Do I have a chance for nursing school?

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Sep 2, 2020

You have all of your eggs in a single basket. Apply to other programs - community colleges. WGU has prelicensure nursing in Utah- you'd be a great candidate for their program. Cast a wide net.

Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP · Sep 2, 2020

3 hours ago, FutureMaleNurse9722 said:

I am 22 male been in college for 4 years have 127 credits and a cumulative GPA of 3.192. Currently applying to UofU for the second time. I got an 80.86% overall on HESI A2 without studying. My prerequisite GPA is close to a 3.4. My grades in pre requisites are as follows Principles of Biology: C+ Elementary Chemistry: B+ Anatomy: A Physiology: A- Mircrobiology: A Nutrition: B Stats: C+ Human growth and development: A- Pathophysiology: A

Last time I was put on the alternate list at University Of Utah don’t feel I have a lot of options.

Is Principles of Biology really a pre-req for the program you're applying to? For a majority of schools that one usually doesn't count toward admittance. The only reason it's taken is because it's the pre-req to all the other main courses you need such as Anatomy, Physiology, Micro. If you could find other programs that do not count the Principles of Biology class, your other grades don't look bad at all. The only one that stands out a little is that C+ in Stats. That might be the only sore thumb that's sticking out for you in terms of classes you need to apply.

Unfortunately, getting into nursing schools is very competitive. It's up to you if you want to try to retake Stats, where you got a "C +" in in order to get a higher grade. One thing you need to keep in mind though if you try to retake a class is: will it be acceptable to other programs? Some programs may knock you points if you retake while others don't care if you retake. That is something you will have to look into whatever program you're applying to.

As meanmaryjean stated, you really need to spread out and look at other schools. What do you lose by applying to other schools besides a few dollars for the application fee? If you get accepted elsewhere, it would just be up to you to decide whether you want to go there or not, but at least that's an option if you do get in.

Your grades aren't horrible, but they're not ultra spectacular either. I think you have a pretty good shot at getting in somewhere it's just a matter of it may not be where you want to go, but at some other school where you may need to move to for a few years.

If you feel up to it, I would suggest retaking the Stats class and the HESI. Again, just a word of caution, research which schools you plan to apply to before you retake anything to make sure that it won't ding you.

Good luck!

FutureMaleNurse9722 · Sep 2, 2020

I also forgot to mention I’m applying to the SLCC nursing program, Dixie State University, and trying for Westminster. Unfortunately, SLCC makes you take the ATI TEAS V6 so I’d have to take that. I took a practice and got a 72 overall but got high enough to be proficient by SLCC standards.

Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP · Sep 2, 2020

I'm going to guess you live in Utah near Salt Lake City since that seems where the schools you're applying to are. Have you ever thought of applying outside of Utah in the surrounding states? I'm not saying they're all going to be less competitive but the good thing about states such as Wyoming, Idaho, New Mexico, Montana is that the population is a lot smaller so you might have a better chance of getting in somewhere. No offense to people who live in those states, but those states tend to be where many people don't want to go to school at so you might have a better shot there.

FutureMaleNurse9722 · Sep 2, 2020

Yeah absolutely. I already feel that since I made alternate list at the University of Utah which is a great school, I definitely have a better shot at getting in this time. I also feel that I could get in somewhere else as well. I have considered all three of those states especially Idaho since it’s pretty close by. Idaho State is one school I’ve considered along with a few other smaller schools.

Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP · Sep 2, 2020

4 hours ago, FutureMaleNurse9722 said:

Yeah absolutely. I already feel that since I made alternate list at the University of Utah which is a great school, I definitely have a better shot at getting in this time. I also feel that I could get in somewhere else as well. I have considered all three of those states especially Idaho since it’s pretty close by. Idaho State is one school I’ve considered along with a few other smaller schools.

Well, good luck to you. What I would suggest is apply for the next year or two (you're still young and time is on your side) and see if something hits. Hopefully you'll get in. If for some reason nothing works out, then you might want to seriously reconsider retaking the statistics class and your HESI.

Wishing you the best!

Chao, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2020

If you’re set on staying in UT you may need to apply all over the state like Snow, Roseman, SUU, Provo and Weber. I just moved out of Utah but I know a lot of great nurses who cane from Wyoming. Check the Wyoming NCLEX pasa rates from the BON and you can see data on their programs. A lot of the technical colleges from what I’ve heard prepare their nurses well and are super cheap! I can always answer any more questions or tell you about the surrounding areas/states.