Does GPA matter after graduating?

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Apr 20, 2007

They absolutely DO matter when you enroll in programs that require a certain GPA (BSN and MSN both). I had to have a 3.0 in statistics before admission to the MSN program.

ann945n, RN · Apr 20, 2007

They do matter if you want to get a BSN, most schools want a 3.0 or higher in previous course work

justme1972 · Apr 20, 2007

Your instructor is Dead wrong. All of the programs, 100% of them, all have an overall GPA requirement in order to apply for BSN and above programs.

I cannot believe that an instructor would tell a group of students such a thing.

springgarden · Apr 20, 2007

oooppps

I should have said he was refering to his son who I believe is a Liberal Arts major.

Does the same apply to nursing?

mvanz9999, RN · Apr 20, 2007

I really don't understand what this professor is saying. You transfer the credits AND the grades. You cannot just transfer credits. The grades go with the credits. I took some college credit courses while in high school, transferred those to a 4 year college, and it says the number of credit hours AND the GPA for those hours.

Grades are absolutely important. You want A, A, A, A.

MiaNJ · Apr 20, 2007

I am going to a CC for my nursing. One of my teachers said in class that grades at a CC does not really matter since you transfer credits not grades to a 4 Yr college. But don't schools look at the grades you earn to determine who they'll take or are they after your payment of tuition?
As I plan on getting a BSN later, do I need to still be concerned about the grades I get or should just passing be OK with me?
Do 4 Yr schools look at grades or just the fact that one is an ADN?
Do employers look at graduating GPA, whether you graduate as a PTK member and all that stuff?
Thanks

Maybe the professor meant that the actual grades that you get in a CC don't get 'added' to the cumulative GPA of a 4 yr school where you may transfer to.

But for whatever degree, most 4 yr colleges tend to have a 'minimum' GPA they will accept.

I just know that for Nursing, since I transferred pre reqs from a CC to a 4 yr college, it DOES matter and I looked into many schools and the majority want at least 3.0 or higher to get accepted. The minimum I have seen for science pre reqs was 2.75 GPA.

If you are going for nursing, make sure you get at least a B or higher in most of your classes, to give you the best chances to get int o a 4 yr program.

springgarden · Apr 20, 2007

Sorry for being patchy.

He also said one starts on a clean slate with 0 GPA after transferring. He was like his turning 21 and he knows the boy with turn riot - partying and stuff- and the boy would not have his 3.8 GPA to have as a cushion at the 4 Yr college.

CiCigirl · Apr 20, 2007

hi spring!

i had a counselor say something similar to me (but with a bit more clarity.) i'll explain:

i had a b.s. from a previous university, now i'm going to cc to get my adn. what i was told was that my previous classes that i'd taken (for my b.s.) that i wanted to transfer into my current school and apply them toward acceptance into the nsg program would transfer and the grades for those classes would be considered as a part of my application to nsg school.

but for alllllll the other classes that i'd taken that had nothing whatsoever to do with my applying to nsg school---the gpa for those classes would not transfer, only the credit for the classes.

does that make sense?

most important: i'd recommend that you speak with a counselor for the schools you'll be applying to later on for your bsn. go to the source to make sure you get the correct information. it's my understanding that bsn programs do look at the overall gpa of your adn degree to determine eligibility for their programs.

justme1972 · Apr 20, 2007

Sorry for being patchy.
He also said one starts on a clean slate with 0 GPA after transferring. He was like his turning 21 and he knows the boy with turn riot - partying and stuff- and the boy would not have his 3.8 GPA to have as a cushion at the 4 Yr college.

With most colleges, yes, your professor was right about that...but here is the "catch":

If you want to apply for an advanced degree, the school you are applying to will hand-calculate your overall GPA and use it for admission purposes.

So there isn't an easy-out of you mess up at a CC.

Mommy TeleRN, RN · Apr 20, 2007

I ran into this. I took 28 credits at another school..had a 4.0 with those. Transferred to my new school. These grades are NOT calculated into my cumulative GPA for this school ... I know it doesn't calculate into my GPA like for graduation honors... and I would think for things like fin aid.

But ... as others have said... it DOES matter when you apply for a type of program that looks at your overall GPA like for graduate school. But to your immediate school it isn't in your cumulative GPA for general university applications - very different from what is looked at for entrance criteria to certain programs within the university.

Halinja, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2007

I'm confused. Because every single credit brought its grade with it for my cumulative GPA. Even classes from 1975. If they accepted the credits, they took the grade. So when I was goofing around when I was 17, that is in my cumulative grade. I have two GPA's at my university. My "institution" GPA, which is only what I've earned there, and my cumulative GPA, which is everything, and is the one that counts. So I'm not sure where the 'it doesn't count towards your GPA comes from. I'd love to dump some of my early grades...