have different policies and repeating a course once may or may not affect you. Some allow repeats, some allow a certain number of repeats and some allow none.

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I agree with the above poster. Your best bet is to get info directly from the program you want to apply to. Different schools have different rules. Some will replace a failed grade so if you get an A the 2nd time, then the F will not count against you. However, other schools average the 2 grades so the F the first time, and then an A the 2nd time might result in an averaged grade of a C which is not really competitive. Other schools, may count the F against you even if you get an A the 2nd time if you are being compared to another student that got the A the first time around.

Don't despair, pick yourself up and give it your all the next time you take it. Like I said, some programs do replace the old grade with the new grade, so you still have a shot. You don't necessarily need As in everything but strive to do your best in all your pre-reqs. Most programs are competitive. Remember you are competing against other students for a spot. So you really want to make your GPA as competitive as possible.

I don't want to sound like I'm being insensitive, but if you really want this, do not let anything get in the way. Protect your GPA like a newborn baby. Trust me, I've had a lot of setbacks in life so I understand that sometimes things are just beyond our control. But ya know what, I wanted this so bad that I decided that I was not going to let anything get in the way. In the past I've let setbacks stop me from doing what I wanted or needed to. Not this time around. I have people in my life that are not too pleased with me right now because I've chosen to put school first. I avoid anything that has the potential to be a distraction. I know that is easier said than done, believe me I've had to battle my emotions with this but this is just far too important and I've got too much at stake to let anything get in the way. I'm in my first semester of nursing school and I've been sick, I've had family problems, relationship problems, financial problems and a bunch of issues but I've just said you know what. School is my #1 focus. I've got to keep it that way. If you want this, try not to let anything get in the way. I have a friend that was in my program that withdrew because of so many outside influences that were getting in the way of school so she withdrew. Now she's trying to get back into the program and she was denied. So now she's at her wit's end and regretting withdrawing from the program.

Sometimes you just have to man up or woman up and do what you need to do. I hope I don't come across as being insensitive.

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Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement.:redbeathe

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It seems to me like your counselor was just being realistic. Does your school average the two grades of classes you have retaken, or do they completely replace the grade with the most recent one? Her "unkind" words may have just been honest advice.

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First and foremost, talk to someone within the nursing program. At my school, we have a coordinator who is in charge of all the nursing students, and who we all go speak to. She has all the information we need, and is always there to lend a helping hand or give us a word of advice. Second, yor counselor is right in saying that if you are waitlisted you aren't guaranteed a spot. Waitlisted means that you didn't make the cut, and, unless someone drops from the program, you won't be getting in. I got into nursing school with a 3.0-3.1 GPA, it was horribly low, but all my other factors were outstanding. To be honest, the F in anatomy will relfect poorly on you, but if you retake it and make a good grade, they should focus on the passing grade rather than the failing grade. One key to getting in is to make sure you are as compeitive as possible. Have good references, make excellent grades, score high on the entrance exams, and have a well written, or well thought out, plan for what you would write or say in an interview. My best advice to you is don't get discouraged, retake anatomy and do better, and put the past behind you. Good luck!

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I agree with mangopeach. I was just accepted into our RN program...first try. But , in spite of not having all of the points that my school requires I was able to overcome that with a 3.65. It really is all about the GPA. The nursing field is so much more highly competitive than it was even just 5 years ago,primarily because of the economy. I am the mother of three , a grandmother and I work full time....I let nothing get in the way of school. Some programs are easier to get into ...however those are usually harder to complete. I would suggest retaking ANY class that was below a B. Because , as previously stated..they are using that to determine your level of commitment.

Good Luck ...and just "run at it " as hard as you can.

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It depends on your school's retake policy...I know some programs if you fail a class and retake it, they still see the F but you can explain why you got that F (personal reasons, etc) and they might look past it. However some schools will still take the first however many people that didn't retake anything.

Keep looking around. There's a program out there for everyone!

And don't feel discouraged or unmotivated. Failing a class does not mean you won't be a good nurse. I got a C- in my chem and A&P the first time around because I took them together, with 3 other classes AND was working full time. Things happen to the best of us.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Oncology.

At my school, in order to even apply, at least a C must be earned in all science courses and psychology courses for pre-reqs. D's are heavily frowned upon in other general coursework, and Fs are unacceptable. Another policy at my school is that the nursing program only allows for one repeat of a science, psychology or nursing course that you earned below the C mark.

But don't get discouraged! Ask to speak with someone within the program; they tend to have their own academic advisers as graduation requirements are often different from other disciplines of the institution. And policies greatly vary among schools.

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Wow all A's? I would do what another user suggest and tell you to speak to someone who oversees admission into the nursing program. They would know a lot more than your counselor. I guess it would vary from program to program. I applied to a nursing program with an F and several withdrawals and that didnt effect me. What matters is your GPA and whatever other requirements you need. What she said about the waiting list doesnt sound right either. There is a school Im at and people who are on the waiting list do have a spot in the nursing program they just cant start their clinical until the start date given to them. Please do speak to someone else. Some counselors dont have a clue.

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