Excited about nursing program options, but low GPA

[loveflowers]

Hi all!

I have a B.S. in Business and I also am a licensed massage therapist and live in NYC. I have a goal to become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner yet I know that I am going to have to start from a bit below that. Unfortunately my bachelors is working against me, since my GPA was a 2.6. It was about 7 years ago and I was not passionate or invested in the field like I am now in nursing. (My massage school GPA was 3.8, unfortunately my credits there are not transferable). My question is this: Most second degree programs in my area are very competitive and with my GPA, I have a very low chance. Also, many schools require different prerequisites and I still have to take all the sciences.

My Question is this: Should I apply somewhere as a non degree student and take pre reqs, do very well to raise the GPA and to have more of an edge or should I start from getting an associates in a CUNY? And then from there, applying to an RN-BSN program which I heard is less competitive? Or any other options? Would love to get into school!

Thank you!

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

You would have to be an RN before applying for an RN to BSN program. I would advise you to probably try to get into an ADN program and get your RN that way, and if your GPA is good enough by then, to enroll in an RN to BSN program.

[mindofmidwifery, ADN]

Duh, yeah, I didn't read your question completely. Sorry :) But yesss, I think getting an associate's from CUNY sounds most plausible.

[ThatBigGuy]

I would add a second vote for getting your ADN and then enrolling in a bridge program after that. Getting A's in your pre-reqs won't make a big enough difference in your previous degree's 2.6 GPA to make you a viable BSN candidate. That may sound harsh, but that's the reality. There are just way too many applicants and not nearly enough teachers.

Go get your ADN and make great grades. Then turn your life experiences into a killer admission essay for an RN-BSN bridge program.

[happynurse14]

Before making any decisions, you should talk to an academic advisor at your schools of interest. I would think, but am not sure, that your GPA for your business degree would be non-applicable to nursing school, and that the real focus would be on your pre-req grades. Does nursing school care if you get a C in economics or that you got A's in A&P? I'd think the latter but again, if you consult in an advisor, they would give you the best idea. At all costs, if I were you, I'd enroll in the pre-reqs, get good grades, and then apply for entrance into a BSN program as my first option.

[loveflowers]

Thanks for the responses! I'm still confused at which route to take. Should I go for an associate's degree and then take a bridge program or should I do very well in science pre reqs? I also heard NYU has no minimum GPA requirement. Should I do pre reqs and chance apply there? Which route has a better chance of being accepted into schools? Which route makes more sense to go in general?

[TLizS]

look at the requirements for NYU if they don't consider GPA.....if you think you can take the prereqs and meet their criteria then it's an option. For me the best route was to do the prereqs and an ADN program to recover from my bad GPA. It takes sooo many REALLY GOOD credit hours to try to bring up your GPA it's ridiculous. so it was better for me to do the ADN program and then apply for a bridge after.

Talk to an advisor at the schools you are interested in...they should be able to point you in the right direction. It's difficult for us to say when we don't know the specific criteria for each program