Duke ABSN Fall 2015

[lak221]

Hey everyone,

I am currently a senior in college and in the process of filling out applications to 4 accelerated nursing programs; Duke, Jefferson College of Health Sciences, MUSC, and VCU. My number one choice out of these 4 schools is Duke. I do have one concern, and that is my GPA. I currently have a little over a 3.0 and I know that this is rather low but I do have a reasoning for this. When I was a senior in high school I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent a very dangerous surgery to remove this tumor at UVa. When I first started college I didn't notice any side effects from this tumor that were affecting my school work because at first my classes were somewhat of a review. However, as time went on I began to notice that something wasn't right and went back to UVa to receive strenuous testing. They found that the traumatic surgery had indeed caused me to suffer from side effects and they put in place special accommodations and prescribed me medicine to help with the effects. Since receiving help from UVa, I have been on the dean's list for consecutive semesters and my grades are great. However, I am worried that my grades before these changes, although none below a C, will affect me getting into Duke's program! I have great recommendations as well as wonderful shadowing experiences at St. Jude Children's research hospital with their number one neurosurgeon, as well as shadowing with nurses and doctors in other clinics. Does anyone have any advice to offer?