Do Accelerated BSN Programs look at Undergrad School??

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So I'm finishing up my BS in Biology from a top school, and I plan on going into an Accelerated non-nursing BS to BSN program after I graduate. My GPA is around a 3.2, but I believe this is due to the rigor of my undergad program. I have mostly A's and B's - but I do have a C- in Organic Chem and a C+ in Psychology. These are my only poor grades. I was wondering if anyone thinks or knows if the schools will look at the fact that I am at a top 15 Ivy League school? I'm really worried about getting in now.

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Specializes in Psych, EMS.

I think they do. I recently finished a 14 month A-BSN at Texas A&M, and several of my peers barely met the eligibility requirement of 3.0. Many schools look at an isolated GPA of nursing pre-reqs. If many of yours were A's, that should balance out your C+ in physiology. All the best, you sound like a great candidate! Hopefully next year you will be among us proud A-BSN grads!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Depends on the school and their specific system for choosing their class. Different schools have different processes, procedures, and priorities for their admissions selections. You'll have to ask them.

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Specializes in Pediatric Oncology/BMT.

When I went to a talk at UCSF about their accelerated programs, they said they use a formula that doesn't take into account the prestige of your school. An "A" from Stanford is considered the same as an "A" from SF State.

I'm not sure if all schools are like that, but I imagine that it would be very difficult to gauge that kind of difference. However, most RN schools are looking at the "total package" w/ grades only being one portion of that. Grades for pre-requisite courses are weighed the heaviest. Do you have good grades in those?

Good luck!

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I agree with the poster that stated that every program is different.

Some programs care only about your grades in the prerequisite courses. Other programs care about every grade from every class you've ever taken. Some programs weigh experience; others don't look at it. Some programs allow you to repeat courses as many times as you want- others will disqualify you from admission if you've repeated any courses.

Any non-specific information is useless! Definitely research the programs in the area you are interested in, and go from there.

Please do not stress! Two C's are NOT going to prevent you from becoming a nurse. They may prevent you from getting into a specific program...but there are hundreds of programs out there.

Research, research, research.

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Specializes in Complex care, tele.

A-BSNs will look at your undergrad transcript, and my school was really focused on the pre-requisites listed for the curriculum (e.g. A&P, micro, etc). The occasional C shouldn't be detrimental, and as long as your GPA meets their entrance criteria, you should be ok. Good luck to you!

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Like most everyone said, it will depend on the school. Mine, though, won't take a C-. That class would have to be retaken.

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I have been doing a lot of research into various ABSN programs. From what I have learned, they don't care about what undergrad you went to. A lot more importance is placed on the grades you received for the pre-requisite (sciences in particular) courses.

I would highly recommend that you consider re-taking the Org Chem (maybe at a cheaper community college) course. A low grade on a science pre-requisite will negatively impact your chances of getting into an ABSN program.

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Thanks everyone. The Orgo class isn't a pre-req at any of the A-BSN programs I've been looking at. I also would have a hard time retaking it before I applied unless I took a year off.

Psych however is a Pre-req, and I made a C+ :(

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Specializes in OR, Informatics.

". . . top 15 Ivy League school?" - There are only eight Ivies. Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Penn, and Yale.

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lol I meant a Top 15/ Ivy League school. I guess it is redundant since all 8 are in the top 15, but I thought for those who didn't know that, I would include that it is a top 15 undergraduate. To clear confusion, I'm a Cornell student.

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i took one semester of nursing school in my undergrad....got to c's so was dismissed switched my major n got a ba in psych....do you think this will effect my chances of getting into an accelerated nursing program...in the state of ny...this is where i got my undergrad degree n hope to get my 2nd bs in nursing...has this ever happened to anyone or anyone you kno?

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