Do I Stand a Chance of Getting into Nursing School?

[Donald11]

I want to go to nursing school to become an LPN but am worried that I will not get in to any programs since nursing school is so competitive. I sometimes forget I am applying to nursing school and isntead think that I am applying to Harvard. Anyway, here is my profile: I have a BS in legal studies with a 4.0 GPA. I passed Biology, Chemistry, and Anatomy & Physiology in high school with an A. I have never taken any science classes on the college level. My goal would be to take all of them online so that this way I just have to take the nursing classes on campus.

Now here is the BIG problem: I stink on standardized tests. I took the NLN in 05 and totally bombed it. Will my GPA make up for this weakness? I am also worried that I will get rejected since nursing schools would rather take those with a medical background, like EMTs and paramedics.

Also, my mother is a graduate of an RN program in NYC. Since schools often give preference to the children of alumni, I could PROBABLY wiggle my way into the program, but I don't want to. I want to become an LPN first and her school only has an RN one.

And finally, I should add that I am a male, as I am unsure of whether this will have any affect in the admissions process.

[Intern67]

Your 05 NLN exam score probably won't make as big a difference as the fact that your prereqs are getting old.

As always, talk to the counselors at the schools you are applying to.

[Donald11]

What prerequs are you referring to? My high school ones? Because I have not taken any colelge level prerequs yet.

[chicagoing, ADN, RN]

The pre-requisites are classes that will need to be completed prior to applying for a nursing program. Some colleges may accept high school science courses, while others may require some or all college-level science courses to have been completed within the last X number of years. It really does depend on the program that you are applying for.

[JbreezyRN]

I came into the nursing program with zero medical experience before, probably the reason I got in was for my grades, pre-requisites and high school. It is quite intimidating to be around classmates with CNA/EMT/Massage therapy etc background but that didn't prevent me from keep going and now I'm nursing graduate.There are practice books for the NLN that you can buy I believe and work on that. Having someone in your family that has an RN degree will give you good advantages. And you being a male, as far as I know they love it! Theres not a lot of male nurses out there so I think it shouldnt affect you in any negative way, they need more male nurses nowadays. Just practice and take the nln and see it for yourself. Good luck!